Destiny sat up in bed, feeling an intense burning pain that caused her legs to spasm. The nerves in her left shoulder burned with such intensity that she could almost smell the singeing flesh. It drenched her forehead in sweat; the salty beads trickling down her face. Despite the chilly morning, a crackling surge of magical energy tingled against her trembling hand, sending shivers down her spine. She mustered the strength to limp towards the fogged-up mirror; the condensation swirling at her touch. She winced as the sharp sound of her ankles popping resonated in her ears. The chilly breeze wafted through the room, causing goosebumps to prick her skin.

She gathered her school uniform, the fabric feeling cool and smooth against her fingertips, but she longed for the warmth of her bed. These recurring dreams plagued her, leaving her wondering if they were a warning or a glimpse into the future. As she stared out the window, the icy breeze brushed against her flushed cheeks, providing a welcome relief to her overheated skin. The trees in the distant forest swayed in harmony with the wind, their rustling leaves creating a soothing melody. Destiny's mind wandered to the familiar clearing she had been seeing in her dreams. She changed into her uniform and entered her walk-in wardrobe, only to trip over the combat boots she had carelessly left lying around the night before. With a heavy thud, she landed on the creaking floorboards; her aching arm sending a sharp jolt of pain from her elbow. Slowly, she stood up, checking her knees for any visible red marks, feeling a dull ache settle in.

Destiny groaned. "Today is not off to a good start." Destiny muttered, grabbing her combat boots. The skirt fluttered when she walked, heading downstairs and turning down the hallway, and turned right into the kitchen, boxes laid scattered around in the corners of the room.
They haven't finished unpacking yet. Destiny smelled the subtle scent of blood orange incense burning on the windowsill. While Selina wore a winter jacket with a business suit, she was cooking eggs in a pan, adding a variety of herbs and spices. Selina took out the toast, adding them to the two plates.
The smell of steaming lavender tea penetrated Destiny's nostrils. She wrinkled her nose up in disgust. Destiny doubted the fever or sickness Selina clammed she had didn't exist, but took her seat at the table, thinking of the cooking lessons Selina taught her.
"Good morning, Destiny, "Selina said, serving the bacon and eggs. "Do not forget to drink your lavender tea."
"Selina, are you sure? The tea is working. I woke up today with my shoulder on fire?" Destiny said, concerned. Selena glanced at from her toast and eggs, swallowing a piece of bacon, looking Destiny in the eye with a puzzled stare.
"It might be nerve pain. I'll try to get you an appointment with the doctor this afternoon, but the tea has Camille and lavender in the brew. It should help. If you the pain gets worse, I'll come pick you up from school early," Selina replied.

She bit into the golden toast. Enjoying the taste of seasoned eggs, she shoved the bacon in her mouth, her stomach gurgled with the need for food, she finished her breakfast suspicious of the steaming tea beside her plate.
Destiny sighed, slipping into the tea, taking her time. She began coughing when the strange bitter aftertaste hit her tongue; She grabbed her school bag.
"Thanks Selina, see you after school," Destiny called. The tea was sitting uneasily on her stomach. Destiny unlocked her bike, crossing through downtown towards Ash Havern high school, passing though the town, using the footpath to avoid the morning rush of cars. The blaring horns became annoying to her sensitive ears.

Her bike wobbled from the cracked pavement, nearly making her lose her balance. As she entered the school parking lot, a wave of relief washed over her, causing her to let out a long, audible sigh. The familiar smell of asphalt and freshly cut grass filled the air, mingling with the distant sound of chatter and laughter from students. She carefully secured her bike in the rack, the metal clinking as she locked it in place, and slid the key into her pocket. It drew her eyes to the sleek, black Harley parked confidently outside the main building, its glossy paint reflecting the sunlight. Just as she recognised it, the school bell rang, abruptly interrupting her thoughts and pulling her attention away.
Ashton, comes to the same school? She questioned.

