NINE YEARS LATER

Despite it's reputation, the Salvatore Boarding School For The Young and Gifted was actually pretty similar to the average school.

Like other schools, the Salvatore student body had its jocks. Only they were prone to shape-shifting under a full moon.

Its cliques were like any other, barring their ability to cast spells and hexes.

And who could forget the creepy loner kids? Only these kids dialled up the creepy a few extra notches. Blood-drinking and all.

Basketball? Wickory. Chemistry? Chemistry of Magic. Biology? Origin of the Supernatural Species.

And group assignments? Well, they were just as bad as normal group assignments.

As the Salvatore witches knew all too well…

"...and because some spells are stronger when cast in a group, most covens make sure to foster trust and teamwork amongst their members."

The man at the front of the room seemed to be in his own little paradise, his smile wide as he scribbled note after note on the blackboard.

"Mr. Williams," one of the witches spoke up. "We've already gone over that stuff."

Dorian Williams turned to face his student, the sun glowing on his chocolate skin like a halo.

"Yeah." he answered smugly. "But since your last teacher incinerated himself, I'm the best teacher you've got. And I like to go over the basics."

A chorus of groans resounded from the class as Dorian went back to the chalkboard. Ignoring them, the teacher added a new diagram - a straight line with three stick figures.

"Now to build trust quicker between new witches, covens developed 'chain spells' - demonstrations of magic that can only be performed by two, three or more witches. And while they might look cool and flashy, they can only be pulled off with finesse, control and trust in the people you're linking with."

Dorian put the chalk down, turning to face the class.

"Alright," he clapped his hands together. "You guys know the drill. You've all been put into groups of three to demonstrate a chain spell. You'll each be assessed on technique, power, control and your bond with your partners. Any questions?"

The witches remained silent as Dorian took a clipboard off the nearby desk.

"Alright, Serena, Wade and Marcus - you guys are first up for the demonstration."

An excited smile appeared on Wade's face, an enthusiasm unshared by his team-mates.

"Alyssa, Lizzie, Kane," Dorian continued. "You guys will be up second."

Again, a lackluster response.

"And then," Dorian finished, taking a head count. "It's Josie, Penelope and Nol-"

He stopped abruptly, looking around the room in confusion.

"Wait, where's Nolan?"

Now, this was much better.

The boy lounged lazily under the sunlight, his hands tucked under his head as he grinned at the sky.

The young man knew his place, that he should be in a classroom facing a chalkboard or in the library with his nose in a book.

Instead, here he was, lying on the grass by the lake, with the motivation of a slug and posture of a contorted sloth.

And honestly? It couldn't be better.

Because here, far beyond the school walls and just beyond the shady trees, the boy felt truly at ease. At peace.

The way the invigorating scent of the lake mingled with the sweetness of the flowers. The gentle trilling of the cicadas and whistling birds. The coolness of the soft grass beneath his back and fingertips. The gentle spring breeze washing over, under and through his body.

And the sun. God, the sun. The way it warmed his skin and breathed vitality into every cell in his body - bliss.

He smiled dreamily and unbottoned his school shirt, the gentle heat tickling his bare chest and stomach.

How could everyone be so preoccupied with the indoors? Why were they so obsessed with finding reasons to stay inside, when they had all this on the outside? The sun, the sky, the breeze - screw the indoors! He'd rather spend a day outside in the thunder and rain than minute inside on the comfiest couch. Yep, total, uninterruped bli- Oh, God, what was that smell?!

The youth wrinkled his nose as the stench of designer fragrance and sandalwood filled the air. Not a moment later, he felt someone looming over him.

"I don't know who you are," the boy grimaced. "But you're in my sun."

The silhouetted figure scoffed, putting a hand on one of it's hips.

"And you're wasting my time." a female voice retorted. "Guess we're both pains in each others asses."

The boy smirked as he recognised the voice.

"Penelope Park making time for little old me." he chuckled under his breath. "I feel honoured."

"You're lucky you're feeling anything, skipping class like this." Penelope said. "Dorian looked like he was about to snap his clipboard in half and drag you back himself, Nolan."

"It's Noel." Nolan - or rather Noel, corrected her, gritting his teeth. "Stop calling me that."

He winced as he momentarily opened his eyes, holding a hand above his eyebrows.

"And if you're gonna loom over me, could you do it a few inches to the left? You're in my sun."

"Oh, Nolan," she cooed. "Don't you know that you're not supposed to sit in the sun so long?"

She cocked her brunette head at Noel's collar.

"Don't want to get a melanoma on that pretty little tattoo of yours."

Noel opened one eye, glancing down at the 'tattoo' in question.

