The Lay

"Come on, girls," Mum called from downstairs.

My sister and I walked out of our rooms, and stared at each other.

"Ready?" she asked.

"I think so. Do we need clothes?" I asked.

"They provide everything. Remember?" she said.

I nodded, and we walked downstairs. I was careful; I didn't want to show how scared I was.

My sister and I were going to a school where they helped Fairraes, banshees, wizards, witches, whishes, and elves. All had magical powers, and all needed help learning how to control their own powers.

My sister had gone a year before, and she had come home for only two months before we had to leave.

I climbed into the small car, and watched as mum and dad climbed in, and as mum hit the gas and we were off. I closed my eyes, wishing that I didn't have to leave. My sister had feared this day, and she had told me that it was a 'crack-house', where they treated you as a prisoner more than they did a special person.

I watched as we pulled up to the Union Station in Chicago, and as my mum opened my door. My steps were gentle as I stepped out, and I looked at mum and dad's car, now empty as they drove off.

"Come on, they won't care what happens to us," my sister said.

I grabbed my sister's hand and let her drag me off. We went to the trains and I looked at them. I wondered which one we were taking when Classia, my sister, dragged me to a garbage can.

"Head first," she said.

"What?" I asked.

"Head first! Hurry!" she said, and I jumped in.

I was in a house, full of young children with smiles, but most of them had scared faces on. A boy, who must have been as old as my sister, came up to us.

"Classia, they added on a house," he said.

"What?" my sister looked scared. "Justin, what house?"

"You know all the 'bad' kids? That's the house. The Torment House."

"Please be joking," my sister pleaded.

"Not. Lissiana said that everyone was doomed. Crack-House, that's what all the teachers are in," Justin said. "Best behave this year."

"Who's he?" I asked my sister.

"This is Justin, head of the news in the school. It's a childs' organazation, and we have two other groups school-wide," my sister said.

"Pleasant to meet you," Justin said with a wide smile. "You are?"

"Kassia," I said. I smiled back.

"Well, Kassia, just be aware that Sir P. and Lady M. are the only good people in the school. Be safe," he said. He walked off to greet some new comers.

"What are the other groups?" I asked.

"The Fox-Trots, and the Flower-Dancers. The only girls only, and boys only groups. And there is the D.'s Academy," my sister looked up, as if looking into her head.

"D.'s Academy?" I asked.

"Dancer's Academy. You'd like that. Irish, lyrical, ballet, tap, jazz, hip-hop, tumbling, you know.... Dance," she said.

"Ah." I whispered.

The door of the house burst open.

"Everyone out and into the car!" a rude and demanding voice said.

Everyone ran into a line and didn't talk as they went into the truck. Many people that were smiling stopped smiling, and they now realized that Justin was not joking.

"Stay near me, Kassia," my sister said.

We went into a very large truck, and I grabbed my sister's hand and did not let go. She squeezed it and smiled at me.

As soon as the door to the back of the truck closed, I stared in front of me, trying to see in the darkness when Justin's voice rang through the air:

"Please, do not try to buckle up, no screaming, talking, but please sing. Do not light matches, NO smoking, and enjoy your stay! OW! What was that about?!"

"Justin," a girl sang, "SHUT UP!"

"NO SHOUTING!" a person near me hissed.

We felt a lurch as the truck started to move. I felt a cold hand touch mine, and I tried to look for the person who had grabbed mine. I squeezed the hand and said,

"Who's hand am I squeezing?" I asked.

"Mine!" a girl next to me whispered.

"Oh," I looked at her, and it was if she was glowing, she was so pale.

"SSSHHH!" the truck seemed to hiss.

Everyone was quiet, and when we reached the stopping point, we knew because we felt a rather painful lurch, (it took everyone a few moments to get untangled) and the large door opened again.

"GET OUT!" the voice barked, and we were all quick to get to get out.

My feet touched the ground and I let go of my sister's hand. A terrible castle came into view, and we all stared.

"GET GOING! INTO THE CASTLE AND INTO THE HALL!" the ma'm that was barking these orders was rather large, and had red eyes.

Justin was suddenly nexy to my sister, holding her trembling hand. "Please, don't go back, Classia, please!"

"I-I won't!" she squeeked. "I have to stay for Kassia."

