A/N: Sorry its been so long since I updated this book! I hope this chapter makes up for the wait! Also thank you LostGirl2423 for finding the face claim for Sera! She's perfect. I made the gif below :D Also I really like the format I use for What a Tangled Web You Weave so Imma start using it for most of my books I think. 

𝓘 𝓴𝓷𝓸𝔀 𝔂𝓸𝓾𝓻 𝓽𝔂𝓹𝓮
𝓨𝓮𝓪𝓱 𝓭𝓪𝓭𝓭𝔂'𝓼 𝓵𝓲𝓽𝓽𝓵𝓮 𝓰𝓲𝓻𝓵
𝓙𝓾𝓼𝓽 𝓽𝓪𝓴𝓮 𝓪 𝓫𝓲𝓽𝓮
𝓛𝓮𝓽 𝓶𝓮 𝓼𝓱𝓪𝓴𝓮 𝓾𝓹 𝔂𝓸𝓾𝓻 𝔀𝓸𝓻𝓵𝓭

☽𝕊☾

I slowly crept out of my dorm room and down the dark hallway towards the main room of the school. Apparently this school didn't have much of a problem with students sneaking out of their dorms because there was absolutely no one around standing guard in the hallways. Of course there was probably a camera system and I'd be in deep shit come morning, but I couldn't think about that right now. Jefferson had a way into the restricted section of the library, and I desperately needed to get in there.

I made it into the main entrance without a problem, and put my hand on the door to walk outside into the courtyard but a sudden hand catching my wrist made me jump nearly out of my skin.
"Not a good idea!" Jefferson hissed.
"You asshole!" I hissed back "I thought you said to meet in the library."
"I did, but then I realized you had no idea how to get out of here without setting off the alarm." Jefferson said. "You open that door, it sends an alert to every teachers phone, and Jones makes it a personal challenge to be the first one to catch students sneaking out."
I'm sure he does. Sounds like a very Killian thing to do.
"Okay so how do we get to the library?" I asked. "Do you have a spell?"
Jefferson chuckled and shook his head.
"I know the code." He said and punched in the code on the keypad beside the door. "Kind of boring I guess, but I'm saving my good tricks to get us into the restricted section."
"Is this how you disarmed the alarm on the gate too?" I asked.
"That took a little more work but I can't go revealing all my secrets." Jefferson smirked and opened the door.
"Shall we then?"
I sighed, thinking if I really wanted to break my promise to Killian. If I could save my dad, then it would be worth it.
"Lets go." I nodded and stepped outside and shivered a bit at the crisp air.

We hurried to the library across the courtyard and Jefferson got us inside with ease. We made our way to the back of the library where the restricted section was. I put my hand up and touched the barrier blocking this section off.
"Okay so how do you turn this off?" I asked.
"I actually can't. This is one of the almost fool proof security systems in the entire school. Dark magic is nothing to mess around with."
"Well first off, if you can't get through it, Why are we here? And second, why have a bunch of books in a library if you don't want students to access them? I've never understood restricted sections." I sighed.
"I never said we couldn't get through it. I just can't take it down." Jefferson smirked.
"Well.. how do we get through it? You aren't making a bit of sense Hatt." I glared.
"Watch." Jefferson said and opened a pouch on his satchel and pulled out a dormouse.
"A rodent?" I asked.
"This is my pet thank you very much." Jefferson scoffed. "She's here to be an example of how we get through the barrier so you don't think I'm crazy." Jefferson added.
"A little too late for that." I mumbled.
"Do you want in there or not Stark?" Jefferson asked.
"Fine. Yes. Show me the thing with your rodent." I sighed.
"He's a dormouse." Jefferson sighed and set the dormouse on the floor.
I watched as the little mouse ran straight through the barrier without a problem.
"How did he do that?" I asked.
"He's small enough that he can get through without being noticed. We are too big." Jefferson smiled.

I sighed and threw my hands up.
"I'm 5'3" Jefferson, I can't get any smaller!" I hissed.
"You can, actually." Jefferson said and reached into his satchel and handed me a small square of..cake?
"You brought snacks?" I asked.
"Its laced with shrinking herbs smart ass. Just eat the cake." Jefferson groaned "Not the whole thing at once, you'll need some to get back out." Jefferson added and took a bite of his cake. I gasped as he began to shrink in front of my eyes. I'd never even heard of shrinking herbs. Jefferson was far more advanced in potion making than I was though.

