I stare at Ava for a long moment, the ability to speak words escaping me as I silently blink back at her in disbelief as several emotions wash over me.

"Kara?"

I startle at Diana's voice and glance over to see that she's looking down at me confusedly. I swallow before I clear my throat to speak.

"Hi, Ava," I say in a low voice before I can stop myself.

Eden, who has been rummaging about behind the cashier counter, stands when she hears my voice and fixes Ava with a puzzled look.

"You know her?" she asks as she looks from me to Ava.

"We went to school together," Ava says as she fidgets with a silver bracelet on her wrist, the chain clinking softly.

"School...?" Eden frowns at this before she seems to realize something, "Greenwood?"

Diana laughs at this suddenly, the sound of her laugh breaking the tension that has abruptly settled over us as it fills the bookstore.

"You know about Greenwood?" she asks as she tilts her head.

"Of course I do, I went there for a year," Eden retorts as she reaches down and pats Salem on his head. "You're meaning to tell me...that you went there too?"

Diana wordlessly conjures a small, blue flame that flickers in her palm and I follow her lead. The spell is a simple one and is known to be used among witches when they are greeting other witches.

Eden copies her and Ava does the same to my surprise as the flames billow in her palm and outlines the sharp edges of her cheekbones.

"I figured that there was something different about you, Marshall, I'd have to guess that your familiar is a large predatory cat?" Eden intones as she quirks an eyebrow at her.

"Cheetah," Diana replies.

"Well, I'm glad that you're finally aware of my knowledge of you, it was entertaining watching you attempt to live a life among 'mortals'," Eden notes amusedly.

"'Attempt'?" Diana mutters as she lets her flame flicker out.

Eden shrugs and offers her a smile, "There were a lot of things that gave you away, anyways, good luck, I won't keep you any longer. The Ouija board I've given you has several enchantments cast on it, but I would still bring black candles to cleanse the space before you use it."

Diana nods at this as she rolls her eyes, "I'll be sure to, come on, Kara, I better get you back to the academy, it's getting late."

I nod, my body on autopilot as I thank Eden for the Ouija board and head for the doorway as I'm careful to give Ava a wide berth as Diana opens the door. The world outside is rapidly cooling off as the sun drops out of the sky and into the harbor, a ball of fire destined to be extinguished by the salty waves. I've just made it to Diana's car when someone calls out behind us.

"Kara!"

I glance back to see that Ava is standing just outside of the doorway to the bookstore, the yellow light from inside casting her in its glare as Salem stands by her side, his fluffy tail wavering slightly.

"Yeah?" I dare to ask, the word almost wanting to vanish before I can say it.

"Look...I'm sorry about how I treated you...before," she begins to confess and I can't hold back my surprise as I nearly gape at her.

The torture I had endured during my first year had initially trickled off after the Hallewell incident, but it picked up with a vengeance towards the end of it. I would often come back to my dorm room to find it in shambles, not to mention the fact that she would occasionally spread rumors about my private life. I knew it was her of course, since I did find several listening runes secretly laid out in my dorm room, which I traced back to her signature casting rituals since she liked to cast runes during lunch to show off.

"So?"

The word is harsh and brisk, like it's been punched out of me as I watch her wince. Satisfaction briefly flickers through me and I'm struck by the seemingly genuine reaction out of her.

"I understand that words will never be enough, I just want to help you," she assures me as she reaches down and pats Salem on the head, "Ouija boards take experience and...I'd like to say that I'm qualified in using them."

"Why would you want to help me?" I ask and I can't help but feel wary. 

"Because they're dangerous and I know how to use them properly," she replies with an almost smug smile that quickly disappears. "We can meet at Forest River Park tomorrow night, there are barriers at the school when it comes to using things like Ouija boards so you can't do it on campus."

"I'll have to ask Diana and see if she can meet," I reply cautiously.

"Text me when you have a plan?" Ava asks as she walks up to me and offers her hand.

I resist the urge to frown as I take my phone out of my pocket and gingerly place it in her hand. I almost expect her to throw it on the ground and break it but she merely types her number into it, her fingernails tapping a gentle rhythm before she passes my phone back.

"I'll see you then," she promises as she gives me a determined nod.

"See you then," I quietly agree as I turn away from her and open the passenger door to Diana's car and get in.

I don't speak for much of the ride, opting to instead check my texts. Nothing comes up surprisingly, even though it's almost dark outside and I suspect that I've been away from the academy for at least a couple of hours.

I decide to text Shawn as curiosity gets the best of me, my screen illuminated by a passing street lamp as Diana navigates her car through the narrow, downtown roads that make up Salem.

"How has your day been?"

I sit back in my seat after I've texted him and look out the window as I fidget with the newly shorn edges of my hair. I'm surprised with the lightness and freedom I feel with my new haircut, even though it's the shortest I've ever had it and I'm startled by my reflection as I study it from its place in the side mirror.

My phone buzzes after a few minutes and I pull it out to read the text.

"Sorry, today's just been super busy for me, my mom has been baking casseroles for my neighbor because they just recently lost their daughter and I'm going to be at the funeral on Monday," his text reads and I wince at my previous question.

"I'm so sorry, I didn't know," I reply as Diana glances over at me.

"Getting texts?" she inquires coolly and I nod.

"Yeah, I'm just texting a guy I went on a date with," I mutter.

"Kara since when did that happen?" she asks, though all I can hear is happiness in her voice as she grins at me.

"Uh, I asked him out on Sunday."

"You asked him out?" Diana wonders aloud.

"Yes," I say and nod as I crouch in my seat, the sudden rush of attention making me uncomfortable.

It doesn't help that I have the Ouija board in my lap, the occult object setting my nerves on edge even though I'm not quite touching it through its cardboard box, but nonetheless, I know it's in there.

"When and where do you want to try and use that thing?" Diana asks abruptly, like she's sensed that my mind has wandered elsewhere.

"Uh...Ava wants to help us," I admit to her and her lip quirks to the side as we pull through the academy's gates. "She says she knows how to use Ouija boards and she suggests meeting at Forest River Park tomorrow night."

"I agree, I usually patrol around the park so I know it's not busy," she says, only to be interrupted as my phone buzzes and I check it.

"It's okay, they're managing. I've been pruning their rose bushes before they can start growing leaves, today has been...prickly for me," Shawn's reply reads and I click off my phone as Diana pulls up to the curb of the circle drive.

"Could we do it tomorrow night? Do you have a shift you have to work or...?" I ask as I unbuckle my seatbelt and start to open the door.

"We can do it tomorrow night after six, I get off of work by then and I'll be able to drive over there," she plans as I get out.

"Maybe around seven?" I suggest and she nods hesitantly.

"Since I'm not going to be able to stop you, I think seven will be fine."