Disclaimer: I do not own Red River. It belongs to Chie shinohara, duh.

Summary: I hear you can fall in love anywhere and any time but falling in love in ancient Egypt? And if that wasn't bad enough I don't even belong here! Jade Bennet a regular American teenager stuck in ancient times struggling to deal with palace intrigues, vendettas, royal families, divine prophecies and not to mention falling in love with a man who's a thousand years her senior! What's a girl used to ipods , computers, personal hygiene and freedom to do?

Just so you know, I'm not going to be following history to the letter. Mostly since there isn't much info concerning this era and well this is historical fiction...

The shrill beeping of my digital alarm clock woke me from my deep slumber. Sighing I rolled over on to my stomach and hit the alarm's button to turn it off. Nuzzling my face in to my pillow for a second, I stretched and rolled out of bed. Walking in to the bathroom I switched on the fluorescent lights and proceeded to the small window above the toilet. Pushing that open I inhaled the smog tinged morning air. The bathroom was small, painted white with cream tiles covering the floor. It had a sink and a few cabinets located underneath it and a large mirror fastened to the wall. Directly across the small space parallel to the sink and mirror was the shower stall.

Turning the shiny steel knobs I waited until the spray of water warmed before stripping off my clothes and jumping inside. Washing my hair and body thoroughly, I stopped the flow of water and reached for my towel that hung on the shower doors outside rail. Toweling off I shivered as my warm feet came in to contact with the cold floor. Securing my towel around me I washed my face and blow dried my hair.

While simultaneously combing and drying my hair I stared at myself in the mirror. I looked at my fall of auburn hair that ended at the bottom of my shoulder blades. I frowned, it was as if my hair didn't know whether to be red, brown, or blonde. And if that wasn't odd enough it was wavy and never stayed in place if I didn't spend a considerable amount of time taming it. Moving my eyes over my softly angled brows to meet my gaze and study my iris' color I saw that they were a grayish green. Lowering my gaze further, I acknowledged that my nose was straight and small but not the delicate kind of small like most pretty girls, just small and that my lips were too pink and full in my thin oval face. Giving a fake smile I bent forward to admire my small straight white teeth, perhaps my only redeeming feature, I sighed thankful for the invention of braces.

Unbending my spine I did a once over from the top of my head to the tips of my toes. Standing at five four, I knew that many of the other girls I knew were amazons compared to me. My Skin was too white with not a hint of tan. My chest was a full A-cup and my body slightly hourglass shaped and I mean very slightly. I felt dejected suddenly, what boy could possibly be interested in a petite girl like me?

Reaching in to one of the sink cabinets I pulled out my uniform for school. It consisted of a dark beige blazer with a dark blue sweater vest, a short sleeved button up shirt and a short dark blue and black plaid pleated skirt. I pulled on some socks and black Mary Janes to complete my school uniform. Plugging in my curling iron I walked out of the bathroom to grab some breakfast while I waited for it to heat up.

The Townhouse I lived in was average and empty most of the time, my parents preferred to live in bustling down town L.A. than live in some mansion in Bel-air. Yes, Los Angeles, the city of angels or more commonly referred to as Hollywood. We lived just on the outskirts of the metropolitan area.

Walking in to the small spotless kitchen I poured out a glass of orange juice and quietly sipped it while flipping through the mail on the marble counter. Bill, bill, bill, bill, bi-letter from UCLA! Putting my glass down I ripped open the letter and hurriedly spread the letter out on the counter to read it.

Dear Ms. Jade Bennett,

We are very pleased to inform you of your acceptance to the University of California Los Angeles, as a freshman for this coming fall. You have been admitted to the Academic Center for Entering Students (ACES) at the UCLA Main Campus.

The ACES program is designed for students who are not yet established in an academic major (see enclosed description). As an ACES student, you will be encouraged to explore a wide range of academic majors available at the University. Through individual advising and collaboration with all of the UCLA Schools, ACES advisors will work to connect you with majors that fit well with your academic strengths and future goals.

We are confident that you will continue your high level of academic performance throughout the remainder of this year. This offer of admission is contingent upon your continued success. The Undergraduate Admissions Office requires that an official copy of your final transcript be forwarded upon completion of your high school course work. Please review carefully the enclosed materials that pertain to required deposits, deadlines, and other critical information.

Best wishes and congratulations!

I couldn't believe it. I got accepted to UCLA! Granted, I didn't know what I wanted to do as of yet but still! Who would've thought that this would happen…I guess applying to all those different colleges paid off. Now I only have to wait for the other letters to arrive and I can choose which university I want to go to.

