The Dreamwalker's Daughter

Chapter Eighteen Back to the Catacombs

Zoe stood a good four or five feet from Professor Killainka's door. She knew from the few times that she had been there that as soon as she was close enough, he would know she was there and Zoe still wasn't sure that she was ready for what lie ahead. "You're not going to get any answers standing out here and staring at his door," Zoe told herself and after taking a deep breath, she stepped closer to the door. Before she could raise her, hand to knock Killainka invited her in.

"I wondered how long you were going to stand out there," he said after she had found a seat. "I would have waited though." Zoe sighed and shook her head.

"Professor, if it's all right with you. I'd rather you let me ask you the questions before you answer them okay," said Zoe as politely as she could.

Killainka smiled. "Fair enough. Would you like some hot chocolate?" Zoe returned his smile and nodded. She was very nervous and when she had received her cup it was all she could do to keep it from spilling due to the amount of shaking she was doing. "Would you like me to hold that for you?" offered Killainka with a twinkle in his eye.

Zoe looked at the shaking cup and put it on a nearby table. "I'm sorry Professor but first of all, you make me nervous. And secondly I have no idea what I'm doing here," blurted out Zoe, turning quite pink as she did.

Killainka chuckled. "Well, I suppose that I can be a bit intimidating, but then if I wasn't it might be hard to maintain discipline over so many children. I assure you though; you haven't done anything wrong that I'm aware of, so there is no reason to fear me at the moment. As for why you're here, you've asked me not to anticipate so I have to just reassure you to trust in yourself."

Zoe took a deep breath and nodded. "Sarah said that you told her to share all the things that have been happening to her with me. So I hope that you know that I know quite a bit more right now than I really want to." Professor Killainka resisted the urge to chuckle, but allowed himself a wide smile instead. "I have to admit that it's getting to the point where what Sarah does is no longer shocking me, but I'm not real happy about the curse thing."

Killainka's smile faded slowly and he rose to cross the room. "Zoe, you know that I would never intentionally let anything happen to any of my children. There is no way that I or anyone else for the matter could have seen that coming. But I promise you that we will not let it happen again."

Zoe looked up into the Professor's eyes. She did not and felt like she never would have the same sort of relationship with him that Sarah and Eric seemed to have, but at that moment, she could see in his eyes and feel from his heart his sincerity. "Professor Killainka, could Michayla have had something to do with it? I mean, this weird stuff all started happening after she got here. Before then, Sarah only did this," Zoe paused and swallowed hard, "Dreamwalking stuff when Chinkana was around. It seems to me that this is all dark magic."

"Well," said Killainka contemplating his hands, "I won't deny that what Sarah is experiencing is generally associated with dark magic. I mean to say," he picked up quickly. "That if you were to look these things up in a text book, which I'm quite sure you will be prone to do now," he added glancing over his spectacles at Zoe now, " that you would most likely find them listed among dark wizards and witches." It was all Zoe could do to keep from dropping her cup again, and Killainka sensing her uneasiness leaned down and relieved her of it.

Zoe turned quite pink. "Are you saying that Sarah will be a dark witch sir?" whispered Zoe.

Killainka smiled. "I can no more say that than I can say she will not be. I am no more the master of Sarah's destiny than you are Zoe. Only she can chose that the path she would travel. I would however, bet my life that she will not choose the path of Chinkana. I have a feeling about our Sarah and I'll be very surprised if I am proven wrong."

"A feeling sir?"

Killainka drew a deep breath and took a long pause before speaking. "Another time Zoe, another time." Professor Killainka had made his made back to his seat and was now staring into the fire. This made Zoe nervous once more, was he talking to the fire too? Zoe felt no better than she had when she came in, she still had the knife hiding in her sock drawer, and Killainka was staring into the fireplace.

"Professor Killainka, so far you haven't really made me feel any better," confessed Zoe.

Killainka looked up at Zoe and then this time allowed him that laugh. "I don't suppose I have, have I." Zoe shook her head. "Zoe, do you trust Sarah?" Zoe looked at Killainka like he was mad and then nodded. "Do you think that she is or will be a Dreamwalker?"

"Of course not Professor," scoffed Zoe.

"Are you willing stand by her no matter what, no matter what anyone says, no matter how dangerous it gets?" He was looking her eye to eye.

Zoe sat up as straight as she could and drawing a deep breath nodded. "Yes sir, no matter what."

