"You sure you don't want a night-light? Your sister's afraid of the dark now, and I know you're a big girl now, Darcy, but still. You can still have the little light." Kezia was still offering up the little plug-in light bulb. "And don't try to tell me you don't get scared; I hear you crying all the time. With the light, you'll won't be scared when you go to sleep and you'll have less nightmares."

Darcy knew why the nightmares came, and she knew it had nothing to do with the dark. Darcy and Kiera had already been living with Kezia for a year; no one had come looking for them, no one had come to claim them.

"Kizzy, I always feel better in the dark." Darcy told the older woman hesitantly. She wasn't sure how Kizzy would react to this. "The darkness protects me, it keeps me safe. My nightmares don't have anything to do with the dark." Looking up at Kezia's face, Darcy thought she saw something odd in the way she was looking at her. But it was gone in a split second, and Darcy brushed it away by telling herself it was her imagination.

"Do you want to tell me what those nightmares are about?" Kezia asked gently. Once again, Darcy closed herself in. She wasn't ready for people to know her secret, to know what she could do, not even sweet, friendly Kezia. Would Kezia let her stay, if she knew what Darcy could do? Would they take her away from Kiera? Kezia sighed and wrapped Darcy in a hug.

"Please, Darcy. Please tell me. I can't help you unless I know what you dream about. I know it's about something that happened before I found you." Darcy stiffened, and kept quiet, not returning the hug. When Kezia released her, she slunk into her room, and hid in the darkness that had always been her friend. She was nine years old.

*** *** ***

Darcy rushed to the Assembly Hall, out of breath. All one hundred and sixty-five students of Cloudtower Academy had already assembled there, as was announced. Panting, Darcy searched the vast room for Icy and Stormy. She expanded her magic so that it would go faster, but large floating candles and lamps lighted up the Assembly Hall, and so there wasn't much darkness. In any case, Stormy found her before she found them.

"Hey," Darcy panted. "I just finished my detention for being late yesterday to Potions. I totally forgot I had that class after lunch, and Ediltrude totally busted me for it. I have to serve detention after classes tomorrow, write an extra eight inches on that essay on poisonous flowers and I had to write one hundred and fifty lines: 'I must not be late to class, I must not be late to class, I must not be late to class'. Phew."

"Me and Stormy got off easy. We have only an extra five inches to write in our essay. Professor Rowan let us off the hook." Icy informed her. Darcy whimpered and massaged her throbbing wrist.

"Does anybody know why they called us here?" It was Faye the embers witch. Her brow was furrowed, bemused. It wasn't like the Headmistress to just call off a class, especially first block. Suddenly, a loud voice rang through the room; it was Zarathustra.

"Everyone, please take your seats. The Headmistress will be with you momentarily. Everyone must sit down." Exchanging looks, Faye, Icy, Stormy and Darcy shoved their way to the back. As queen bees of the school, the other students got out of their way, and it wasn't long before Icy, Stormy, Darcy and Faye were sitting comfortably on the high-backed chairs, waiting for the what ever announcement was so important that couldn't wait until lunch, but had been forgotten during the morning.

"Attention please." The same voice called again. "Here comes Headmistress Gryffin." Looking up, Darcy saw Professor. Gryffin walking across the raised hallway into the balcony. The students still standing quickly (but not quietly) found seats. When all of her students were seated, Gryffin began her speech.

"My young witches. I have summoned you here because I have a sad piece of news to share. The fairies are hosting a party tonight, and, once again, the witches of Cloudtower have not been invited." Whistles, boo's and shouts met her words. Darcy and Faye joined in, but exchanged puzzled looks; as far as Darcy knew, there had never been a party where she was not invited. She didn't know where this was going, but she trusted Gryffin to know what and how to say.

"Yes, my witches, I agree with you, but this is an opportunity for you to test your cursing skills."

"Ah," Darcy whispered. She got it now. As the professor of Incantations class, Gryffin taught spells for freshman, charms for sophomores, and a two-year course of hexes and curses for juniors and seniors. Since the second class, she had been hinting that she was going to give a project for the entire school. This must be it. Darcy thought.

"It is the duty of every witch in this school," the headmistress continued. "To crash this party and wipe the smile off their faces. They snubbed us; we'll make them pay. And so I urge you to come up with a way to ruin their little fiesta. Submit you proposals, and I'll select one. The winner will receive ten bonus credits in my class. May the best witch win." With that, Ms. Gryffin took her seat, and the hall erupted in excited chatter. Faye went to go find Emily and Tala. Darcy inclined her head towards Icy and Stormy.

