After some cornflakes for breakfast, I scrambled into some half decent clothes, grabbed my schoolbag and ran from the building. I had woken up at half past six and left the house at seven. School began at nine. I had two hours of pure freedom.

I ran down to the lake, and took in the view: glistening water, skirted by trees. Crumpled, wrinkly leaves were drifting onto the surface of what looked like a mirror, sending small ripples up to the bank. I had my swimming costume under my uniform, so I stuffed my belongings under the outer canopy of trees, and walked into the water.

I loved the feeling of water tugging at my hair, enveloping me into paradise. I was much more graceful in the water than I was on land, a fish in most ways. The lake was my haven, and no-one else went there. It was abandoned, and I was it's only faithful companion. Even the fish had left it.

I swam for a very long time, back and forth, back and forth. I was there when the strips of sunlight touched the water's surface, when the bird's song echoed through the fog. The water become warm, more comforting. I began to swim towards the water's edge. I stood up, wrung my hair out, shaking it like a dog shakes it's fur. I rubbed myself dry with a towel I had packed, pulled my clothes over my swimming costume, picked up my bag and wandered back down the path into the village. I checked my watch.

It was nine o'clock.

It was a simple answer to all my questions. One that somehow I had known all along… But why? Asking Lyla helped. Because he needs you… I freaked out then, and threw myself into the abyss of his mind.

Chapter One: Freedom beckons and I don't know what to do with it

A sister-bond. A bond between sisters, you may think. To a witch? Even more important. We are bonded between thoughts, and can sense each other. The young freedom of this power was fantastic, until it was bound down at secondary-school age. It's all I need, thoughts to be forced away, hidden. We had never kept any secrets till then, when we were forced to.

My name is Thesalia. Lissy, as I prefer. My sister – my bonded partner – is called Lylaria. Lyla. We have long, attention-grabbing names, thanks to the so called 'witch tradition' of long, beautiful names for young girls. And yes, if you were wondering, we are witches, bonded like one, but bounded too, by our teachers, who force the power of calm and control down on us like a whip. No thought-sharing, no using your magic unless under very strong supervision. Our recess' have been banned because we used to mess about. I'd like nothing more than to be free again.

I was sat there on the 'romantic bench' (the Kalira twins called it that after Shelly and Dave sat there together) when the resolution hit me. I would ask for a quest, one where I could mess with thoughts, run, hide, laugh and play. It's all I wanted, and I knew how to get it. The sister-bond was all I needed to prove and I would get what I wanted, after two long years of imprisonment. I could smell freedom.

Lissy!!! What on the planet of Earth are you doing?? You're thoughts are all jumbled and I can't see!
Ugh." I silently thought, making sure Lyla couldn't hear: What am I doing? This isn't going to help, I need to do something!
Lissy… please listen!
Lyla, you listen! I can't go on like this, acting like I'm someone I'm not! I need to get out there, go somewhere where I am properly appreciated for who I am!
No! I've been through it! It's not like they are going to agree!
Watch me! And with that thought, I stalked off towards the teachers block, secretly wondering what exactly I was going to say.

Thesalia! I was wondering where you were! Come with me…. NOW!" It was Miss Harrison, a potions teacher. I followed her into the staff block reluctantly… and nervously. She sat me down in the teachers circle... the teachers circle? That was an honour, only the best of the best students were allowed to sit in the teachers circle and converse with them about the future of the school and their careers, and even then they aren't allowed in there for more that a minute or so. I sat down slowly, wondering why they wanted me in there.
Thesalia." Said a voice, one which I recognized as being the Headteacher's.
Headmistress." I muttered, looking down.
So… Thesalia, why do you think we have brought you here today, to join us in our circle?"
I… I… I'm n-not sure H-He-Headmistress madam." I stuttered and kicked myself inwardly; why did I have to mess up now?
Are you sure?"
Y-yes Headm-m-mistress."
Then why are you stuttering?"
B-b-because I-I-I'm not s-sure why I'm here and d-don't want it to b-be for a b-bad r-reason Headmistress."
Ahhhh… I see… Well, you're not in trouble now are you? If you had behavior problems and you were in trouble, then we would send you to the Discipline block, would we not? Of course you're not in trouble Thesalia. We need you're help; that would be the only reason you would be here."
Oh… OK. Thank you Headmistress madam."
And now why do you think you are here?"
Because Lyla has told you what I was planning to do? She has had lessons in Telepathy with you, hasn't she?"
Yes… Yes she has… I do think what you were planning to do, run away, was a bit… you know… OTT? Is that what you girls say?"
Yes Headmistress."
Then what you were going to do was a bit OTT. But what Lyla told me has given me an idea… something you could help us with…" And as she said that, I knew I was going to get what I had wanted for 2 years.

