The next day, it was time to get back to school. Having taken too many days off, I had missed too many classes. I just knew I'd be making those up at the end of the year, which didn't bother me at all. I liked school. Zoe thought that was weird. I don't know what was weird about it. Every time she'd call me weird for liking school and actually enjoying studying, I just shrugged.

     I honestly thought she was weird for not liking school. But maybe that's weird. I don't know. My sister and I had differing views on a lot of things.

     I held my books tightly against my chest as I walked down the central stairs. My next class would be in the eastern wing on the ground floor, and I had just a few minutes to make it before the bell rang. "Hey Kairine!" a voice called out after me. I looked behind me up the stairs to see Fleur running up to me. As she made it up to me, taking deep breaths, I figured she must have been running after me for a while. "I first wanted to just say. . . that it was a pleasure meeting you. . ." she said, holding out her hand.

     I smiled as I shook it. "Likewise," I responded. I felt sparks along my skin as I shook her hand. Putting that out of mind, I cleared my throat. "I can see what my sister sees in you." That was an understatement.

     A soft smile spread across her luminous and glowing face. Her golden hair seemed to dance in the sunlight coming from above, sending my heart aflutter. It was all I could do to keep from passing out in the presence of her beauty. I almost wished my sister hadn't already claimed her.

     "I wanted to see if I could ask a favour of you. . ." she continued, suddenly shattering my daydream. "I have an item being held for me at Madam Friar's magic shop in town, and she'll only be able to hold it for today. So I wondered if you might be able to go down there and pick it up for me?" she said, her last words seeming to trail off. "I'll understand if it's too much."

     I was confused. "Could you tell me why you couldn't pick it up yourself?"

     She sighed. "I absolutely would if I could — I hate asking favours of people like this," she said, pursing her lips. "Especially after having just met them," she continued. "Unfortunately, I won't be able to. I promised Zoe I would help tutor her for her Mystimon Handling class."

     "Okay, that makes sense," I said, as I made a note in my head. Madam Friar's, probably in the Market District. "I can head over there after school."

     Fleur's eyes glowed. "Oh, thank you so very much!" She said, taking both of my hands in hers. My cheeks flushed as she did so, my heart throbbing. "Madam Friar's is in the Market District," she pulled a piece of parchment from her pocket and handed it to me. "I made directions for you. . . Fair warning, the shopkeeper is a little eccentric."

     "And my sister isn't?"

     She bellowed a laugh so loud I felt like everyone in the school would hear. "Oh, no. . . Madam Friar is more eccentric than even Zoe. . . First of all, she says that every item in her shop carries a story with it, and she will tell you that story," she said, as she rolled her eyes. "And second, she has a tendency to fall asleep at the most random times. . . Even while you're talking to her."

     Okay, that was certainly eccentric. . . Though I'd never met the lady, she was probably a really sweet person. "I look forward to meeting her. . ." I said with a smirk. "Good luck tutoring Zoe," I let out a laugh. "She's not the easiest to get along with to start with, so this might be a proper test of your relationship!"

     She chuckled in return. "I'm sure it will be fine. . . Thank you again for doing this for me. You're a lifesaver!"

     As she left and I continued on my way to class, I wondered to myself how Zoe was doing in Mystimon Handling to need tutoring from Fleur. Was she really doing that poorly? She seemed to struggle with pretty much everything to do with Mystia Casting so far; it was a little concerning for me, if I was being honest. As far as I knew, she'd only mastered one spell and hadn't been able to master any new ones. At least now she had Fleur to help her. I hoped she could help her catch up. . . Though I was a psion, what did I know?

     As I sat through class, I kept thinking about Fleur and trying to reconcile how I felt for her with how I felt for David. Could she have been right about my feelings for him? I didn't really know. When I thought of him, I felt something -- that was for sure. I knew I felt safe with him, and that was why I always thought of him first when I was feeling vulnerable. But whether that amounted to liking or even loving him. . . I couldn't say.

     I listened to the teacher prattle on about some equation or another. . . and completely lost track of whatever he was saying. When he called on me to solve the equation, as he typically did, since I usually knew the answer right away. . . I couldn't answer him. I felt ashamed as he looked at me expecting an answer, and I sat there frozen like a Drarin in spotlights.

     Later, as I left class, I apologised profusely to the professor as he just gave me a disapproving look. He expected more and better from me, and I let him down today. I didn't know what was wrong with me. I didn't even know why I was suddenly thinking about romance when I never had before.

     The rest of the day went about the same. I just could not get David or Fleur off my mind for some reason. It felt maddening to me, as I had never cared to even think about this before. I simply wanted to focus on school and life and put everything else aside. But now I felt like I had to make a choice. . . Though the choice was pretty much already made for me since Fleur was with Zoe.

     But did I really want to date David? I had told him I wasn't interested a thousand times before, and he'd accepted it already. He had just told me he had let that go. . . Was it fair for me to suddenly tell him that I had changed my mind?

     For some reason, it was the only thing I could think of, even as David approached me after school, telling me everything he had learned about the case. I wasn't even listening to any of what he was saying as I just stared into his eyes, hoping for the same feeling I had when I would stare into Fleur's. . .

     "So, what are your thoughts?" said David finally.

     ". . . Do you want to go out with me?" I just blurted out before I even knew what was happening.

     He stood there stunned for what felt like forever, his mouth agape and his eyes wide, as though I had just told the worst joke of all time. I hoped and wished he would just give me an answer already and be done with it. Just tell me no already, I can take it. . . But what he said next sent my mind in circles.

