I sat in my room, reading my books. I had been studying some magic for a while. Okay, that was a little lie.

I had been studying magic and writing my own spells and sigils since I was eight years old. I had even summoned my very own familiar.

A Scottish Fold cat named Orion.

My parents were really happy. And so was I.

Speaking of Orion, he hopped onto the bed and nuzzled my arm, purring and meowing.

I giggled and rubbed his head. "Hey, buddy," I said with a smile.

My mother, Latosha Youngblood, had told me that Witches could talk to their familiars just as their familiars could talk to them.

"Are you studying again?" Orion asked with a teasing smile. I blushed and chuckled, "you know I love writing and reading. I take pride in it!"

He smiled, "I know, I know." He tickled my chin with his tail and I playfully swatted him away with a laugh.

We both looked up when there was a knock at the door. "Paigey?" Dad said.

"It's open, Dad," I called back. He opened the door and smiled softly, "hey, sweet girl. Can you come downstairs? Me and your mom wanna talk to you."

Orion looked at me and I immediately began to feel nervous. It was times like these where there were family meetings and it would sometimes make me nervous or irritated. But I wouldn't admit it out loud.

I walked downstairs with Orion hanging on my shoulder. I walked into the living room. The house I lived in was nothing short of perfect but it was home nonetheless.

My mom was a Youngblood. A proud witch born from a powerful bloodline.

Even more powerful than the first witch family.

She had a Golden Retriever familiar named Basil. He was laying by the couch, his head resting over his forelegs. Mom looked at me as she sat on the couch and smiled. "Hey, Paigey," she said. "Hi, Mama," I said nervously.

"You're not in trouble," she said reassuringly and that made me relax. I sat down on the couch.

"Is everything okay?" I asked, looking at Dad then at Mom. They looked at each other before looking at me.

"Well... we enrolled you into an all-witch academy. Called Moonlight Academy," Mom said, "it's the same academy I went to when I was your age."

My eyes widened. And so did Orion's.

"Wh- really?" I asked nervously, fiddling with my moon crystal necklaces.

"We think it's time you start tomorrow and it's so you can start to focus on your future," Dad said in a gentle voice, "to spread your wings."

I gripped my pant legs. I didn't want to go. I wasn't ready to leave. I didn't want to leave them.

During my childhood, I never really had any friends since I was always by myself. It made my mom worry.

But I was on the autism spectrum so it was normal.

What if I wouldn't be able to fit in?

Orion looked at me and licked my hand. I looked at him, smiled a little and rubbed his head. I looked back at Mom and she suddenly hugged me.

I was frozen for a moment before I hugged her back.

"I don't want to go," I whispered. "I know, baby," she said, "I know."

She pulled away a little and cupped my face into her hands. "But I wouldn't be doing this if I knew you weren't able to go out on your own. I've discussed it with the council and the teachers. You'll be going tomorrow."

I nodded. I didn't feel good about this anymore. Orion looked up at me. Mom hugged me and kissed my head. "Try and get some rest, okay?"

I nodded and sighed softly before I trudged back upstairs to my room. I closed my door and leaned against it, sliding down and burying my face into my arms.

Orion placed his paw on my arm in comfort. "It'll be okay," he said, "I'll be there with you."

I looked at him and smiled a little before I pulled him into my arms and buried my face into his fur. I could hear the muffled words of my parents talking and I climbed into my bed.

I sighed and laid back down. I stared up at the ceiling before my eyes slowly closed. Unbeknownst to me, my dreams would make me feel worse.

I slowly opened my eyes and looked around. I was in a forest that was covered in snow. Snowflakes were falling and I was standing by a frozen lake.

I looked at the frozen water and my reflection looked back at me. I frowned as I knelt down and reached out to touch the ice. Then I felt the hairs on the back of my neck stand and I looked over my shoulder to see a woman standing before me.

She was wearing a black and red cloak. She had porcelain skin, magenta-red hair that was tied into a bun and her eyes were black. I widened my eyes and nearly fell backwards. Suddenly the ice cracked and I fell into the water.

I tried to swim back up but it felt like I couldn't move my hands or feet. I felt my lungs burn and everything started hurting. My heart pounded against my chest and I felt my throat close up.

I slowly looked up as the moon glowed down at me. It was so big... and so... bright.

I felt my eyes slowly close and I slowly sank into the bottom. Where the darkness was welcoming me.

I jolted awake with a gasp and I sat up. Orion whimpered and looked up at me, a worried and tired look on his face. "Are you okay?" He asked, his ears flattened.

I took a few breaths and once I calmed down, I rubbed Orion's head. "I'm fine," I said softly. I looked at the window and the sun was starting to rise. I grumbled softly and looked at the clock. It was 8:25.