Destiny rushed into the main building, her heart pounding in her chest. Unsure where to go, she bit her lip nervously, feeling exposed in her unfamiliar school uniform. As she passed the lockers, the students glanced at her curiously, their eyes scanning her from head to toe. The sound of their whispers and laughter filled the air, creating a cacophony of noise that overwhelmed her senses. She tugged at her uniform, trying to blend in, as she read the classroom names on the lockers. The door slid open with a whoosh, revealing the bustling office near the staircase that led to the second floor. Amanda passed the reception desk, her voice barely audible as she whispered something to the smiling older women behind the computer screen. Destiny watched as the women printed out her timetable, the sound of the printer echoing in the room. Amanda handed the timetable to Destiny, her voice warm and welcoming. "Welcome to Ash Heaven, high school miss Morgan," she said with a friendly smile. Destiny thanked her, her voice filled with gratitude. "Thank you. Who would be the best person to ask, where everything is?" she inquired. The women pointed towards a set of doors leading out to the oval. "Opal likes to show the new students around. She normally hangs around there, just head further down the hallway," she replied before answered an incoming phone call. Destiny let out a sigh, her eyes scanning the crowded hallway. The sounds of chattering and laughter intensified, the noise enveloping her. It was a stark difference from the quiet of her Adelaide hills home and the solitude of online study she had experienced while being homeschooled. As she glanced out of the large windows, the morning sunlight beamed through the building, casting long shadows on the floor. Athletes were playing soccer on the oval, their shouts and the thud of the ball filling the air. Oblivious to her presence, she bumped into a locker; the owner closed it. "Oh sorry, Destiny. What are you doing here?" Christos asked, rather confused.
she rubbed her nose, "Ow, Christos, I didn't know you went to school here."
Have you found your locker?" he asked, feeling embarrassed and rubbing his neck. He glanced beyond her.
"Ashton over here!" Christos called. He hung his bag off his shoulder yawning with exhaustion, "Hello and it's Ash." The aqua eyed boy corrected, he offered his hand, Destiny folded her arms with frustration,
"Hello, we already met," Destiny stated.

"Hey guys, good morning, Opal replied cheerfully, dissolving the awkward tension between the three of them, "Destiny, I have P: E and art with you this afternoon. Consider me your personal tour, guide." Opal grinned.
Destiny sent a shy smile back, her attention drawn to the students avoiding Taylor, who ignored the wandering glances.

"Taylor morning. I haven't seen Esmeralda. She disappeared somewhere," Opal said, tugging at the ends of her dyed pink hair.
Taylor met Opal's azure blue eyes with an irritated expression.
Christos and Ash moved Destiny back to a safe distance, students walked around them.
"What do you mean disappeared?" Taylor asked.
"She walked across the oval and jumped the fence. I warned you before we arrived, Esmeralda spent time with her pack of wolf shifters. She never adjusted to society, even in Andreal. The wolf girl is too wild. She is a liability. We shouldn't have brought her." Opal explained in a defiant tone.
Taylor listened intently, the faint murmur of voices echoing through the dimly lit room. With a sigh, he removed the sleek, black shades that shielded his eyes, revealing their piercing purple depths. Inhaling deeply, he caught a whiff of the musty air mingled with a hint of lavender, a calming scent that filled the space.

"Before you fly accusations around," Taylor began, his voice steady yet tinged with frustration, "look at yourself, Opal." His words hung in the air; the tension was palpable.

Esmeralda's unparalleled tracking skills had brought to light pockets of dark magic, unravelling the mysteries that lurked in the shadows. She had even traced one of the elusive veil agents, a feat that had left everyone impressed.

His voice laced with disappointment, Taylor continued, "While your magic hasn't found the vile witch who plagues my dreams or located the elusive rune of air, like you promised, it's clear that your magical abilities aren't as useful as you think." The weight of his implication settled heavily upon Opal, her eyes welling up with unshed tears.

Unable to bear the tension any longer, Opal stormed off, the sound of her footsteps echoing down the hallway. The slam of Ash's locker reverberated through the corridor, a testament to Opal's frustration.
Christos, lost in his own thoughts, remained silent, his brow furrowed in contemplation. Destiny, caught in the middle of the turmoil, couldn't help but understand why people were wary of Taylor.

Taylor turns on his heel, "Destiny, can you come and help me find Esmeralda?" Taylor asked.
Destiny blinked. Shocked by the sudden invitation, she walked beside him, somehow keeping up with his longer pace.
She bit her lip nervously, but walked across the oval. Taylor, why are people scared of you?"
"I lash out at people and the students would rather avoid me." Taylor shrugged.
"I'm not scared of you, but did Ash give you my father's journal?" she asked, waving though the students, which crowded the oval.
"Yes, I apologise for the drastic actions we took; however, we stole the journal because they listed the locations of elusive magical runes hidden in violet springs."
"I can return the journal, if that would make amends?" Taylor questioned, rising his eyebrow.