Finishing my orange juice quickly I bounced back in to the bathroom to style my hair for school. Securing the last curl in place and using a small amount of hair spray to control any fly aways, I then put on a liberal amount of sun block and grabbed my backpack from my room then headed to school.

After some walking on my part and taking the metro, I got to school ten minutes before the bell rang. Sitting in my usual seat at the back I ignored the giggling and obvious stares of the girls who regularly sneered at me during the day.

"What's with that face, Jade?"Glancing to the side of me I noticed the girl who sat next to me most of the time. Her name was…Nora I think?

Plastering a small polite smile to my face I murmured a nothing and glanced away from her. I was considered an oddity here with my ginger hair and pale skin that stood out plainly against everyone else's own sun kissed skin and bleach blonde or brunette hair. I thought it strange to be teased for my different appearance surely they've seen red hair and white skin before but I realized it was more than that. Though this was a private school and my parents did pay tuition for me to be here, I was smart. I noticed most here didn't bother to learn much of the material we were given, much more interested in becoming a famous actress or model than be bothered to learn basic algebra or confident their parent's monthly donations to the school would keep them from being expelled.

Sighing I shook my head; I had no desire to be someone famous or important. After all I knew fame first hand; my own parents were famous people in their own right, my father a well known playwright and my mother a renowned model and part time actress. Though I loved them dearly and would never intentionally hurt them I sometimes wished they would give up their love of their jobs and stay with me more. I doubted they would even bother to come back home for summer vacation this year…

I didn't really mind being an outcast though; perhaps if I hung out at the beach more and thought more about my looks I would have most likely become a blonde haired Barbie too. But since I didn't, I just let their teasing roll off my back and buried myself in school work to pass the time.

School was mostly boring. Since there were only two weeks of school left we were left to just go over the material and finish up any work that needed to be done. By the time lunch came around I was yawning.

"Barely the middle of the day and already yawning?" The only person I could sort of think of as a friend teased me.

"Hello, Annabelle."

She was another outcast, though her exile was self imposed. I examined her uniform; her blazer gaped open to give a view of her blouse she unbuttoned at the top to show some of her cleavage. She also skipped the sweater vest and hiked her skirt up so high I wondered how she could walk without showing any one her underwear and wore sheer black stockings with black calf length laced boots. Wandering back to her face she had mussed up shortly cropped black hair, her eyes played up with oodles of black eyeliner and mascara. Her normally light beige skin was paled to a pallid completion due to carefully applied foundation and her small mouth stood out in scarlet relief with the bright red gloss she used. All in all Annabelle was a Goth or a walking dress code felony.

"Aren't you sweating in that?" she gestured to my uniform.

It's true, the middle of June and wearing a blazer and a sweater vest, I must be insane. Smiling I answered, "I feel more comfortable covered up. Speaking of which, how many detentions did you get for wearing that get up to school?"

She just rolled her eyes and stated proudly, "Three, but I wormed out of the fourth by dropping my pencil in front of old man Johnson's desk and bending over to "retrieve" it."

I gave her a sickened look. She just giggled and said, "The man nearly went in to palpitations."

"Yes, were so fortunate to have perverted old men as teachers." I deadpanned.

Annabelle just shook her head in disappointment and asked, "Let's go shopping in Lil' Tokyo after class, Jinx told me about this awesome occult shop they have there!"

I frowned, "As much as I trust in your friend Jinx's judgment…I doubt visiting an occult shop is in our best interests."

She must've caught on to my obvious sarcasm because she said, "Why are you being a chicken, huh? And for your information Jinx really is a reliable source of information." She pouted.

"I don't know…I mean I have a few things to do at home and-"

"Geez! Just cause your parents ditched you for Europe doesn't mean you can't be a teenager once in a while. Come on, live a little."

Sighing I agreed to go with her and sat down for lunch. The rest of the day dragged on at an unbearably slow pace and as soon as the final bell rang I jumped from my seat and practically ran out the door. I met Annabelle outside and we walked in a comfortable silence towards downtown.

"Why do you want to visit this shop so badly?" I asked.

She smiled, "I just think stuff like that's really cool."

After crossing many streets and going down a few alleyways we came to a small shop. It looked like any other kind of shop. I mean it didn't scream occult; in fact it looked like any everyday second hand store, I could have passed by it and thought nothing of it. The tinkling of a bell snapped me out of my thoughts and looked up in time to see Annabelle disappear into the doorway.

