Ember met me in the corridor outside my Maths classroom. Despite the awful half an hour that I'd been forced to endure, seeing her waiting for me made me smile gratefully.

"How was that?" She instantly asked, face beaming expectantly.

"Well, I'd already learnt the stuff in that lesson, the class is basically a Maths cult, and I ended up sitting next to Eric," I said it all in one breath, and then it was done. I wasn't feeling in a particularly chatty mood, though who could blame me?

"Oh," she responded simply.

The bell rang, meaning it was the start of break. The shrilling of the bell made the yellowy lights above us flicker, as if the energy required to direct hundreds of teens around a high school was all-consuming.

We walked on in silence for a few minutes, navigating our way out of the building while the younger grades yelled at one another and shoved their way through the crowds. Their blissful ignorance was something I hadn't experienced since I was bitten; the mundane lives they would lead would always be enviable to me.

Stopping my thoughts, Ember asked, "What did Eric say to you?"

"First of all, why does it even matter? Considering you don't like him, or maybe you do..." I paused and she began to protest, but I cut her off, "And secondly, believe it or not, there wasn't that much conversation."

There was zero conversation other than:

"Can you lend me an eraser?" — "A what?" — "An eraser... You know, that erases pencil." — "Oh, you mean a rubber. American dipshit."

Well, him calling me an American dipshit was said under his breath. Little did he know that every single one of those six syllables was crystal clear to me.

"I do not like him," Ember replied quietly. Despite the subdued tone of her voice, there was a fury behind those dark blue eyes — there always was, merely waiting to rise at the right opportunity.

"I know... Look," I sighed, cursing myself for being a jerk, "I'm sorry. I shouldn't have said anything."

"It doesn't matter." She shook her head, before lowering her voice once again, "I get it all the time." I still heard her, like she knew I would.

I followed her as she walked off to a group of friends sitting on some benches. I could tell from a mile off that not one of them was supernatural, and so I highly doubted Ember was that close with them. It seemed like she hung out with them whenever Wednesday and Al weren't around.

Eric was there, but as soon as I arrived, just seconds after Ember, he pulled Ember to one side to talk to her.

Great, now I have no one to talk to.

Uncomfortably, I stuck my hands in my pockets and waited for someone in the group to start a conversation. But it didn't look like it was going to happen, so awkwardly, I said, "Umm, hey..."

Damn, I've screwed up already, should've started with talking about the weather — that's pretty much all British people talk about, right?

"Chill," one of the girls said, chuckling slightly. "We're not gonna pounce on you like those girls outside of Photography. I'm Meg."

"Theo. Nice to meet you." I smiled a little and wondered what Eric was telling Ember.

"I'm Maia," another girl with mousey brown curls said. "And it's lovely to meet you..." She trailed off and her eyes did a full body scan of me.

Not wanting her eyes on me, I shifted and cleared my throat.

None of the other girls felt the need to introduce themselves, keeping mostly to themselves, not interested. The few other guys that were there just looked me up and down then looked away, equally as uninterested in me as the girls were.

I sat down on the bench next to Maia, which was instantly a mistake. Her eyes brightened and widened as she proceeded to bombard me with questions.

Okay, so Meg lied. Maia pounced on me.

"I heard you fought with Damien, is that true? What classes do you have? Are you seriously having to redo a year? Does that mean you're 17 yet? Do you know how to drive? Can I have your number?"

"Jesus Christ, Maia!" Ember exclaimed, "Give him a break. He's only been here a couple of days."

"Yes, but he's already the talk of the school!" Maia rapidly fired back.

"For real?" I asked, faintly bemused.

"Don't let it go to your head," Ember warned and rolled her eyes.

"I doubt there's much that doesn't go to his head," Eric audibly murmured, sniggering. No one said anything or did anything to counter him, so he continued in a highly accusatory tone: "He's so vain and thinks that every girl is in love with him!"

"That's enough, Eric," Ember said, just as I'd opened my mouth to tell him that he was the vain one. "Just back off."

I stood up and grabbed her arm, twisting her towards me. "I don't need you to fight my battles for me." I glared at her.

"Yeah, Ember, why are you sticking up for him?" Eric pushed, narrowing his eyes at her.

