CHAPTER 1

Hey, I'm Lyla Charles. Imagine a 5 foot pixie with long curly red hair and the attitude to back it up and you've got me. Nothing amazing. Not yet, anyways. Buckle up, because here we go.

Weird things had been happening all day, but that was nothing new for me. Weird things had always been happening to me. However, what I did not expect was my mother sitting at home after school, waiting on me. She always worked until 5. I walked into the door, slipped through the kitchen and headed for the living room. She was on the couch, her full attention focused on me.

"Mom? What are you doing home?" I asked.

"Well, we need to talk Lyla." I froze. I hate hearing those words. Nothing good ever comes from hearing that phrase. Relationships end with that phrase. Lives change with the utter of those words. I sat down and waited for her to get on with it.

"Babe I know things have always been harder for you. Things happen that don't happen to other people. I have to tell you the truth now. It's too dangerous not to. You have to be taught how to control yourself. All those incidents are just the magic overflowing." Wait, what?

"What are you talking about mom?" I sat looking at her like she had 3 heads.

"Ly you're a witch. All of Grandma Jean's side are. Your aunt and I included." Again, what? I tried to process what she was saying without also calling the psychiatric hospital. "I know you probably have tons of questions and I'll answer what I can, but that's not all. Your magic is getting too strong. You have to learn to control it. There's a school. A boarding school, actually."

"How did you hide this? I mean I'm 16. How did I not realize my mom's side of the family were witches?"

"Well we do have practice hiding who we are, dear. We can't tell anyone we exist or say hello Salem witch trials all over again. I just wanted to give you a normal life before the magic took over. I'm sorry." Mom looked guilty but also a little excited. This was who she was, who I was, and now it was out there.

"Prove it. I can't just believe this without proof." Before I even finished what I was saying Mom held her hand up and was holding a globe of light. She extended her fingers and it rose higher. "Wow." She clenched her fist extinguishing the globe.

"Ta-DA." She said triumphantly. "Now as I was saying. You'll have to go to a boarding school, but don't you worry, you'll love it. I already enrolled you and took care of everything. All that's left is to pack and make the trip to drop you off. Oh I'm so excited. You'll be following in my footsteps!" Great. Just what I wanted. It looked like she wouldn't be budging on this so might as well make the most of it. Plus hello, I would be learning magic. Hell yes.

I'll let you in on a little secret. I'm not very liked at my current school. Something about being an ice princess and unapproachable, I don't know. So up and moving wasn't too bad for my social life since I only had me, myself, and I. I didn't really have questions. She answered the why she did it, slightly avoided the how, but I figured I would learn to hide it too. Once I thought it over I was sold. New school? Terrifying, but also a chance to make friends, grow, LEARN MAGIC. Okay, yeah I was mostly curious. 

I sat on my bed looking at the pictures mom had given me of her high school years. The campus was beautiful. It looked like a castle. Tall buildings, breathtaking stonework, a fountain, and ivory climbing the walls. I hoped it still looked that way. I was packed and ready to go. Mom said we would leave tomorrow morning and make the 3 hour drive there. I briefly wondered if anyone would miss me, but let's be real you have to talk to people for them to miss you.

END CH 1