I took a bite of the cake and put the rest of it in the pouch on my backpack before I felt the strangest sensation as I began to shrink down to the size of Jefferson's pet dormouse. I held my stomach when I finally stopped s
hrinking, feeling very nauseated.
"The first time is the worst." Jefferson said.
"You do this often?"
"Yup." Jefferson grinned. "A lot of the stuff I need for my potions is found in these books. Its not all dark magic, some of it is just extremely dangerous so they don't like us messing around with it..." Jefferson saw my panicked expression, fearing I'd be stuck the size of a rodent for the rest of my life.
"Don't worry, I've perfected the shrinking herbs, and the grow potion." Jefferson smirked. "You're in good hands, Stark." He added and nodded towards the restricted section.
"Ready?" He asked.
"Ready." I nodded.

I squeezed my eyes shut expecting to be vaporized the second I stepped into the barrier, but was pleasantly surprised when I made it through to the otherside.
"What happens when we grow?" I asked.
"Nothing, we're already inside. We'll have to shrink again to get back through though." Jefferson shrugged. "Easy peasy."
Jefferson opened his satchel again and handed me a vial with pink liquid in it.
"Just a sip or you'll outgrow the building." Jefferson warned. I sighed and pulled the cork on the vial and took a small sip and put the cork in the vial and put it next to the cake in the pouch on my backpack. If I thought shrinking was nauseating, growing back was worse. This time I thought I'd actually be sick.

"Like I said the first time is a bit of a bitch." Jefferson chuckled as he joined me at normal height. He opened his arms and gestured around the area.
"Seraphina Stark, welcome to the restricted section. Unlimited magic is now within your grasp." Jefferson smirked.
"You know if you were just a regular guy, you'd be great in drama class." I snorted.
"I'll take that as a compliment." Jefferson said. "Now, what are we looking for?"
"Healing Magic." I said and started looking.
"You would go for the most difficult." Jefferson said. "Healing magic is nothing to play around with Sera. Dark magic is give-"
"And take, yeah I know. But I need it and I'm running out of time." I said.
"Sounds..serious." Jefferson said as he joined me in my search. "What do you need it for?"

I sighed and turned to face him.
"My dad is dying. Cancer." I said and tucked my hair behind my ears.
"Oh..shit, I'm sorry Stark." Jefferson frowned. "You know there are spells, and potions to prolong his life that aren't as risky as this. I can help."
"I don't want to prolong his cancer Jefferson, I want to erase it." I swallowed thickly. "I appreciate the offer, but I don't have much time. I think he's at the end, I just feel it. Last time I saw him was in the hospital and there was something different about him." I said and came across a book that said Resurrection. I picked it up but Jefferson took it from me.
"That..is not what we are here for." He said.
"Is that.." I started
"A book containing possibly the darkest of magic? Yes. What you are looking for is risky enough. This opens up a Rabbit Hole you do not want to fall down Alice." Jefferson said and set the book down away from me.
"Don't call me Alice." I scoffed and continued looking until I found a selection of books on healing magics. I needed something quick, and effective that didn't take days to make or anything like that so I picked up a couple of books of healing spells and placed them in my backpack.

"Are you sure about this? I've seen your spell casting exams." Jefferson said.
"I have to try Jefferson Why help me if you don't think I should do this?"
"I wanted to apologize for what happened on Halloween. You didn't seem to take the verbal apology so well, so I figured if I helped you, you'd see how sorry I was. My intentions were never to cause harm. I knew you were uncomfortable and I wanted you to have fun."
"You kissed me while I was under your spell." I said.
"I read the signs wrong. I thought you were feeling the same. I'm sorry." Jefferson apologized. I could tell he was being sincere.
"Apology accepted." I said and gave him a small smile.
"I suppose... I can't really compete with Mr. Tall and broody.." Jefferson said. My smile faded.
"Yeah.. I know. I came back early and saw you leaving his loft. But..don't worry your secret well.. Secrets are safe with me." Jefferson said and put his hands up.