"Maybe 'cos she's got more guts than you'll ever have, Eric." I spat his name out; it was quickly becoming a sour taste in my mouth.

"Oh, just grow up already." Meg sighed as she watched the conflict unfold.

"Okay, no problem," I said and walked off.

Ember ran after me, calling out, "Wait, Theo."

"Why should I? You know I can stand up for myself, right?" I turned to her face her, frowning.

"Yeah, I know, but..." Her words faltered.

"But what, Ember?" I snapped back. "Why are you acting one second like you hate me and then the next you're defending me against your ex?"

"I could ask you nearly the same question — one second you're all over me and the next I don't even know what's happening." She sighed and wiped her hands on her skirt, before blowing some hair out of her face and groaning in frustration, "God, you make me hot."

Instantly, one of my eyebrows arched and a smirk crept onto my face. "Oh yeah?"

"No. No, not like that, you freak!" She rolled her eyes. "You know what I mean."

"Sure," I grinned, but I couldn't stop my eyes from flitting up and down her body.

She blushed and looked away. "I'm sorry for defending you — I just thought it was the right thing to do. And, just so you know, I think of Eric as more of my friend than my ex, it's less awkward that way..."

"It's fine." I shrugged. "I probably overreacted a bit anyway."

"Anyway," she began, and we walked out of earshot of some teachers. "How's your back now?"

"It's been better." I huffed. "But the fact that I don't know what caused it is bothering me more than anything."

"Well, maybe we can figure it out..." Ember paused, "What were you thinking about when it, like, started happening?"

"I'm not entirely sure," I admitted, "I don't think that I was thinking of anything. You said something whilst walking off... and then the pain hit me."

"What exactly did I say?" Ember eyed me inquisitively, cocking her head to one side as she tried to remember.

It was less than two hours ago — how could she have forgotten already? But I decided not to push her; she must've had other more important stuff going on.

"You told those girls to get lost, and when I thanked you, you said you only did it because I deserved something worse than them...

"Oh, I remember now." Her face dropped and guilt swam in her ocean eyes.

Rushing to comfort her, I said, "But you only meant it as a joke, so that's what's not making sense here."

There are a lot of things not making sense. But it's easier if we tackle issues one at a time.

"Maybe..." She hesitated, unsure.

"What? Whatever it is, tell me."

If there was even the slightest chance of knowing what had caused that pain, it was worth finding out. I had a strong feeling that it was connected to my pack's disappearance, and the Agency and them not wanting me to leave the safety of Lake Oldoy.

"Well, I might be able to find out if I use my Sight..." She trailed off.

"What's the matter?" I asked, making direct eye contact with her worried eyes. "Why don't you want to do it? It's worth trying, even if it doesn't work—"

"No, it's not that..." She said, and it was clear she was still troubled by something.

"So, what is it then?" I snapped, my patience wearing thin.

"I... I'm not sure whether I'll be strong enough to see." Seeing the confused look on my face, she continued, "It depends on how compelling the incantation is, if it was cast by a powerful sorcerer or magus... then there might be a secondary incantation that prevents anyone other than the caster from finding out exactly where the spell came from and who cast it."

"So...?" I asked, unable to grasp what she meant — I'd never been able to understand the magic side of the supernatural world.

"So, I might not be able to learn anything if the person who cast it was, like, super powerful."

"Oh." I nodded, finally understanding.

She rolled her eyes, "Was that dumbed down enough for you to understand? Or do I need to write it down for you as well?"

"No, I understand now," I huffed, brushing her comments off.

"Do you want me to try and do it?" She questioned.

"Sure. I mean, it's worth a try."

She shifted. "Erm, you'll probably have to take your shirt off when I do it — so that I can get a better connection to your skin."

Playfully, I replied, "Sure. But how many more times do I have to take my shirt off until you take off yours?"

Ember blushed fiercely, though couldn't help herself from biting her lip as she cast her eyes down — damn, she's so sexy without even realising it, without even trying.

"What's this about taking off shirts?" Eric walked around the corner, obviously having eavesdropped on at least the last part of our conversation.

"Nothing, and even if it was something, it would be none of your business," Ember snapped at him matter-of-factly, her blush fading rapidly.