"Then you need not worry what has happened in the past, or who was responsible. As long as you are willing to be there for her in the future."

Zoe thought about what the Professor had said for a moment or two and then decided he was probably right. Even if Michayla had something to do with what had happened to Sarah, if the person who had gone after Sarah had really been going after Michayla, it was over now and there was nothing she could do about that now. However, she still had the knife. Should she say something about it? Could she say something about it and not get Sarah in trouble? It was true that Professor Killainka and Sarah had some kind of strange bond like her Eric and he had, but would that bond be strong enough to keep Sarah out of detention or worse. And she had promised Sarah that she would keep the secret and she definitely needed to keep her promises now.

Zoe heard all of these things going through her head and suddenly realized that Professor Killainka was staring into her eyes. Was he reading her thoughts? Zoe jumped to her feet, "Thanks Professor."

Killainka was taken aback slightly, but smiled non-the-less. "Your welcome. So this means you're feeling better about things?"

"Well, I'm not sure about that but I trust you because Eric does and it seems for some strange reason that you're looking out for my Sarah, so I'll let ya," reasoned Zoe.

Killainka drew a deep breath now and gave Zoe a very comforting smile. "Thank you Zoe, in a way you have put my mind at ease as well."

Zoe looked at him like he had lost his mind. How could she have possibly made Professor Killainka feel at ease? She had no way of protecting Sarah. Heck, she wasn't even being successful at protecting her from boys and hurt feelings. She thanked the Professor once more and headed slowly back to the dorm corridor thinking about the short conversation and what little she felt like she learned. She did feel better though, but then she thought about something that Killainka had said and made a turn.

"Zoe, what are you doing in the library?" Zoe slammed the book she had been reading shut and leaned over it. "We're supposed to be playing chess."

"Sarah, oh I'm sorry I forgot," apologized Zoe looking quite pale.

Sarah leaned over and tried to read the cover of the book. "What is it one million ways to nurse a man-eating plant?" joked Sarah. Then Sarah got a good look at Zoe's face. "Zoe, what is it? You've been up to something."

Zoe leaned back and Sarah sat down next to her. Sarah leaned in and looked at the book. "Secrets of Dark Wizards? What are you reading? Are you doing an essay for Abydos that I don't know about?" asked Sarah curiously.

"I went and talked to Professor Killainka tonight," confessed Zoe looking around to make sure no one was listening.

"About what?" Sarah gasped thinking only about the knife and her recent adventure.

"Not that," assured Zoe quickly. "I'm just worried about you."

Sarah smiled a sad smile. "I shouldn't have told you all my dark secret's."

"No, no you had too. I needed to know, you're my sister," said Zoe putting her arm around her. Sarah nodded. "Did you know what you're doing is Dark magic?" Sarah nodded again slowly. "Doesn't that scare you?"

"Well duh?" said Sarah rolling her eyes. "Apparently there's not much I can do about it. Besides it's only dark magic if I use it that way," reasoned Sarah. "Right?"

"I guess," admitted Zoe.

Sarah scooted closer to Zoe. "What did you find?" Zoe opened the book to the page she had just been on. Sarah shook her head and smiled. This was one of Zoe's things, she was good at finding something in a book or on the net, she would look up what she wanted to know and find out everything she could.

"Well, mostly I found names of dark wizards who could do this," admitted Zoe. "I guess hundred's of years ago it used to be encouraged sort of like out of body experiences, and then they found out that there was a lot of dark power involved in the Dreamwalking part of it. Wizards and witches started going over to the dark side of it in hordes," explained Zoe.

"Really?" said Sarah looking into the book.

"Yeah, so it was banned for awhile, in the 1500's. But out of body, experiences are too religious based and Native American's have been doing them for hundreds of years so the dark wizards managed to get them legalized again. That's as far as I've gotten," said Zoe looking down at the book and then up at Sarah again. "Are you mad at me?"

"Nay, I suppose I should have done this," she said still staring at the book.

"Why didn't you?" asked Zoe now. "I mean why haven't you tired to find out more. If it were me, I'd be finding out everything I could."

"Truth?" asked Sarah looking up. Zoe nodded. "I'm terrified. You can't imagine what all this feels like inside," admitted Sarah. "I have dark forces battling to get out and puberty all going on at once." Zoe couldn't help it she busted out laughing. Sarah soon joined her. It wasn't long before they were drawing attention. "Can we go back to the dorm?"