It was an abyss-black mark, shaped like a teardrop and about the size of a small fist. It sat just below Noel's right collarbone, drawing in Noel's gaze like a black hole.

"It's not a tattoo." Noel grumbled, shutting his eyes again. "It's a birthmark."

"Yeahhhh, no." Penelope droned. "That's way too distinctive for a birthmark."

"Does it matter?" Noel argued. "Birthmark or not, it's there. For as long as I can remember."

He scoffed.

"But I really wouldn't put it past my 'dad'. Tattooing a kid isn't too far down the ladder from abandoning one."

"Yeah, whatevs." Penelope groaned, rolling her eyes. "I came here to drag you back to class. Not hear about your daddy issues."

"Well consider it a wasted journey." Noel snapped back. "'Cos I'm not going. Give my regards to Dorian though."

Penelope glanced up at the sun hovering in the sky, a mischievous smile growing on her face.

"...You sure about that, Nolan?"

Noel's face twitched at the mention of his full name. "Yes."

The smile on Penelope's face grew wider as she shut her eyes, gathering her magic as she focused on the sunbeams.

"Intesifa."

The incantation rang in Noel's ears like a klaxon siren, the youth bolting upright with a gasp.

But it was too late. By the time his palms met the grass, the heat of the sunbeam intensified, burning his chest.

"Oww! Jesus Christ!" Noel exclaimed, jumping up with a start. "Are you crazy?!"

Penelope shrugged. "Well, I'm stuck in a group assignment with you. So I'm about halfway there."

Noel ignored her, wincing as he fanned his sunburn with his shirt. The skin was hot to the touch and the brightest shade of red-pink the boy had ever seen. And that was to say nothing of the searing, cold-hot pain.

Penelope smirked as Noel's gaze met hers. The boy sighing as he let his hands fall to his sides.

"...I'm not going to that class." he frowned, his face awash with concern. "You think I'm an idiot?"

Penelope said nothing, her face still as stone. She knew the reason Noel was so apprehensive about going to class. Everyone did. Noel, Penelope, the coven. Hell, even other students outside the coven. The reason being...

"Every time I walk into that classroom," Noel sighed. "You, Alyssa and the rest of the witches all either make fun of me, ignore me or mock me - and that's just a normal class."

Again, Penelope was silent. The Park witch folded her arms and looked down guiltily.

"...I-I can't control it." Noel hung his head. "I can't control my magic. I keep trying, but-"

"Look," Penelope sighed. "That doesn't matter, it-"

"You know there's an assignment today. So what's the plan? You all gonna make fun of me when I fail the chain spell? Laugh at me when I try? Oh! Maybe you'll all just sabotage-"

"Okay," Penelope groaned, holding up her hand. "One, I'm sorry for making fun of you that time. But you did almost set yourself and the teacher on fire - kinda hard not to laugh. Two, Dorian's watching the assessment so maybe he'll cover you. And three, my grade is riding on yours so they sure as hell better not sabotage us."

She crossed her arms, giving Noel a sideways look.

"Now, are you gonna haul ass back to the classroom? Or am I gonna have to burn something else?"

Noel rolled his eyes. Sighing in defeat, he scooped up his blue school jacket, wrapping it around himself as he stormed away.

"Penelope Park," he groaned. "Always the diplomat."

"Just walk." Penelope clapped back. "And please do your shirt up!"

The energy of the chain spell flowed effortlessly between Alyssa and her partners. Still as a cloud and gentle as a summer breeze.

It lingered for a moment, their conjoined arms glowing a glittery gold, before it dissipated completely.

"Perfect!" Dorian praised, marking off his checkboard. "Kane, extra points for attentiveness."

Kane said nothing, tugging his open-crowned hat as he went back to his desk.

"Lizzie, great work maintaining control. Good to see you're improving!"

The blonde Saltzman grinned proudly.

"And Alyssa. Fantastic work maintaining the core of the spell and extra points for flair."

Alyssa winked at the class, bowing with a overt flourish.

"Show-off." Lizzie groaned.

Alyssa flicked a lock of her hair. "Well, you know what they say; when you've got talent - flaunt it."

She looked Lizzie up and down with disinterested eyes.

"Not that you'd know anything about talent..."

Lizzie glared at Alyssa, storming over to her until Dorian spoke up:

"Okay, girls," he warned. No need to get catty."

Alyssa smirked as Lizzie backed away, her eyes still narrowed.

"Okay," Dorian murmured, tapping his checkboard. "Next up is Josie, Penelope and Nolan."

Josie nodded and left her desk, moving to the front as Alyssa put her hands on her hips.

