Midnight, that was the first thing I thought as I shot up from the comfort of my plush king sized bed. Sweat dripping down the side of my face and from my armpits. Groaning, I slumped back into my bed. “Goddess protect me.” I muttered as I pulled the silver pentacle from the valley between my breast. Kissing the cool silver I rolled over to my side. Slowly I pulled my body from the warmth of the silk covers and sheets. Climbing out of bed, I padded across the cherry wood floor to my bathroom. Stopping at the bay window I inhaled the fragrance of the night as moonlight washed over my chilled flesh.

Moving away from the window, I flicked on the soft light of the bath room. Pulling out a towel from the closet and my favorite soap, I started the tub. My favorite bath oil was already setting out. Moroccan spice, it was exotic and smelled beautiful. Making one think of warm summer nights in Morocco, with a gentle breeze blowing through the night. Sinking into the tub, I sighed in bliss. Letting the warm water caress my sore body I closed my eyes.

“Memory!” Jerking awake I looked around. I hade fallen asleep in my bath, smiling softly I let the water drain out the tub. “Don’t even think of barging into this bath room Maxi. I swear!” As the door opened slowly I dove for the lavender towel on the stand beside the bathtub. Wrapping it around my wet body I glared at the impish smile on my cousin Maxi’s face. “Oh real cute Maxi.”

She shrugged, holding the door open for me. She followed me back into my room. “Come on Memory it’s Monday! School starts in like an hour and your not even dressed yet.”

Rolling my eyes at my cousin I picked out a matching bra and boy shorts. Slipping into them with my back turned to my cousin, ”Unlike you my dear I don’t need hours to get ready. Simply hand me the clothes for school I have laid out on the loveseat over there, and I’ll quickly run a brush through me hair and brush my teeth.”

Half an hour later Maxi sat on the edge of the kitchen counter. A bagel with cream cheese in one hand and an apple already with a bite taken out of it in her other. “Your going to like Spencer’s Memory, the boys are so hot. The girls are kind of stuck up, but that’s what you have me for.” A bit of apple falling out of her mouth as she spoke.

“I know Aunty Henri taught you manners Maxi. Don’t eat with your mouth full.” Laughing at me she opened her mouth wide and said “AH!” Showing me what bagel and apple combined looked like. “Oh that’s just gross.” Chuckling, I grabbed myself an apple and strolled out the French doors at the back of the house. “Hey wait up Memory you’re my ride to school.” Maxi called out as she hopped off the counter and snatched up her messenger bag off the floor.

Laughing at her, I quickly raced to the garage at the side of the house. Sitting in the gravel drive way sparkling like a diamond was my sleek new mustang, painted purple with black flowers on it. A gift to myself for my 17th birthday. I hadn’t driven it yet, due to not having my license till right before I moved to Ipswich. It smelled like new car and leather, sitting in the back seat was my own book back, packed full with books recommended for my new classes and notebooks. Already I had read most of them, something I was forced to do during the 2 days it took me to fly to Massachusetts and get everything as it should be in my grandma’s house.

Grunting Maxi slide into the passenger seat as I cranked up the car, it practically purred. “Goddess she sounds good.” Rolling down the windows and turning on the radio I pulled out of the drive way slowly, not wanting to spin gravel every where. The drive to Spencer’s wasn’t more then fifteen minutes. Finding a parking spot after five minutes of circling the parking lot I cut off the car. “You didn’t tell me parking would be such a bitch here.”

“You should let me drive the car back to your house after class.” Maxi said as she closed her door. Laughing at her insane suggestion I locked the doors. “Yea right you ain’t getting any where near this baby.” Shrugging she came around the car and grabbed my arm. “Come on cousin, its time for you to meet the students of Spencer Academy.”

“Not like I have much choice do I with you practically dragging me along.” But it was with light steps I followed my cousin. She was right after all it was time for me to meet my fellow students.

A sea of faces flashed before me, Maxi introduced me to person after person. It almost made me dizzy. I was more then happy when it was time for class to start. Taking my leave from the sea of strangers I counted doors till I came to the one where my first class was.

“Hi, you must be Ms. Fairbairn. I am Professor Alcott. Please come in.” Alcott was a grey haired man of about average height. Turning to the class he waited till the last bell rang. “Class! Calm down, I would like to introduce our newest student, Memory Fairbairn. She just moved here from, Virginia wasn’t it Ms. Fairbairn?” Turning back to me I nodded.

“If you will just take a seat next to Mr. Simms second row up to the right, Tyler raise your hand.” Thanking him, I quickly crossed the floor and mounted the steps. Sliding into the seat next to the boy Alcott had pointed out, I smiled at him. “Hello, I am Memory Fairbairn.” He shook my hand. “Tyler Simms.”