"What do you think? Should we come up with a little scheme?"

"Why not?" Icy answered.

"Ah, c'mon. We'll just be wasting our time." Stormy complained.

"Trust me Stormy dear; it'll be fun." Icy's face and tone told Darcy that she already had a plan. Darcy smiled, eager to try out whatever it was that Icy had in mind.

Darcy teleported herself to her dorm after her Psychokinetic class. First block was cut short, but second block carried on as usual. She appeared on her bed, legs crossed. Hecate meowed and jumped into her lap, and Darcy scratched the black cat on the head as she waited for her roommates.

The door to the room opened to let in Icy, Stormy following closely. Darcy gave them a half smile, not getting up from petting Hecate. Stormy sat on Icy's bed, rambling on about how unfair something was; apparently she had blown up someone else's cauldron during her Potions class, and had received detention. Darcy nodded and tried to look sympathetic, but she really wasn't paying much attention. Icy went into the bathroom, and resurfaced with her long white-blonde hair loose, hanging down to her knees, a brush in hand.

"Brush my hair, Darcy. No one does it like you do." Icy handed the brush to Darcy, who simply sat, staring at Icy's blue eyes, still petting the cat. The two stood there for a minute, just staring at each other. Finally, Icy broke the silence in submission.

"Please?" Her tone was pleading, her eyes blazing in disgust. While she knew it was false, Darcy tossed her own dark hair back over her shoulder, and motioned for Icy to sit beside her. She placed Hecate, who yowled indignantly, on the floor. The cat glared up at Darcy and Icy, and then left to rub herself against Stormy's legs. Stormy bent down to scratch her, but then pushed her away.

"Are you listening to anything I'm telling you?" She asked angrily.

"Not really" Darcy sighed, pulling the brush through the ends, getting out all Icy's tangles and knots. Stormy crossed her arms over her chest grumpily.

"C'mon Stormy, dear, don't be angry. You were babbling, is all. Yes, we know detention can be harsh, but our sister here has it much harder. Besides, we can't waste time on that now. We need to win this scheme contest."

"Why do we have to win? We don't have to submit anything, and just do it ourselves." Darcy pointed out.

"Because, darling, then we would look unruly. No, I want to do this, and I want to do this my way."

"Yea, 'cause its always about your way." Stormy muttered under her breath bitterly. Darcy threw her a warning look; but Icy had heard it too.

"Yes, it is. You should know by now that I always get what I want." Icy looked at her fingernails. "I need a manicure."

"Can we stay on subject?" Darcy asked, getting on her knees to brush from the roots. "We need to come up with a plan, and then make it good enough that Gryffin will choose it. But I have the perfect way on how we can get in. In history class- when did we take History of Magix? Sophomore, freshmen year? Anyways, remember how the school used to be all connected by underground tunnels. That's how we can get in. There shouldn't be any cave-ins because that would be retarded, especially when everyone has magic and can use it."

"We're gonna have to be able to put a hex on everybody, but without them knowing about us." Stormy pointed out. "Once we get into Alfea, we have to cast a spell to either make us invisible, or for someone to carry an object out and then have the hex explode." Stormy pit her lip in thought. "I could place a curse on one of the Red Fountain boys, and then have him-" Stormy cut off at Darcy's laugh.

"Honestly, Stormy, why waste your energy with hexes when you can make one of those boys to something for you with charm."

"Whore!" Icy laughed, jabbing Darcy leg with an elbow. Darcy grabbed her arm, holding it hostage against her leg, digging her nails into Icy's fair white skin.

"No." She said clearly. Stormy's eyes flicked from the dark witch to the ice witch. Icy turned around; her face slightly grimaced in pain, her brow furrowed in confusion. The atmosphere in the room had changed.

"Darcy, what-"

"Not a whore."

"I was only-"

"No."

Icy met Darcy's eyes, which were hard and expressionless. Darcy's heart hammered, anger mixing with fear and pride. She was pretty, and she loved the attention boys gave her. They flirted with her, and she was only too happy to flirt back. She didn't look for men (she didn't have to) and she didn't give herself away. There may have been some close calls, and she may have teased them once or twice. But she never gave herself up. She was not her mother; she was not a whore.

