The early September air carried the scent of autumn in its chilly wake as it whistled through Sable. The skies above were not uncharacteristically clear, blue as aquamarines with few cotton clouds scattered about. The sun's bright fire face blazed overhead, but radiated just enough comfortable warmth from its golden rays that coats are not needed. It felt like fall, and all around a thick wave of excitement and anxiety loomed, for students were hurrying (or intentionally running late) to their first day of school.

Like a little flowery blur was Isabella as she gracefully coasted downhill on her light blue Schwinn bicycle. She carefully and quickly swerved into the parking lot, where she stopped and attached her bike to a railing. Then she took her satchel, fished around within it for her class schedule, and made her way toward the front doors. A pretty smile curled her rosebud lips and a gentle pink flush dusted her caramel cheeks. She ran skinny fingers through her wavy locks of shiny ebony, which fell around her shoulders and stopped just above her elbows like a dark curtain.

"Here we go," Isabella said softly to herself, stepping through the threshold as a wave of nervousness tingled in her gut. "Senior year, you're going down."

Then she joined the flowing throng of students searching for their classrooms. She tugged a little at her blue Jean jacket, which she wore over her favorite floral print dress and cream colored ballerina flats. Once she successfully located her class, she was relieved to find that it was empty, save for the old poetry teacher reading a book at his desk. He looked up at her and smiled warmly, welcoming her to sit wherever she wanted. After a brief introduction, Isabella found a seat in the back by a row of potted plants and a window. Then she took her favorite novel from her bag and began to read as other students started trickling in.

Lyra Kingsley It was just another September morning, the only difference now was that Lyra Kingsley would no longer be continuing her studies within the comforts of home. Now she was going to embark on a whole new journey -High School.

Despite her inner excitement, she couldn't help but feel a littler nervous. She wasn't used to the crowds of other students and had absolutely no idea on how she would survive. High School on t.v. wasn't the same as real life. What if things didn't work out? What if no one liked her? What if they found out her secret? Would they think her a freak? She thought of these things as she walked down the emptying, long corridors of the school. Schedule and class number in hand, she searched for her assigned room.

Lyra Kingsley Once she found it, she walked in and despite the teacher asking her to introduce herself, the girl shied away and quietly took her seat beside another girl. Something about her light aura made Lyra feel akin to comfort -as if she were home again. This was going to be a long day.

Daemin was already inside the school's premises even before its opening. As always the hunter was patrolling the grounds, even during his summer vacation -which really wasn't much of a vacation if you asked him. Classes were already starting now and he had yet to return home to change -but to what use? Might as well get to class right? Not that he cared much for his education but it was either that or standing there with Gerda who wouldn't stop talking. She kept trying to make him do her a "favor" which required him finding this man who could well be in his prime years just to tell him that she still loves him.

"I'll talk to you later Gerda, I have to go to class." That said, the hunter turned and left the spirit up on the roof of the school. She didn't need to be feared, she was harmless -but annoying. Once Deamin got to his classroom, he took his usual seat in the back of the class, noticing a new student immediately, for how could you miss a new face? The hunter practically knew the entire school. He had to for obvious reasons. Shrugging off his old book bag, he took out an old notebook, and a pen, but ever wary of his surroundings as he shifted into learning mode.

Young Isabella was immersed in her own fantastical world as she read each line of her novel Dracula with heightened interest. She had always loved the tragic story, and has read it many times, each time being even more wonderful than the last. Her large honey colored eyes danced along the pages, and her bottom lip folded beneath her front teeth as she began to gnaw on it, totally entranced. She hadn't even noticed that more students had filed in, taking their seats all around her while they bustled with noise and chatter. One girl in particular sat beside her, instantly breaking Isabella's focus on the count. She turned and looked at her, eyes warm as a melted honeycomb, and a smile sweeter than the substance itself. Curiously, she hadn't yet noticed Deamin, who was seated right beside the girl.

"Hi," she began happily. "I'm Isabella. Are you new? I don't think I've ever seen you around here before."

A little reluctantly, Isabella shut her storybook, sealing away the magic realm she so loved to get lost in. As she tucked it away into her satchel, she scanned the room for any familiar faces, most of which she was acquianted but none she had developed relationships with. A small sigh escaped through her pink mouth and she leaned back against her seat, eyes traveling through the clear windowpane to gaze onto the campus lawn, which was littered with colorful leaves. Perhaps if her pupils focused well enough they could see the outlines of partially translucent beings, which moved about almost as busily and heavily as the students themselves; but alas, Isabella was not blessed with such accurate eyesight.

Lyra glanced at Isabella who was smiling gently at her and introducing herself. She seemed very friendly and genuinely kind.

Smiling shyly, Lyra introduced herself as well and found speaking to the girl even more comforting.
“Yes I’m very new. I’ve…never really been to a school before, it’s like a whole new world here. I hope I make it.” Lyra said.

“She’s God’s favorite daughter, a good friend to have.” Another voice said, this one light like silver bells, bearly disturbing the air.

Lyra was aware of her eyes watching her, of Katherine's presence, her tender and loving aunt.

A lovely young lady materialized as if out of thin air, she had long fiery wavy tresses that spilled down her back, her smile rather intensely and thoughtfully as her jade eyes watched the two girls exchange friendly words.

Lyra turned her attention subtly behind her to spot the apparition, who seemed luminous and shimmering even more in her beautiful, lacy white dress, akin to something worn in the late century, Kat oh so loved vintage apparel.

Lyra smiled back at her, her amber eyes lit up as if to thank her for being here with her.

Katherine's grin deepened at her niece's change in mood, although it was a small change it meant so much to the spirit who desired nothing more than to see to it that she finds her true happiness. Something however caught Katherine's attention which made her look up. As if noticing some one else present for the first time.

