Serene's view

The worksheet is pretty straightforward. When did these powers develop? When I was three. How did you receive them? I inherited them from my mother. Are there any elements involved with your powers? No, just

I pause. What do my powers really involve? Shadows, for sure. Specifically, my powers are the darkness inside a human soul, but that's a bit too much.

After debating for a few moments longer, I erase 'just' and leave it at 'no'. Better to not answer than to lie.

What level of control do you currently have on a scale on 1-10? Seven

I can confidently say I have a high level. Sometimes I lose control, like I did with Jenna earlier, but that's rare.

After finishing the test, I turn it in with about six other kids. Brietta is currently chewing on the end of her pencil, twirling a piece of hair around her finger. I glance over her shoulder to see what question she's on, and I'm surprised to see that my normally quick friend hasn't even answered the first question.

Over time, each and every kid turns their paper in, and with each one, Bri pales even more, fidgeting until the chunk of hair she's twirling is frizzy beyond belief. Finally she's the last one in a silent room.

Kalia clears her throat. "Those who are finished, please begin to pack up. I'm going to go over your answers, and I don't have a plan for after this test. Please just mingle for the last four minutes."

I nudge Brietta. "Are you okay?"

She huffs out in annoyance, slamming her pencil down. "How do you explain that your powers come from residual magic left over from a time your mother stole a fairy's wicked staff?" Bri snaps, rubbing her face yet somehow not smudging a bit of makeup.

"Um... like that?" I suggest.

Brietta barks a laugh. "It's a little more complicated than that, Ree. You know that. I saw you debating on what to put, too."

"True." I agree. "Just wait until class is over, go up there, and explain to Miss K."

She pauses, tapping her fingernail on the table, considering my train of thought. Finally she meets my eyes hopefully. "Come with me?"

"Sure, Bri. My next class is right down the hall, anyway."

"Psh. You're a Freshman, it doesn't matter if you're fifty minutes late. Just say you got lost." Brietta waves her hand nonchalantly. When the bell rings, everyone instantly stands as one. Everyone but Brietta and I gather our things and head out the door, while Bri and I walk up to Miss Kalia's desk.

She looks up, smiling vacantly. "It's all right, Brietta Hook. I already know why you stayed, and I don't mind that you didn't fill it out. The answers don't matter so much as the thoughts the questions trigger."

Brietta blinks, surprised.

Kalia focuses her eyes on my friend. "The purpose behind the class is to understand the magic inside of you, not to brag about them. It is my job to hone your magic, girls." Her gaze slips to me. "To help you become more yourselves, not the thing everyone expects people with powers to be."

A tiny flicker of anger stabs in my chest as I remember Jenna's tendency to use her powers to show off.

Kalia nods, like she can see inside my head. "Your sister could do with taking this class. You're wise to want to perfect your magic." She tells me, matching my grin when I let the praise wash over me.

"So... I can just throw it away?" Brietta asks slowly.

Miss K nods. "Recycling, please. Have a good day, Brietta and Se...rene." The second she says my name, the whole atmosphere of the room changes. The temperature drops suddenly, a faint fog seeming to cover the three of us. Kalia's eyes glaze over, and her fountain bubbles a little faster.

"Shade..." she mumbles, her hand drawn toward the fountain of its own accord. "Dark black... pitch black... silver... silver bells... silver moon... a silver shadow."

She suddenly gasps, her eyes clearing again and the room becoming normal. I barely realize that Brietta and I are clutching one another until Miss Kalia suddenly sees us and flinches.

"Oh---you two can leave now." She stammers, a hand moving to her forehead. "I'm not feeling all that well."

"M-Miss K..." My mouth is dry, and I rub my tongue over my lips a few time to steel myself. "What was that? I've seen you predict before, but never to that extent."

"That was predicting?" Brietta demands. "I thought you just kinda saw stuff. Not go all Trelawney on us!"

Kalia shakes her head. "Please say nothing about what you just saw, girls." When we don't answer, her normally peaceful gray eyes flash angrily. "Promise me."

"We promise." We both stammer.

"Good. Now please get to your next class." Kalia pulls out a phone, which looks entirely out of place with her outfit and one hand still in the fountain. "I need to make a call."

We nod and back away, practically tearing from the classroom. The second we're out, Brietta rounds on me. "Please tell me we're going to tell someone."

"What? Bri, we promised Miss Kalia!" I say, wringing my hands.

"Ree, come on. We just heard an honest-to-goodness prophecy-type thing." Brietta bursts, clapping her hands. "And Miss K looked shaken, which is something that never happens."

I bite my lip, twisting a bracelet around my wrist. "Well... do you even remember what she said?"

"Yeah. Something about shade, black, and silver shadows. Know what any of that means?"

I shake my head, but dread builds inside my chest. Shadows... she started freaking after she said my name. She wouldn't... she couldn't possibly mean...

Me?

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