Jace trailed after his girlfriend, confusion written all over his face. She was walking too fast, and being too confusing. “Zel, how is this—” 

“Jace.” Zelie looked back at him, smirking. “Trust me.” Jace smiled, running up beside Zelie, golden hair glowing in the light. Zelie walked swiftly through the stone corridors, raven-black hair swishing side-to-side with each movement. She held her wand so loosely, Jace was always terrified it would drop and break. Zelie bounced down the stairway, entering the Great Hall with a wicked gleam in her radiant eyes. She scanned the large room, searching for a certain face. A villainous grin spread across her face when she found who she sought. 

Zelie walked over to the Ravenclaw table and nestled between two fifth-years girls, Maya and Naomi, who she had befriended in the past few weeks. Jace plopped down right behind Zelie, who was chatting away with her friends about the latest books she had read. Jace smiled. She really was something extraordinary. 

The Headmaster soon rose, and the room quieted. He began to speak about their classes, but Jace wasn’t listening, and he figured Zelie wasn’t either. 

He was writing a note on a piece of paper, smirking as he handed the note to Zelie. She folded it up into a swan and enchanted it, making it fly over to Cali and land right in her lap. Zelie’s strange golden eyes were glued to Calira, hoping that she would take the bait. Zelie saw Cali smile, smug and cocky. 

She quietly got up and walked across the Great Hall to the exit while all of the Professors were paying attention to the Headmaster, who’s vision was too blurry to pick up the student sneaking out of the Great Hall. Zelie met Jace’s eyes, smiling. Jace just shrugged; he still wasn’t completely sure what was going on. Zelie then turned her attention back to Cali, wand at the ready. When Cali entered the very center of the room, Zelie cast the spell. 

Cali toppled over, dropping her book. Her large, very heavy book. A large BAM! sounded through the Hall, silencing the Headmaster. Heads turned to see who had created the sound, and Cali’s face became redder than a tomato. She quickly helped herself up, retrieving her fallen book and dusting off her robes. Cali ducked her head, scurrying back to her table. But not before the Headmaster spoke. “Excuse me, Miss Shacklevolt.” Cali turned around, not looking at the Headmaster. 

“Um, yes, Mr.—I mean, uh, Sir—er, um,” Cali stumbled over her words, wringing her hands. The Headmaster’s eyes twinkled. 

“Why were you attempting to sneak out of the Great Hall while I was speaking?” The Headmaster leaned forward slightly, a near-invisible smile on his lips. Cali’s face became even redder as she looked down at her feet. 

“Well, I, um—I mean—well, you see—I uh, had to, well—” Cali stuttered, fiddling with her hair, wringing her hands, itching her neck, and blushing furiously. The Headmaster held up his hand, and Cali closed her mouth. 

“That will be all. Please sit down, Miss Shacklevolt.” Calira practically sprinted over to the Hufflepuff table, who was trying their best to control their laughing, not unlike the rest of the students. Cali looked mortified, just as Zelie had predicted. Jace looked over to her, a smile spreading over his face. Zelie grinned, turning back to her sister. 

Calira was a very proud girl, and Zelie knew this very well. Because of that, she could devise a plan that would wound her in a different way, one that would last much longer than physical or mental pain. The Headmaster finished his speech, and soon food was being laid out on the tables. Zelie smiled, digging right in. Her face was radiant as she laughed with her fellow Ravenclaws. Jace smiled. What did he do to deserve such an incredible girl? 

Zelie finished her breakfast quickly and got up to leave. She walked towards the exit, passing Cali as she did. Zelie paid her no heed, however, as she strode out of the Hall and out onto the grounds. It was a beautiful day, with a bluebird sky and warm sunlight. 

Zelie walked over to the lake, holding only her sketchbook and art bag. She sat down underneath a large tree, setting up her drawing space. Zelie opened her book, flipping to a blank page. She looked out at the lake, smiling. 

Zelie had always loved the water, even when she was very young. The beach was always her favorite place. Zelie pulled out a pencil and began to draw the scene before her, trying to capture the stillness of the water without making it look like a random blob on a page. After finishing the sketch, Zelie wrote in the corner “paint later”. She loved to paint as well, and she felt like this sketch would be perfect. 

Zelie got up and stretched her arms, walking over to the lake. She kicked off her shoes and walked into the lake, the water only going up to her ankles. She watched the ripples spread, interrupting the previous stillness of the water. Zelie sighed, a content smile playing on her full lips. 

But then she saw something she would never forget. A cloud of darkness began to spread from the center of the lake out to the edges, seeping all of the light from it. The darkness clouded the water, making it gloomy and devoid of all light. Zelie stumbled back as the darkness began to spread towards her, reaching like inky claws, waiting for a catch. She clasped her necklace, a simple golden hourglass, in her slim fingers, shivering. Zelie watched the darkness take over the massive lake, seeping the clear blue hue right out of the water. Her breathing became to come faster as her wide eyes tracked the gloom. Zelie almost toppled over from fear and shock until strong arms wrapped around her waist. 

“Zel.” Jace’s voice was soft but commanding as he tilted her face to his. Zelie didn’t budge. She just watched the lake with frightened eyes. “It’s okay. Zel, calm down. Look at me.” Zelie looked at Jace, finding his stormy blue eyes concerned but calm. “Zel, calm down. It’s okay,” he repeated. Zel’s breaths steadied as she grasped his arm for support. She looked back at the lake, but the darkness was gone. Zelie stumbled back, eyes widening even further. Jace held firm. 

“The lake, it was—I saw—” Zelie shook her head. She looked up at Jace. “Did you see it?” 

Jace frowned, shaking his head. “See what?” 

Zelie lowered her gaze. “It’s—it’s nothing.” She looked up at him, eyes full of gratitude, though fear still lurked. “Thank you.” 

Jace smiled. “Of course.” Jace’s brows furrowed. “What did you see?” 

Zelie took a shaky breath. “Well, I came out here after breakfast to sketch. I took a break and decided to take a dip in the lake.” Jace opened his mouth but Zelie cut him off before he could say anything. “Only up to my ankles, you mother hen.” Jace frowned, but laughter was written all over his beautiful face. Zelie’s face darkened. “But as I watched the lake, this cloud of—of darkness began to spread through it. Like it was seeping all of the light out of the lake and replacing it with gloom.” Zelie lowered her gaze, and Jace folded her into his arms. 

“That does sound pretty terrifying,” he said, voice gentle. 

Zelie let out a long sigh, shuddering. “When you came, it was still there. But when I looked back at the lake, it wasn’t. Like I had imagined it. But I know I didn’t!” Zelie didn’t look up. Jace hooked his fingers under her chin, making her look at him, his eyes asking what he didn’t need to speak. Zelie blew out a long breath she didn’t know she was holding in. “Well, I could feel it. The darkness. It was sticky, and cold. So, so cold.” Zelie pressed her lips together. Jace took her hand and guided her away from the lake, picking up her art supplies as they left. 

“I think you should talk to the Headmaster.” Zelie nodded. She agreed. But wouldn’t he think she was crazy? Zelie shuddered. 

Was she crazy?