"Why? What reason do you have to keep my secrets?" I asked.
"If you haven't noticed, I don't have many friends. Most people who talk to me want something from me. I like hanging out with you... I don't want to lose that, especially not over Mr. Jones.. So I won't tell. About you and him, or you dabbling in dark magic."
"Thank you Jefferson." I said and put my hand on his shoulder. "Now I just have to figure out where to start with this." I sighed.
"Study up. Don't try anything until you've read all of the material on it and start small with plants and bugs. But also...be cautious. Dark Magic can increase the high you already get from your regular magic.The haze gets stronger and so do the powers you already have. Power like this can change you. So take care of what you do with it Sera." Jefferson said.
"I will. Thank you for helping me." I said. "Now..let's get out of here before someone catches us?"
"Sounds like a plan." Jefferson smirked.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Before I knew it, the sun was shining through the window in the dorm, and I was still awake reading. I wanted to know everything I could before attempting anything.
"Whatcha reading?" Regina asked. I slammed the book shut and threw it back into my backpack before she could see.
"Just some extra stuff for Mr. Jones' class. Big exam this week remember?" I asked.
"Yup. You'll need all the help you can get. His tests are the worst." Regina sighed. I raised my eyebrow at her. For some reason since after Christmas break Regina had started being nice to me.
"What?" Regina asked.
"You don't act like you hate me anymore." I said.
"Well...I felt bad that you had to stay here for Christmas because your mom wouldn't let you come home. I mean my mom is a bitch..but your mom.." Regina shuttered.
"I don't need your pity friendship Regina.." I said.
"Its not pity. I just figure if we have to live together we may as well not be miserable.."
"And your friends? The ones you pretend I don't exist in front of?" I asked.
"We'll...figure it out." Regina shrugged. I scoffed and turned back to my desk.
"Don't bother." I mumbled.
"What are you doing? Class is in like 30 minutes." Regina said.
"I'll be a little late there's some stuff I need to do." I shrugged.
"Jones will roast you if you are late. It's test week." Regina said.
"I can handle the heat." I smirked to myself.
"Your funeral Stark" Regina scoffed and left the dorm.

I pulled the book back out of my backpack and opened it to the first spell. I got up and walked across the room and grabbed the flowers Regina kept on her desk and set them on mine beside the book. I took one of the petals on one of the flowers in my hand and tore it before looking down at the spell. I mumbled it to myself a couple of times to memorize it before I looked at the torn petal. I sighed thinking about Jefferson's words. Once I started this, there was no going back. I just didn't understand how magic used to heal could be so bad. Gold did it frequently and he seemed fine. I was

I raised my hand to the torn petal and began the spell. My palm glowed and I felt a strange power coursing through me. I finished the spell and slowly pulled my hand back from the petal and grinned. The once torn petal was healed. I did it and it was as simple as a small spell. If I could do this, with a little more work I was certain I could heal my Dad.

I felt giddy as I made my way to Killian's class. Jefferson was not wrong I felt stronger and the high from the dark magic was stronger as well. Even though I was late to class and Killian would probably be pissed off I couldn't help but be smiling. I opened the double doors to Killian's class and strolled in.
"Miss Stark, you are nearly 20 minutes late." Killian barked.
"Yeah sorry, it takes a bit for me to wake up sometimes." I shrugged and sauntered towards him. He raised his eyebrow.
"Hallway." He said.
"I'm already late and now you want to have a meeting in the hallway?" I asked.
"Now Stark!" He snapped and stormed past me. I smirked at the gasps and the oohs from other classmates as I followed him out of the classroom.
I waved my hand and the doors shut behind me.

"Stop!" Killian hissed. "We agreed to keep your newly developing affinity for air between us. Did we not?" Killian asked.
"Relax, for all they know you got pissed and slammed the door." I chuckled.
Killian took my face in his hands studying my eyes and my likely blown pupils.
"You're bloody hazed. You were practicing before my class?" He asked.
"I have an exam in elemental magic today. I wanted to be prepared." I lied. I felt a twinge of guilt for lying to him. There was an exam in Ingrid's class today but that's not what I was practicing.
"A heads up would have been nice." Killian said. "You can't show up to class like this. When you're hazed, you could let something about us slip."
I rolled my eyes
"And then that's just one less thing to carry on our shoulders Killian..."
"Is it truly that much of a burden to you?" Killian asked.
"I didn't mean it like that Killian.." I sighed. "Can we just go back in? Sorry I was late."
"I suppose I can forgive you this time Stark. Don't make me give you detention." Killian winked.
"Don't tempt me frodo." I smirked.
"Go in." Killian chuckled and nodded towards the doors. I slowly walked towards the doors giving him a playful look over my shoulder. Before I opened the doors and walked in. Killian followed close behind me.
"I expect that will be enough of the attitude for today Stark. Find your seat and copy the notes on the board." Killian snapped as he walked past me to the front of the class.
"Sure thing Jones." I said and took my seat next to Regina.
"Told you He'd be pissed. He gets terrible during exam week." Regina whispered.
"I got it." I shrugged and hid a smirk on my face. Maybe I could do something to put a stop to his terrible mood today.