"Destiny smiled, "That would be nice," Taylor tried the gate, the locked chain rattled, he sighed, grabbing onto the wire, claiming over the other side, landing with the grace of a cat, Destiny tried to follow his lead, as she climbed the wire her legs burned as she stretched her leg over, She fell, Taylor caught her failing on his ass.
"I'm sorry," Destiny replied, blushing, embarrassed, "Sometimes my muscles experience weakness."
"Sounds horrible. Are you alright?" Taylor asked, helping her stand. "Yes," Destiny said. She expected howls of laughter, not concern for something she experienced every day.
Destiny entered the gapping forest, keeping close to Taylor, tipping over unseen tree roots. Rising above the forest floor, she stumbled onto Taylor's back. Catching her balance, Taylor kept a hand out, steadying Destiny.
"Esmeralda!" he called.

The chirping of local birds fluttering through the trees was their answer. As they approached a nearby river, splashing caught their attention. The remains of a school uniform hung off the branches. Taylor shakes his head, the disappointment clear on his features. "This is the third time this week." He mumbled.

"Esmeralda, enough with the games, please. We need to return to classes. "Taylor ordered. Gentle ripples disturbed the water's surface. Catching the soft movement, a young girl emerged, her eyes shimmering like liquid honey, framed by vibrant crimson curls that cascaded around her face. Sunlight danced upon her strands, creating a mesmerising glimmer that echoed with a delicate clinking sound of coloured beads as they brushed against each other. Her swimsuit stressed the curves of her body, drawing attention to her beauty. Taylor turned to her, a hint of concern in his voice. "Please put on some clothes." The girl's skin, the colour of rich cocoa, sparkled with droplets of water that clung to her. With a mischievous smile, she met Destiny's gaze, a wild glint shining in her eyes. She complied, reaching for the backpack resting against the stump. Returning her clothes from the nearby tree.

As they wandered back to school, Esmeralda's gestures suggested she could bolt in the other direction. She bowed with a flourish; "Pleasure. My name is Esmeralda." Destiny shook hands with the eccentric girl.
Her musical humming drowned out Taylor's scolding gaze. "Hi, I'm Destiny Morgan,"

The bell rang in the distance as the tro reached the oval. Parting ways with Esmeralda, who had an English class instead of history with Taylor and Destiny.
Taylor smirked, leading Destiny to the outbuildings. A group of buildings set in a courtyard which branched off the main building, they entered the flowering courtyard, hosting a variety of pick and red flowers, with newly planted trees around the orange pavers.

They entered the first building and took their seats quietly. Ash casually leaned back in his chair behind Taylor, who used his hands as a pillow, before the teacher entered the room.

Mr, knight cleared his throat, gaining the attention of the entire class. He set up with a pull-down projector; he clicked on a slideshow, to say Mr, knight resembled the character Gandalf from the lord of the rings, minus the white robe and wizarding staff, his ocean blue eyes crinkled with happiness, he wore a three-piece grey suit, and his greying hair spilled over his bronze wrinkled face.
A picture of an old-style small village clicked in, along with a young man, wearing sixteenth century clothing. Taylor yawned disinterestedly in the class, closing his good eye. Ash poked him in the back with a pencil.
"The town of Violet Springs has had a long history dating back to the sixteenth century, starting out as a hunting village and fishing in the local river."
We know the young man. Both men, Samuel Marshall and his son, who became the mayor and discovered gold mines in the hills, lived remarkably long lives and buried in the local cemetery."
He cleared his throat, tapping the desk. Waking Taylor up, he groaned, rubbing his eye. "Am I boring you, Mr Marshall? Mr knight asked.
"Sorry sir, I already know my family history."
"I see. Perhaps you would lead the class?" He asked. Taylor tapped his chin. "No thank you sir,"
"Then an essay, no how the town has changed in detention." Mr knight said. Taylor folded his arms, releasing a winded breath, "As you wish sir," the class started laughed,
"Enough! I hope you're all taking notes."
Mr, knight clicked to the next slide. "They discovered a Violet Spring, hidden within a group of caves while hunting the local population of deer. No one knew what caused the rich couloir of the drinkable spring."
As time went by, the town of Violet Springs became famous for strange supernatural events, the shadows of animals not native to the area, or figures appearing within the evening fog. These events bring flocks of tourists and the rumours persist even today, Mr, knight turned on the lights.
"For your homework, you will work in pairs to see what your ancestors contributed to the town."
The bell rang. Destiny gathered her stuff, shaking Taylor on the back, getting his attention. "Class is over." Destiny smiled, walking out.
Opal leaned against the window outside the classroom. Her eyes were red and puffy. Opal led her towards another group of buildings near the library, at the back of the main building, while laughing when Destiny told her about history class. The town's accurate history is shrouded in the supernatural, I'll explain it sometime. Oh, here is Taylor's phone number. "Opal said. "Are you sure he wants me to have this?" Destiny asked.
"Before our fight, he asked me to make sure you got his number."

