The following events took place 10 years in the past.

A shining blue bus rumbled across a one-lane road. The pristine blue skies and greenery were only occasionally broken up by cream-colored multi-story homes. Inside the bus, a grey-haired man in a tweed suit and glasses lifted a microphone to his face.

“Welcome, Winminster Academy!” said the tweed suit man. “I hope you’re all ready for an informative tour of one of the most historic cities in the world! Now, I want you all to thank Professor Drachma for giving you this opportunity…”

As the guide continued on, a group of girls sitting at the back of the bus giggled amongst themselves. A blonde in the middle rolled her eyes.

“Puh-lease,” said the blonde with a chuckle. “He seriously thinks anyone signed up for this trip to learn about history or architecture? We’re all here for photo ops, expensive wine, and cute foreign boys~!”

A brunette girl pulled a pink camcorder out of her bag and pointed it towards her friends. “I hear all the boys in this country have tanned skin, glistening muscles, and incredible fashion sense! Not to mention those adorable accents~!”

“Of course, we can’t forget our own accents!” said a black-haired girl. “From the point of view of these boys, us English girls sound refined, graceful, upper-class! One word and they’ll melt at our feet~! Erm, no offense, Virginia.”

The blonde scoffed. “Whatever. Y’all have fun obsessing over your accents. One mention of my daddy’s record sales’ll land me a date with any boy in the country!”

The clique at the back of the bus giggled together. Virginia flipped her blonde hair over her shoulder, and turned her gaze to a girl a few seats ahead of her. The girl had blue hair, and was busy sketching a portrait of a woman’s face.

“Still, y’know who’ll NEVER get a boy~?” said Virginia with a smirk. “Newton, ugliest bitch in the school. Honestly, I don’t even know how she was even able to afford this trip…”

“C’mon, Virginia…” groaned Michaela.

A hand clapped down onto the back of Michaela’s seat. Virginia’s shadow overwhelmed Michaela as she stood in the aisle.

“And what’s that you’re sketching? Is that supposed to be Britney Spears?” laughed Virginia. “Newton, the girl who doesn’t have friends, has to draw shitty portraits-!”

The bus shook as it hit a bump in the road. A handful of pebbles on the floor were flung into the air, and shot into Virginia’s eyes.

“YAACK!!!” sputtered Virginia as she stumbled back into her seat. “What the hell did you do, Newton?!”

“I… I didn’t do anything!” gasped Michaela.

“Damn it…!” spat Virginia. “I swear… you better watch your back, bitch!”

Michaela turned away from Virginia and huddled up to the window, panting heavily. Virginia’s clique reached towards her, putting down the camcorder to help wipe the dirt from her eyes. The guide at the front continued uninterrupted, as the bus rumbled down a quiet country road.

April 5th. A nearly-full moon lit up the quiet city streets. The 15-year-old Michaela Newton shivered, her school uniform doing little to keep her warm. Michaela’s shoe landed in a puddle, and her feet slipped out from under her. Michaela flipped over, and landed in a marble fountain with a loud splash. Michaela opened her mouth, and inhaled a glob of water. Michaela flailed around, but a dull pain shot through her arms - she was unable to move.

A warm hand grasped her own. Michaela was pulled to her feet by a pair of strong arms. Cold air filled Michaela’s lungs. The water fell from Michaela’s eyes, and she saw a tall boy with shining white hair.

“Th- thank you!” sputtered Michaela.

“Are you ok?” said the boy. “You really tumbled there!”

“I’m… fine now…” said Michaela with a blush. “What’s… what’s your name?”

“Glassaturo, age 15” said Glassaturo. “I’m guessing… you’re not from around here.”

“I’m here on a school trip,” explained Michaela. “My assigned roommate locked me out of our hotel room, and I couldn’t find a teacher, so… here I am.”

Michaela sighed. She patted some of the water off her body, and sat down on the nearby marble finish. Suddenly, Michaela started coughing. Her coughs turned into wheezes, and she struggled to catch her breath with the intense pain in her chest. Glassaturo grabbed Michaela’s arm, and pulled her to her feet.

“Seriously, are you ok?!”

“Yeah, I’m fine…” said Michaela, air returning to her lungs.

“No, you’re really not!” said Glassaturo. “I think you might be coming down with pneumonia! Look, do you want to come back to my apartment? It’s not that far, you can dry off there-!”

Michaela’s face turned red as she looked up at Glassaturo. She nodded gently. Glassaturo wrapped his arms around her shoulders, and hurried her away down the street.

