My mind was buzzing with fresh knowledge, and I didn't quite know what to make of it all. Listening as the Profesor explained the well of magic within every supernatural and how they were each able to access in their own way was like something out of a fairytale.

As he described it, I reached inside of myself hopefully. Feeling around for that warmth or hum he promised was there. I don't know why. Perhaps the excitement of this world had convinced me I might be something more than what I have believed. To be met with plain human nothingness at my core was the biggest disappointment I had felt in a long time.

I wanted so badly to have faith that the school hadn't made a terrible mistake and there was a reason I was here, but when had life ever been on my side?

As the Professor made his way towards the door and opened it to dismiss us, he spoke. "Before the next class I need you to all write a quick five hundred word piece on what magic means to you."

Oh great. Write about something I've known exists for all of a couple of days and have next to no understanding of. What an absolutely fantastic idea... not.

As if sensing my lack of enthusiasm as I made my way down the steps towards him, the Professor smiled kindly. "There is no pass or fail to this task. It is just important to help me understand you and what this class can give you."

I muttered my thanks along with everyone else as we left. "Wow, what a cool class." Nancy gushed, practically skipping alongside me as we made our way through the hallways to grab lunch.

"Yeah, it was interesting." I murmured, forcing a smile in response.

"I could think of one or two more interesting things I would have rather been doing." a voice chuckled to my right.

I tensed before realising it was Blake and let myself relax again. "What do you want?"

"Love, I'm hurt. All I desire is to be in your presence." Blake grinned, dramatically clasping his hands to his heart as though my words wounded him.

I increased my speed, hoping to lose him in the crowds. When that didn't work, I tossed my hair, which was already escaping from the bun I had thrown it into and getting in my eyes. "Well, you can take your desire and shove it-"

I wasn't quite sure how it happened, but Nancy stumbled and I found myself falling too before a muscular arm wrapped around me and righted me again. "Yes, little thief? Tell me exactly where you want to shove my desire." Blake breathed against my ear.

My body froze, and heat rushed through me as the students hurrying around us faded out and my whole body became hyperaware of his closeness. Every inch of skin touching mine seemed to set my body on fire. "I didn't mean-" I stammered out, trying to twist out of his grasp.

I sensed rather than saw him smile. "Has anyone ever told you, you're hot when you're all flustered? I hope not because I want to be the only one who makes you like this."

"Do you guys need a minute or...?" Nancy gave a nervous laugh, her voice filled with uncertainty.

My eyes shot to her and I was suddenly reminded we were in a crowded hallway surrounded by people.. For a moment, his voice had somehow made the entire world melt away and I totally forgot myself.

"Let me go." I snapped.

He released me instantly, and I stepped back, allowing students to pass between us. There were huffs of irritation at us blocking the halls, but he didn't seem to notice or care. His entire focus was on me and it was doing weird things to my insides.

"We should go." Nancy encouraged, tugging at me away.

I let her pull me a few paces, my eyes still fixed on Blake's. There was something in his expression. A question perhaps?

"Wait, love." His soft request halted me again, much to Nancy's frustration.

"Yes?" I asked, cocking my head and fixing a disinterested expression on my face.

Why was my voice so breathy and weird?

He looked oddly nervous, and yet somehow it was endearing. "Would you like to go out with-"

"Brother! Were you waiting for me?" A sweet voice cut him off and had us both turning.

A girl with thick dark hair and eyes like Blake's hurried up, a smile on her face. It slipped when she looked at me, just for a moment, before settling back into place. It was so fast I almost missed it and so fleeting I couldn't work out the emotion there.

"Kira." Blake gave a tight smile, moving between us so she was obscured from my view.

"Sorry, did I interrupt something?" She asked innocently, peering around him at me.

There was a curiosity in her gaze, and I opened my mouth to say introduce myself.

"No, nothing at all. Let's go and grab lunch." Blake took her arm and marched off without a backwards glance.

A frown knitted my brows, and I felt the hurt rising in my chest. So he didn't want me to meet his family? That's fine, we barely even knew each other. My fingers felt in my pocket for his old ID I had tucked there.

I wasn't sure why I still carried it or had brought it with me, but it had been with me through a lot and it was a habit more than anything. A comfort blanket, almost.

I had spent hours agonising over who he could be and what he knew about the missing hours of my life. It was still strange to me that I had the opportunity to question him on it, more than once, and I hadn't yet.

"Well, that was weird. Maybe we can discuss it over lunch?" Nancy suggested hopefully, breaking me out of my internal meltdown.

I let her tow me towards the hall and join her friends at the same table we had just hours earlier. The conversation flowed around me and my mind drifted away again. There was so much I didn't know or understand about this place and so many things about the people here that I didn't understand.

It was isolating to feel so lonely when surrounded by so many people. The walls I built around myself began to rebuild as I withdrew from them. "What classes does everyone have next?" someone asked, and we all moved to check our schedules.

Choruses of magical theory and elemental based classes filled the air.

"Fae history?" I asked.

Nancy shook her head and glanced around the table.

"Sounds like you're with me. I look forward to getting to know you better." Mina giggled from the other side of the table.

"Me too." Enzo shot me a reassuring smile, and I instantly felt more at ease.