The art room was spacious. Someone had pushed the desks back against the wall, they placed chairs behind the canvas; the students gathered their own paint supplies.
The tail teacher had short red hair, in her mid-forties, wearing light makeup and dark lipstick, wearing a white top with a colourful blue and purple skirt. "Hello miss Hoolahan, Opal said.
She sat beside Esmeralda, who hummed happily, organizing her paints.
"Your more trouble than you're worth Esmeralda," Opal remarked.
"Just because you can't enjoy the beauty of nature, Opal, it beats being stuck in a classroom all day."
"Today we will do some freelance panting. Paint whatever you wish. I will examine where your skills are at."
Esmeralda and Opal bickered about who was the better magic user, a witch or a shapeshifter.

Destiny tuned out the incessant bickering of her classmates, immersing herself in her artwork. With each stroke of her pencil, she delicately traced an outline, feeling the smooth texture of the paper beneath her left hand. Guided by an invisible force, her hand glided effortlessly, bringing the image to life. The scent of fresh paint filled the air as she dipped her thick brush into the deep navy hue, the sound of the bristles gliding against the edges of the paint jar. With precision, she painted an evening sky, blending different shades of brown to create the illusion of depth in the trees. Flecks of white paint mimicked the gentle descent of snowflakes, causing a tingling sensation on her skin as she witnessed her serene winter scene taking shape. Lost in her creation, Destiny's sense of time slipped away, her gaze fixed on the masterpiece before her.

Then, Destiny's attention became drawn to a particular scene within the painting—a girl clutching her injured leg, deep gashes resembling three sharp claws, blood staining the pristine snow. As her eyes met those of a black panther, a shiver ran down her spine, causing her trembling limbs to betray her. She collapsed against the chair, feeling its sturdy support against her back, while her fingers clenched tightly around the paintbrush, feeling its smooth wooden handle. She blinked, wondering what had provoked her mind to paint such an unusual and unsettling scene. Miss Hoolahan stared in bewilderment, the silence in the room broken only by the sound of Destiny's quickened breath. The other students, curious yet hesitant, peeked at her work, their eyes widening in astonishment.

"This is spectacular, Destiny," Miss Hoolahan finally managed to utter, breaking the silence. Embarrassment washed over Destiny, her cheeks flushing with heat as she stammered, "Ahh, thank you."The bell rang. Destiny grabbed her things, racing out of there, avoiding losing her balance on the stairs.
Her phone dinged, she opened her text message, "Hey Destiny, it's Taylor. I look forward to learning about your family for history."
"How did you get my number? And we are working together for the history assignment?" Destiny clinked send, retrieving her bike.
"Opal, she gave you my number?" Yes, have a good afternoon," Taylor replied. Destiny rode home, packing her bike beside the garage.
went inside because her father's car packed in the driveway, showing that he returned home early.

She found her father unpacking the study, straightening up the safe, opened with important documents inside. "Dad, welcome home," Destiny said, smiled. Aleric jumped, "Destiny, when did you get home? You startled me."
"Just a few minutes ago, you're not normally jumpy, dad," Destiny remarked. "I'm putting confidential documents inside the safe. I didn't want Selina seeing and asking questions. What will it take for you to keep this between us?" Alric asked.
Destiny folded her arms. She hated secrets, epically with her dark acting peculiar, "I would like the tattoo we discussed before my birthday. There are worse things I could ask for, dad, like a car."
"The tattoo is not unreasonable. Give me a month to get settled. I'll have a new job soon." Aleric said.
Destiny smiled "Deal." She shook his hand.