I smiled at her, and let go of her hand. No one was moving, and someone had to lead them. As soon as the m'am looked away, I shouted:

"Hurry! Everyone, grab hands and go!"

A small group grabbed my hands and pulled me up the mountain.

A girl as old as my sister yelled at me, "You'll get in trouble, kid! Don't try being a hero until they can't get you!"

I ran with them, laughing as I realized that I was stupid. It was rather funny, because I didn't belong to the school, quite yet.

We reached the doors, panting. The girls, including the pale girl, opened the door and the oldest led us into the Hall.

It was dark, gloomy, and cobwebs covered the celing.

"They change their locations every year. There are wizards out there that want to kill these people, which I wouldn't mind. But once you go through the portal, try getting out. Trezie," the oldest said.

The pale girl spoke up, quietly, "Nel, please call me that."

A red-head said next, "Avan."

A girl with short black hair said next, "Hollia."

And then I said, "Kassia."

Trezie smiled. "Maybe we'll be in the same house! I'd love that! More kids' to look out for, though...."

I smiled back. "No worries, we'll make it, right?"

She smiled back. "Maybe. Hurry, we've got to get into seats."

We chose a table in the back. I watched as the other children came pouring in.

Many of them were in groups. Some were alone, some were crying. It was scary, but we had to hold our guts together.

Had to.



Teachers came up after all the students had founds seats. They were all wearing very black cloaks and dresses or suits. The scariest was one with dark brown hair and black eyes. He seemed to be looking at students as if wondering how he would torture them.

The rest of the teachers seemed to have his expression, only they were looking ahead. They walked to the center of the room, and the woman that led them to the front addressed the room.

"Children, please, behave as another year welcomes us."

Trezie snorted, "You mean YOU."

Hollia nodded in agreement.

"Now, our staff this year is Mr. Hovenick," the man with the brown hair stepped us. "Teaching magic.

"Next is Mistress Malikank," a blond haired lady stepped up and sneered, "teaching Fallen Arts,

"Proffesor Primston," a black haired man stepped up, "will be teaching Natural Magic,

"Proffesoress--"

"Is that even a word?" Hollia snapped.

"Nokinstone will be teaching Magical Kinds,

"And Mr. Ronson will be teaching Useful Magic.

"You are dismissed."

The kids all got up, and then the Head Mistress boomed:

"WAIT!"

Everyone sat.

"New comers, come up. First, though, the houses:

"Mr. Hovenick will be the Elven House Head,

"Mistress Malikank will be the Transforming Humans Head,

"Proffesor Primston wil be head of Wizard House,

"Proffesoress Nokinstone will be head of the Torment House." An evil snare.


The new people, including myself, stood and we looked at the Mistress. She uncovered a mirror, and then a scroll was in her hands.

"Julea, Alambert," she shouted, and a puny girl stepped up. "Look into it."

She did, and as soon as she did, tear pricked into her eyes. The mirror sucked her up, and she didn't come back by the time the Mistress called the other name.

"Harey, Halibury," a pudgy boy stepped up, and got sucked in.

Nallitana, Verity, Nathan, Ronald B., and Ronald A. all went before I was called.

"Kassias, Evergrown."

I stepped up, and looked into the mirror. A light, cheery place stood before me in it. I bit my lip as it sucked me in, painlessly. I appeared in the place, and let out a sigh.

"Welcome," Mr. Hovenick stood before me. "To the Elven House."

"Whoa. But, it so pretty!" I stared at the small castle, covered in flowers, stood before me.

"It will be, as long as the head Mistress doesn't come. All the teachers are supposed to treat students like mud, but almost all of us can't have that. Proffesoress Nookinstone will not agree with us though," he said. His angry face became rather splendid. Rosy, merry, peachy, were all words to describe him, I thought.

"So.... My sibling and everyone else was joking?" I asked.

"No. Last year the teachers were different--" he looked back at the mirror. "Watch out! Another one's coming!" He caught a girl with read hair as she came in. "I'll talk more about it later. Go find Emily, she'll show you the girl's dorm."

I nodded and walked into the castle. It was splendid, happy, and it was growing with happiness around every corner. Until I reached a certain place.

Then it turned rather moody, and dangerous. It was as if something was lurking.

"Better not go down there."

I turned to see Justin smiling at me. I smiled back.