Walking in after her I let my eyes wander all over the dimly lit room. Glancing around, my eyes adjusted to the darkness. I saw Annabelle had immediately gone straight to a shelf of very gothic looking knick knacks. Leaving her to those creepy items I made my way down the nearest row of shelves. Peering at them I could see that each shelf was lined with all types of vials, bottles and jars filled with various kinds of things. One bottle in particular caught my eye, picking it up I examined the crystal bottle. The bottle was a round brilliant cut shape with a crystal diamond shaped stopper on its top. Holding the bottle up in to the closest light which happened to be the small patch of sunlight shining through the windows, I could see the liquid contents inside. The liquid inside was a milky grey color and had darker coagulated bits floating around inside.

"You should be careful with that."

Nearly dropping the thing in surprise I turned to find a young man studying me closely. He was average in looks, dark brown hair and brown eyes he looked like any other typical man, if there was such a thing as a typical man. Giving him a wary smile I said, "I wasn't gonna drop it or anything."

The person stared at me a few moments longer before turning around to point at something on the shelf, "This rack is full of potions we haven't tested yet, I just thought you'd like to leave in the condition you came in." Shrugging he shook his head and began to walk towards the back of the shop. Placing the crystal container back on the shelf I followed him.

"So…you really believe in all this?" I waved my hand to all of the supernatural looking things all around the room.

"Hm? Oh yeah, I guess I do…I mean I haven't experienced anything paranormal myself but I'm open to the possibilities."

I raised my eyebrows, "Really?"

He stopped to look over his shoulder at me, "The world is full of magic and mystery. Some are good and some are very dangerous…even downright evil."

I didn't say anything, what could I say? Sighing I looked for a distraction to fill the small silence that was dragging on. Finding nothing I noticed the man had left and had walked to an elegantly arranged table that displayed a large metal bowl of water.

"What's that?" I asked.

The man who had been busy mixing something on the table glanced up to answer me. "That there is a looking glass…so to speak."

"A looking…glass?"

"Mmhm, or so I've been told." He walked away towards the front of the shop leaving me standing in front of the water basin. I shifted my eyes to the still water curious but saw nothing but its dark brassy bottom.

"Jade look at this! Isn't it cute?" Startling me, Annabelle declared in a voice sweet as sugar.

She held a tatty rag doll up for my inspection. It was disfigured and had many dark stains that resembled dried blood upon it; I wrinkled my nose in repulsion. "That's gross."

"No it not!" she snatched the doll to her chest and gave me a brief once over. Frowning, she suddenly started to speak like a baby, "Awww, you hurt poor Molly's feelings…kiss her to make her feel better!"

She shoved the doll in to my face and nearly connected with it if I hadn't turned my head to the side. Feeling her push the toy hard into my ear I pushed her hands holding the creepy thing away. "Is that what you're planning to buy?" I asked.

"Nah, I just wanted to annoy you." Shrugging she placed the thing on top of the table and pulled a thick tome from underneath her arm that I hadn't noticed she'd been holding.

"What is that?"

"A book."

I rolled my eyes, "I know it's a book. But a book about what?"

"Okay, get this it's a book-" she made a dramatic pause " -of spells."

I gave her an are you serious look and shook my head. "Only you Annabelle, only you."

"What's that supposed to mean!"

"Nothing, nothing. Are you ready to go?"

"Yeah, I guess." She looped her arm through mine and guided me to the shop's front counter. The man said nothing as Annabelle purchased the book just a quiet come again and handed her the bagged book and change.

On the walk home Annabelle flipped through the worn and yellowed pages of the book. Some pages were so damaged you could no longer see the writing because it was faded or stained, a few even fell right out of the book on to the ground all crinkled and frayed at the edges.

When we reached my home I immediately threw my back pack on to the couch and went to the kitchen to find something to eat. Annabelle on the other hand sat next to my back pack and kept reading her book. Walking back in to the living room I offered her a banana and began to search for the T.V. remote before lying on my stomach in front of the flat screen.

"Do you mind if I sleep over tonight?" Annabelle chewed her fruit thoughtfully as she waited for me to answer.

"No I don't mind but why do you wanna stay?" She just shook her head and muttered something about parents and arguing.

We stayed like that the rest of the evening, me watching a That 70's Show marathon and Annabelle reading her book of spells. It was about ten fifteen, Donna and Eric were in the middle of a funny misunderstanding when she suddenly turned to face me.