Alarmed at her aunt's reaction, Lyra divided her gaze toward the front of the classroom. She now began to realize there was something very wrong here. She became aware of a menacing and melancholic sensation in the entire room, most likely throughout the entire school building as well. Mostly the feeling of oppressive air felt strongest in this particular room. Lyra slowly stood from her seat, feeling the immediate sense of a presence when she moved. It wasn't comfortable of safe -like the feeling she got at her aunt's closeness, it was cold and strange. As the girl crossed toward the large glass, new window fixtures, her vision faded and blurred, then cleared to see the much older windows of a not so distant past. She saw the world in black and white, then she knew, she was undergoing a supernatural trance. When her hand came in contact with the window sill, Lyra felt heavy chills rush through her small frame. A strong, angry vibe shocked through her as she slipped deeper into the trance.

She picked up the remnants of an unresolved past.

“Miss Kingsley, please return to your seat.” the teacher said, staring at the new student as if she were crazy. Why did that girl look so dazed? What’s the matter with her? She thought shaking her head as she called on to the student again.

“Lyra…Lyra…”

…

“Gerda…Gerda…”

A young man in a white shirt and black slacks murmured as he paced across the empty classroom, going up and down the long room. He appeared nervous and almost guilty, worried over this Gerda for some reason. Lyra felt his fears and nerves as he walked, afraid almost to come face to face with this girl.

Lyra knew that he wouldn’t notice her standing there with him, she was seeing his past.

“Gerda, where are you…?” he whispered, his pace quickened, anticipating her arrival.

The apparition seemed to fade and reappear in quick flashes as he walked to and fro.

“You killed my daughter you bastard!”

Another strong, deeper voice bellowed. M

Making Lyra flinch suddenly at the powerful wave of spirit energy that blasted into the atmosphere. The spirit of much older man stormed into the classroom, his black eyes glaring at the other as he came to a stop in the middle of the room.

“Did something happen to Gerda Mr. Wellington?” The teacher asked.

Lyra noticed now that he was her teacher, and that he was connected to Gerda somehow.

“You happened!” Mr. Wellington hissed, lunging at him in a rage. “It’s your fault she died!” he shouted as he punced the other in the face and tackled him to the ground.

The teacher was shocked, he had nothing to do with Gerda’s death and he hadn’t even known that she had died, he last saw her the night before, and she was perfectly fine. Until that is, she professed her love for him and he inevitably had to tell her that he was married.

Her sadness to his rejection is what made her commit suicide.

This he figured as he regained his bearings and tried to defend himself against the crazed, sad man.

The man took the professor by the collar and shoved him through the glass windows which gave way and the teacher fell to his death.

At the exact same time, the lights above dimmed, then brightened blindingly before they blew out.

The students in the classroom screamed and hurried out of their seats to avoid the rain of broken glass.

Katherine who never really strayed too far from her niece's side reached out to touch Lyra's arm, despite not being able to physically touch her as she's liked, it was enough to pull the girl out of her trance.

"The man... Gerda's father, pushed the teacher Noelle out this window." she whispered, shaken by the vision. Once the girl mentally shook out of her trance, she felt the room's atmosphere dissipate. The haze that had overtook her mind faded away and she could think clearly again. Glancing up at her aunt, Lyra couldn't help but cry. This was a tragic Romeo and Juliet story in a way.

Standing up from his seat, hunter instincts kicking in, Deamin glanced at Lyra, he knew then and there that she was a medium, a very young one at most. When the lights went out, he went after Isabella, a huge chunk of glass would have hit her if he hadn't done so. Moving the girl away from the falling glass, he glanced at Lyra as she jostled out of the trance.

Everything happened too fast for Isabella to really comprehend the situation. Before she knew it, Lyra seemed to have gone off in her own world, her eyes moving quickly to and fro. Then, the lights flashed overhead and exploded, and before Isabella could even think about reacting, a brute force pummeled her to the ground. She came to her senses and realized that a pretty good looking young man with lovely blue eyes was practically straddling her; being a hormonal teenage girl, she couldn't help but turn a little scarlet in the cheeks.

"What's going on?" she asked, propping herself up on her elbows and gazing around at the frenzied students. "What happened?"

She looked at her savior, her expression urgent and a little worried. Then she looked at Lyra, who had stood still, save for the little movement she made to evade the falling glass shards. Her thoughts remained characteristically calm as she shuffled to her feet, turning back to face Deamin and inquire what she should do next with her eyes.

Lyra blinked a few times, and though the hunter seemed to acknowledge her she wondered if he could see what she saw. When he slipped out of the room, the girl turned to Isabella and quietly asked her if she was okay.

-edit-

Katherine stared after the hunter when he left, she wondered about that boy. How was he able to detect that the person in most danger was the girl? But then realization reminded her that it wasn't out of sheer coincidence. It was fate. Not only that, but Isabella was a special girl, whether she knew it or not.

((I had posted earlier but it got cut, so I'm posting again.)

Deamin looked at Isabella and told her it was just the lights, that nothing ws wrong, he then fixed his gaze at Lyra and nodded slightly, he knew what he had to do now. Slipping out of the classroom unnoticed he trekked out into the halls and up the stairs to the rooftops where he would meet Gerda's spirit. When he got to the spot he glanced back to see if he'd been followed. Seeing no one there, he turned and almost flinched when the ghost suddenly appeared. She asked him what he wanted and he replied with a question. "Does Professor Noelle ring any bells?" Gerda's eyes lit up at the mentioning of the name of her beloved, but she could tell by his sad expression that something was wrong. When she asked hi of this and he told her that the man had died a long time ago, the spirit reacted unexpectedly by sobbing and disappearing. Leaving the hunter standing there alone.