I shivered uncomfortably. Was the room cold, or was it just the tingles running up my arms from the spooky horror movie? I checked the air conditioning and gaped at the seventy three degrees showing on the small screen, then looked at Bryan fast asleep on the couch. Huh. I guess he likes it cold. I mused mentally. I smiled, shaking my head, and turned the television off, and put a blanket over him, then went upstairs and played a word search game on my phone to help calm my anxiety. After one level, I decided against the word search, and went to my computer to do some more research.

I felt a poke into my mind, and crossed my arms over the brown desk, closing my eyes. Are you sure you still want to do more research on supernatural beings? A voice asked me. I thought you would be sick of it by now and would have given up. I mentally glared at the voice but ignored it, and opened my eyes, going back to the same vampire website that I was on earlier.

I scrolled down the page, looking for the last paragraph I had read, when a noise behind me made me jump and want to scream. I looked out the window, and saw tree branches scraping against the repaired glass and breathed a sigh of relief.

Phew... I think something is inadvertently trying to tell me to get off this vampire site... or maybe I'm just starting to get creeped out because of that vampire horror movie that Bryan and I watched... I shook my head. Regardless... I'd better not mess with any ill omens...

I closed off of the vampire website, and sat down on bed, cross legged, looking out the window. It was almost nighttime. Bryan and I had spent the whole day in my apartment watching movies.

I let out a yawn, climbing under the covers. Another poke in my mind. I closed my eyes, and heard the soft spoken voice again. Not all vampires are bad... you may be surprised... go ahead, close your little eyes...and I'll show you a sweet dream tonight.

Uncomfortable shivers tingled down my spine, then I grimaced in pain, clenching my hand, but the more I clenched, the more the pain intensified. I sat up, opened my eyes, and opened my hand slowly. A pink crystal shone brightly, floating above my hand.

I stared at it incredulously, then a bright light flashed, and I covered my eyes, a hologram appeared, and a girl with what appeared to be an pink tunic, and red hair, stood just above the crystal. I moved my hand underneath the crystal, and above it. Weird... no strings... what kind of trick is this...??

"After many millennia, we have found the chosen one. Soon, you will start your training. You must come prepared, otherwise you will falter." I gasped. "What...?? Training...?? What is this about??"

The woman started to fizzle out. "You must train under a Master... who will help you on journey discover your true self." My eyebrows furrowed. "Wait a minute! Does this have something to do with those dreams??" I almost yelled, then the hologram disappeared, and the pink crystal disappeared into my hand with a small thwip.

I closed my hand, holding it close to my heart. I heard knocking on my bedroom door, and looked up too see Bryan standing there. "Hey...you ok?" My face flushed with embarrassment. How much had he witnessed? "Um...yeah I'm fine." I lied. He stared at me, as if he didn't believe me. "You sure? I thought I heard you scream." I shook my head, grinning. "Nope! Wasn't me."

He stared at me for a moment longer then shrugged, looking at the clock on the wall. "It's getting late. I'm going to head out and go home. Night." I walked him out, saying goodnight, and closing the door, locking it. I was about to head to bed, and then remembered the mess in the kitchen. Walking over to the table, I was about to start picking things up, then I remembered the crystal and stood by the coffee table in the living room, and held my right hand out, palm facing up, and the sparkling sphere rose up from my hand.

"Hmm...how to do this...??" I spoke out loud, holding the sphere higher, I closed my eyes, focusing on what I wanted to accomplish. "Clean the kitchen, please!"  The sphere erupted with light, and when I opened my eyes, the kitchen was sparkling clean! I gaped at it, checking the fridge and the pantry. Everything was neat and tidy in its place!

Incredible! I exclaimed mentally. I felt proud of myself. I peered at the shining sphere. This is... astounding. It's like magic! I could almost hear Stan Lee saying... "With great power comes great responsibility."

My body trembled excitedly at the prospect of having a magical ability, but at the same time, I knew I needed to be careful. If anyone found out about this power, it could lead to trouble. This must be kept secret! Something...or someone... yelled at me mentally.

I did agree though. Magic isn't something you just go around telling people, without them thinking you're crazy and needed to be put in an asylum. I stepped out onto the balcony, letting the breeze calm my nerves. I took deep breaths, releasing the shining crystal from my hand.

I stared at it closely. It was pink, and shaped like a heart. I smiled, feeling a little more relaxed...more confident. After folding up the blanket that I had laid out for Bryan, I went back upstairs to bed, getting cozy under the covers, and falling asleep. My stomach bubbled uncomfortably, and I opened my eyes, with a grimace. "Too much junk food..." I said to myself, rubbing my stomach lightly. "Maybe there really is such a thing as too many sweets."

I closed my eyes...and a weird song made it's appearance into my mind. It was hypnotic... but the rhythm of it was almost... soothing, yet creepy at the same time...kind of like an Evanescence song.

Wait... are those harp strings? I asked myself, turning to the right. I was inside a mansion, maneuvering through rooms, and I came face to face with...an automatic harp? Okay... face to string... the contrivance was playing by itself, a melancholic melody. I raised an eyebrow. I'm starting to feel like I'm in Alice in Wonderland... I thought to myself.

The shining crystal rose from my hand, and I gazed at it in wonder, looking around the strange room again.