PROLOGUE PART I.

Katerina Ellis- a beautiful, likable, extremely smart, and perfect seventeen-year-old girl. She was someone everyone envied but could never hate. The perfect girl was living such a successful life so. . . it makes absolutely no sense why she would kill herself. 

And before you ask: no, she was not one of those 'super successful but never can be happy' types of girls. Katerina spoke her mind and never showed any signs of wanting to end her life. There's no way she ended her life because of something like 'depression'. . . there had to be another reason. Something that was even weirder was the fact that no police officer or detective could find her body. All they could find was a note claiming that she truly did kill herself because of depression. Katerina never was emotional - everything she did was calculated. Nobody but me could see that facade she put on when around others. She simply knew how to give the right responses to certain people. The emotions she did show were like masks hung up on a wall that she would switch between when the situation called for it. Katerina was the biggest fake I knew, but of course, people would think I was the insane one for saying it. 

Now the fact that the police couldn't find her body sounds extremely sketchy. Katerina was intelligent - extremely intelligent, like a mad scientist type intelligent. Too bad I didn't have her suicide note in my possession, police had it so they could get samples to see if she truly wrote it. As if Katerina's handwriting wasn't distinctive - I've never seen anyone else write like her. She was perfect but she had flaws - one of them was her handwriting. Let's just say she was more of a typing kind of person anyways.

I tightened my grip around my schoolbag, as if being just known as 'Katerina's sister' wasn't annoying enough. I would have to deal with the stares and whispers of gossiping not only my classmates but high school students. At times like these, I wished my parents would just put me in a regular school instead of the same academy as Katerina. Maybe then I would be known by my real name instead of, 'Miss. Katerinas' little sister.'

Sometimes I feel like I shouldn't even be attending Maria Nexus Academy. My parents only did it so they could brag that both their kids made it to such a prestigious academy that taught from grade school to high school. 

I pushed through the stares knowing that if I just stood at the gateway entrance I would want to go back home. I quickly started speed walking to my shoe locker praying no one would come up to me. . . I was just my sisters' shadow after all. No one cares about my wellbeing, they just wanted to ask nosey questions. I took in a relieved breath as I reached my shoe locker. I took off my scarf and heavy duffle coat getting ready to change my shoes.

"Katerina's sister!!" Someone yelled causing the whispers to stop completely. Everyone (including me) turned towards the shout. And here I thought I made it out safely. . .

Of course, it was the most nosey girl in this entire Academy: Samie M. Almario. She was head editor of the newspaper club. Using her rich girl status, she manages to always find any and every rumor circulating around the Academy. Whether it's from a Grade schooler or a Jr. High Schooler like myself 9th grade specifically). If it's interesting, it'll be in the paper! (her words not mine, obviously).

"Miss. Almario!" Some blue-haired girl shouted as she ran up in front of me. She blocked the way between me and Samie, which I was thankful for. "You're supposed to be a Sophomore in High School! Act like it! A-And please. . .don't. . .don't use Kate's name so casually. . ." The girl began to sniffle and then cry. I recognized her now, she was one of Kate's close friends, Stephanie Adalei. The blue-haired girl pushed up her black squared glasses as she turned towards me. Her pale skin complexion had a bit of a reddish hue from her crying.

"And. . . don't harass Kate's sister either. . ." Stephanie added sadly.

For some reason that statement made me snap. Even though I'm used to just being known as 'Katerinas' Sister', it still hurts knowing someone who's been around my house doesn't even refer to me as my own name. I am my own person! Not just 'Katerinas' sister.' Even after she's gone, that's all I'll ever be known as.

"Move."

I muttered shoving past the two girls. People instantly began to whisper but it was mostly about how annoying and insensitive Samie was. Still, I knew they all wanted to question me about Katerina. She was liked by every grade at the Academy - almost everyone knew who she was. The school bell then rang signaling everyone to get to their classes.

 +

Before I knew it, lunchtime already arrived. I didn't pack my own lunch and didn't feel like eating the lunch the school provided for us. I guess my meal today was cold winter air. I set my head down on my desk trying to fall asleep and ignore all my gossiping classmates. Who knew so many people would know about one girls' death so badly.

"Kafka Ellis?"

My head immediately jolted up when hearing my name - my actual full name. I turned to see a girl wearing the Academy's high school uniform. She must have realized it's unusual for someone her age to be in my class because she quickly asked to go outside the class. Many of my classmates stared at the two of us when we began to leave.

"I'm Wendee Adalei," She pushed a strand of her long dark blue hair behind her ear revealing a single earring. "You already know my younger twin sister, Stephanie." She was so different from Stephanie, even though they're supposed to be twins, I could easily tell which was which.

Stephanie was quieter and more emotional. Her hair was a light blue shade that was tied into a long braid reaching her back. Their glasses were really the biggest indicator of who was who. Well, that and their eyes. Wendee had such short dark-blue evenly cut hair that sometimes fell in front of her face. Her eyes were such a dark blue like the ocean while Stephanie's eyes seemed to resemble the sky.

"I. . . I want to apologize," Wendee said bluntly. ". . . for your loss. . . I mean. . ."

"Did you know-?"

I didn't even finish my sentence before Wendee shoved a large book in my hands. She walked off quickly before I could even ask if she was friends with Katerina. Something I noticed was that her earring was in the shape of a small silver ring with a water design in the middle. Her earring was similar to the ring Katerina wore on her pinkie.

"Oh. . . !" 

I looked down at the large book in my hands curious as to why she even gave it to me. My heart pounded against my ribcage rapidly as I read the bolded title. 

'KATERINAS' SPELLBOOK'

My knees grew weak as I read the title repeatedly. Was this some sort of sick joke? Why would Wendee give me this. . . and why during class? I felt my stomach flip inside out and could feel my breakfast coming back up.

"Is she okay??!"

"Call the professor!!"

"Ew, ew, gross! She's throwing up!"