"I wonder why the school put you in that class?" Nancy mused, voicing the thought I hadn't dared to.

Did it think I was fae? "It's probably because the other classes have a heavy focus on magic use and she hasn't got magic." Enzo pointed out, popping in the last bite of his sandwich.

Irritation flared in me, "Why did you get it then? Not good at magic?"

There were little shocked gasps around the table, but Enzo looked more amused than offended. He leaned forward, bracing himself on the table with his arms. "I think the school knows there's not much the beginner classes for magic can teach me here, but it has given me extra advanced magic classes some evenings with a tutor."

Well, that told me. I shifted in my seat, trying to work out how to apologise without saying something else wrong.

He smirked. "Plus, it probably wants me to keep you out of trouble."

I rolled my eyes. "I don't cause trouble."

A snort burst out of him. "Well, that's not what the shifters are saying, little miss I-think-I-can-take-on-an-Alpha."

"Hey, he hurt Nancy. I was well within my right to have a word with him." I replied defensively.

"He hurt you?" Enzo's eyes shot to Nancy, lit with concern as he searched her for injuries.

She shook her head and gave a smile to prove she was ok. "He just bumped me. I'm fine, really."

Enzo looked like he didn't believe her and opened his mouth to say as much when the bell rang for the next class and cut him off.

As soon as it stopped, he spoke again. "You'll tell me if anything else happens? You're part of my coven. I won't stand for anyone hurting my family."

Nancy gave a jerky nod and jumped to her feet. "See you guys later."

She hurried off before anyone could reply and I frowned. Why was she acting so weird about this?

"Ready for class?" Mina's melodic voice drew me from watching Nancy's retreating figure.

Her hand was outstretched to help me to my feet, but I just smiled and got up myself. This made her own smile grow.

"Suspicious little thing aren't you?" She laughed.

I looked her up and down pointedly. Considering she was at least an inch or two shorter than me I didn't really appreciate being referred to as little.

"We should get going." Enzo suggested, making his way round past us for the exit.

I followed, not particularly wanting to be in Mina's unsettling presence anymore than I needed to.

The classroom we needed was in what seemed to be some sort of glass conservatory type room. A domed ceiling, also glass, allowed light to stream in and fill the space and a pretty brunette woman stood in the centre. The desks in a circle around her were already filling with students, and I hurriedly took a seat next to Enzo.

"Welcome to fae history." she said with a tranquil smile. "I am Professor Maith and I will be your teacher for this class."

Was it something about fae that made their voices all sound like they were about to burst into song?

She turned slowly, taking us all in. "Can anyone tell me why this class might be a controversial one?"

Enzo's hand shot up, and I raised my eyebrows. I wasn't sure why I was surprised he was aiming for the teacher's pet position considering how Mrs Kennedy had suggested that he help me.

"Yes, Mister Parker." Professor Maith nodded towards him.

"The fae are notoriously secretive and don't like to share much about the inner workings of their courts and hierarchies." Enzo recited, as though reading from a textbook.

She nodded. "That's correct. I had to get special permission to deliver this class to non-fae so I hope you can all appreciate the value of this class and how lucky you are."

The other students nodded appreciatively, and I joined in despite not having a clue why this was so secret to other supernaturals.

"To understand our history, you must first understand the fae. Does anyone know about the two fae classifications and which fae fall under each?"

A few people called out ideas, and she nodded along with them. "You're all partially right. The two classes are the seelie and the unseelie. There are foolish people who try to label them as good or bad but they are both. The unseelie are mischievous and known for meddling with humans more often than the seelie which is not ideal, but they're not out to cause harm." Her eyes met a few fae who smiled, "Brownie, pixies, elves and gnomes all fall under the unseelie. They're known as trooping fae as they often travel in groups. The other class is the seelie and they are what are known as solitary fae. They are typically less human involved and more elementally based. Earth, air, fire, water and spirit are all intrinsically linked and their species make up the seelie fae."

Mina's hand shot up, and Professor Maith examined her face before nodding. "Yes?"

"Is it true that the balance of the world is linked to seelie and unseelie existence?" she asked

Professor Maith nodded. "It is the fae belief that good and bad, elemental and personal magic are all linked to the balance of this world and that's why they live largely in peace. But that wasn't always the way."

There was a weird buzzing in my ears and I glanced around to see if anyone else was being affected like I was.

It was building in my head, a pressure that wouldn't ease and made me want to scream. A hand touched my thigh, and I jolted, knocking the table so hard a few people turned to look at us with a frown.

"Are you ok?" Enzo whispered, his eyes never leaving the teacher and mouth barely moving.

I nodded, not daring to open my mouth.

"Before there were councils, the fae were ruled by royals alone and in a dark part of our history, they took control of certain fae to use their gifts and control others." Professor Maith explained seriously.

The pressure was so great I could barely keep my eyes open or hear her now.

"Fae affected by this time included Dullahan, Leanan Sídhe, Kelpies, Banshee and Sirens."

The pressure behind my eyes exploded with a pop, like something in my mind had burst and a flood of coolness raced through my body. I felt it trickling down my limbs and racing over my skin.

Perhaps the school hadn't made a mistake. Perhaps it knew something I didn't. I sat up a little straighter, determined to pay more attention and discover what it wanted me to.