"Okay. You're not a whore. I'm sorry." Icy whispered. Uncertainty and fear flashed through Icy's eyes, so fast Darcy could have imagined it. But she knew that she hadn't. Darcy slowly released Icy's arm from her grip, and when Icy pulled her arm back, there were four red nail marks on her flesh. Icy rubbed her arm, her eyes never leaving Darcy's face.

"Sisters, I'll see you in History class." And without meeting any of her roommates' eyes, she teleported herself to the Enchanted Forest just on the other side of the Lake Fortress of Light. Once there, she closed her eyes, and breathed deeply through her nose, exhaling with her mouth. She locked her magic within herself, disconnecting it with her feelings. She stood there for five minutes, attempting to calm all the emotions she had buried so long ago.

When she was a little bit calmer, Darcy opened her eyes, and released just a little bit of her magical energy and the tension she felt. She knew she shouldn't have acted up like that; Icy hadn't meant anything with her remark, and there was no way she could have known how it would have affected Darcy.

No matter how hard she tried to push it away, Darcy couldn't ignore what was bothering her. Was she really a whore? Was that how people viewed her, as a slut, as a girl who threw herself at men's feet? In all her attempts to be everything Lamias was not, had she, Darcy, actually proved the saying 'like mother, like daughter'?

Anger bubbled deep within her. No, she was not! Hadn't she promised herself when she was seven to be worth more than that woman? Hadn't she fought all the boys who had thought she would be easy to get when she was fourteen? Hadn't she always stood up and defended Kiera from all the bullies at school?

Her heart suddenly skipped a beat. Kiera. Had it really been two years since the sisters had spoken? Darcy fell to the floor, thinking about her little sister. She was fourteen, and would be starting her first year in high school. They got along well, but being so different from each other, their fights were always harsh. The last one was the worst. Darcy squeezed her eyes shut, trying not to let the pain bubble up. They had survived all their differences, but there was one that had pulled them apart. Darcy hadn't thought much of it, but Kiera had seen it as an act of betrayal.

Darcy put her head in her arms, hiding behind her long dark tresses, soaking in the tranquility she felt from her self-made darkness. She gently pushed the hurt away, and let feelings go numb. She let her thoughts wander back to her childhood, her mother, and Kiera, but did not dwell on them. She was thinking that she had better head back to Cloudtower so that she could make it to her next class on time when a voice made her lift her head.

"Are you alright?" It was a boy's voice. Looking up, she saw that it belonged to a boy who had broad shoulders, and hair a deep purple color. His face was now looking at her with concern, and in his hand he held a yellow sword. The uniform he was dressed in told her he was from Red Fountain. His blue cape billowed slightly in the breeze. Darcy tossed her hair back with a hand, looking up at him.

"I'm fine."

"You sure? Here." He brought in his sword, hooked it on his belt, and extended out his hand. Sighing quietly, Darcy allowed him to pull her up.

"You're a witch from Cloudtower?" He asked, as he glanced over her. Darcy stood still as his eyes looked her over two times.

"How'd you figure that one out? I could be from Alfea." She raised her chin, yet she still couldn't look down at him. He was tall, nearly another head taller than she was herself. His face split into a cocky grin.

"First of all, Alfea is getting ready for the party, because it's going to be hosted there. Second, you don't look or talk like any fairy I have ever seen." His eyes slowly rolled down her body, lingering on her curves. Darcy hid a tiny smile, raising an eyebrow.

"And just how do fairies look and talk like?" Darcy taunted flirtatiously.

"They wear bright colors, and speak in tiny little voices with lots of 'thank you' and 'you're so kind'." He pitched his voice as he mimicked them, and then grinned. Darcy let out a little laugh, not too sure whether he was complimenting her.

Darcy heard voices in the distance. The boy turned to glance over his shoulder.

"That'll be the rest of my group." He said, giving her an apologetic smile. "You sure you okay then? You need a lift to Cloudtower?" He added hopefully.

"No, I'm okay, thanks." She gave him a tiny smile. She was about to continue walking the forest, school completely forgotten, but he seemed to hesitate. She raised her eyebrows questioningly.

"Will…will I see you at the party? You are going, right?" For the first time since their meeting, he seemed uncertain. Darcy narrowed her eyes, suddenly mistrustful and puzzled.

"We weren't invited." She responded, a little too sharply. He did a double take, clearly confused.