"Yeah, sure," said Zoe stifling her last giggle. She closed the large book and looked at it. "Shall we leave it here?"

"I think I know enough for one night," decided Sarah.

"All right," agreed Zoe pushing the book away. Sarah and Zoe rose from the table and after they pushed their chairs in they headed out.

"What did Mr. Radford say when you asked about Dreamwalking which I'm assuming you did?" asked Sarah when they made it to the hallway.

Zoe's face went pale again and she swallowed hard. "He handed me the book. Said Professor Killainka told him at dinner I'd be by to look at it." Sarah looked at Zoe, put her arm around her, and began to laugh. "I'm never going to get used to that."

"It's going to be all right Zoe really." Sarah kept Zoe close all the way back to the dorm. She was worried about her. She knew that all of this was getting to her and she was feeling guilty about it. She was going to have to find out where Zoe put the knife and get it back without her knowing about it. It just wasn't fair that she had put her in this position. "You're still on the hook for that game of chess," said Sarah as they entered the common room.

"All right," said Zoe smiling. "I'll go and get our pieces, you go and find us a study room with no necking going on."

Sarah giggled. "Okay."

Zoe started to walk away and then turned to add. "Oh and if it's my brother kick him, nay let him stay he deserves it," decided Zoe giggling. Sarah looked at Zoe and sighed as she walked away. She really hoped that she wouldn't find Eric and Annabelle making out in one of the study rooms and was very grateful when the first one she came to was empty.

Sarah planted herself in front of the fireplace and relaxed, it had been a very long week. She thought about everything that had happened and wondered if her guardian angel had been paying attention, Sarah soon found herself drifting off.

"Are you sure that it was in your classroom Shamus?" Sarah knew right away that she was someplace that she shouldn't be when she heard Professor Killainka's voice.

"Well to be honest Ohma says she's not positive she left it here Javier but I'm fairly sure that it was in my desk day before yesterday." Sarah looked down to see her standing in the History of Magic classroom and looking at Killainka and Murphy having a conversation very close to his desk. It didn't take long to figure out that they were talking about what Zoe had hidden somewhere in her part of the dormitory. Sarah was wanting out of this bit of Dreamwalking and as quickly as she could. Hopefully before Killainka figured out she was there.

"Sarah," said Zoe shaking her awake. "You need to start getting more sleep," she scolded. Sarah gasped as she woke and after sitting up and focusing on Zoe, she grabbed her by the arms.

"Zoe they know," she said her eyes wide open.

"Who knows what?" asked Zoe looking at her like she was mad.

"Just now, when I went to sleep I was in the History of Magic class and Killainka was there with Professor Murphy," she started excitedly.

"Whoa, what are you talking about?" asked Zoe trying to calm her down.

Sarah took a deep breath. "Zoe, I know it's scary that I'm doing these things but you have to trust me when I tell you Professor Killainka and Professor Murphy know that the knife is gone."

Zoe collapsed back into a chair and so did Sarah. "Wow."

"Yeah, wow."

"Do they know you took it?" asked Zoe.

"I don't know you woke me up before they got that far," explained Sarah.

"Oh sorry."

"No, I mean, it wouldn't have been good if Professor Killainka had figured out I was there," supposed Sarah. "He would have wondered why. I've never gone anywhere that I didn't have some kind of connection to."

Zoe leaned forward and put the chess pieces on the table in front of them. "So what do we do?" she asked exasperated.

"I don't think we do anything except hope that I don't go Dreamwalking again anytime soon," said Sarah looking frustrated.

"Sarah can't you control that?" said Zoe sounding very irritated. Sarah looked at her slightly wounded.

"I'm working on it," moaned Sarah. "I mean that's what Semiramise and I have been talking about and meditating for. But then I haven't really told them about all these extra outings either."

"Maybe you should," suggested Zoe.

Sarah scoffed. "Yeah Zoe let's see should I start with stealing the knife or spying on the teachers." Zoe was looking pale again and was certainly in no mood to play chess now. She sat and stared at the chessmen while Sarah contemplated her hands. "I'm sorry," whispered Sarah after they sat silently for what seemed like an eternity. "You're right I'm going to tell Professor Killainka in the morning and I'm going to take the knife to him."