Glancing away from the screen I asked, "Finished reading?"

"Kinda. I want you to do something for me."

"What?" I asked warily.

"It's nothing bad, I just want to try something outta this book. A purification spell to be more precise."

I weighed my options, if I refused she'd bug me til I got annoyed with her and went along with it anyway…on the other hand if I just agreed now I'd be spared a headache. Besides what harm could a fake spell do anyway? Agreeing and shutting off the T.V. I stretched before sitting on the couch next to her.

"Sooo, how do we do this thing?" she quickly explained that we all we would need is water and candles. Shrugging I got a bowl of water and brought my aromatic therapy candles from my bathroom and set them on the hardwood floor of the living room. Moving to sit beside her I took a peek at the book he held in her lap. My eyes widened in surprise when I saw the language was not in English. The words looked similar to English letters but the font was curvier and many of the letters had different symbols on them.

"What language is that?"

Annabelle put the book on the floor and started to arrange the candles and light them when she answered, "Latin."

"You read latin?" I was skeptical.

"Yes, remember I took it in sophomore year." She said exasperated.

"Sure and you failed just like you did in Spanish, remember."

"I passed Spanish! And I did take latin and passed with a solid C minus, so there!" She stuck out her tongue before continuing with what she was doing.

"Whatever." Letting her prepare I flipped through some of the pages in the book. Many chapters in the book were in different languages, some I recognized and some were foreign and had never seen before. There was also scribbled handwriting in some margins or little pictures and symbols on the pages.

A sudden clatter that Annabelle made surprised me and had me fumbling with the book as it tumbled out of my hands on to the floor. Hastily snatching it back on to my lap I flipped it open on to the page with latin on it and laid it on the couch next to me.

"Okay, all set here." Annabelle grabbed the book and sat beside the bowl and lit candles. Gesturing me to turn off the lights and then take a seat across from her she set the bowl between us and began to read the small incantation aloud.

Capio suus sua suum tergum tenus tempus temporis necnon positus

Ivi alioquin nunc A diversus diu tu oppugno

The room suddenly felt a bit colder and the fine hairs on my arms stood up on end. Ignoring the feeling I let my eyes wander the dark room and watched as the flickering candlelight created shadows upon the wall.

Audio mei lacuna

Acsi te recuso tamen

Tui postremo praebeo sis reperio

Tu forsit nunquam propinquo tergum

Annabelle then took hold of my hands still chanting the spell slowly and rhythmically and placed them hovering over the small bowl of water. I felt a static like tingle all over my body and started to feel increasingly uncomfortable with this whole charade. Not wanting to spoil her fun though I kept still and let my hands linger over the bowl even when she withdrew her hands away from mine.

Aqua per tempus temporis permitto sum fui futurus

Excipio suus sua suum manus itaque fluo libere

I felt a curious splash of moisture hit the palm of my hand. Turning my hand over to face me I saw it was indeed wet with a few drops of water. Frowning I flipped my appendage back over and stared at the floor. Feeling another splash of water I turned my eyes to the bowl only to see the water was rippling and sloshing around. My eyes flew up to see Annabelle's reaction only she was wholly concentrating on the text in front of her. Alarmed thinking we were having a small earthquake as was the norm for L.A. I tried to bring my hands to my sides in case I needed to use them but found I couldn't move them.

Ventus iussu fatum recolligo inter

Consido suus sua suum corpus exinde incumbo diversus terra

Feeling a little panicky now seeing as I couldn't move my arms away from the bowl despite my incessant tugging, all I could mange was to curl my fingers inwards after much effort. I felt a cool wisp of air curl upwards around my back and shivered. Parting my lips to interrupt Annabelle I felt my throat go dry and my tongue felt thick in my mouth. I broke out in a cold sweat and felt a fist sized rock form in my abdomen as a sudden feeling of foreboding overwhelmed me. The water in the bowl was now spilling over the sides and leaking on to the maple colored floor.

A novus iter itineris invado alienus terra tui positus

Obviam ire discedo fas ex- exspecto

The incantation was coming to a final stanza and just as I felt something inevitable was about to happen, Annabelle, blessed Annabelle suddenly stumbled in her music like mantra. She couldn't help the giggles that escaped her mouth at her mistake and with a sudden jerk she sent the bowl over water toppling on to its side.

The sudden sensation of freedom I felt as she tipped the bowl over had me sighing in great relief and wrenching my hands away from the overturned bowl I too began to giggle at her clumsiness. A bit later clutching our aching stomachs we wiped our teary eyes and began to clean up the mess of melted candles and spilt water.

