"My name is Mrs. Holden. I'm the principal of this school, and I've been running it for a little over ten years, taking over control when my late husband passed away. Rest his soul. I firmly believe that our kind should be able to exercise our abilities while also enriching ourselves academically. My husband founded this place decades ago to enable all future generations to progress with that very promise. With magic, there are many family blood lines, and I have become very familiar with all of them. What are your names?" "Ivy Emery," I plainly replied. "Inna Emery," My sister chimed in. I was the only one in the room that knew we were lying, but it had become second nature for me. "Hmmmm. I don't recall that surname on our list, and I can't recall an Emery ever enrolled in one of our branch schools. What are your parents' names?" Mrs. Holden inquired. "John and Jane Emery." Dammit, we shouldn't be here. The last thing I wanted was for the truth to come out and our cover to be blown. I peered outside of the window at the ominous sky as the principal searched through lists on her bright computer screen. After a few minutes, she looked at us more confused than ever, shaking her head in disbelief. Inna stood up, pacing back and forth. "If we nor our family name is connected to any sort of magical history, what does that mean?" Inna asked with her hands flailing in the air. Her frustration was evident, and I didn't blame her one bit. We didn't belong anywhere. "I honestly don't know. All magic has it's own signature inherent in the energy used by its keeper. Can you create a small ball of light for me?" Oh, shit. Inna cupped her hands infront of Mrs. Holden and formed a small orb. My nerves were getting to me. My breath caught in my throat and my muscles stiffened. Calm down, Ivy. Get a hold of yourself. I gripped onto the arms of the cedar chair, feeling how foreign it felt underneath me. How out of place I felt being in the last place I ever imagined being at; a magical school. Breathe. A small tremble left as fast as it came. Pheww. A breath escaped my lips as I noticed Mrs. Holden looking at me curiously. I averted her gaze as I nervously played with my amulet. "There's no signature. Absolutely nothing." A sense of relief washed over me as Mrs. Holden stood there quiet. She dropped her hands away from Inna's orb of light, and for a second looked as if she was going to say something. "Nevertheless, you both possess abilities. That is how you were both able to pass the forest edge to begin with. I'm deeply sorry for earlier. I was just taken aback. You both are more than welcome to stay." The tall woman shot up from her chair, motioning for us to do the same. We followed her through the halls and back out through the strong wooden doors. The crowd that had once been there laughing and rejoicing was now nowhere to be seen. No smell of food, no trace of music, no boy with deep emerald green eyes. What a night this has been. Although this school seemed decent, I wished for nothing more than to leave this place. As long as we were here, we were in danger, and no amount of magical lessons or teachers would be able to protect us. All those who got in the way would be killed, and I couldn't afford to live with any more guilt in my heart. The darkness of the night was overwhelming as my eyes strained to focus my vision. The stars felt like they were practically an arms reach away, and their beauty made me forget just for a second how screwed we really were. Mrs. Holden summoned a ball of light, and Inna and I quickly followed suit. We walked slowly down a worn down path that stopped in the middle of an empty grass field. We looked over at Mrs. Holden in confusion. "Put your hands in front of you and repeat after me--" Before Mrs. Holden could finish, a large victorian house appeared before our eyes. Inna and I stood there in shock, and when I finally broke my gaze from the scene before us, again, the tall woman was looking at me in a way that I couldn't really describe. With curiosity, wonder, suspicion--fear? Well, whatever she was feeling, she shook it off and led us up the steps of the Victorian. Not a word was spoken between us. All of this was unbelievable and almost too much to take. Poor Inna. I wanted her life to be as simple and normal as possible, but look at where we were now. We reached the top step and stood in silence for a second. A cold breeze hit my back and goosebumps spread throughout my body. Mrs. Holden kept opening and closing her mouth as if she was trying to figure out what to say. "This is where you will both stay. All of our other quarters are filled, and only those who possess the highest of powers stay here. We may not know the origins of your magic, but you will find solace here until we get to the root of all of this. For now, find Darian, the leader of this house, and he will answer any questions you both may have." As she was about to knock on the door, it suddenly swung open. Those emerald green eyes again. I couldn't help but stare. "This is Darian. He will help you both get settled in. See you all in the morning. Good night." Mrs. Holden turned and left without saying another word. I felt such a strong pull towards this guy and it scared me. I fought to break my gaze from his as we stepped through the front doors. Darian. Snap out of it, Ivy...