I know the who but not why. The headmaster gave me to my parents but I don't know why he did. Professor Holmes and Roman convinced them to bring me to The Vale and I have no idea why. I can get the answer right now if I want but I'm still trying to process and piece everything together. It's obvious that the headmaster and his son knows all about me. They probably knows who my biological parents are, and even though dad said they're dead, I still want to know about them. I want to know my origin. The headmaster and Damian knows I'm onto them but Professor Holmes and Roman doesn't know I know.

I realize I know nothing about the four of them. How are they connected? I can see how the headmaster and Professor are connected but Roman is just a student. Why pull him in?

This got me thinking about the book I saw in the library, the romance novel that has the professor name on it. One would think it just an ordinary book but he dedicated it to a certain George Holmes, now it might be a coincidence that the George I saw in Arihmatheo's mind isn't the same one professor dedicated the book to but I can't stop thinking about. It's all connected. It's obvious that he's the one. According to what my dad said, Arihmatheo tracked them down in Australia after professor Holmes asked them to disappear, he tortured answers from them. Also the way he knew the headmaster. He was so familiar with him.

The first thing I do after everything is steal the only copy of The demon and the witch from the library. I think the Headmaster knew I was going for it because it was spell protected. I lay on my bed and turn the back to read the blurb. It's short but catchy. It goes like this: They both knew what they felt for each other was forbidden. They knew their love was prohibited, but they worked on it. Their love got them killed, they died protecting their forbidden love.

I turn it to the front and open the book, my eyes scan the page I saw the spell that day but somehow it's empty. The whole book is empty. It like he put it there intentionally for me to find just to irritate me. Now, I don't know why I'm drawn and curious about the book but I knows it means something, I just don't know what and I will find out what it is and then I'll confront each and every one of them. It's my life. They have no right to manipulate it like this.

I just wish I had the power to turn back time and just go back to the moment I was before everything changed and I had to come to this school. I was happy then, I lived the way I wanted. I did everything without a single care in the world. I know it was only a matter of time before I start asking questions but still, I would have loved to continue living that life instead this mystery and lies that I've been tangled up in since I arrived here.

I feel guilty for leaving my dad like that especially after he told me that Arihmatheo tortured them, but I can't see past the fact that he knew what I was, who I was and didn't bother to tell me. Everytime I woke up screaming and he was there to coddle me back to sleep, I thought he cared but it was all a lie. He knew what type of school The Vale is and he pretended as if he had no choice, like mom forced his hands, but it was never about mom or me. It was all about the talk they had with Professor Holmes. Everything was put in motion by him. I can't understand how someone can be so cruel.

“Oh my God! Really, Cam?” An exasperated Nate says from the doorway.

I groan and bury myself under the duvet. "I command you to disappear." I mumble.

Apart from Jessica, Nate, the headmaster and Damian, no one else knows what's going on. Nate is Roman's roommate and I know he likes Jessica, we told him so he could watch Roman for us.

I feel the weight shift from the side of my bed. "Knock knock," Nate's speaks directly in my ear as he knocks my head. "Anybody home?"

I'm about to tell him to fuck off but the door opens. "Stop disturbing her, Nathan." Jessica cautions him.

Smirking, I pull the cover off my head and sit upright. "Thank you, Jess, finally someone with sense." I roll my eyes at Nate.

"Someone with sense?" He scoffs, standing up and moves to sit on Jess's bed. "Her babying you won't solve your problems, Cami," he complains.

This wouldn't be the first time that we are having this conversation. Nate wants us to plan and destroy Roman and Professor Holmes, he was pretty devastated when he heard Roman involvement, but I let him know that I can't do anything until I know the whole truth, starting with why are they after me? What did they want from me?

"I’m not trying to baby her, I’m trying to help her with the time she needs to process everything." Jessica huffs and sits on his lap.

He wraps his arms around her body and kisses the side of her head. "I know, love. But we can't wait for them to do something, see my point sweetheart?" He asks me.

I chuckle and shake my head. "Maybe they are waiting for us to do something. Roman asked about you today and he mentioned something about Australia. He clearly knows something." Jessica informs us.

Nate turns his head to me swiftly. "See! I told you that we need to act fast," he presses me.

I shake my head. "We are not doing anything until we find out what they want. We also have a Chemistry test in an hour, I'll prepare and come take the test," I remind them, just because my life's turn upside down doesn't mean I don't have school.

Nate groans at the mention of the test, he and I are like the same, except I try hard in my school work. He doesn't care about school, he only came to The Vale because of something he did back at his home in London. His parents are friends with the headmaster, they knew about his powers and wanted him to be more responsible about his actions in the future. He comes from old money, and he doesn't need school to take over the family business, his words, not mine.

As for me, I don't know if I can make it till the end of the semester. With my real parents dead and my adopted parents on the brink of death. I know I need to start acting before I become next.