Elsewhere…

In a lavishly decorated suite a finely garbed women sat upon a gilded chair. To all eyes she looked like a woman of great importance and prestige, someone who belonged with the nobles of this world and all the privileges that came with it. A rounded slender figure with a regal face and a fall of long curling blonde hair she looked every bit the queen she once was. Nakia knew she would be imprisoned here for the remainder of her life and she did not care for that fact at all. Clenching her fists tight in anger she would do just about anything to be in power once more.

Her dark hazel eyes that had been closed snapped open with surprising intensity. "And what do you want?" she questioned icily.

"We've come to bathe you milady." A women in her early thirties bowed to Nakia and gestured for the other two junior maids to assist her. "After you milady."

She stood from her chair stiffly and with a snap of her skirts she strode in to the bathing area. As Nakia tolerated the maids scrubbing of her body she glowered at the baths entrance where she knew four guards had stationed themselves in the event that if she ever tried to use her water magic and escape, they would immediately try to stop her while one ran to inform her son of the attempt. Submerging herself fully into the water to rinse out the suds she suddenly felt an awareness not her own touch her.

Rising for air she followed the dictates of the maids, letting them dry, pamper and dress her all the while contemplating what had just occurred. Her thought process was halted as soon as one maid opened her mouth to relay to the others what she thought was good tidings.

"Their majesties say it's only a matter of time before the babe arrives." She whispered to the others.

"Probably any day now if my timings right." The oldest of the three hushed.

She narrowed her eyes at the three of them as they quickly cleaned up the chamber and left her with a bow. Moving to the door of her room she dismissed the four guards from inside her suite and demanded her favorite maids be brought to her as soon as possible.

Shutting the door with a bang of finality she waited for her two favorite handmaidens to make their appearance. A few minutes later the heavy wooden door opened and two maids' one dark haired and tall the other a half a head shorter and fair haired, her companion's counterpart. Nakia's eyes wandered over the two girls. Daughters of wealthy merchants, both unremarkable in looks and birth standing hoping to increase their status even if it was being made to serve an exiled queen. Nakia knew that certain desire; had fought tooth and nail, used every underhanded method she knew to claw her way to the top, to become Tawananna. If she could not respect them for their birth stations or their looks or much of anything else she could respect their methods. Besides such selfishness could be a great tool for a wily queen.

Gesturing for both to come in, one closed the door while the darker of the two came to kneel at Nakia's side.

"Report Sinada."

"Your Majesty, all is well within the kingdom. There are no wars looming on the horizon, there's been little to no drought and famine, and the people of the empire have never been healthier."

Not a flicker of emotion showed on Nakia's face. Moving to sit on the chair she'd been occupying earlier she questioned the other maid only to be given the same evaluation.

Both maids knew their reports had been less than pleasing to the ex dowager queen but they'd rather be truthful with her than lie and face her majesty's wrath. Even without her sorcery she was frightening. They watched her sit back in her chair with an effortless grace that they knew most noble women took years to perfect. Having come from a rich family they often met aristocrats but they weren't so privileged that they were taught the graces of the courts.

Nakia was fuming inside, how dare Mursili and his upstart queen assume they had nothing to fear at this time. Did they find her so insignificant that they could assume that she would just take her banishment lying down? She had been quiet in her exile this past year to be sure but that did not mean she wasn't being proactive. It had been little things at first, just trying to complicate their so called "Peaceful" reign. A few called in favors and there was a sudden grain shortage or perhaps a few mysterious village fires on the country side; nothing significant but nonetheless trifling in their own way.

No, her subtle schemes of retribution weren't doing the job they were supposed to. Her next plan would have to be bigger and more devastating than any grain shortage or fire could do. But what? This time she would have to deal a grievous wound to those who betrayed and reviled her. But how? Going through countless plots and schemes in her head she analyzed each and everyone only to find something lacking with each of them. Getting to her feet she began to pace, ignoring the maids that had decided to lay out her bed clothes. With each step her plans got more elaborate and more complicated which frustrated her more for each plans entire splendor. Finally fed up with this headache she picked up the nearest vase and flung it against the nearby wall.

"Milady!" Both women rushed to pick up the broken pieces of the vase.

"Your Highness, what in the gods' name were you thinking? You could've injured yourself!"

Ignoring them Nakia cried out, "Curse Mursili and his false goddess whore! And may the gods visit every ill fortune known to man upon his heir!"

