I was still buzzing with excitement from my evening of watching magic when I awoke the next morning. Even seeing my silver streak in the mirror as I was getting ready for school couldn't bring me down today. Grandfather was already out in the fields as Casimir and I headed out, riding our bikes down to the train station. It was a chilly November morning and I could already see frost creeping its way across the scenery as we rode through the hills surrounding the farm. I was glad to have my gloves on while chaining my bike to the rack near the station and even Casimir had put on a scarf to help keep warm. We made our way through the small station, hopping on the train heading towards the city. I sighed audibly as we got onto the heated train car, settling into the closest pair of seats I could find. I slung off my backpack as I prepared for the long ride to school. Casimir chuckled as he watched me, unbuttoning his coat as he sat next to me.

"So what do you do when it snows?" he asked.

"What do you mean?"

"Well, I can't imagine you biking in the snow to the station," Casimir admitted. He wasn't wrong to think this, as I hated the cold.

"I walk uphill, both ways!" I joked. The young warrior seemed puzzled by my joke so I explained it to him, causing him to laugh.

"So you walk to the station?"

"Sometimes, only if the roads are too icy. I usually wear snow boots and pants," I confessed. "Then I change at school."

"Ah, make sense."

"It doesn't snow that often, but if it's really bad Grandpa will give me a ride in the truck," I recalled with a smile. "Although I hope it doesn't get so bad that the trains shut down. I can't afford to miss any more school."

"Let's hope not."

Casimir read his book the rest of the ride, while I sketched in my notebook. I was trying to work out the details of the man I had seen in the hot springs because I was beginning to think he was the bridegroom from my recurring set of dreams. They had the same coloring and shape to their body and face. Sadly my drawing skills couldn't capture the look I remember him giving my dream self, which ruined the picture for me. I noticed Casimir glance over at my drawing, frowning slightly before returning to his book. I slammed the cover of my sketchbook closed, choosing to stare out at the scenery instead. I would try again later when I wasn't in a moving vehicle.

The train announced our stop and we both hopped off, chugging along as we made the short walk from the station to the school. I took a deep breath as I passed through the gates, not letting myself look at anyone as I made my way up the walkway to the front of the school. The historic building looked even more intimidating today and I felt my happy buzz beginning to die as the waves of amusement and suspicion rolled off the students around me. A rush of joy washed over me and I looked up to see Maayan, Azar, Sunita, and Zola hanging out at one of the stone pillars by the front stairs.

Maayan waved enthusiastically, causing students nearby to giggle at them as they shouted. "Welcome back!"

I waved at them, smiling as I did. I was happy to see my two best friends hanging out with my guardians, everyone getting along. I had met Zola and Sunita two years ago at school when I came to Sunita's defense against another classmate's nasty comments. This memorable event sparked the beginning of our friendship and we have been inseparable ever since.

Zola was a witty, confident black girl with large brown eyes, beautiful deep brown skin, and a dazzling smile. She was known for her many pairs of fashionable eyeglasses, her love of all media, and her green thumb. When she wasn't out hiking in a forest or a mountain you could find her growing something, either in the garden at school or at home. Any downtime was spent watching movies for which she dissected mercilessly.

Sunita was as quiet as Zola was outspoken, a beautiful but shy East Indian girl, with thick eyebrows, brown eyes, and long flowing black hair that she always wore tied back. Sunita spent most of her time reading, practicing piano, or studying; especially now that she had been moved into the elite class. This meant we saw less of her but she still managed to hang out with us, regardless of her crazy schedule. For a while, I had worried that she was being used by the Dark Prince or his minions when I thought I had seen her at the nightclub where I was attacked. Sunita swore that she had never been there and I could tell she was being honest.

"There she is," Zola cried out, rushing to give me the first hug of the day. "Our little coma miracle girl."

I coughed out a laugh, returning her hug. "Okay, it wasn't exactly a coma."

"What else do you call sleeping for a week?"

"My insomnia catching up to me?"

Sunita had wandered up behind Zola, reaching out for a hug as well. "Actually there is something called 'Sleeping Beauty' syndrome, where a person will sleep for 12 to 24 hours a day."

"Oh, maybe you had that instead?" Zola quipped, adjusting her purple glasses with a smile.

"I don't know, it's very rare," Sunita responded thoughtfully.