"Oh, wonderful," she sighed smugly. "The exes and their defective third wheel..."

A bout of stifled laughter rattled across the room, prompting a frown from Dorian.

"That's enough." he warned the class. "You shouldn't laugh at your classmates' expense."

"At their expense? Not even when they're expendable?" Alyssa snickered.

More laughter, only this time, the witches didn't even try to hide it. Almost a third of them were hunched over their desks, holding their sides as they cackled uproariously at Nolan's expense.

All except for Lizzie and Josie.

"Shut up, Alyssa." the blonde twin spoke. "Not all of us are talented show-offs like you!"

"Well, look at this!" Alyssa scoffed. "One freak sticking up for another! Y'know I'd be a little more worried about this if I were you. What if Nolan's magic goes out of control again and he hurts Josie? What if he sets your sister on fire-?"

"...Then maybe you should swap places with her."

The witches piped down as Noel entered the room, his eyes narrowed as Penelope followed close behind him.

"Because if blowing you up is the next assessment, Alyssa, I'm shooting for an 'A'."

Alyssa sneered at him as Dorian ticked off Noel's name on the checkboard.

"Nolan," the man sighed. "About time you got ba- Whoa, what the hell happened to you?!"

Noel rolled his eyes and buttoned his shirt up further. "Penelope's sick idea of motivation."

"Don't be a little bitch, Nolan." Penelope chided as she "Just put some aloe vera on it and grow a pair."

"O-Okay," Dorian murmured, his eyes glued to Noel's sunburn. "Just uh...come up to the front and link hands with Josie and Penelope. Then we can get this started.

Noel marched up to the front, his heart sinking with every step.

"Thanks for having my back, by the way." he added, slapping Dorian's upper arm. "All that knowledge and you still don't know how to grow a spine?"

Dorian frowned at him.

"And it's Noel." the youth added.

"Alright," Dorian sighed. "You've made your point. Can you start the demonstration now?"

Noel frowned as he took Penelope's hand and led her to the front, the Park witch smirking at his discomfort.

"Try not to enjoy yourself too much, Nolan." she cooed.

"I'll try to restrain myself." Noel sighed.

Penelope extended her free hand towards Josie, giving the girl a seductive wink.

"Milady?"

Josie groaned as she took Penelope's hand, ignoring the sensation of the latter's thumb brushing her skin.

"Okay," Dorian instructed. "First, the incantation. When you're ready."

Noel's throat started to close up as he gathered his magic, the boy's hands shaking.

"Hey." a voice whispered.

Noel looked to his right to see Josie smiling at him.

"You've got this." she encouraged. "It'll be okay."

"Oh, get a room." Penelope groaned.

Noel bit his lip and resumed his magic gathering, willing his anxiety away as he cast the incantation:

"Phasmatos, et torquem aedificem."

The ends of Noel's fingertips began to glow, the yellow warmth slowly migrating onto Penelope's knuckles.

"Good." Dorian remarked. "Penelope, you're up."

"Phasmatos, et torquem ponere." Penelope recited.

The yellow light travelled from her left hand and across her shoulders, lingering on Josie's hand.

"Alright Josie, your turn." Dorian said. "And after Josie casts the incantation, I want you all to hold the spell for a half minute."

The trio nodded, though Noel seemed unsure.

"Please don't mess up." he begged himself. "Please don't mess up, please don't mess up…"

"Phasmatos, et torquem ponere." he incanted. "Phasmatos, et torquem ponere. Phasmatos, et- agh!"

The words suddenly felt thick in Noel's throat, the boy losing his train of thought.

Alyssa groaned. "Oh great! It's happening again!"

"No!" Noel groaned. "I-I can do this!"

He held tighter onto Penelope's hand.

"Phasmatos, et torquem ponere! Phasmatos - arghhh!"

A sharp, burning pain flared up the boy's whole right side. He grit his teeth, trying to fight the pain. But as he struggled, the words of the incantation were suddenly gone from his mind, as if his tongue refused to speak them.

No, no, no! Not now!

"NOEL!" Dorian called out.

Noel snapped out of his daze and jumped away as a surge of energy shot up Penelope's left arm, the girl screaming in agony.

The rest of the witches backed up and away from their desks as Josie dropped to Penelope's side. Hesitantly, the girl gripped her ex-lover by the shoulders, her fingertips glowing rust-brown.

Noel gasped. "Wait, Jo-!"

But Josie shut her eyes, the energy building around Penelope slowly dissipating. Within moments, all trace of it was gone, leaving only a dazed Penelope.

"Shit, Penelope!" Nola gasped, falling onto his kness. "A-Are you okay? I'm so sorry, I didn't-!"