Nate leaves the room to go prepare for class. I get up from my bed and hit the shower. Returning to my room, I see my uniform laid out on the bed for me. A smile plays on my lips as I think about Jessica. She's been wonderful to me. She's been there. Letting me do what I want without pushing for me to talk. I never knew how lucky I was when I met her, but now I know. She wasn't in the room when I entered, she's probably with Nate.

Walking into the Chemistry Laboratory is giving me a crazy deja vu of my first day, as soon as I step into the Lab, everyone stops what they are doing to stare at me.

"Nice of you to grace us with your presence, Miss Stark." Professor Holmes says nonchalantly, if he suspects something, his face didn't give it away.

I shrug. "Nice to be back." I clear my throat and look ahead for an empty seat, everywhere is filled except by Alicia's, Alyssa's sister.

Great! My day is just getting a lot better. I haven't formally met Alicia but if she's anything like her sister then we're going to have a problem.

I go ahead and sit beside her at the front. I walk past Jessica and Nate, Penelope and Roman, Calvin and Alyssa, Brie and Ari.

"Hi," I greet her, not expecting a reply.

She raises her head and whispers. "Hi," offering me a smile in return.

I raise my eyebrow. Well, I wasn't expecting that. "I'm Cami," I introduce myself knowing full well that she knows who I am.

"I know, my sister told me all about you," she replies.

I bet.

"She can't tell you all about me," I say and she raises her eyebrow in question. "Because she doesn't know anything about me."

She smiles nervously. "I didn't mean it like that, she told you were her roommate before I arrived, I'm sorry she kicked you out," she says with sincerity.

I chuckle. "I'm not. And she didn't kick me out, I left because living with your sister is hell, no offense." I mention with a small laugh.

She laughs and nods. "None taking, Alyssa is a bitch. We should get together some times. I'm going to the library after the test to prepare for Potion Making three zero four," she suggests.

I scrunch my nose. "I haven't even started potion making yet, rain check?"

"How about lunch?"

I nod. "Sure, lunch," I answer.

She smiles and nods. "Lunch it is–"

"It seems like there is too much talking going on here." Professor Holme's unpleasant voice stops us from giggling.

I roll my eyes while Alicia lowers her head. He places two test sheets in front of us.

"Good luck and see me after class, Miss Stark," he whispers and walks away.

I tilt my head to the side to see Alicia giving me an apologetic expression. I shake my head silently telling her that it's not her fault. I can't believe she's related to Alyssa.

"Radioactivity, Organic Chemistry." I mutter, knowing I'm definitely going to fail this test.

After the test, I wait for everyone to clear out of the class before I go to Professor Holmes because I have a feeling that what he wants to talk to me about is private.

Alicia and I agreed to meet up at the dining hall. I informed Nate and Jessica that I'll meet them during lunchtime when they wanted to wait for me. I still have to submit my English essay.

When I'm positive that everyone is out of the class. I approach him and clear my throat when I am in front of him.

"You wanted to see me Professor Holmes?"

He drops his pen and removes his glasses. "Ha, yes! Cami. Please take a seat," he offers, gesturing at the stool in front of his mahogany desk.

I pull out the stool and sit on it. "Thank you," I say and swallow.

He sighs and places his intertwined fingers on his desk and leans forward. "It has come to my attention that you took the only copy of The Demon and Witch from the library," he begins.

Fuck you, Groff.

I nod. "Yes I did," there is no point in denying it.

"Do you know why that shelf is restricted?" He asks.

Because it is the only thing stopping the students from going into the dark museum and seeing the dark artifacts and the grimoire for dark magic.

"Because it's filled with romance novels, and I'll say your book is more of a New Adult genre than Romance."

He bites the inside of his cheek and reclines back in his chair. "You think?"

I nod. "I know."

He nods. "If you say so," he mumbles.

"If that is it, can I go now?"

"One more thing before you go," he stops me when I'm about to stand up from the stool. "How was your trip to Australia?"

And he just confirmed that I am under surveillance. I won't play your games Holmes. You and Roman will be the one playing my games.

"I didn't go to Australia." I shrug nonchalantly.

He raises his eyebrow in question. He is debating whether or not to believe me. "You didn't?" I nod. "I thought you were going to visit your parents."

He thought wrong. For someone who claims to be a mastermind, he is shitty at getting information from an asset.

"I was going to because I couldn't get hold of them. I don't know where they are exactly so I just figured I'd go when the semester ends." I lie not really caring what he thinks.

He nods. "I can help you find them if you want," He offers.

Maybe when hell freezes over, which is impossible.

I shake my head. "Nah I'm good. I need to focus on my schoolwork. I think they need some alone time. I'm sure they'll contact me when they are ready," I tell him, giving him the perfect expression, not letting anything show.

He nods. "Good then, academic comes first," he agrees with me.

I nod and give him a fake smile. "Yeah, thanks though."

"If you need anything, don't hesitate to ask," spoken like a true idiot.

I smile. "Sure." I stand up from the seat and walk away from the Lab.