A banging at my door woke me up, “Hurry up Fi your late.” Da said.
   I sat up and looked at the clock. Eight twenty. Crap.
   Luckily I was already dressed, because I practically flew out the door and into my car. I parked Mellow at school and raced up the slope, reaching school with only a moment to spare.
   Jason and the others waved, but they didn’t have my attention.
   My heart had stopped.
   I only saw his bronze hair and broad shoulders, but I knew it was him. Storm was back. I felt myself grinning and hid my face with my hair as I ran up to Jason and Lucy, who were in my roll call.
   Jason gripped my elbow, “Come on, we better hurry or we’ll be late.”  
   I nodded. I walked over to the science block, and not being able to stop myself turned back to see Storm. Blue eyes met Jade eyes. He was frowning at me.
    Jason turned around to see what I was looking at. Seeing Storm he gritted his teeth and glared at him, “Great.” He said sarcastically.
   Storm met Jason’s glare and returned it, then he looked back at me. Suddenly he gritted his teeth and walked away.
   “What—” I started after him but Jason grabbed my arm and dragged me to roll call. He set me in a chair and sat beside me.
  He looked around the classroom, “Look Fi, I don’t think— Fi… Fiona?”
  I just stared off into space. My heart had a sinking feeling. That look, I remembered it quite well. I was starting to see similarities between Bane and Storm. The expression I was just given looked identical to the one I was given in my dream.
   Jason grabbed my shoulders and jerked me to facing him, “Fi, be careful, I don’t like this guy, there is something about him that, I don’t know but, just be careful, please” his eyes looked urgently at mine.
   I stared at him, “I will.”
   He sighed in relief and hung his head, “Fi really, I’d like you to stay away from him, but I doubt you’ll listen to me.”
  I shook my head, “Your right I wouldn’t.”
  He tried to say something but was interrupted by the calling of his name. We both answered to out name and I raced out of the classroom before he had a chance to say anything more.
  I made my way to my English room and sat down in my usual spot, by another window. The rest of the class sat in their seats. Then Storm came in. He scanned the classroom and spotted the only spare seat, next to me. His jaw went rigged and back squared.
   He walked up to the seat beside me and dumped his stuff on the table. He sat down, but probably as far away from me as possible, sitting on the edge of his seat, feet swung out in the hall way.
   I could see the tendons in his neck tighten and his pulse beat fast under his pale snowflake skin.  He went through the whole lesson like this. Back squared and teeth clenched.  
   Actually he went through the whole day like this. Having made such an impression on his first day about people sitting next to me, the seat was always bare and the only one bare in the whole classroom at that.
   I was tempted to speak with him, but as if he knew, he would turn and glare at me. So feeling slightly downhearted I made my way to the car park at the end of the day. I walked up to Mellow and stopped short. Storm was leaning against the driver’s door.
   I swallowed and walked towards him. His eyes shot a side ways glare at me, bringing me yet again to a halt.
  He stood up straight, “Hi.” He said in a low voice.
   “Hi.” I practically squeaked out.
   He stuffed his hands in his pockets and looked at his feet, “Look, I know I’ve been a bit,” he shook his head and looked up at me, “I’m sorry.” He walked towards his car.
   I was bewildered, “What?” he kept walking, “Sorry for what?” I yelled after him.
   He stopped at his car door and looked at me. For the first time today he smiled, but it was a sad smile, and his eyes lost their bright colour. He slid into the car and drove off.
   My mouth dropped as I stared after him, “What the—” I shook my head and got in the car.
  I got home and saw dad wasn’t home. I wasn’t worried; I knew he was seeing Judie. I walked into my room and looked through my stack of books. I found the two books I was looking for and sat on the bed, beside a sleeping Daysha.
   I picked up a heavy leather bound book. It had no title but it apparently belonged to a Lucinda Watson. I opened it up to the first page.
    It read:

         I always love starting a new Book of Shadows it’s so fun. So anyway, this is the new Book of Shadows (BOS) of Lucinda Watson, from Cambridge 1981.    
      
    I had found it at a garage sale. An old woman had given it to me for five pounds. Once I had read a bit of it I had gone back to her house and found that she had moved. A new family had moved in with their nineteen-year-old daughter Katie.
   Meeting Katie instead, we had become friends and she was helpful telling me that the book I had was a Witch diary. Katie was a pagan, and loved reading BOS and books on witch rituals.
   The phone rung and I bolted down the stairs to get it. I picked it up and heard a familiar voice on the other end.
   “Do you know how annoying a cat is when it rains?” it said.
   I smiled, “Hi Katie, and yes I do.”