Zoe looked up, her eyes widened. "But I thought we decided that you shouldn't touch the knife again, that I should hold onto until we turned it over to someone?"

"If anyone's going to get detention, it should be me. It wouldn't be fair for you to get in trouble for something that I did." Sarah leaned forward and looked Zoe eye to eye. "I shouldn't have asked you to hold it in the first place. I should have just gone to Killainka and told him what happened." Zoe nodded, but Sarah could see that her lower lip was quivering.

"You're right," she admitted. "But I'm sure it's not too late if you take care of it now."

Sarah looked at her and smiled. "Come on you're tired and so am I. Let's go get the crazy thing, we'll put it in my backpack and tomorrow morning I'll take it to Killainka." Zoe nodded she was far too spooked and tired to argue. Sarah had gotten exactly what she had wanted. She was getting the knife back from Zoe and if she could just keep Zoe from finding out anything else crazy about her for at least a week, maybe her best friend would be all right.

Sarah followed Zoe to their dormitory and when they were sure there was no one else in the room, she slipped her the knife. Sarah quickly hid it again in her bottom drawer promising Zoe once more to take it to Killainka in the morning.

**********************

Sarah woke and wasn't sure were she was, she was sure she wasn't in her bunk in the dormitory as she should be. She was too tired and frustrated to get upset. "This is getting old," she said to herself looking around and trying to figure out where she was. However, she had no idea where that was. Sarah looked into the darkness and tried to focus on the room she was in. It was a rather large room where the windows stretched almost from the floor to the ceiling. They looked like they were stained glass windows but she couldn't make what out pictures they might reveal due to the darkness of the room. She couldn't remember ever seeing a room like this at Dragon's Wood, but then again she hadn't been in half the rooms there.

"I wish you'd wake up," she said out loud. "If you're Dreamwalking you're going to be in huge trouble."

"It depends on who you ask," came the mysterious voice once more. Sarah jumped.

"Who are you?" she asked quickly looking around. "Michayla is that you? I don't think this is funny."

"It's not meant to be funny Sarah and I'm not trying to frighten you either," said the voice. "We just need your help."

"I know what you want and I'm not going to help you," said Sarah still searching the room for source of the voice. "There is no way you can get me to hurt my friends or my teacher."

"You'd be surprised what you are capable of Sarah and what you may or may not do to save your own life or the life or your best friend." Sarah sat up in a cold sweat. Her heart was racing and she could barely breathe. She turned quickly and focused in the direction of Zoe's bed to make sure that her friend was still there and resting peacefully. She was only slightly relieved to find it so. She looked at the clock, four thirty.

"Damn," she whispered to herself. "I'm never going to get back to sleep." She looked across the room at Michayla's bed and found her to also be sleeping peacefully. "Maybe none of this has to do with her after all," thought Sarah. It had been a long time since she had been involved in any of the nightmares. Actually, she hadn't been involved since Sarah had her run in with the Dreamwalker's curse and Sarah hadn't even remembered being in that dream. "If this didn't have anything to do with Michayla what is going on," she thought as she lay there. Sarah felt her head pounding again. She leaned over and rummaged around through the drawer in the table next to her bed, looking for some sort of pain reliever. She hadn't really intended to talk to Professor Killainka in the morning, let alone return the knife to him, but perhaps she should. Things were getting terribly out of hand again, and she was more frightened than she had ever been last year with or without the knowledge that someone had cursed her.

"No, Sarah how can you possibly explain what you were doing in that classroom especially if you weren't brought there by Michayla," she whispered to herself. Sarah managed to find a bottle of painkiller and quickly washed a couple of pills down with a swig of water from a nearby glass. She rubbed her eyes and continued to try to sort things out, after an hour or so she drifted off into a troubled sleep.

"It was a mistake to let you have it back. I can tell by looking at your face that you didn't sleep a wink," shot Zoe accusingly. She was sitting beside her at the breakfast table and trying to get Sarah to look up from her plate.

"I just have a headache Zoe, that's all. I slept just fine," Sarah lied pushing the scrambled eggs around her plate. Zoe gave her a look of disbelief and then took a bite or two of her oatmeal.

"When are you going to talk to Professor Killainka?" she whispered after checking to make sure no one was listening. Again, Sarah didn't look up.

"Sometime after lunch," she mumbled quickly shoving a piece of toast in her mouth to put an end to the questioning.