With a gasp the fair haired maid said, "Your Majesty! I beg you do not say such things! If the guards hear you they could report you and you would be tried for treason!"

Nakia turned to glare at the girl, "Ha! As if I haven't been tried for worse." She snapped.

"Most high? If I may speak, Kammani is right. It is understandable you are angry but you must control your temper. If only to keep his majesties lackeys at bay."

"Be still servant! Though I am no longer tawananna of this empire I still far out rank you."

"Sinada meant no offense milady. But the fact remains Kail Mursili is a king and you are an exiled queen." Kammani spoke gently.

"Not mention his majesty has divine protection and favor from Ishtar's incarnation."

She whirled to glare daggers at her maids, "That shameful deception of a divine being is misleading blather meant to-" Nakia stopped midsentence as she stepped in to a puddle of water made from the broken flower vase.

Her eyes took on a calculating sheen and with a wave of her hand Nakia said, "Ladies we have much preparation to do." Seeing the possibilities a dark smirk formed on her face. It would seem fate was giving her another chance to rule Hittite and get rid of that troublesome Kail and Yuri.

'Yawn' Dragging myself through the school hallways I made my way to the safe haven called Lunch. I hadn't slept well at all, not since Annabelle's so called spell. Making my way into the lunch line I selected a shiny yellow orange apple, a small basket of tater tots and few packets of ketchup. Paying for that I quickly bought a coke from the vending machine and decided to eat lunch in the secluded school courtyard. Munching on my fried potatoes and drinking half my coke I was about to throw my leftovers away when someone intruded on my privacy.

A guy walked into my view and not just any guy, he was the guy. With dark brown hair cut short and spiked fashionably, long lashed limpid blue eyes, blemish free sun kissed skin; he had the face of a boy bands front man and I knew for a fact his swimmers build was more than just idle talk amongst the girls at school. His name was Daniel Williams.

Not knowing what exactly what to do with each other we stared at each other for a few seconds before he suddenly said, "You're that Jamie girl, right?"

"It's Jade…" I corrected proud that I didn't blush.

"Jade? Oh, sorry about that. Is this your first year here?" He questioned.

"Uh, first as in new or first as in grade?" I asked.

"Both." I felt gloomy all of a sudden. 'Did I really look that young that he'd mistake me for a freshman?'

"No," I sighed "I'm a senior and I've been here since freshman year."

"Oh." He looked perplexed, as if he hadn't even known I existed til this moment.

Shifting his weight from one foot to the other he asked if we had any classes together and I felt that gaping maw of gloom widen even more for me to sink in to. I mean I know I wasn't the prettiest girl around but I did stand out from my looks and strange ways. Blushing profusely seeing how he was staring at me like I was a slow person, I stammered out that we had three classes together since the beginning of the year.

He apologized again for not recognizing me and gave me a small smile and polite goodbye before turning to leave quickly. Hanging my head I decided to drown in my misery by stuffing the rest of my lunch down my throat. Standing up a while later feeling a bit like an over stuffed teddy bear I decided to never eat my feelings again.

"Hey. Hey! HEY!" Annabele was surprisingly shouting in my face.

"What?" I whined out.

"What were you doing with California's least wanted? Huh? Huh?" Annabelle it seemed was the only girl who did not like Daniel.

Sighing unhappily I answered, "Nothing. At least nothing important anyway."

She shivered, "Why would you wanna do anything important with that- that- that materialistic, snobbish, ego maniac that can't tell the obvious supremacy of the superior sound and poetic symbolism of death metal to that over rated falsely advertised pop junk."

"He may follow the mainstream crowd but I don't think he's as bad as you make him seem." I reasoned.

"Seem! I make him seem! Are you insane? He's a sweater monkey's jock strap for crying out loud!" She put her hand on my forehead and frowned, "You were all red when I first saw you…maybe your sick? I won't hold it against you if the only reason you're crushing on Danny boy is cause your sick."

"And I wonder why I would be, hmmm?" I scowled at her.

"What the hell does that mean?" Annabelle looked completely dubious towards me.

Scrubbing my hands across my face I answered, "Ever since your little voodoo stunt I haven't been able to sleep well these past few nights."

"Pffft, That's it?" She laughed, "That's the big problem? Dude, that was just a cleansing spell. You know to get rid of all the negative energy and all that stuff. Like feng shui."

"Well whatever it was it freaked me out."

