And Then There Were Four by Lilith Carrie

Cassie.

When Trixie said she was going to be at my room early, I had no idea it was going to be before the sun even rose. I tried my hardest to ignore her persistent knocking, but in the end, she let herself into my room and forced me from bed. "Remind me again why we are up so early," I groaned as I took my brush to my hair, trying to tame the wavy locks which seemed to have a mind of their own.

Trixie laughed at my comment as she stood from my bed and walked towards the open bathroom doorway. She had been insistent on waiting for me to finish in the shower and get dressed. Proclaiming I would go back to sleep if left alone. "Because breakfast is in thirty minutes, and our first class is in an hour. Now stop messing around. You're lucky I'm agreeing to you wearing jeans."

Glancing out the bathroom door, I stared at her before rolling my eyes. "I don't even eat breakfast." The grumbled response caused Trixie to groan. "Stop, just brush your damn teeth so we can go."

My mouth dropped open upon hearing Trixie's annoyance. I hadn't known her for long, but in that time, I had never heard her get annoyed like she was now. Cocking a brow, I stared at her as a slow smile spread across my face. "Was that annoyance?" She stared blankly, her eyes unmoving before a snort of laughter escaped her. "Oh, my God. Just come on already. I want coffee "

"Wait, you guys have coffee here?" I asked, cutting her off, more than excited about getting coffee and perhaps using it to survive the day. My question seemed to shock her as she stared at me as if I had grown a second head. "Uh-yeah. Don't you guys have that in the human realm?"

Opening and closing my mouth, I placed the brush upon the counter and nodded. "Yeah, we do. Sorry, I guess part of me just thought this place would be super different."

Glancing back at Trixie as I moved from the bathroom, I headed towards my bed where my small backpack sat waiting patiently for me to collect. I contemplated what else I would uncover here that was similar to my old home. "So about this coffee, there wouldn't happen to be donuts too, would there?"

Slinging my bag over my shoulder, Trixie grabbed her stuff as we made our way out of my bedroom. A wide smile spread across her face as she gave me a knowing glance which all but answered my question. "What's your favorite flavor?"

*****

I wasn't sure what I had expected

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going to this school, but it definitely wasn't to walk up to a massive gothic building amongst the white marbled structures that surrounded it and de hit with the feelings of overwhelming chaos. It was beautiful with it's stained glass windows and high arches, which swirled with elegant mason work raising the roof high into the heavens.

My breath was taken away, and as I let my eyes take in the area, I was truly taken aback by the lush green gardens, peaked tops of a large

glass greenhouse in the distancen et

and mass amounts of decorated ponds with waterfalls. The place reminded me so much of a high fantasy castle the only thing missing as the flying dragon and damsel in distress.

"Cassie, are you coming?" Trixie called out from ahead of me, snapping me back to the present. I had stopped walking and stood in shock staring at the surrounding area I hadn't even paid attention to her continuing without me. "Yeah, sorry. I was just-taking it all in."

She let her glowing green eyes gaze around the area, taking in everything I myself was admiring, but as she did a puzzled look crossed her face before she turned back to me." guess can see why you would find it pretty. I'm so used to looking at it I don't even notice it like that anymore."

Moving towards her, I felt nothing but shock in her words.