"Hey, what are you two talking about?" It was Eric and he was grinning from ear to ear. "You look as though you're up to something." Then he got another look at Sarah's face. "Or maybe not." He looked up at Zoe and gestured toward Sarah. "Everything okay?"

Zoe shrugged and tried to pretend she didn't have a clue as to what might be bothering Sarah. "Sarah's got a headache," she reported quickly following her statement with a mouth full of oatmeal. Eric looked at the two them and sized up the situation quickly.

"Sorry to hear that, but it won't get you out of this afternoon's practice," he said grabbing a piece of toast from the middle of the table and taking a bite. Sarah looked up at this remark and rolled her eyes.

"I appreciate your compassion Eric Turner," she said sarcastically. Sarah pushed her plate forward and gave both the Turner sibling's disgruntled looks. "In case I haven't told either of you lately, bite me!" she said bitterly and then she rose and left abruptly. Eric watched her walk away and then turned to Zoe but as he opened, his mouth to ask her what was going on Zoe rose as well.

"Forget it Eric! I have no intention of bearing my soul to you at eight o'clock in the morning." She grabbed her backpack and headed in the opposite direction that Sarah had taken.

Eric sat dumbfounded for a moment. Both his sister and Sarah had never put him off and he had no idea what to do about it. "You look like someone just broke your broomstick." Dillon sat down next to Eric and chuckled. Megan, William, and Michayla who all sat down around him and began to load up their plates accompanied him.

"What?" said Eric not catching what he said. Dillon looked at him funny.

"What's going on?" he asked now taking a better interest.

Eric looked at Dillon and then around at the rest of his entourage. "Beat's me," he said shoving another piece of toast in his mouth and heading down to the other end of the table. Dillon watched him walk away curiously.

"What's up?" asked William swallowing his first bite of breakfast.

"I haven't a clue," he answered turning to look after Zoe and Sarah. He started to rise. "Maybe I should go find out." Michayla reached under the table and took his hand.

"I'm sure they're just in a hurry," she said smiling widely. Dillon turned and looked into her eyes. He stood for a moment, looking like a deer caught in the headlights of a car.

"Yeah, you're probably right," he said chuckling and then he settled back down onto his chair. William, who had caught the entire scene, stopped eating.

"Dillon, you think something could be wrong?" he asked catching his eyes directly and taking on a serious tone. Megan stopped eating as well and listened.

"I don't know," said Dillon looking very confused now. "I mean I suppose I did a minute ago." He shook his head and looked down the table at Eric who was trying his best not to look back at them. "Be right back," he said rising suddenly. Michayla made one last attempt to pull at him, but he was all ready out of her reach. William and Megan looked at each other and then both looked at Michayla.

"Something you want to tell us Michayla?" asked Megan looking a bit stern.

Michayla smiled sheepishly. "I suppose sometimes I'm just a little insecure. I mean you all have known each other a year longer than me. I worry that Dillon will, well just forget about me," she said stumbling around the words as she looked down at her plate. Megan smiled and gave her a sympathetic look; William however continued to look at her suspiciously.

Sarah made her way blindly to Abydos' class wondering how sick she would get if she were to take any additional pain reliever. She stopped at a water fountain, deciding she didn't care, took out the bottle of pills, and popped two more in her mouth. "Damn my head hurts," she said out loud to no one. She looked out a nearby window for the first time that day and noticed it was storming. "Great I have a pounding headache and we have Quidditch practice in the rain again." Sarah felt an anger building inside her, and she had no desire to be where she was or do what she knew she was about to do. It seemed that everything that lay before her was some how a threat. The thought of seeing Abydos in his classroom, confronting her friends and having practice with Eric and Dillon was causing the emotions to build inside of her. At that moment, the thought of talking to Killainka that popped into her head pushed her over the edge and she found herself heading toward the back of the school. She had no idea where she was going she just knew that she wasn't going back to the greenhouse.

"Where's Sarah?" Megan leaned over to Zoe as soon as Abydos had called class to order and was looking grave. Of course Zoe was aware that Sarah hadn't come to class. It was hard not to notice that your best friend wasn't sitting next to you, but she was being stubborn and pigheaded.

"Haven't' a clue," answered Zoe trying to stay focused on Abydos. This however wasn't the right thing to do, as he turned to look directly into her eyes. Zoe felt him search her as well and lowered her eyes quickly. "Damn," she whispered to herself.

