Chapter 1

Mia sat, looking out her window, watching the snow gently fall to the ground of the Spencer campus. Watching the drastic change of scenery from the fall to the winter gave Mia a sense of peace. Ever since Caleb's birthday and all the drama and revelations that came along with it, nothing chaotic really happened. To Mia and her friends, it seems like a lifetime ago, but it was really just a few months. Since September, River announced that he would be transferring back to his school in New York and the two spent less and less time together as the time for him to leave drew closer. Pogue's birthday and ascension came around early November and everything went fine. They had even celebrated ahead of time because they didn't know how Pogue would handle the drastic power increase. Now, they were all getting ready for Reid's ascension, which was during their winter break and Mia was scared out her mind because Reid was borderline dependent on his powers. When Reid ascends, he'll be more tempted than Caleb and Pogue were just on the simple fact that he uses way more than they do; then any of them use their powers. The main reason she was so scared was that she wasn't sure if she would be there to help. Her and Riley's mother had invited the boys, Sarah and their families out to New York for the holidays partly because they had a meeting with the Magic Council on how to overturn the curse on their covenant but the only one who accepted so far was Sarah, but also because she felt guilty about lying to both Riley and Mia as they were growing up. Mia wanted more than anything to be there for Reid's ascension because she wanted to make sure nothing went wrong, knowing that she was one of the few people who could actually help him deal with the power, stress, and temptation that typically followed one of them ascending. They weren't exactly back together, but they weren't not together either. Reid constantly pushed for a reconciliation but Mia told him that she didn't really want a label on whatever they were at the point. But in reality, she was skeptical on how they're relationship would go if they became a "official" couple again and she didn't want to go through the drama again.

Mia was supposed to be packing for their flight to New York, which was in a few days, but she got sidetracked when it started snowing again. She was broken out of her daze when she heard her door open and her sister screaming at her. "Amelia Rose, get your lazy ass up and pack so we can go!" Mia cringed when she heard her full name and sighed. "The full name, Riles? Seriously? And with the door open? The entire floor can hear you!" Riley laughed and closed the door. "Better?" She asked as Mia stuck her tongue out at her and Riley walked over towards her. "And I like your name, it's pretty." Mia chuckled and moved over so Riley could sit next to her. "So Riley Elizabet, I assume your done packing to go home?" She asked and Riley nodded. "Why else would I be bothering you?" She laughed. "How are you done already and you own way more things than me?" Riley smiled and got up from the window pane, walking towards the center of Mia's room. "Riley." Mia pushed, wanting an explanation. Riley let out an exasperated sigh and turned, facing Mia. "Magic."

Mia's eyes grew wide from Riley's confession. "But we only learned a few spells and incantations when we went home for Thanksgiving. Where did you learn how to do that?" Riley sighed again and closed her eyes, holding her hands out in front of her. At first, Mia thought she was just being silly, but when Riley's hands started glowing and a huge book began materializing in her hands, Mia's eyes grew wide and she gasps from shock and amazement. When Riley opened her eyes, she saw Mia staring in disbelief. "Damien gave me it at Thanksgiving, because I wanted to learn more than Mom wanted to teach at the time. So, I've been practicing." Mia folded her arms across her chest in anger. "And you didn't tell me." She said and Riley put the book on the bed. "I didn't tell anyone. Well except Pogue. Oh and Sarah." She said and Mia got more upset. "So now we're keeping secrets from each other?" She asked and Riley sighed. "Okay, I've barely spoken to you like we used to since I got to Spencer so when was I suppose to tell you? You've always been with Reid or River and that evil bitch, or doing something for school." Riley said, rubbing her temples in frustration. "I wanted to tell you. Really I did. Other than Pogue, you are one of the other three people that I try not to keep things from." Mia laughed at that and softened her face. "I'm sorry for being so distant lately, Monkey." Mia said going over to hug Riley. "And I'm sorry for not forcing you to spend time with me. I'm not used to doing that when it comes to you, Munchkin." They both laughed and began to sway side to side in a circle. No matter what was going on between the two, they could never stay mad at one another for all that long