I laid back down and rested my arm over my eyes.

'I hope I never have another dream like that again,' I thought before I slowly fell asleep again. After a few good hours, I woke up again. This time to the smell of pancakes and omelets. I sat up and stretched with a yawn.

I rubbed Orion's head before I climbed out of bed and I walked out of the room and went downstairs. Mom was cooking.

"Morning, Paigey," she said with a smile. "Morning, Ma," I said as I took the orange juice out of the fridge and I poured me a glass.

Mom set down my plate. "Your dad went to pack your bag," she said.

I nodded as I chewed absentmindedly on my food. I couldn't get the dream out of my mind. Who was that woman?

"Paigey," I blinked and looked at Mom. She had a concerned look on her face. "You okay?" She asked. "I'm okay," I said, "just a crazy dream."

"Oh?" She said curiously as she ate. I nodded and sighed softly. "How did you know what you wanted in life, Mom? Especially when the future itself was scary?"

Mom was silent for a moment before she hummed softly.

"I always knew what to think of what I wanted for my future," she said, "even when I knew the dangers of it all, I still pushed through it because I had people looking out for me." She reached out and placed her hand on my shoulder and I looked at her.

"Just as you will have people looking out for you." She smiled softly.

I nodded and once we finished breakfast, we cleaned up and I got into my school uniform. It was a blue long-sleeved shirt with a red knee-length school skirt.

"Is everyone gonna be wearing this?" I muttered. Orion tilted his head.

I sighed as Dad knocked on the door. I looked at him. He had my suitcase ready.

"Hey, sugarplum. You ready?" He asked with a smile. I nodded slightly as I picked Orion up.

"You nervous?" He asked. "Yeah," I sighed. He rubbed my head and I sighed softly.

We both walked downstairs and Mom was waiting for us.

She kissed my forehead and gave me a bracelet that had Yin and Yang cats.

I smiled and I hugged them both.

The bus slowly pulled up and we looked at it.

I swallowed thickly and I hugged my parents again before I took my suitcase and went to the bus. Orion was hanging out on my shoulder.

I climbed up the stairs and walked to an empty seat. Sitting next to the window was an eighteen year old girl. She had dark chestnut brown skin, light black hair and deep blue eyes. She wore her hair into a braid and she was wearing a pair of red glasses. She was wearing the same uniform I wore.

And a Red Fox was laying across her lap.

I put my suitcase in the luggage compartment and I sat in the seat across from her.

"Hi," she said, "I'm Natalia Dupree. This is my familiar, Cassiopeia."

"Nice to meet you," I replied with a smile, "I'm Paige Youngblood. This is my familiar, Orion."

Cassiopeia sniffed at Orion who only curled up in my lap. Me and Natalia chuckled when Cassiopeia huffed.

"Naaaat!" Another voice said behind us and we looked to see another eighteen year old girl peeking over the seat. She had chestnut brown skin, raven black and brown hair that was tied into a ponytail and she had deep blue eyes and wore blue glasses.

"Hey, Diana," Natalia chuckled. I noticed a little Havana Rabbit poke it's head out from behind Diana's shoulder.

"This little darling is Leo," she giggled, gently rubbing the bunny's head, "and he's my familiar. Where are my manners," she held her hand out, "I'm Diana Severin."

I shook her hand. "Nice to meet you."

The Severin family were known for their hard work in demon hunting. Even though their ancestors were known to summon demons.

"You're Paige Youngblood, right?" Diana asked and her eyes lit up with admiration, "your mom is a badass!"

"Diana!" Natalia scolded, lightly smacking her arm. I chuckled, "I know."

I saw a few other students talking. They all looked new.

I sighed softly and looked out the window.

The bus screeched to a stop and me, Natalia and Diana looked out the window to see other new student witches filing in the parking lot or just hanging out.

The building was large. Almost as large as a church but even bigger.

Natalia, Diana and I grabbed our suitcases and we got off the bus first and the other girls followed us.

I looked around a little. Natalia looked up at a statue that had a woman who was in a praying position. "Who's that?" I asked, tilting my head.

Diana looked at me, shocked, "you don't know?!" I looked back at her startled, "sh-should I?"

"That is Brenda Youngblood. Your ancestor." Another voice spoke up and we turned to see a nineteen year old girl standing nearby.

She had ivory skin, hazel brown eyes and dark brown hair. A Bengal cat was hanging on her shoulder. The girl glared at me.

"Who would have guessed that a Youngblood witch would show up here?" She hissed.

"Piss off, Mabel," Natalia huffed, crossing her arms over her chest as she glared back at the girl.

"Oh bite me!" Mabel snapped. Leo snarled and the Bengal cat hissed.