"What do you mean, you weren't invited? It's supposed to be a school dance! All three schools are supposed to be there." His voice was sincere, and Darcy could see in his eyes that he truly believed what he was saying. She faltered for a spit second, confused. Why would Gryffin say that they were not invited? But she didn't let her confusion seep through and kept her composure cold. She didn't answer the boy, but met his eyes squarely and coldly. He shifted uncomfortably and dropped his gaze.

Muffled voices suddenly called out again. The boy looked over his shoulder again irritably.

"I guess I should go. We're going to be late to the ending of this class." The mention of classes reminded Darcy of her own.

"What's the time?" The asked him abruptly. The boy glanced down at his watch.

"It's 12:37."

"Shit!" Darcy exclaimed, and then, without a glance at the boy, she teleported herself back to the school.

Darcy received a stern lecture about promptness from Maud upon getting to history class. She stood in front of Maud, head slightly bowed, and quietly answered that she had lost track of time. She offered to do another six inches on her report, knowing it would soften the young professor. As she hoped, Maud sighed loudly, told her another six inches was not necessary, but told her to be on time for the following class. Darcy never got into as much academic trouble as Icy or Stormy, and she used that to her advantage. As she took her seat, Icy leaned over to her.

"We've got it all set up. I gave it to Professor Gryffin before coming here. You all right?" She asked as an afterthought. Darcy nodded half-mindedly, waving away Icy's question. She opened her notebook, and began jotting down any important things Maud was lecturing about. Today, she was continuing with the wars between Suruat and Recnac, two countries of the world Caidoz. Stormy was paying attention to the young witch, but wasn't writing down anything. Icy was looking in her general direction, but Darcy knew that she was probably just daydreaming. About what, she had no idea.

As Maud went to answer one of Tala's questions, Darcy let her mind drift to boys. There was Tilio, who she still had to teach a lesson and reach closure with; Matthew had called her, and wanted to know when she was free; and then there was the young man from lunchtime. Darcy bit her lip as she thought of him. He had definitely been drawn to her, but she could tell he was younger than she was and she had never ever gone out with a younger guy. He was cute; there was no denying that. But she didn't even know his name, and she doubted that they would meet again. She thought of Matthew again, but mentally dismissed him. Sure, he was tall and sexy looking, but she wasn't really into him. Maybe as a weekend thing, but nothing more.

"Miss Russo!" Maud called sharply, interrupting Darcy form her thoughts. Darcy quickly turned her attention to the young professor, who was petite with short black hair piled into a messy bun. She was now peering at Darcy sternly. "Perhaps you can tell us what caused the Surians' downfall in 1734?" Darcy couldn't help grinning to herself as she prepared her answer.

"Of course, Professor. Their downfall was the very mountains that they had so much faith in. The Surians wanted the mountains to be guards, their defense. But the Recs were clever; they hid in the mountain passes, with poisoned and hexed arrows. When the Surian army marched through those mountain passes, they were killed easily because to pass through those mountain passes, they had to go in a line. The Recs had the advantage of surprise, protection from opposing fire, and height." Darcy leaned forward, resting her chin on her hand, feeling a tad bit smug. Icy laughed through her nose, and Stormy threw her a disbelieving look. Maud held Darcy's eyes for three seconds before speaking.

"I'm glad you know your history. But you are still in school, and you must still attend classes. I would prefer you to attend those classes so that you can actually learn more information, not so you can sleep with your eyes open. Miss Trisdal, you would do well to heed this as well." Maud glanced reprimanding at Icy, who looked at her with an innocent face. "For the first time in four years, I believe that Miss Casalduc is actually paying more attention than the two of you." Maud gave the dark and ice witches one last disapproving glance before continuing on with the lesson. Darcy turned to grin mischievously at Stormy and Icy. Stormy wagged a finger and tsked her sisters, shaking her head jokingly. Icy bit her lip to hold back a laugh, and Darcy put a hand to her mouth to muffle out the giggle that had already escaped.

They were called to the Headmistress's office during break. The witch sisters had found sanctuary in the quiet of the library. Darcy was scribbling madly on spare parchment paper, trying to come up with a new enchantment for Psychokinetic class, while trying to organize her history notes so that she could work on the beginning part of the assignment. Icy and Stormy, meanwhile, were combining forces to write a fifteen-inch essay on how the kava kava herb could be so deadly to the liver when taken. Darcy had just about all of her final ingredients when the air suddenly turned chilly. Hovering in the center of the table, a portal opened, and out floated a piece of folded parchment. The portal closed in upon itself, and the room returned to normal; the parchment dropped to the table with a light tap.