   “Ok good, next question. Do you know how annoying two cats and eight dogs are in the rain?” She said
   I laughed, “No not yet.”
   She groaned, “Don’t ever think about it, its hell. I got no sleep.” I could imagine her running her hand through her light brown and blonde streaked hair.
   “Alright, note to self; don’t get two cats and eight dogs.” I said mockingly.
   “Cause your not here I’ll do the commentary for you. At the moment I am glaring at the phone, so indirectly I am glaring at you.”
   “You’re so weird.” I told her.
   She snorted, “I’d rather be that than normal. God, so sleepy. Any way kiddo how’s life?” she asked.
   “Interesting” I said.
   There was a pause on the other end, “What, is that all I’m going to get?”
   I rolled my eyes, “It’s not really something I can talk about over the phone. And no I don’t really feel like talking about it, but I’ll see you on Friday, maybe I’ll tell you then.”
  “Oooo now I’m interested. You could still come over and tell me about it, and you could bring Daysha.” She said.
  “Oh, are three cats and eight dogs ok?”
  “It’s not raining, and beside I love that little grey and black fluff ball.”
  “Sorry, see ya Friday” I said
  “More commentary, I am now pouting.” She laughed, “Chin up kid, Bye.”
  “See you later.” I hung up and wandered into the kitchen. I opened the freezer and put a frozen pie in the microwave. Once I had eaten it I went back up stairs to do some calculus homework.
   It was about nine thirty when Da stumbled in, and he wasn’t in a good state. He and David had gone to the pub and got completely pissed. I helped him into his bedroom and he flopped onto the bed.
   He was rambling on about a lot of things, that I didn’t pay attention to until I heard the word ‘Alice’. He sat up and put his head in his hands.
  “I’ve lost her.” He sobbed.
  I felt his anguish and sat on the bed beside him. Have you ever see a man cry, it’s not good, especially if it’s your dad.
  “I thought coming here would do me good, heck I thought it would do us both good, but it hasn’t done anything for me, nothing.” He wept.
  I wrapped my arms around him as he sobbed like a baby, my own eyes filling up. It wasn’t long till he was asleep, so I made him comfortable and crawled to my room. I changed into my pyjamas, tears running down my face.
   I climbed into bed and hugged Daysha to me. I thought I hated mum for what she had done to Da but I had had such a good relationship with her before she met her new husband. I closed my eyes and I opened them again. The sight before me wasn’t my room. I was on my back looking up at a night sky.
  I had fallen asleep.    
  I sat up. It was so dark I couldn’t see a thing. My only light was the stars shining out brightly against the velvet sky.
  “Brigid, don’t argue. There is something about her. I have to see if she’ll come back.” A soft baritone voice carried from the edge of the wood.
   I held my breath, waiting for a reply, I already had an idea that it was Bane, but who his companion was I had no idea. I was surprised to hear a soft crooning.
   I heaved myself up and followed the sound. I was in the wood for only a moment when I saw a warm beckoning fire. I made my way towards it. Suddenly there was a familiar shrieking and I fell to the ground with a cry, shielding my head.  
   “Brigid!” a voice shouted.
   The shrieking stopped and I peeked out from underneath my arms. Bane was walking towards me, so all I could see was his black, loose pants.
  He crouched down beside me, laying a hand tentatively on my shoulder, “She’ll not harm you.” He said softly.
  I pulled myself up and looked behind me. I fell back into Bane. There crouched regally was a Griffin. Her black and tawny colour feathers glimmered in the pale moon light and her gold eyes watched me intently and warily. Her claws were flexed aggressively, digging into the earth.
  “Brigid.” Bane warned in a low growl.
  Brigid’s claws retracted and she lowered her graceful head.
  “First impressions can often be frightening.” He said with humour.
   I suddenly remembered I was resting in his arms, and launched myself from him. I whipped around to face him and saw him slightly surprised and flushed. His touch had seared her skin.
  “What do you want?” I asked.
  “I thought you might be able help me and maybe I could help you.” He said bashfully.
   “What makes you think I need help?” I retorted
   He raised an eyebrow as if to say ‘are you kidding me.’
   I crossed my arms.
   “I’m… sorry, for how I reacted before.” Bane said a blush staining his pale skin.
   I smiled to my self. He looked so cute standing there, squirming under my scrutiny, and red as a rose. He stared at his feet for a moment before exhaling hotly, and stamping over to Brigid. He began grooming her.
   She glared at me.
   “What?” I asked.
   Bane looked up at me, an unreadable expression on his face.
   “What!” I asked yet again, more forcefully then before.
   And again no one answered me. I threw my hands up and walked away in a huff.
   “Wait.” Bane called out after me.