Eric narrowed his eyes at her, "I know what I heard. But whatever." And then he walked off, with his hands in pockets and his shoulders hunched forwards.

"We'll talk later," Ember said under her breath to me, as the bell went — break was over.

"Where should we—?" I asked, but she had already gone, and I was alone in a crowded hall of people. "Meet..."

The back of my neck prickled with pain, and as I rubbed it, I hoped that I wouldn't get another outburst like earlier.

Now that would be awkward to try and explain — a pain that came from nowhere.

It took me way too long to find my other lessons in the afternoon and I was late more than once. The day dragged even longer as I had no classes with Ember. She also was nowhere to be found at lunchtime either, so I ate my chicken wrap alone, which was better than some of the offers I had been given.

Damien's group invited me over. When I declined them, Linzi, Vicki and Izzi invited me over. It took all the willpower I had not to tell them that I would rather push rusted nails through my palms than sit with them.

Sitting on my own wasn't the most fun, but it had given me time to think.

Surely it would be more accurate and more appropriate for Wednesday to use her witchcraft to find out who had been screwing with me? Why is Ember so set on doing it herself?

My brain ached for the rest of the day with that singular question: why is Ember so set on doing it herself? I couldn't figure out why, no matter how hard I tried. Some things are just too complicated to try and understand.

Ember found me at the end of the day — apologising for being somewhere at lunch, claiming she'd had something on.

When I saw her, I grabbed hold of her arm and pulled her to one side. "Why are you so set on doing this?" I was finally able to spring the question that had been bothering me all afternoon, that and the fact I got lost on about three separate occasions.

"Why are you so set on grabbing onto my arms or wrists when you want something from me?" She snapped back at me, yanking herself away from me.

"Fine. I'll stop." I stepped back and held my hands up in mock surrender. Though I knew the chances of me stopping were few, how else was I supposed to get close to her?

Ember huffed and raised an eyebrow as if she knew I wouldn't stop — no matter what I said.

"So...?" I raised my eyebrows back at her.

"So what?" She glared at me; arms folded firmly across her body.

"So: why are you so set on doing this yourself?" I said, trying not to hurt her feelings. "I mean, surely Wednesday would be more... 'qualified'? And more, like, capable?"

She rolled her eyes. "Well, maybe because I feel partly responsible? I said a spiteful thing and then your body tore itself apart... Not what I need on my conscience right now."

"What else is on your conscience?" I asked out of curiosity.

She laughed and shook her head. "As if I would tell you."

She began to lead me away from the trees coated with protective charms and deeper into the woods surrounding the school grounds, which were technically out of bounds.

"Christ, what did I ever do to you?" I scowled at the back of her head as she walked ahead of me.

She span around — nearly whipping my eyes out with her hair —and hissing under her breath, "Do not blaspheme in these woods!"

"Why not?" I shrugged a shoulder. They looked like normal enough woods — tall trees with wide trunks, an abundance of leaves beginning to transition from summer greens to autumnal oranges and reds, mounds of leaf litter carpeting the forest floor and hiding thick tree roots.

It might've looked pretty, but Ember nearly tripped up more than once. I forced myself into silence whenever it happened; she was out there helping me, so I had to refrain from embarrassing her.

"Full of questions today, aren't we?" Ember smiled condescendingly at me, her annoyance apparent.

"Oh, whatever," I retorted gruffly.

"It's a long story," she warned. "Okay, so. There was this Christian saint who lived on an island near Lake Oldoy, and he allegedly performed miracles when he was just a child. They say that a swimming accident when he was a child led to the deaths of the sons of several visiting princes. He then brought them back to life and averted war by spending a night in prayer..."

She drifted off at the end, no doubt imagining the strange ways in which supernatural elements weave themselves into religious lives.

Some people like to believe that science and religion intermingle; that Earth is too perfect to have been created by pure chance — that some divine intervention was needed. It's similar to the supernatural world; humanity has always obsessed over control, and tales of their lack of it in comparison to supernatural creatures are omnipresent, even in today's society.

"And we shouldn't blaspheme in these woods because...?" I asked, gently reminding her that she hadn't finished.