Icy reached out for it first, reading its contents. When she looked up, her mouth was a thin line.

"Our presence is requested in Professor Gryffin's office." She paused. Darcy looked up at the blonde girl with only her eyes. "Now." Icy added, and began to shove pens, parchment and notes into her bag. Darcy and Stormy waited for her to say more; when she didn't, they exchanged looks and followed suit. Then they wove their way out of the huge library, and crossed the courtyard and into the Entrance Tower, where the headmistress's office was located on the second to top floor.

They had just reached the office door, when it swung open on its own. Professor Gryffin was flipping through a stack of papers, scribbling a word or two on some, humphing at others.

"Come on in girls." She called, not glancing up as they strode into her office. It wasn't the first time they had been sent to the headmistress's office, but all three were confident that they would be able to get away with whatever it was that they had been summoned for. Icy was Professor Gryffin's favorite student, while Darcy had perfect marks on all her classes and Stormy excelled at Incantations class- at Gryffin's class. The three witches stepped inside, paused at her desk, not uttering a word, and standing straight and attentively.

"I have received many suggestions," She said, standing up and smiling at them. "But none as disgusting as your." She slapped down a piece of parchment. Darcy sensed her sisters relax. This was about the contest. "A horrible idea, terrible, despicable!" Darcy clenched her teeth to hold in a smile. So Icy and Stormy did well on their own. "In other words, it's the best. Well done you three, great start to the year." Darcy exchanged looks with the storm witch.

"Thanks, Professor." Icy replied happily, a tiny smile dancing on her lips. Professor Gryffin stood up and walked around her desk, so that she stood behind her senior students.

"Now please, don't disappoint me."

"We'll get to work right away, ma'am." Darcy reassured her respectfully, not at all sure of exactly what she was going to get to work on.

"Trust us, you can be sure we won't fail." Professor Gryffin walked to the door. "Tonight, you sleep with the sound of crying fairies." Icy muttered. Darcy threw her a surprised look, but quickly focused on the headmistress. She opened the door, a gesture of dismissal.

"I wish you three the best of luck. Remember, if you succeed, it's ten bous credits for my class for each of you." She let out a small smile. "Not that I believe you three need it." Darcy, Icy and Stormy gave her their thanks, and then bid her farewell. Once they were a floor beneath her office, Darcy turned to the other two.

"So what exactly did you guys suggest that she liked so much?"

"Oh, you know," Stormy answered, waving her hand. "We put in a bunch of transfiguration and cursing crap. A lot of super advanced hexes and sneakery. Pretty much, she knows that the plan is awesome, but if we can carry it out, we're amazing." Darcy sighed, a little disappointed that there was now a plan to follow. She preferred simply to be spontaneous and come do things in the moment.

"But that's what we gave Gryffin." Stormy continued. "Icy has what we're really going to do." Darcy's brow furrowed for a moment, eyes flicking between Stormy and Icy, but then they straightened into realization and a grin.

"What are we doing then, exactly?" Darcy asked.

"Oh, we'll let you know as we go along. I know you add your own little flare without warnings." Icy mused.

"Wait, your going to keep me in the dark? You're not going to tell me anything?" Darcy demanded.

"Well, you do so love the dark." Stormy taunted with a laugh. Darcy grumbled all the way to their dorm.

At sunset, Icy and Stormy changed into their witch form. Darcy, still not knowing what the exact plan was, transformed as well. Icy threw her an old scroll of parchment, and a flashlight. Darcy held up the flashlight.

"Excuse me? Why are me going technologically backwards? We can just cast a simple illuminating incantation."

"Darcy, Alfea is going to be crawling with teachers." Icy explained calmly, as if speaking to a five year old. "Do you really want one of them to sense out our magic and come searching? If a bunch of fairies or Redfountain boys come, sure no problem. But we aren't going to hex a teacher."

"Yea, we'll be in deep shit if we do." Stormy added.

ok, i kno i haven't added anything for a really long time. but i left it alone and forgot about it until i saw 2 more reviews. i started writing this, and then realized it was going to be one REALLY long chapter, so im breaking it up into 2. so the next chapter wil be darcy's pov on when the trix are going into alfea, changing the eggs and trying to get the scepter.

review!!! please review! whether i continue or not depends on the feedback i get. it doesnt have to be a good review, just an honest one