   I kept walking and heard footsteps crushing the grass behind me. I felt a hand on my shoulder pulling me to a halt.
   “Sorry.” He apologised.
   “No, I should be sorry, for making you so uncomfortable back there.” I said eyes lowered.
   Bane smirked, “Don’t worry about it.”
   I realised then we were out of the woods. I looked up at the mountain range and saw a brilliant light. It was the castle.

   He smiled, for the first time in earnest, “Yes it was, but it is not really a castle. It’s a crystal.”
   I stared at him in shocked, “Really, how unique, it’s so large.”
  “That it is that it is.” He said softly.
  “Why is it white tonight, when yesterday it was black?” I asked I was incredibly confused.
   Bane turned to face me, his hands on my shoulders, “It means I’m winning.” He beamed.
  Suddenly he took an involuntary step back. I looked down at my hands; I was fading. “This is going to become a regular thing isn’t it?” I said unhappily.
  He smiled sympathetically, “I think so. See you tomorrow…”
  “Fi or Fiona.” I supplied.
  “Fiona .” he said.
  “Bye.” I murmured.
  “Bye.”
   
   I sat up quickly. The knocking at my door became more persistent, “Fi? Are you alright Thistle?” it was Da.
   I moaned and the door opened, “Are you decent?” he asked.
   “Yes.” I murmured.
   “Good.” He swung open the door and walked over to the bed, “Look are you ok, you screamed something terrible last night, and it sounded as though you were being attacked?”
  Brigid. “I’m fine Da, don’t worry. Anyway how are you feeling?” I squinted at him through sleepy eyes.
   Da looked down at his hands uncomfortably. He coughed, “Umm, yes. The thing about me is when I get drunk I remember absolutely everything. I’m sorry darling; you didn’t need to hear about that.”
   I sat up, “No actually I did.” He looked at me in surprise, “You should have told me, we need to do something about it to help you, to help me.”
  He stared at me, “You too kiddo?”
  “Yeah, I miss her.” I said sadly, “Now get up so I can have a shower.”
    He smiled, “Yes ma’am.” He saluted me and left the room.
    After I’d showered and washed my hair, I sat myself down at the kitchen table with a bowl of cereal. As I ate I reflected on my dream.
    For starters was it a dream? Yes, it had to be.
    Secondly why was it the same person?  Because you’re obsessed with Storm.
   Thirdly, why the same place? No idea.
    It wasn’t like a dream. It was like an alternate universe. I’d made a mental note to ask Katie, she was both wiser and had more knowledge on scary, freaky, abnormal things happening to people. Hopefully. She was my last hope. Unless, I could ask Storm.
   That would be cheerful, “Hey Storm; I just thought I should ask you something. Do you know why I dream of you every night, except your not you but some one else and we’re always in exactly the same place?” I said aloud.
  “Oh no, I’m not mad. You don’t, oh well.” I slammed my hand down on the table in frustration, jolting my breakfast.
  “Are you sure?” Da asked, leaning on the doorframe.
  I jumped in my chair and blushed furiously. How long had he been there? I hung my head, my brown hair shading my red face.  
   I coughed uncomfortably, “Umm, yes…got to go I’ll see you s’afternoon. Bye.” I lunged for my bag and flew out the door.
    As I started my car Mellow I saw Da’s amused expression. God I was so embarrassed. On my way to school it started to rain. As I parked Mellow I savoured the smell of new rain on fresh grass. I walked slowly up the hill, smiling as other students cast me strange looks as they ran to get out of the rain.
   I walked through the gate and laughed when I saw all my friends huddled under the pergola. I came and stood a few feet from them still under the rain.
    Lucy laughed, “Fi, you crazy chick.”
    I shrugged, “That’s me.” I laughed.
    Ella shook her head, “I don’t mind rain but you...you love it.”
   I closed my eyes and spread my arms, face up against the sky, “The rain is the most beautiful thing on this planet.” I opened my eyes and grinned, “Apart from a few boys that presently go to this school.” Everyone except Layla and Mitchell laughed.
   I frowned and watched Layla. She looked sad and disheartened, and Mitchell looked edgy and uncomfortable. I caught a glance from Ella, and my suspicions were confirmed, something was definitely wrong.
   Layla's eyes met mine and I saw great pain, and it physically hurt me. I keeled over, clutching my stomach in pain. My friends came out into the rain, asking me if I was alright, which obviously I wasn’t.
   Suddenly I had the desire to look to my left. I did and saw another figure drenched to the bone, standing a few feet from us. His eyes met mine, and he smiled tentatively. I heard Jason take in a sharp breath. I straightened up, though the pain was no less.