Penelope groaned and nudged him away.

"It's cool..." she winced. "I-I'll live...thanks to JoJo..."

Noel pulled off his jacket and wrapped it around the Park witch, holding her close.

"Here, I'll take you to the Nurse's Office-"

"Get the hell away from her!"

Noel whirled around to see Alyssa and the other witches standing up from their desks, each of them staring daggers at him.

The witch swallowed and glanced sideways at Dorian, who nodded at him, giving the boy the signal to stand.

"I didn't mean to-" Noel began, but Alyssa cut him off.

"You said that last time!" the girl snapped. "And the time before that and the time before that. Every time your magic blows up and then you pretend like it never happened!"

"Now hold on, Alyssa." Dorian defended. "That's why I put Josie in group. So she could siphon the magic if anything went wrong."

"And how long before Nolan blows her up too?!" Alyssa retorted. She turned to face the rest of the witches, rallying them to her side.

"He's dangerous and you all know it! He shouldn't be allowed anywhere near this school or us!"

A group of 'Yeahs!' rang out across the room, at least a third of the witches taking a step forward. But before they could get any closer to Nolan, Dorian stepped forward.

"Hey, come on guys." he said firmly. "Give it a rest. Everything's under control now-"

"For how long?" a witch called out.

"What happens next time?!" another questioned.

"Yeah!" Alyssa barked. "How long are you gonna endanger us by keeping this braindead defective around?"

Her words tore straight through Noel's heart, like the cold edge of an icy blade.

"Alyssa!" Dorian shouted. "Apologize right now!"

But Alyssa wasn't finished.

"No!" she challenged. "And why should I apologize for him not being in control?!"

"Because-!" Dorian began.

Shut up.

A hot wind tore through the room, slamming the doors shut and knocking over the desks and chairs. Everybody jolted with fright, even as the wind died down. In a split-second, the entire room darkened. Every candle was snuffed out. Every lightbulb flickered and shut off. Every phone began to buzz and fizzle out. Even the sun in the window panes grew cold, as if something were blocking it's rays.

And Dorian already had one guess where it was coming from.

Noel hadn't moved, but something was wrong with him. His head was bowed and his fists were shaking at his sides. As Dorian approached him, heard heard Noel muttering to himself, his voice shaking and fearful.

"Noel!" Dorian exclaimed. "I'm gonna need you to calm down!"

Noel's eyes flashed open, but they were different from the ones Dorian remembered.

His irises were a luminous white and his sclerae were jet black, like a starless night.

"Noel!" Dorian called out.

But Noel wasn't listening. All emotion had vanished from his face and the venom was still spewing from his eyes.

The wind and the dry heat had vanished, but the malicious energy lingered, shrouding Noel like a heavy cloak. The boy took a single step forward, his predatory gaze fixated on Alyssa.

Alyssa, forgetting her snide smugness, took a single step backwards.

"Insult me one more time, you little bitch." Noel sneered, his voice low and guttural. "And I'll show you just how 'out of control' my magic really is."

The magic in the air was all but suffocating now, cracking the windows and fouling the very air.

Alyssa's body temperature was starting to rise. Her throat was beginning to constrict, as if choked by some phantom grip. And her eyes began to burn, the witch blinking back tears.

Alyssa's discomfort brought satisfaction to Noel's darkened face, his white irises gleaming.

Good. a sadistic thought urged at the back of his mind. Let her suffer. She's put me down for too long! Tried to use me as an excuse to curry favour with the other witches! Let her suffer, let her hurt- let her BURN-!"

"Noel!"

Noel snapped out of his trance as a pair of hands closed around his, the worried face of Josie Saltzman standing before him.

"Noel." she whispered. "It's okay. It's alright."

The soft lowness of Josie's voice drew Noel back from the edge, the soft, chocolate brown of her eyes quelling his rage.

Noel's eyes returned to their normal, dark auburn and his breathing steadied; the magic energy around him vanishing.

"J-Josie?"

"Shh." Josie hushed, putting a hand against his cheek. "It's okay, it's all okay-"

"No!" Noel snapped, pushing her hands away. "I-It's not, I-!"

He looked down, tears threatening to spill from his as he stormed over to the doors.

"Nolan!" Dorian called out. "You can't leave now! We still have to grade your assessment-!"

"Then fail me!" Noel yelled, throwing his arms up. "Hell, expel me if you want to!"

He dropped his hands as Dorian looked at him with unease.

"It's not like anyone here wants me anyway!"

And without another word, he left the room, slamming the door behind him.

"That's right! Leave!" Alyssa called out. "You stupid defecti-"

"Oh, shut up, Alyssa." Lizzie barked.