"Enough," another voice said and we looked to see a woman in her forties. She had an espresso skin tone, black hair that was in braids and had gold rings in them and she had dark brown eyes.

She was wearing a silver and black teacher uniform. And a Doberman was standing by her feet.

"Mabel Queen, I'm sure your mother wouldn't be thrilled to hear you're harassing another student. Especially a new one." She said calmly as she gave Mabel a cold glare.

Mabel looked away, "no, ma'am." She gave me a side glare and stormed away. I looked back at the statue.

For some reason, I doubted that Lily Youngblood was my ancestor.

"You must be Paige Youngblood," the woman said and I looked back at her.

"Um... yes, ma'am," I said nervously. "I'm Opalina Hunt," she said, "I'm in charge of witches summoning demons and familiars. Your mother gave us quite the impression of you."

"She... did?" I asked, confused.

She nodded and looked back at Diana and Natalia, "I trust you both will introduce Miss Paige to the rest of your newfound friends?"

"Yes, ma'am!" Diana said excitedly. Natalia nodded.

"Run along then," Miss Opalina said, "class begins in six minutes."

With that, we hurried to meet our dorm mates.

It surprised me that a dorm only allowed two students. It was spacious and it had two beds. There was a desk by the window. Down the hallway was a bathroom.

The hallway led to a kitchen that had everything; snacks, food, drinks, you name it.

I saw a whole bunch of other girls. Nine of them, to be exact.

One of the eighteen year old girls rushed up to me and shook my hand in a vice grip.

"Hi! I'm Marley Wolfmoon!" She said excitedly.

She had almond-chestnut skin, raven black hair and deep water blue eyes. She wore the same uniform and her glasses were lavender.

"U-um, hi," I squeaked and I had to yank my hand out of hers. I saw an Arctic Wolf laying on her bed.

"That's my familiar, Pandora!" Marley giggled.

"Okay, hold on!" Another nineteen year old girl laughed, "let's go in order." She had porcelain skin, orange-brown hair that was tied in a messy bun and she had dark blue eyes.

"I'm Gloria Cross," she said and a Barn Owl flew from it's perch and landed on her shoulder, "this is my familiar, Aries."

"I'm Harriet Dragonscale," another nineteen year old girl spoke up. She had rose beige skin, black and bright hazel brown hair and deep but bright green eyes. A Bombay Cat hopped onto her shoulder.

"And this is my familiar, Sirius," she said.

"I'm Paige Youngblood," I said and I picked Orion up when he nuzzled my ankles, "and this is my familiar, Orion."

"I'm Natalia Dupree. This is my familiar, Cassiopeia." I'm Diana Severin. And this is my familiar, Leo."

"I'm Charlotte Grimsbane," the eighteen year old girl piped up. She had chestnut skin, raven black hair and light grey eyes. A Silver Fox nuzzled her leg and she rubbed it's head. "This is my familiar, Venus," she said.

"I'm Marley Wolfmoon," Marley grinned, "this is my familiar, Pandora."

"I'm Serenity Moran," a seventeen year old girl chuckled. She had porcelain skin, light but deep grey eyes and her hair was orange with a brown streak. A Barred Owl landed on her shoulder. "This is my familiar, Cosmo."

"I'm Kaitlin Grove," the sixteen year old girl said. She had porcelain skin, light blue eyes and dark brown hair. A Gray Wolf nuzzled her side. "This is my familiar, Polaris."

"I'm Tasha Darkmore," a sixteen year old girl piped up. She had pale ivory skin, blackish-brown hair and dark brown eyes. A Cornish Rex cat hopped onto her shoulder. "This is my familiar, Ganymede."

"I'm Joanna Frost." A fifteen year old girl said. She had pale ivory skin, snow white hair and blue eyes. A Snowy Owl perched itself on her arm and she rubbed it's chin. "This is my familiar, Halo."

"I was expecting Frosty," Diana snickered and Halo seemed to glare at her.

"I'm Iris LeRoux," a thirteen year old girl said. She had honey-almond skin, raven black hair and deep gray eyes that almost looked black. An American Shorthair nuzzled against her chest. "This is my familiar, Aurora."

"It's nice to meet all of you," I chuckled.

"Let's head to class!" Marley said. I tilted my head, "do we take our familiars with us?"

"Not as much as we do in the cafeteria," Gloria said, "we can only bring them there."

I looked at Orion. I felt uneasy about not bringing my familiar with me. He looked up at me and licked my chin.

"I'll be fine," he promised with a reassuring smile, "go to class. Have fun."

I sighed and nodded before I set him down next to Pandora.

"Who's my dorm mate?" I asked suddenly, looking at the others.

"Oh! That's me!" Natalia said with a sheepish smile. I visibly relaxed and smiled as we all walked out of the kitchen and went to our first class.