"Is all this cause you mysteriously froze up and the water was moving?" She tried to say it seriously but she couldn't completely wipe away her smile one hundred percent.

"It's called temporary paralysis and was caused by shock and L.A. has tremors once in a while, we live near the San Andrea's fault line ya know."

"Suuure, whatever you say." She waved her hand nonchalantly.

As she walked away I frowned, it wasn't just that. I could barely manage to shower every morning cause I was creeped out something might pop right out of the drain. Not that my fear was groundless. I felt, how to say this…kind of like someone was watching me. Though that's ridiculous since my bathroom is on the second floor and the window is located on the far wall that even if someone could climb the smooth straight wall outside, they wouldn't be able to see inside the shower. But it was also the feeling of foreboding whenever I got under the warm spray of water. Shaking my head I figured it was just the lack of sleep getting to me.

Days passed and I was able to forget the whole thing, mostly. So many days passed in fact it was the third to last day of school. During my free periods I had done some research on that spell of Annabelle's in the school's library. Coming up with zilch I decided to check out a book on Latin but I didn't have much time to read it since I was busy doing last minute essays and things like that.

Since tomorrow was the day before graduation I was running from my house back to the school library not bothering to change out of my uniform and only stopping to do a clean sweep of my house for text books. Why? Because Cynric High school had this whole late fee thing. And that if you didn't turn them in by the end of the year you'd get like a sixty dollar late fee…for one book. Hoping to turn in all my work books before the library closed I ran as fast as I could which was pretty fast but apparently not fast enough. By the time I got there the heavy glass doors were locked and all the lights were off, a sign that no one was there.

Sitting on the pavement I tried to catch my breath. Sighing in relief that I had two more days to turn everything in I shouldered my back pack intending to catch a cab home. Walking towards the schools front gate I paused abruptly when I saw that the maintenance man had already chained the wrought iron gate closed. Pushing the gate I tried to squeeze through the tiny opening the chain let it make but I wasn't that skinny. Contemplating whether or not I should just climb it I took one look at the sharp arrow like points and decided I'd climb the short chain link fence at the back of the gym.

Passing the gymnasium I noticed the lights were on. Figuring it was probably one of the janitors I thought it would be okay to ask them to open up the fence's gate at the back so I would have to climb it in my skirt and more than likely scrape my knees and thighs. I walked inside to see not the janitor but a few of the girls on the varsity cheerleading squad.

Apparently they noticed me too, but before they could say anything I quickly ran out of there. Ever since my private yet brief meeting with the schools primary hottie all of the girls have been even more condescending and rude to me, bordering on cruel. Especially since he made it a point to say hi to me while I stammered a shy hello back and blushed til my face was almost as red as my auburn hair. Though one glare and a vampire like hiss from Annabelle made even more effective with her life like fangs; had them running in the other direction. Though it was more likely they were afraid they'd catch a case of the Goth bug than actually being afraid of her. As if having the sudden urge to dress in black and having a dark outlook on life was bad.

After only suffering a few scratches on my legs I was able to hail a cab and get home before eight. Walking through the door I toyed briefly with the idea of changing and going into Korea town with Annabelle at one of the new high tech clubs there. Shrugging the thought off I decided to just stay in. Stretching, I threw my back pack on to the kitchen table only to hear something hit the cold linoleum with a low thump. Freezing up I knew for a fact that the table was clear of anything this morning and I hadn't gone in to the kitchen this afternoon.

I was the only one with the key to the house besides my parents…at least I think I was the only one. And I didn't get a call from the home security company; the red blinking dot I could see in the dark confirmed that. It would be green I had a missed call or calls. Flipping on the kitchen lights I quickly scanned the room for any sign of a break in and found nothing out of the ordinary. Letting out a breath I didn't know I was holding, I bent down and retrieved the small cardboard box that had fallen on to the floor.

The package was about a foot long and six inches wide, it wasn't exactly heavy and shaking it the package didn't make whatever was inside roll around or hit against whatever. Seeing no harm in opening it I found individually wrapped gifts and a letter to me. Ripping open the letter first I quickly read its contents. Unbelieving of what I read I reread it, this time slowly.

Dear Jade,

Your father and I regret to inform you that we will not be attending your high school graduation ceremony. We're both much too busy with business here overseas to leave for L.A. now. Though we hope these gifts of congratulations can help make up for us not coming to see you.

Sincerely, Your parents

P.S. You're going to be an older sister of twins in six months.