     "Yes, of course, Kairine. . . I'd love to," he replied finally. What was happening? What had I just done? "I'm just a little confused why all of a sudden. . ." That would make two of us. I couldn't believe it. I was in complete shock even as he suggested seven o'clock that night and said he'd make plans. Okay, that took a load off of me, and left me to just figure out why I had just asked him out all of a sudden.

     As he said his goodbyes and said he'd see me later, I stood there stunned, staring off into space. I couldn't believe what I had just done. All of this after I had just made it clear to him not that long ago that I was not interested in dating him. . . Now all of a sudden, I had just asked him out randomly, and. . . Now I had a date later that night. Me, of all people, had a date. . . Even thinking the words, I couldn't believe it.

     I turned toward the road before me, turning to the gate into the rest of the city; my mind was already formulating a plan to get out of this. . . searching for some kind of escape, a way to let him down easily, but nothing was coming to mind. I was drawing a blank. Shaking my head, I started toward the city. First things first, I had a favour for Fleur to get done. I would have to deal with the date later. . . I shook my head at the very thought. What in the world had I just done?

     I stepped into the small shop, gingerly and cautiously, looking about with wide eyes. I was unaware of what I had just walked into -- story of my day so far. This shop was completely unknown to me. . . But that probably wasn't a surprise, since it was tucked in the middle of an alleyway between two larger buildings. I was surprised this place even saw much business, with how out of the way it was. Usually, shops would want to be on the main road in order to attract the most attention. But not this place. My mind swirled with questions, the most of which was why would Fleur order an item from such a place?

     Inside, the shop felt cluttered and claustrophobic, with large shelves looming over me like the dark shadow that haunted our apartment. The air was thick with the scent of potpourri and lavender, which instantly reminded me of the scent Fleur was wearing. . . I was wondering if she was wearing perfume. Now I questioned if that was what she ordered. Though I wondered why that would be found in such an out of the way item shop. . . I shook that thought from my head. It had to be something else.

     "Oh, hello. . ." rang the sweet and gingerly voice of an old lady from the counter at the back. "Please do look around and let me know if there is something you need. . . There is a story for every item. . . If I can just remember what that is. . ."

     Okay. She certainly had the eccentric part down, just from the short bit she had just said. My eyes glanced over all the strange and wondrous items lining the shelves, being drawn particularly to a crystal ball covered in layers of dust. As I looked into it, it suddenly felt as though I were swimming in a sea of stars.

     Shaking my head at the sensation, I guided my eyes over the other items. There was a scarlet red cape neatly folded on another shelf to the other side of me. Then I saw a leather bag with thick leather straps. Even a dagger with a pearl-white blade.

     Finally, I looked forward to the old lady at the counter. I was here for one thing. I just had to pick up Fleur's item and get out. . . But just as I made it to her, I could hear the distinct sound of snoring. . . She'd fallen asleep?! Suddenly I remembered what Fleur had said: that she had a habit of falling asleep randomly. I guess she just proved that point, as I gingerly took my hand and gently shook hers.

     She startled awake suddenly and looked up at me, dazed. Her skin was pallid and wrinkly; her hair curled and stark white. She looked up at me with old, weary grey eyes. "Oh. . . I am dreadfully sorry. . . I must have dozed off!" she said, as her eyes glazed over me. ". . . You have a strange aura about you, young lady. . ."

     "Oh?" I said, confused, unsure of what she could mean.

     She nodded as she looked me over. "I sense a dark presence. . . Have you been haunted by a demon, perhaps?" She asked, her words paralysing me with shock. How in the world could she have possibly known that?

     My only response was a nod. I had no words for what had just happened. I was floored that she could just pick that out within seconds of meeting me, and she didn't even know my name.

     ". . . It's not just a demon. . . There is a dark, foreboding presence as well. . . Something not of this world. . ." she whispered the words as though it were an omen. I was confused and terrified at the same time. What could she possibly mean, it was not of this world? What did that mean? She then turned her eyes toward mine, staring daggers into my eyes. "The Haunter in the Dark is here. . . As we speak. . . She does not wish me to tell you that. . . She's been following you for a long time. . ."

     My eyes darted around the surrounding shop, looking for any sign of what she had just described. . . But there was nothing. I was utterly confused how she could know all of that, as well as horrified at the very prospect of something that has been following me. "How do you? . ." I started, but my mouth just couldn't finish the words.

     But she seemed to catch my meaning. "A long time ago, I was once like you. I had psychic sight. . . I could see things that others couldn't. . ." she said with a slight smile, remembering old times. "But that was a lifetime ago. . . Nowadays, my powers have long since faded. . ." she said as she leaned in closer. "Hear me now, young lady. . . You have a long, hard road ahead of you. . . The shadows from the past will return to haunt you once more, but you will also find light in true love. . . Hold those you care for close in the days ahead."

     Her words swirled around my head like a whirlpool in the ocean. True love? What did she mean? Did she mean David? Was she trying to say that as much as I fought it, I was meant to be with him? I had so many questions right now. . . But I had to return to the matter at hand. I had come here for one purpose. . .

     However, just then, she leaned down behind the counter, returning a moment later with a package wrapped in brown parchment. On the label was a single name: Fleur. How could she know what I was here for before I had even said it?

     One question stuck out in my mind. "You said. . . you once had a psychic sight?" I asked her, the question burning in my mind. "Do you mean? . . You're a psion, like me?"

     She nodded slowly with a smile. "Dark things will be attracted to you, for your powers, young lady. . . Hold on to the light, for the light will guide you."

     My eyes glanced back down at the package as I pondered her words. But just before I could ask another question. . . There came the soft buzzing noise of snoring. . .

     Smirking, I took that as my cue to take my leave, with the package in hand. . . Though I promised myself I would return to ask her more questions, of which I had a great many. . . Now, even more than I had started the day with.