----------------------------------------------------------

On my way to potion making, Jefferson stopped me in the hallway.
"I assume you didn't over sleep, because you look like you didn't sleep at all." He said.
"Correct." I nodded. "But I did learn a small spell." I grinned. "And I tried it out, and it worked." I added.
"Already? You seem to be a natural." Jefferson said. "Which..given that its dark magic may not be a good thing. How do you feel?"
"I feel great Jefferson." I smiled. "I feel stronger."
"Please be careful Sera." Jefferson sighed. "Its dangerous to change things too much."
"Gold does it all the time. He fixed my broken nose, and a burn on my hand and he seems fine." I shrugged.
"If you think he seems fine, you're worse off than I thought. There is something wrong with that man. I feel it." Jefferson shuttered.
"I Just don't understand how magic used to heal could be considered bad." I grumbled. "Why have these powers if you can't help people."
"Its a butterfly effect. You might heal someone who later turns around and kills a bunch of people. When its someone's time to go, it's their time to go." Jefferson said. "We aren't meant to change fate.Thats why its considered Dark."
"Its not time for my dad to go. I refuse to believe it is." I said and walked away from Jefferson.

-------------------------------------------------------------

☽𝕂☾

I sat in my office, inside of my classroom grading papers when I heard a light tapping on the wall outside of the office. I looked up and raised my eyebrow at Sera.
"You should be in spellcasting." I said.
"I wanted to see you." Sera grinned and sauntered over, putting herself between me, and the desk.
"Sera.." I said.
"I put a locking spell on the door." She said and bit her lip.
"spellcasting..is not your strong suit." I said. "Which is why you should be in class."
Sera walked her fingers up my arms, leaving goosebumps in their wake.
"I tested it. The door only opens if you know the password." She whispered.
"What has gotten into you today?" I smirked as Sera's fingers found the buttons on my shirt.
"Hopefully you soon." her voice took on a sultry cadence.
"And you kiss me with that dirty mouth." I said with a mocking gasp.
"You love it." Sera grinned.
"That I do Seraphina Stark, That I do." I winked. Sera crashed her lips into mine and only pulled back when she needed to breathe. Her eyes seemed to glow with desire as her fingers worked feverishly at the buttons on my shirt. I pulled her hands away and pulled the shirt open. It was as if we were under a spell, we began shedding clothes like they were on fire.

------------------------------------------------
We lay in a heap on my office floor, catching our breaths.
"That.." I started.
"That was amazing." Sera breathed and rolled over to face me and smiled. "I missed you." She added and curled into me, burying her face in my neck.
"Its only been a few weeks since Christmas break." I chuckled. "But...I missed you too my little phoenix."

"I should probably go soon, it's almost lunch time, and you know how Emma gets with head count." Sera sighed.
"Aye. you should. Maybe we can think of a less risky way for us to do this."
"We'll figure it out. I'm sure theres an invisibility spell somewhere Jefferson might have a potion."
"Jefferson? Since when are you spending time with him again?" I asked.
"Since he explained what happened on halloween. He didn't do it to hurt me Killian, he just wanted me to have fun." Sera said and stood up, finding her clothes. "You know.. He knows about us."

I sat up.
"What??" I asked.
"He's not going to tell, but he saw me leave your loft."
"I don't trust him as far as I can throw him Sera he basically drugged you."
"It wasn't like that Killian. He promised not to tell. He barely has any friends."
"Well I wonder why.." I scoffed.
"Come on Killian.." Sera sighed. "If you don't trust him. At least trust me. I know who to pick as friends." Sera said.
I sighed heavily.
"I do trust you Jefferson just doesn't have the best reputation."
"I Know. but he deserves a chance. He's my partner in potions and he really helps me out." Sera said.
"Okay... okay." I said. "If you trust him so much maybe I can try." I smiled. Sera smiled and kissed me on the cheek.
"Thank you." She said. "I Have to go." She said as she finished getting dressed. "See you in the dining hall."
I dressed myself and fixed my hair that Sera had tugged and pulled in all different directions just moments ago.

I followed Sera to the doors and smirked
"Allow me." I chuckled. and leaned in. "Alohamora." I said unlocking the doors.
"Wait! How did you know thats what I put as the password??" Sera pouted.
"Please, I know you and your love for the Harry Potter references. Stark." I grinned.
"I wanted to say it." She pouted again. I smiled and leaned in and kissed her pouting lips.
"Next time my love." I smiled. "Go to lunch."
"Fine." She smirked and opened the doors walking out of them.
I turned back to the classroom and noticed she left her backpack on one of the desks in the room.
"Sera wait!" I called but she had already turned the corner. I sighed and walked over to her backpack and picked it up. Apparently it was unzipped because all her books fell out. I placed them back in the backpack one by one but my heart sunk as I came to one book in particular.
Healing Magics
This was a book I knew damn well was in the restricted section. How she got in there, was what I didn't know. But what hurt was how she promised me she wouldn't touch dark magic and lied to my face about it. I felt my jaw twitch.
"I..I can explain."
I looked up at Sera standing in the doorway to my classroom.
"Killian.. I can explain." She said again.
I hope you can Stark...