  Storm looked at Jason then back at me, “You need to ground yourself, sitting down on bare ground is best, but—” he nudged at the concrete with his foot “This will do.”
   Everyone stared at him most in shock, but Jason was livid, “You don’t just arrive and tell her what to—” he was cut short and I dropped to the ground.
   “Not helping.” I stated crossing my legs and hanging my head.
    Storm knelt beside me, “Touch the ground with your forehead.” He went to place a hand on my neck but Jason growled at him warningly.  
   “Jason! Don’t, please!” I shouted as the pain worsened.
   Jason stepped back and Storm put his cool hand at the base of my neck. Suddenly he jerked his hand away.
   “What!” I demanded from him, the pain almost unbearable.
  “Nothing.” He said softly and replaced his hand.
  He pushed down till my forehead touched the wet ground. The pain slowly receded, flowing from me.
  “Gone?” Storm whispered.
  “Yes.” I said and he let go of my neck.
   I pulled myself to my feet and turned around, “What was the—” I started but Storm was gone, walking briskly across the courtyard and around the corner.
   I moved to go after him, but Sammii caught my hand, “What the hell was that? It was weird and it was Reeken.” Sammii made up many words, ‘Reeken’ was her personal favourite at the moment.
   “I don’t know.” I frowned trying to remember what happen. I cringed and shot a look at Layla. She frowned and then blushed. I didn’t know if she knew what happened, but she understood something.
   The bell sounded and I followed Jason and Lucy to our roll call. Lucy sat next to me in the warm room, but Jason appeared to sit as far away from me as possible.
   “Luc, do you no what’s up with Mitch and Layla?” I asked her.
   She bit her lip, “I’m not sure, but if she wants you to know, you will.”  Lucy wasn’t much of a talker, though she said what needed to be said.
   I nodded and waited for my name. Storm was different today, although he wasn’t like the first day we met or something else. Had he changed or was what he did a small act of hidden kindness?  I groaned and buried my head in my arms. My life was so chaotic.
   “Fiona  Harrow?” my short, plump, blonde haired roll call teacher asked.
   “Here.” I said automatically, the reply muffled due to speaking to the table.
   There was an awkward silence and I looked up. I nearly fell off my seat. The teacher was standing beside my desk.
   “You look like a drowned rat, Fiona Harrow.” She said sternly.
   I hated it when people used my full name; I always knew I was in trouble. I wasn’t in the mood though for her petty complaints, so I said something I probably wouldn’t usually say, usually.
   “Why thank you for your observation Mrs Larimore, you look like your normal Piggy self too.” I said viciously.
   Lucy covered her mouth with her hand to stop herself from bursting out laughing.
   “Fiona Harrow! I am disgusted.” Mrs Larimore said her fat face turning an ugly purple.
   “Good, cause so am I.” I murmured.
   “What was that?” she demanded.
   “Nothing, Mrs. Larimore” I said sweetly.
   “Go down to the office immediately, your on detention. Would you like an escort?” she sneered.
   “Yes Mrs Larimore, I would love one.” I shot back.
   “Who?”
   “Lucy would be good.” I said.
   “Good, Jason you can take her.” Don’t miss a thing, do you, you old bat? It was obvious Jason and I weren’t particularly on good terms.
   I walked out of the room and Jason followed behind me. I could tell he was pissed by the way he walked. We got out of the building and were walking towards the office when Jason pushed me into the brick wall.
   “What’s gotten into you Fi? You’re changing.” Jason demanded standing before me.
   “People change.” I said not meeting his eyes.
   “Look at me Dammit!” He yelled and I met his eyes.
   “It’s him, isn’t it?” he said softly.
   “Yes.” I said flatly.
   Jason leaned up against the wall with me, “I warned you, didn’t I?”
   “Yes but it’s to late now.” I said leaning on my side facing him.
   “You love him.” He asked.
   “I think so.”
   “Yeah, well I don’t.”
   I smiled weakly, “I know.”
   “Ok, but know, I’ll not give up on you.” He stared at me brown eyes full of intense passion.
   “You should. There are others who like you.” I said trying to flee his gaze.
   “That may be true but, that doesn’t mean I’ll give up.” he stood before me again.
   I froze. Oh god. He was going to kiss me. He did, touching my lips only softly with his, but I pushed lightly on his chest, urging him away. His eyes looked sad.
   “You can find your own way.” He said softly.
   “Yes.”
   He nodded and began to walk back to roll call. I took a deep breath and trudged across the courtyard to the office door.
   “Fiona!”
   I whipped around.
   Jason smiled sadly, “I won’t give up.” He said with certainty and walked into the science block.
   I shook my head. He should.