= = = = = = = = = =

Michaela stood in the halls of Proud Mary, staring down the rapidly solidifying Peepshow. Michaela gripped her lighter tightly, and flipped it open. The glow of a flickering flame lit up Michaela’s face as she held the lighter at arm’s length.

“Ok, Xanadu, now’s our chance!” shouted Michaela. “I desire to find Peepshow’s user!”

Xanadu flew over Michaela’s shoulder, and began pulling fire out of the lighter. The form of a bloodhound’s head grew out of the lighter. A loud crack rang out through the hallway. Michaela let out a bloodcurdling scream, and her lighter fell to the ground. Her right radius bone had shattered. The partially-formed bloodhound disappeared, and the fire from Michaela’s lighter spread onto the carpet. Michaela looked up at Peepshow, mouth twisted into a silent screech.

“Damn it…” murmured Michaela, clutching her broken arm. “This stand’s attacks are too fast. I won’t be able to find the user… until I get Peepshow off my trail!”

Peepshow melted into its liquid form. Four gooey tendrils reached out, grabbing the corners of the hallway. The stand stretched out backwards, its giant eyeball trained onto Michaela’s face.

“Xanadu!” said Michaela as she backed away. “I desire something to slow Peepshow down!”

Xanadu punched the ground. The fire on the carpet grew, slowly forming into humanoid shapes. Michaela dashed around the corner, and Peepshow flung itself forward. Suddenly, the stand turned solid, and screeched to a halt on the carpet. The stand peered around, confused - it appeared to be in an airport security checkpoint made of fire, complete with a line of fiery travelers. Peepshow rolled its central eye, and checked a non-existent watch on its wrist.

Michaela slid down the banister of a spiral staircase. She looked above her - Peepshow had not followed. As she continued to slide, Michaela began to hear a voice from the room below.

“...Something from her room… has to be valued by her soul…” murmured a child’s voice.

Michaela looked across the ballroom as her heels tapped down on the hard floor. Edvard Crowley sat in the far corner, and was staring into the air over his left shoulder.

“Edvard?” said Michaela, stepping across the dance floor. “Who are you talking to?”

Edvard stared up at Michaela in a panic. Edvard’s breathing accelerated as a stand sat down next to him. The stand had leaf-like wings and a golden halo, and its body was a femine form made of thorny vines. Its face was old and kind, and its light hair was curled like a colonial officer's.

“Edvard Crowley,” said Lady Stardust. “You have nothing to fear. As long as I’m here, you’ll be protected. Michaela can’t hurt you.”

Edvard swallowed, and his breathing returned to normal.

“Remember, Michaela can’t even perceive me,” continued Lady Stardust. “I am only capable of appearing to children in need. Not even my own user can see my form - the only information she has about my existence are the vines on her back and her random bouts of illness. Just tell Michaela that you were playing a pretend game. I promise, she won’t pursue it further.”

Edvard sighed. “I… wasn’t talking to anyone,” said Edvard. “I was playing pretend. Uh, with myself.”

Michaela’s eyes narrowed. She scanned the room, looking for anything suspicious. Her gaze turned back to Edvard.

“You know there’s a broken lightbulb by the tables, right?”

“Right, uh, that was my… fault? I was playing.”

“Since when do you play with glass?”

Michaela took a step towards Edvard. Suddenly, the riverboat began to rumble.

“Shit!” muttered Michaela. “This conversation isn’t over, Edvard. Got it?!”

Edvard nodded nervously as Michaela ran through a set of curtains in the back of the room. Edvard peered around the corner, and exhaled.

“Now, the plan,” said Lady Stardust. “What is it you need to accomplish, Edvard?”

“Well, I… I need to take something from Virginia!” sputtered Edvard. “Something she has a deep connection with… a part of her body, or an article of clothing that she always wears.”

“Do you believe you can sneak up on her?” said Lady Stardust.

“I mean… she’s usually focused on something, so I’m not sure I can…”

“Edvard.”

“I mean… yes! Yes, I can do that! I can find an opening when she’s distracted.”

“Good,” said Lady Stardust. “Now, what else do you need?”

“I… need to go to my ceremony room! There’s some supplies there! But… Michaela has the key, so I need permission from her-”

“Michaela Newton doesn’t hold a candle to you, Edvard,” said Lady Stardust. “I need you to understand this. Michaela says you have no value, but she is dead wrong. You’re worth more than she’ll ever be.”

“R-right!” stuttered Edvard. “But… I still need…”

“Edvard,” said Lady Stardust, touching the young child’s shoulder. “You don’t need Michaela’s permission for anything.”

Edvard’s eyes turned down to his shoulder, as a thin branch grew out of his back.