haha hey guys, surprise, it's me again. So I just wanted to post this chapter as tribute to guest reviewer, AmandaPandaxo, who took a few seconds out of her day to review. I'm just here to say that the story isn't officially back up yet, but I might have time to post an extra chapter or two if people keep reviewing. Otherwise, enjoy this special new chapter, and I hope you guys all like it!

Chapter 7

Let me tell you something about the dark ones. They don't just take your life. Khas are a special species. Even though their healing powers don't extend as far as to save someone's life, they can still ease someone's pain just by brushing their shoulder with their hand or any kind of physical contact, really. My mother always used to say that the best people always got the shittiest lives. Well, when you're a khas, you're bound to have people that hate you for who you are. That's mainly why Khas need to stay hidden, away from prying human eyes. But mostly, it's because of fear. Fear of the dark ones, and how they can destroy your soul in a second. But the worst part is when they drain your powers. They turn all that goodness into powerful tools of evil that can bring out the worst in people, like jealousy, fear, anger, regret, sorrow, grief, until you go insane. That's why we all go to the school. Nobody's safe until we learn how to protect ourselves.

And I've been learning for the past 8 years.

I slowly crack the door to my dorm open to find Philip still waiting in the hallway.

Dammit. I'm going to have to get rid of him somehow.

I close the door and angrily tear off the stupid black dress that was too tight anyway. I change back into my normal clothes, my jeans and hoodie, and throw open the door.

"Leave."

"What? Wait, what about the dance? I thought we were going together…"

I push him up to the wall, my fists clenching tightly together.

"I was joking. I thought you were too. I'm not going to this stupid thing."

Philip looks around like a scared little rabbit, his eyes bulging. His mouth forms the words I'm sorry but I cut him off. He only asked me because I suddenly look like…well like a girl. He doesn't care about me at all. The sudden interest wasn't in me, it was in my physical transformation.

Before I know it I feel an huge lump rise up in my throat. Oh no, I think, not now. I was not going to cry right now, especially with Philip here, especially after the promise I made to myself 9 years ago to never feel like this again, to never show this other weak, vulnerable side of me that I had carefully kept locked and hidden away for ages. When Angeline showed me the other 8 year old version of me, I suddenly felt like I had become the innocent, scared little 8-year old girl. I couldn't control the awful acid spilling down my cheeks. It was as if the tears confirmed that I was broken inside, broken and beyond repair.

"Just-just forget about it, okay? I'm not going. You can tell the Head that if he wants to get me to show up to this pathetic excuse for a 'fun time' he'll have to do better than just threaten to expel me."

Philip, who probably had no idea what I was rambling about, quickly mumbles a fast "sure" and scampers out of the hallway.

I sigh, forcing down the tears in my eyes, and go back inside. I once again put on my carefully controlled mask of annoyance on my face and hunch over my laptop.

"Okay, Aurthor Cain, let's see who the hell you are."

I search up his name through the Academy's database, and click on the first entry.

God, even my nails are perfect now, buffed and polished to perfection. I quickly hide my hands from my line of sight, and begin to skim over the page.

'Over the years, the dark ones have taken so many of the lives we hold dearest to our hearts; our friends, family, peers, teachers, tutors, and more or less everyone close to us. When you think a dark one is close, run. Do not look back. Just run. Once they know you are there, there is no stopping them. They will kill you.

And they have. They have killed Khas, after Khas, after Khas, slowly sucking away all that good, peaceful power, into an evil nightmare used for bad. Once a Khas has been drained of their powers, they will die, and never come back…'

I scroll down, skipping through this section of the page. I already knew this by heart. Each Khas and Khasi had all this information drilled into them at young ages. I look over the page again, and I'm finally about to give up on this whole 'Aurthor Cain' thing when something on the page catches my eye.

'…but there is one, who is rumored to have survived the dreadful attack by the dark ones. No more than a stable boy, Aurthor Cain has lived his whole life as a Khas peacefully and quietly. Until one day, they came for him. It was said, that he looked the dark ones in the eye. And as his power began to drain away, something inside of him changed forever. Left for dead, the dark ones consumed his power and left. But he was not dead. A tiny trickle of power inside him remained long enough to sustain him all the way until he reached the mountains, a place rumored to have mystical powers that revive anyone who crosses into them. Legend has it, that to this very day, Aurthor Cain still remains in his cave in the mountains, plotting his revenge against the dark ones.'

My eyes widen in recognition. I know this story, but I never knew the rumored name behind it all. My mom had told it to me when I was a little girl. But…but it was just a myth. A legend, the myth passed down from generation to generation to remind the Khas that there is still hope against the battle with the Hectx. But I know the cold, dark truth. There's no hope. The only hope against them is to run.

I still can't help but wonder about him. Aurthor Cain. Why would Lady Angeline tell me his name? Even if the story is true, and Aurthor Cain really did survive an encounter with the dark ones, wouldn't he be a few thousand years old by now? It was true that Khas could live longer than the average human ranging from 100-150 years, but certainly not that long.

I shake my head, demanding myself to stop thinking about it. I could worry about all of this tomorrow. But something Lady Angeline said kept bouncing through my brain, refusing to let go of the topic.

"Him. The only one that can save us. They call him The Enchanter. A great evil is coming, Dallia, and you are our best hope. Find him."

Once again, I had all of the questions, and none of the answers. I reach towards the computer to turn it off, but at the last second, a sentence on the page catches my eye that makes my hand hover above the power button uncertainly.

'and one day, he will lead our people out of the darkness, and into the light of a promising future where we do not have to be afraid. Where we do not have to run. Where we do not have to hide. For a change, we will fight them, and we will win.'

Was that good enough? Did it leave you thirsty for answers? (okay that's a bit of a push, i'll admit) Remember to review if you want an extra chapter or two after this! Honestly I just did this because I was really bored and had a lot of time on my hands, so maybe i'll write a few more chapters whenever I have time. :) that's about all for now, and I hope all of you have a wonderful day XD