"The doctors said it was extreme exhaustion or trauma, I don't remember," I said with a grimace.

"I feel like that is something you should remember," Zola shot back, her eyes traveling over to the side of my head with the streak. "Why is that still on your head?"

"What, you don't like it?" I asked, pouting my lip slightly.

"It looks great 'Rouge'," she quipped, and I had to ask what the reference was from. Zola explained, flicking at my silver streak with a condescending tone. "Watch a few more movies, Massey."

"You'll have to show it to me," I relented.

We all made our way out of the cold and into the school, my friends creating a circle of protection from any other student's curious gaze. We had just passed the principal's office when I heard someone call my name.

"Ms. Massey, a moment please."

I groaned inwardly as our group stopped, each turning to look at the principal. Mr. Williams was standing just outside the admin office's door, eyeing me specifically. I gave my friends a look as I walked back, slapping a smile on my face.

"Yes sir?"

The heavyset man stood with his hands behind his back, his lips pouted and brow furrowed as he noticed my silver streak. His dark hair was slicked back, mustache was immaculate, just like his suit. I coughed softly as I got close, his cologne invading my nostrils.

"I need to speak with you before you go to class," Mr. William said, gesturing for me to enter the office. "I will write you a note for your teachers."

The idea of walking into a classroom already in session and having everyone stare at me was not at all appealing but sadly I had no real choice.

I followed the principal into his office, ignoring the judgemental look I got from his assistant. I took off my backpack, setting it on the floor as I slid into a chair at the front of his desk. Mr. Williams sat down across from me, pausing as he thought about what he wanted to say. I could sense his fear and confusion.

"Ms. Massey, how are you feeling?"

"Ah, okay I guess," I replied, watching him carefully. "Arm still hurts though."

I patted my left arm gently and the principal's eyes shot over to where my wound was, his lips pressed tightly together. I wondered if he was one of the many people who didn't believe my attack actually happened.

"We were very sorry to hear about what happened, and about your hospital stay," Mr. Williams said. His feelings told me he wasn't actually sorry but I couldn't call him out on it.

"What 'happened'?" I repeated, curious as to what exactly he was referring to. I wanted to hear him say it out loud.

"Yes, the, um, incident," he stammered, staring down at a file on his desk. He reached for a pen, tapping it nervously on a pad of paper as he avoided my gaze.

"Which incident do you mean? When Mr. Burke attacked me on school grounds, or when Zachary Evans slashed at me with a knife?"

"Well, both, of course," he muttered, flustered now. "I was shocked to learn what Mr. Burke had done the night of the Open House. I wish you would have spoken up so we could have taken action."

I felt my temper flare, knowing that this administration wouldn't have done anything for me, even if my teacher hadn't ended up being possessed by a wraith. They also never did a single thing to stop Zachary's harassment of me before the nightclub incident. When it came to Zachary it was always his word against yours, and his word seemed to be worth more in this school.

The memories of Mr. Burke's attack, unfortunately, came flooding back to me at that moment. I could never forget what happened that night. It was, after all, the event that lifted the veil on Terra and my secret past life. It all took place during the open house last month. That was when my homeroom teacher Mr. Burke lured me away from my Grandpa, attacked me, then transformed into a monstrous wraith. I didn't want to think about what would have happened if my Grandfather or Casimir hadn't shown up to save me. Mr. Burke died that night at the hands of Casimir's Sun Sword, turning into a pile of black ash.

I thought that was the end of him but Burke's evil masters used his death as a way to separate grandfather from me. Somehow the Dark King's minions duplicated Burke's body, planting a bunch of false evidence that tricked the police into arresting my grandfather and charging him with murder. In an effort to prove his innocence, I fell for another one of their traps, rushing off to a local city nightclub to confront the wraith-possessed Zachary. At some point, a pair of detectives who were investigating my grandfather showed up at the club and witnessed the whole battle. This included Azar's flame attacks, Zachary's transformation, and my lunar light show.

Somehow I had managed to separate Zachary from the wraith possessing him, but I couldn't save him from the assault charges he faced later on. The detectives decided to not speak about the magic or monsters they had seen, which wasn't all that surprising.

My long pause and angry stare unnerved the principal and he fidgeted in his chair.

(To be Continued in Part 2)