"He was attacked and murdered somewhere in these woods," she said quickly and turned to look at the lake shore. "It happened on the druid new year, March 25th, and so for centuries witches, wizards and anyone who showed any mythical or necromantic powers were chased away. Saint Francis was set up as a safe haven from the supernatural, originally to honour the assassinated saint, but over time it's become just another village."

"What about Lake Oldoy?" I asked, and my voice had quietened, now aware of the spirits amongst the trees.

"Isn't it obvious?" Ember shrugged, before glancing across at me and narrowing her eyes, "If Saint Francis is a haven and a heaven, what does that make Lake Oldoy?"

"Hell..." I said under my breath, and she nodded.

"Not that it's true today, though. Supernatural beings can still be there and not end up being burned to death by the locals. I mean you live in Saint Francis, so it can't be true."

"Yeah, and you live in Lake Oldoy so it can't be hell." I looked across at her.

"I can't tell if that's a joke or not." She narrowed her eyes at me sceptically. "I mean, just think about it, a fire shifter, a Phoenix doesn't exactly belong anywhere except hell, right?"

My eyes widened. "It wasn't meant to be a joke at all. It was meant to be a compliment. But if you think I'm just insulting you, then I won't bother trying to be nice to you anymore."

She glared at me. "As if."

"It's true." I shrugged but dropped it anyway. "And besides, if you ended up in hell, then I would most certainly be there as well."

"Wow, Theo," she replied. "That's a real comfort."

I said nothing, and we walked deeper into the woods. An eerie silence cloaked the forest, broken only by a bird's fleeting song and the gentle lapping of the lake against the shore. I tried to let the tranquil surroundings calm my racing heart — but too much was plaguing my mind; too much was riding on Ember being able to help me.

"Are we nearly there?" I asked impatiently after we'd been wandering around the woodland for what felt like an eternity.

"Yep. We're here," Ember said, then pointed to a pile of rocks on the ground, "Here's the cairn." A forlorn shadow passed over her face.

"Hey," I said softly and placed a cautious hand on her shoulder as she sunk to the ground. "Are you okay?"

"I'm... fine," she said uncertainly.

"Are you sure you'll be able to do this?" I asked.

"Yes," she replied with more confidence. "I'm okay, I'll be fine to do it."

"As long as you're sure."

In truth, as well as being worried about if she was okay, I didn't want her to screw up maybe the only lead I had on my ex-pack and whether they disappeared or were taken.

"Theo," Ember said, and I focused on her at the impromptu use of my name, "I will be fine. We'll work out what this is, okay?" She smiled at me, taking a hold of my hand and squeezing it as she stood up.

I squeezed her hand back and hoped that I could trust her. Doubt still nagged at the back of my mind, will she be able to do this?

"So, I'm not entirely sure how long this will take," she admitted, dropping my hand and pushing her hair back into a band; a concentrated look crossing her face.

"That's fine," I told her, trustingly, "As long as I end up with an answer, then we're good."

Nervous, she replied, "I'll try to get you an answer then."

"If you try," I told her, placing my hand on her shoulder again, "Then that's all I can ask you to do."

She nodded, shrugging off my hand, "Okay, so if you take your shirt off and lie on the bench."

"Sure," I said, and, after undoing my tie and the first few shirt buttons, pulled my shirt over my head. Whilst crumpling my shirt into a ball, I asked Ember, "Where's the bench?"

"It's over there." She tilted her head to my right, avoiding looking at me.

"Okay then." I nodded, turning to start walking towards the bench. The slab of wood that rose up out of the forest floor didn't exactly look accommodating, but it was probably better than the ground which was gnarled with old, twisted roots.

Impulsively, I glanced back at Ember and our eyes caught each other's gaze. A blush rose in her cheeks before she looked away.

Smiling to myself, I walked to the bench and lay on my front. The ridges in the wood grazed against my chest as I breathed, and I could only hope I didn't end up with splinters.

"Erm," Ember began, "I don't know whether this will hurt you or not... So just brace yourself —okay?"

"Ember, I'll be fine, I can handle physical pain," I told her.

It's emotional pain that I can't handle. Though I wasn't about to tell her that.