My jaw dropped, it was bad enough they weren't coming though I already expected that. Except a small part of me couldn't help but hope they would show up. But now they just drop some news like that on me without any kind of warning! What kind of parents did I have! I mean me a big sister? What the frig are they thinking! They're waaaay to old to be reproducing and right off the bat like that too! I just saw them four months ago and mom wasn't like that then! At least according to this letter…

Sighing in frustration with myself I chided myself that I should be happy for my parents. I wasn't about to become the wicked step sister, well just sister since we have the same parents. Taking in another breath I decided to put their still wrapped gifts in my back pack for now, maybe I could put my back pack in their reserved seats so I know at least one part of my parents attended the ceremony even if it was only in spirit.

Feeling bummed out and my cuts starting to sting I trudged upstairs to take a quick shower and hit the sack.

The next morning I woke up and did my morning routine. Going to school I mostly ignored the girls jeering and did my best to pay attention in class. The rest of the day was…bearable but the news of my parent's absence and the shock of the upcoming birth of twin siblings still had me reeling a bit. I had managed to avoid confrontations with most girls during the day since my patience was thin today but I couldn't run from them all evidently.

Quickly walking towards the gymnasium I tried to avoid the girls that had followed me from my final period who obviously wanted to try and start something with me. Dashing in to the cool gym I escaped to the locker rooms hoping they wouldn't follow me in here. A loud bang as the locker room door swung open ruined those hopes. Stepping out of my hiding spot from behind a row of lockers.

"What do you want?" I asked impatiently. There were five other girls, all blonde, tan, tall and Barbie doll perfect. Beautiful yet strangely uniform.

"Why does Danny even bother to say hi to you?" One of them sneered.

"I know, right! All pasty skin, short with frizzy orange hair and ugly too!"

"Maybe he feels sorry for her?" Another said in mock pity.

"She's pathetic! Hardly any breasts, skinny like a little boy and big book worm!"

I flinched at the insults they hurled at me, but didn't contradict them. I knew what they said was true and I didn't have it in me to deny their accusations.

"No wonder she hangs out with that emo freak! They should both go join a circus somewhere!" Another laughed.

I could stand their insults directed at me but calling Annabelle an emo freak was beyond insulting. Though she wasn't a person I could call friend exactly but she was the first person to accept me as I was and not expect me to change. Feeling the last of my patience snap and anger burn inside me I shoved the girl who spoke; hard.

All of their taunting laughter stopped and the next thing I knew I was being shoved backwards. Landing hard on my bottom I felt pairs of arms haul me up and drag me through the swinging double doors that led to the pool.

"How dare you push me? I swear you are so finished at this school!" And with that I was shoved in to the school pool; uniform, backpack and all. The last thing I saw underwater was the retreating forms of the blonde girls before I surfaced for air. Breaking through the surface of the pool I began to swim towards the steps before I felt something tug my right leg.

I stopped swimming to look down but saw nothing, I was about to start swimming again when I felt the same tugging sensation again but on both legs and this time even stronger. Panicking I started to kick towards the edge of the pool instead I was pulled underwater. Feeling really scared now I panicked reaching and kicking with all my might to reach the surface again. Feeling my head start to spin from lack of air I felt my body being tugged even further down as what looked like a maelstrom starting to form around me. Letting a bit of the oxygen out of my lungs hoping it would ease the tightening in my chest I realized as soon as I did it, it was a mistake. My body craved to replace the oxygen I lost with a new breath full and I inhaled a small amount of chlorine tasting pool water. Seeing dark spots begin to cross my eyes I let my body go limp, accepting that I was most likely going to die soon. The water around me was tossing me left and right and I clamped my mouth shut trying to keep the water out. Right before everything went black I heard a cold muffled voice and my last ironic thought was at least my parents would have to come home to bury my body.

A Cloaked figure paced the length of a candle lit chamber aimlessly. A little ways away a bronze basin filled to the brim with water swirled. Pausing, the dark form rushed to the large bowl and leaned so far over their nose nearly brushed the water's surface.

The cloak figure then dropped to its knees and began to what it seemed, pray. The figure stayed in that spot and did not move even once. Not when more robed figures began to enter the room, not when he was questioned constantly to what he was doing, not when the others decided to join him in prayer. It wasn't until the sun began its daily trek across the sky that the figure moved; standing up the form knelt gracefully before the basin that sat upon a dais of heavily carved granodiorite then moved to kneel at the altar behind it. Saying a prayer of gratitude the robed priest bowed to the carving of the deity that sat in the small stone alcove before beginning the day's work.

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