"Zoe," scolded Megan.

"Megan leave me the hell alone," she whispered quickly. Megan looked at her like she was crazy, but Zoe didn't care what she had said, she knew she had nothing to loose. Professor Abydos had already made his intentions known in one cold stare.

"What are you doing?" asked Dillon. Zoe didn't move when the bell rang, she just sat and looked at Abydos.

"I'm waiting," she answered coldly.

"Waiting for what?" he asked giving her the same look Megan had.

Zoe tuned to look at him and then Michayla who was seemingly attached to him at the hip. "Go to class Dillon!" she said turning back to stare at Abydos who was now approaching. Dillon looked up to see Abydos and felt the tug on his sleeve from Michayla and gave in.

"All right see you in Divination." Zoe muttered something under her breath as he walked away and shook her head, she could hear the Parathion's snickering as they left the classroom.

"All right Miss Turner you want to tell me what's going on?" asked Abydos sitting down across from her. Zoe had never felt as comfortable with Abydos as she did at that moment and she was finding that even more frightening than ever. She was flabbergasted.

She sighed and let her guard down. "I don't know."

Abydos smiled and nodded his head. "I think you know more than you think or you're willing to admit," he prodded.

Zoe shifted uncomfortably in her seat the knife had just popped into her head. "Professor I don't know where Sarah is, I swear."

Abydos looked into Zoe's pale and drawn face. "What secret are you keeping for Sarah, Zoe? he asked staring her down.

Zoe began to tremble. "I, I promised that I wouldn't tell sir," she stuttered. "Please."

Professor Abydos looked at her and exhaled. "I'm concerned for her well being Miss Turner."

"I know you are sir and so am I." Zoe was trying to steady her shaking hands and looked down at the table. "She promised me that she was going to take care of things today. I have to trust her." Zoe looked up again and into his eyes.

"I hope for her sake that your trust has not been misplaced," he said grimly. Zoe didn't respond but she was hoping so also. "I suggest you run along to class and if she doesn't show up for Divination." He stopped and contemplated his hands. "I think perhaps you better let Professor Killainka know right away." Zoe nodded and rose to leave quickly, but she wasn't to get two steps before he stopped her again. "Zoe, she's going to be all right. She's stronger than you think."

Zoe stopped and looked back at the Professor. This side of her Dark Arts teacher was one she was quite sure she never wanted to see again. This had been a week she did not wish to repeat and it was by no means over. She nodded and then exited the classroom meeting up with her friends as she did.

"What's going on?" asked Megan trying to keep up with the almost jogging Zoe.

"As soon as I find out, I'll let you know," mumbled Zoe pushing past them.

Sarah sat on the dark damp ground and tried to make head or tails of where she was. Last, she remembered she was exiting the back of the school and heading toward the Quidditch field. How had she ended up here and where was she? She rubbed her eyes and tired to focus through the pain. Something about where she was seemed, familiar but she couldn't place it.

"Sarah Nettleton what in the he-"

"Jimmy!" screamed Mitsey causing the specter to stop dead so to speak in his tracks. Sarah looked up from her spot on the ground to see the two Bellarmine spirits standing over her. Mitsey knelt down next to Sarah and looked at her concerned. "Sarah sweetie," she cooed. "What are you doin' in a place like this?"

"Yeah, this ain't no place for a young lady." The ghostly apparition gave her a stern look. "If Killainka knew you were here he'd be hit the ceilin'," added Jimmy sweeping the ground in front of her.

Sarah rubbed her eyes again and tried to concentrate on what they were saying. "Where am I?" she asked Mitsey looking around.

Jimmy started to laugh, but Mitsey smacked at him causing him to straighten up. "Sarah sweetie you're in the old bootleg tunnels under the school."

Sarah's eyes grew wide and she quickly rose to her feet. "I'm where? I mean, how did I?" she stumbled around her words suddenly terrified at the thought of not only where she was, but why and how?

"Hold on there," said Jimmy watching her anxious state.

"How do I get out of here?" continued Sarah in full out panic now. "What time is it?" she asked suddenly wondering if she had lost time as well as space.

"Whoa!" yelled Jimmy standing in front of her and causing her to stop. Sarah looked up at him and then to Mitsey who was standing beside her and looking concerned as well. "Sarah calm down." Sarah drew a deep breath and nodded. Mitsey gave Jimmy a dirty look and then came around to be in front of her.

