~4~

I knew something was going on the moment Ms. Stull came strutting into the dining hall and ordered all of the kids back to their dorms.

I went back to my dorm alone since my roommate was a Harbinger, and all of the Harbingers were gathered outside my window.

They were all gathered by the side of the building and I could see Selina and the boy from dinner standing side by side while Selina barked commands.

All of the Harbingers had long leather straps of armor slung around their chests, and most of them carried weapons like silver swords or long wooden spears. But others carried huge bows with an empty quiver slung across their backs.

It seemed a bit counterproductive to me. I mean, a bow, and an empty quiver..?

Anyway, I watched as Selina went on giving orders when suddenly she pointed to a boy with short curly hair and ebony skin.

He nodded once, then pulled something to-small-to-see that I assumed to be a necklace around his neck. He clapped his fist in his hand, and suddenly a ghostly figure appeared by his side.

I pressed my nose to the cool glass to get a better look.

The figure seemed to resemble a wolf.

But this wolf was sightly transparent and glowed an odd silver-blue color and was slightly bigger than a bear.

Its howl rattled the glass on the old window and I was sure everyone could hear its deafining cry from within the walls of Headquarters.

But I realized the ghost wolf hadn't just howled for its own amusement. It was a call of some kind. Because six others just like it appeared beside six other Harbingers.

I watched as the boy from dinner said something to the group, then without warning they all darted off in different directions with a wolf bounding at each group's side.

All of the Harbingers disappeared.

All except Selina and the boy.

The two of them turned toward the woods with their weapons drawn and at the ready. The boy said something, Selina nodded. Then all of a sudden the two of them broke into a sprint and darted into the trees, allowing themselves to be swallowed by the shadowy maze that seemed to go on forever.

I didn't wait for them to emerge again. Instead, I changed into my pajamas, snatched my book from its spot on my white desk, and crawled into bed.

I don't remember falling asleep, but I woke suddenly to an alarm blaring in my left ear.

"Up sleepyhead," Said Selina with bobby pins between her teeth as she pulled her chalky hair back into a loose ponytail.

I forced myself to sit up and stretched. Selina was already dressed and ready for the day. She even had enough time to do her makeup.

"Were you out late last night?" I asked.

Selina shrugged, "Dunno, forgot my watch"

"What happened anyway? Why did you and that boy go into the woods?"

Selina scrunched her nose at the memory, then shook her head and said, "Cabin trolls. Foul, creatures"

"Cabin Trolls?"

She looked down at me as she took the last bobby pin from between her lips and stuck it in her hair.

"You'll learn all about them in your first class"

"How do you know-"

"Snagged a glance of your schedule"

"My-"

She jerked her head toward my desk, and sure enough, resting beside my alarm clock was a half-folded piece of paper.

I picked it up and found my first-period class.

"Mythical Beasts with...Mr. Anne?"

"Mr. Anne's one of the more sterner teachers. Try not to get on his bad side. His class normally meets in the hall outside the Dining Hall"

"Yes," Selina nodded to herself. "you'll most likely find him there"

"Thanks," I said setting the paper back on my desk and clambering out of bed.

"Welp," Said Selina as she licked her littlest finger and swiped it across her brow in a little desktop mirror.

Then she stood up straight, still staring down at her reflection. "Time for me to head to my first class"

Now she was looking at Ivy, "I suggest you hurry. Being late on your first day is not your going to get on Mr. Annes' good side"

Then she was gone.

I took a bit longer to get ready, but not too long. My schedule said that my first class started at 7:47. I was already speed walking down the right-wing corridor by the time 7:36 hit.

When I had to walk through the right-wing common room some kids were lounging on grey and gold sofas and armchairs near a blazing fire.

Silver-blue animals scurried in and out of people's legs chasing each other, whilst the creatures with wings soared stories above my head.

"What are those?" I asked a girl standing with a foot up against the wall beside the door that led out into more of the manor.

She wore a black t-shirt that had a skull printed on the front, ripped jeans, a black leather jacket, black knee-high leather boots, and two barrettes that pulled her long black bangs away from her face.

She gave me a confused look."You don't know?"

I shook my head. "I'm not...From here"

The girl shrugged and began explaining.

"Their Charms," She said watching the winged creatures flutter around the ceiling.

"Charms?"

"Once a Possessor defeats their first beast they are given a little necklace with a charm on it that resembles the animal they have slain. The soul of that animal will belong to them for the remaining of their life, its job is to protect its Possessor and defend them in battle...But if it fails..."

"What?" I asked, intrigued. "What will happen?"

"Well," Said the girl."If it happens to fail, and its Possessor is defeated, then the Charm fades. Vanishes until it is nothing. Not even a soul"

The girl looked at me. I must have looked startled, or sad because she smiled and fixed her eyes on the Charms running along the floor.

"But it can also succeed at its job at hand. If the Possessor happens to pass on due to, say... Old age, or a sickness. something that is out of the Charms control, then the Charm will be rewarded a second chance at life"

It was a nice thought, but suddenly a realization came over me.

I turned to all of the adorable little blue creatures.

"So...All of these Charms were killed by their own Possessors?"

The girl nodded glumly.

"So then, wheres yours?" I asked.

The girl smiled. "I ain't got one. Never will"

"Why not?"

"Because of the exact reason you just said" She crossed her arms over her chest and watched the blue animals with a glint of sadness in her onyx eyes. "I'd have to kill to get it"