"Here, I'll show you to the girls' dorm entrance."

I followed him. It was a long walk until we finally reached the girls' dorm.

The door leading to it was rather small, and I wondered what I supposed to do. Justin left, and I stood there.

I sighed, and knocked.

"Where is your heart?"

I rolled my eyes.

"My heart lies,
In my head.
My head lies,
Around the love of my heart."

I recited a poem by my sister, I figured why she made me memorize it.

"A never ending circle of life, as it came to figure."

The pin-sized door grew into a normal height one, and I entered. A large circular room that had a fireplace as the center was covered in vines with large red roses hanging off the vines was before me.

A flowery fragrance was engulfing the room. It wasn't bad, in fact it made me smile with delight. I thought it was like a mixture of flowers and honey, two things that I loved.

I looked around, and saw that there were plush chairs around the fireplace, a that the vines covered doors. I looked at a door, and gave it a slight push.

It opened to reveal a room with four beds, all fit to move with the curved walls, and four dressers, also curved.

I walked out, and saw a person hammering on other doors. It was a woman, who was fit, but not too small. She had nails in her mouth, and a hammer in her hand. After grabbing the nails,
she said:

"You are?"

"Kassias, but everyone calls me Kassia, or Kassi."

"Well, Kassias is fine. Let's see," the woman walked around, looking at papers she had put on doors. She found a door and tapped on it. "Your in here, along with Azama Roughs, Trezis Monka, and Julieta Rose."

"Thank you, ma'am," I said.

"Your luggage is in there," she said, and got busy to work again.

I went in the room, which had a pastel blue wall colouring, and yellow carpet. I thought I could hear ocean waves from near.

The door opened, and there stood Trezie. I ran and hugged her.

"OH! WELL, um, hello, Kassia!" she said, lightly patting my back.

"Hello!" I pulled back and sat down on a bed. "I never thought I'd see you again!"

"Oh, I'm Elven, alright. Magic control this year," she muttered.

I suddenly got her mood, and didn't pester her anymore. Instead, I worried about getting myself ready for the year.

I found my bed across the door, and then found my bags, under the bed. I unpacked and started to load everything into the dresser. I found other clothes in there as well: A forest green sweater, a white collared shrit, a forest green skort, a pair of white knee-high socks, a no-sleeved sweater, and an extra set of the outfit for washing day.

"Better slip on the uniform," Trezie told me.

I nodded, and grabbed one of everything. I slipped off my jeans, and put on the skort. it was a little big, but then shrunk to fit me. I then took off my top and un-buttoned the collared shirt, finding it had no sleeves.

"Here," Trezie said. She grabbed a sweater from her drawer, and gave it to me. "Three-quater sleeves. They work much better than anything else."

I took it and slipped it over my head. I felt a little funny, but said a thanks and then followed Trezie out of our room.

Girls all in uniform were in the common room, laughing at jokes and smiling. Some girls had on long pants, and some had on long skirts. I noticed that they were older, so I thought that explained it.

Suddenly, a loud bang went through the room.

"GIRLS!" a loud voice screamed.

Everyone stopped dead still.

"I am lady Amerston, or Lay A, and I'm here to be your friends, and your lives, and your party hosts!"

Everyone smiled and like the idea of Lay A. They all agreed that she seemed nice.

"Now everyone," Lay A said, "We have to hurry to the Hall. In a straight line now...."

Something caught my eye from inside a room as I walked out. I shrugged and carried on. Though I couldn't help but think it looked like a bird....

I walked with the other girls to the Hall. It was like a Cathedral, only the roof was shorter. Some older boys were jumping and trying to touch the ceiling.

Some girls rolled their eyes at them, while others looked at them and applauded when a boy finally touched the roof.

"Hello, again, Kassia," Justin appeared by my side, and looked scathingly at the other boys.

"Hello, Justin," I said perkily. "What's wrong?"

"They never learn." He stated. "They've gotten told off, and if it happens again...."

I nodded, getting what he was after.

The boys stopped when a tall figure with a brown beard came in, frowning at us.

Everyone stopped.

He fell forward, and a girl just managed to catch him. She beckoned for help, and I saw something sticking out of his back.

"I knew it."

Justin was staring out the window, at a black-robed person walking away. My mouth dropped, and I couldn't believe what had just happened.

The Lay was running off.