"Sarah, I don't know what's goin' on with you but its gunna be all right I promise." Sarah nodded again and then rubbed her eyes. "Your head hurtin?"

"Yeah," answered Sarah. "It won't stop no matter what I do," confided Sarah.

"I think you need to see the nurse," said Mitsey looking into Sarah's pale face. Sarah opened her mouth to protest and then decided not to when she felt another sharp pain in her right temple.

"All right," decided Sarah.

Jimmy turned to Mitsey. "You stay here. I'll go and get the big man, he'll know what to do." Mitsey smiled and nodded.

"Sit honey," said Mitsey. "Professor Killainka will know what to do." Sarah looked up at Mitsey as Jimmy disappeared through the damp stonewalls, and then reluctantly sat.

"This is it," thought Sarah. "I'll be expelled for sure this time. She turned and ran.

"Come in Miss Turner." Zoe looked at the ground and sighed. She probably wouldn't have come if Professor Abydos' candor hadn't been so scary. However, he had told her that she should go to Killainka if Sarah didn't show up and she hadn't. Not only hadn't she come to Divination, but also Zoe hadn't seen her by lunch. Megan was on the verge of a nervous breakdown and Eric had mentioned going to the Dean when Zoe piped up that she was.

Everyone had volunteered to come with her but Zoe insisted that she come alone, something that she was now second-guessing.

She opened the door, walked in, and was quickly told to take a seat by the fire, which she did. "You've come to voice you're concerns about Sarah," he said as she opened her mouth. Zoe nodded and quickly closed it. He rose and crossed to stand in front of the fire. "Yes, I'm concerned about her as well." Zoe had just gotten her first good look at him and noticed that he was unnerved.

Zoe leaned forward. "Sir is Sarah all right?"

"Professor!" called Jimmy coming through the wall and scaring Zoe nearly out of her chair. "You need to, its Sarah Nettleton and she's in a bad way." It was when he finished these words that he turned to see Zoe sitting next to the fire. She went as ghostly white as he was.

"Jimmy calm down what are you talking about?" asked Killainka as Zoe rose from her seat and stepped forward.

Jimmy looked at Zoe again and then back to the Dean. "Mitsey and I were messing around and we ran into Sarah sir. She's in the old bootleg tunnels. She acts like she doesn't know she got down there, craziest thing," Jimmy rambled on.

Killainka didn't wait for anymore he turned to Zoe. "Zoe you need to get to class."

"But Professor," started Zoe, tears pooling in her eyes.

"I'll take care of Sarah." However, Zoe wasn't budging. "Miss Turner class now!" he demanded. Zoe looked into his eyes and nodded numbly. "It will be fine, I promise," he added soothingly. Zoe wiped her eyes as Killainka turned back to Jimmy. "Take me to her," he said and then as Zoe watched they, both disappeared.

Zoe was fuming by the time she reached Professor Murphy's classroom. In the time it had taken her to walk from Killainka's office to History of Magic she had gone over everything that had happened to her and Sarah this year and one name kept popping up like a festering boil. Zoe hadn't realized that she would be arriving just as class dismissed until she heard the bell ring and saw her small group of friends descending on her.

"Zoe, where's Sarah?" asked Meagan looking quite concerned.

"Did you talk to Killainka?" asked William.

"What did you find out?" said Dillon as he pulled through the crowd, Michayla close in tow.

"I found out she's not safe," spouted Zoe angrily.

"What are you talking about?" gasped Megan going pale.

Zoe zeroed in on Michayla. "She's somehow managed to make it into the tunnels under the school. You remember the tunnels Dillon?" Zoe shot coldly at Dillon. "It's where all things evil lurk," she said hysteria rising in her voice. Dillon was backing slightly away as Megan and William looked at each other in shock.

"Zoe!" began William. "What are you rambling about it and why are you attacking Dillon?"

"It's not Dillon I'm worried about, it's the company he's keeping," she continued. Zoe was eye to eye with Michayla now, who unlike Dillon was not backing away or backing down. She was showing a side that she had yet to show in all the months that she had been at Dragon's Wood and everyone seemed to be seeing it but Dillon. "I don't have to worry about Dillon hurting Sarah. Point of fact the only danger Sarah's ever been in where's Dillon's concerned was of her own making, to save his neck." Zoe was ranting and drawing a crowd as she did. "But ever since you've been here," she said pointing a finger at Michayla. "That's not been so. Every time I turn around, she's in some sort of danger. She's doing really scary things and she's nearly been killed once that I know about!" she screamed lunging forward to be in physical contact with Michayla who had still not moved or responded in any way.