"Here, let me show you the spell I used to pack my stuff, okay?" Riley said, letting go of Mia and standing next to her. "First you need to close your eyes and focus. Focus on whatever you need to do; getting your suitcases out, putting your clothes and shoes in them, and putting the fully packed suitcases by the door." Riley moved from next to her and then moved behind her. "Then picture it being done in your head. Make sure you have the end product in your head." Riley looked and saw Mia taking in everything she said. "You ready?" Riley asked, slightly excited. Mia just nodded her head. "Okay, now lightly wave your hand up towards the door." Mia turned and did as Riley said and opened her eyes to find her bags completely packed. Riley smiled and hugged her sister. "Magic is insane." Mia said, practically laughing at what she just did. "This stuff never seems to amaze me, no matter how many times I see or do it." Riley laughed and nodded. "And you're a natural at doing it. Just like me." she said, grabbing Mia's hands and swinging her around. "I love having magic. It's so convenient." She said sing-songingly. "True, If your not cursed." Mia said, and Riley stopped moving and changed her facial expression. "Don't talk like that, Mia." She said, putting her hands on Mia's shoulder. "Damien and Dad are working on a case for the Council and Grandma is in London using every resource she has to try and figure out anything about the curse. We're bound to find something that could help. Just have faith, okay?" She asked and Mia nodded. "How do you do it, Riles?" Mia asked and Riley looked back at her confused. "Do what?" Riley asked. "Keep everything bottled up inside and still look so calm on the outside?" Mia asked and Riley chuckled. "Tons of practice." She said, sitting on Mia's bed. "Every major problem I've had, you helped me through, even when I didn't want you there. Out of the two of us, you always had to be the strong one. Now let me try that out for a few." Mia said as she sat down next to her. "Talk to me. Tell me what's going on in that head of yours." Riley laughed, on the verge of tears. "I keep forgetting about your damn telepathy." She said and Mia chuckled.

"I'm just as scared as you are, Mia. I don't wanna even think about what might happen if we can't get rid of this curse. I don't wanna lose them but I can't help but think that that's a possibility. I mean, if we really cant so anything about this curse, all we can do is either watch them kill themselves or watch them lose half of who they are. Either way, there's nothing we can do, magic or not. We'd be useless and I hate feeling that way." By then, Riley had started crying. During the whole Chase fiasco, everyone involved became extremely close and its extremely rare for Riley to open up as quickly as she did with the boys and Sarah, so she knew that everything she said came from her heart.

Mia reached for Riley's' hand and squeezed it, making Riley laugh between sobs. "You will never be useless, Riley. Neither you, me, or Sarah. Even if we can't find a way to break this curse, there is always something that we can do." Riley looked up at Mia, wiping her eyes with the hand that Mia wasn't holding. "What's that, Munchkin?" she asked, sniffling. Mia laughed and squeezed her hand again. "We can love them and be there for them whenever they need us." Riley chuckled and nodded her head. "This is true." She said, regaining her composure. The two stood up and pulled each other into a big hug. Mia began rubbing soothing circles into Riley's back and Riley began to play with Mia's hair. "I've missed this, Mia." Riley said slightly pulling away from Mia. "Is it bad for me to be blissfully happy that River is leaving?" Mia looked at her sister, half laughing, and half feigning shock. She knew River wasn't exactly Riley's favorite person. "Please be nice tonight, Riles. It's his goodbye party." Mia said and Riley laughed. "I'll try. But I'm making no guarantees." Mia nodded and started laughing, but stopped when she heard her door open, revealing Sarah and Kate in the doorway.

"Are you almost ready guys? We're supposed to meet the guys at Nicky's in ten minutes." Sarah asked. Mia and Riley looked at each other, turned back to Sarah and Kate, and nodded at the same time. "Tell me again who came up with the idea of throwing a farewell party for River at Nicky's?" Sarah shrugged her shoulders as she watched the two girls put on their coats and hats. Kate sighed sarcastically as she leaned against the door, looking at her fingernails. "It was Reids." Riley scoffed when she heard this. "Makes sense now." She ran across the hall to her room to grab her purse. When she got back, Mia had her arms folded across her chest. "What's that suppose to mean?" Riley lightly laughed as she pulled her hair out of her jacket. "It means that he's just as happy that River's leaving as I am, and for the same reasons, too." Mia laughed and walked out of her room. They both locked their doors and walked down the hall, leaving the building in pursuit of Nicky's.