"Zoe, that's enough!" yelled Dillon who had remained silent until this point. He stepped forward and pushed her away from Michayla. "I don't know what's happened to Sarah, but Michayla hasn't had anything to do with it. I know that I haven't known her as long as you have, but in the little time that I've known her Sarah has managed to get into a great deal of trouble on her own!" Dillon was angry and the look in his eyes was one of someone who was not in control of his faculties. "I don't think blaming Sarah's present situation on Michayla is the answer to her problems or yours!" He took a deep breath and then grabbed Michayla by the hand. "Come on Michayla."

Megan stepped forward and put herself in between Zoe and Michayla as Dillon and her exited to the left and down the hallway. There was something about the look in Zoe's eyes that scared her.

"So your mudblood friend's in trouble again Turner. Who's got her this time, the Dreamwalker's or the devil himself?" Zoe, William, and Megan turned around to come face to face with Garth Griffin and company. William felt his hand go for his wand.

"What's going on here?" Professor Murphy had just stepped out of his classroom. He was looking from one face to another.

Megan drew a deep breath as Griffin's facial expression changed to a sly grin. "I was just asking Miss Turner about her friend sir. We're all so worried about Miss Nettleton you know."

Murphy tried his best not to give Griffin a look of contempt and nodded. "Yes I'm sure your concern is genuine Mr. Griffin however I believe it's time for you to be heading to your next class." Griffin smiled with disdain at Murphy, nodded, and then headed off to class followed by the other onlookers. Megan, and William started to grab Zoe and go after but were quickly halted by the Professor. "All right, who wants to tell me what really went on here?" Zoe's was standing quietly she finally reached the point where she could no longer talk. Megan looked from Zoe to the Professor and then to William.

"Professor Murphy, Zoe has just come from Professor Killainka's office and evidently something has happened to Sarah," reported William looking confused and upset.

"Is this true Miss Turner?" asked the Professor trying to make contact with Zoe. She nodded staring at the floor. She reached up, rubbed her eyes, and then sighed.

"I'm afraid I've said some things I shouldn't have said Professor," confessed Zoe in a hoarse voice.

"Oh, I can't imagine that possible," said Murphy smiling widely. Zoe met his eyes and couldn't help but force a smile. "That's better." Murphy looked at Megan and William. "I think you two better run along to class and let the Professor know that Miss Turner and Miss Nettleton won't be coming." Megan opened her mouth to spout off and William looked at Zoe and then the Professor, he grabbed Megan's hand and began to pull her away.

"We'll see you later Zoe," he said giving Megan a stern look and then Zoe one last encouraging one.

Professor Murphy watched them walk away, turned to Zoe, and placed a comforting arm around her. "I'm free the next period. How about you and I go for a walk," said Murphy smiling. Zoe nodded and they began to walk slowly down the hallway.

A thousand things were now running through Zoe's head. She was thinking about Killainka and how he could sense things, and the things that had happened last year that Murphy had been involved in and wondered weather or not he could too. Then she thought about the knife and Sarah, and how she had told her only hours ago, that she had seen Murphy and Killainka talking about it. She was worried about getting Sarah in trouble, but she was also worried about Sarah being well. Then there was the part of her that just wanted it all to go away.

"First things first," he started as they rounded their first corner. Zoe braced her self for the worst. "Do you want chocolate or vanilla ice cream in your sundae?"

Zoe stopped and looked at Murphy like he had lost his mind and then smiled. "Chocolate," answered Zoe tears pooling in her eyes.

Murphy grinned and winked. "Chocolate it is. Come on we'll have to go to the kitchen at this time of day. But they like me there," he said chuckling.

However, before they could get too far Zoe heard Abydos coming around the corner calling Professor Murphy's name. They stopped. "What is it Romulus?" asked Murphy concerned by the look on his face.

"Shamus you need to gather the students of your house." He then turned to Zoe. "Miss Turner you will return to the dormitory now!" Zoe opened her mouth to ask why, but she looked into his eyes and found that she now longer had that desire. She nodded and turned toward the dorm corridor, with one thought on her mind.

"Where's Sarah?"