Chapter Two: I choose my partner in crime
So, you know what the quest is?" asked the Headmistress for the seventh time (yes, I'd been counting!)
Yes Headmistress, it's to break into London Bank and retrieve the vial, before the Summer Fair, which is in a weeks time."
Well done Thesalia."
Headmistress, I have a question."
Yes?"
Why do you call Lyla… Lyla and not Lylaria?"
Ahhh… because I have got to know her well. She has told me all about you… Lissy." I smiled at her.
Lissy…
What now Lyla??
You… you did it! I knew you would!
You're the one who told on me…
Yeah... Lissy, can I tell you something?
Yes.
Secret?
Yes Lyla… What is it?
I listened to they council meeting. You know, against the rules?
But that's just mental! And you didn't get caught?
Well…
Don't tell me you did!
Yes I did… But not by a teacher!
Who by then?
Shelly.
Shelly? Romantic Bench Shelly?
Yes.
So, ah, Lissy, you will need two comrades to accompany you, including you're sister if you can't do long distance thoughts."
Don't worry Headmistress, we tested it once, 300 miles, still crystal clear, and we'll only be about 40 miles away from eachother."
That's good, I'll leave you a day to choose who you shall bring along, and you shall leave at midnight."
OK. Thanks Headmistress!" I left. Fast.

Err… Hey! Shelly!" She came running up.
Hi Lissy!" she grinned. I'd only just taken in her appearance properly. She had long, wavy blonde hair and green eyes, opposite to my bobbed, jet black hair and grey and blue flecked irises.
Um… I was just wondering… do you want to see the world? You know, get out of here?"
You are kidding, of course I do!"
Well," I was hesitant, "Listen…" I pulled her out of earshot of others and whispered: "I've been offered a Quest… and said yes… and I need two, you know, accomplices? And I was wondering if you wanted to be one?"
Thanks Lissy, that gets the problem of being told off completely out of my arms!
Ugh.
Well… Yes please!"
Are you sure you want to come because I – "
– Yes yes yes! So… what's the Quest?" We both laughed and I explained, till she was fully knowledgeable, and we put our heads together and talked about who else we should pick.

Little did I know that this Quest could go so wrong.

Chapter 3: I meet a human and our method of transport goes up in smoke
The Headmistress came marching up: "Lissy, there has been a problem, I have been talking to the other teachers and we have agreed that you should only take one other person."
Oh… That's fine!" I smiled and introduced her properly to Shelly, who was quite embarrassed to be meeting the Head.
You will be leaving in ten minutes with Henrietta," the Head indicated to the witch on her right, "and you should be ready by then. Go pack and meet back here in ten minutes." And with a quick: OK! We rushed off towards the Dorm Block.

Two minutes and I was already packed – enough for two weeks! I was used to moving about and trips and things because the school had regular field trips to study mushrooms (mycology) and gaze at the clouds all day to see if we could see the future in them. Pretty cool. So I sat on the Romantic Bench and stuffed my face with Jelly Snakes while I waited for the others. Shelly came first, so I gave her a jelly snake and we scoffed together (OK, I guess this is sounding kind of weird now, but it's the truth!) until Henrietta came and took our bags to a van. She helped us inside and we sat there for two long hours while Henrietta drove us to a small village outside London which we would be catching a bus from. I was very nervous because I had never been in human domain before. We got out of the van and thanked Henrietta who drove off. It was only then when I realized that the van was green. There were two others at the bus stop: a boy our age and an old man, who looked like he was asleep. I was nervous, so I flung a link to Shelly. Links are long pieces of yellow string we use to connect to other peoples minds – I know, they could have picked a more appealing colour, but it's all we had with us.
Hey Shelly
Hi
Haha, sounds like we're introducing ourselves again!
We are in a way.
You're thoughts are very jumbled, are you OK?
Hey! Get out of my mind! Yeah, I'm just nervous.
So am I.
We stood in silence for about three minutes before I heard the chugging of the bus. It was red and green. Yuck. We got on and there were no seats. We had no idea what to do so we copied the boy from the bus stop and held onto the metal bars. I had a feeling it was going to be a long journey.

Hello." This shy, solemn voice shook me and yanked me out of my daydream… It was a nice daydream, about mushrooms. I looked about to see where the voice was coming from. The only face turned towards me was the face of the 'boy from the bus stop'.
Hey." I muttered.
I haven't seen you about, are you new?"
No. Just passing through."
So where are you heading?"
London."
Obviously." There was an awkward silence for about a minute.
So what's you're name?" Him. I didn't lie.
Thesalia. You?" He looked shocked for a minute.
Garrett" I then realized that Shelly was sat down and nowhere near me.
Oh. Cool."
Hmmm…" More silence.
So…" Garrett said.
So…?"
Where do you come from if it's not from round here?"
Southwest."
You don't have an accent?"
I moved recently." It was two years ago actually, to go to school there.
Oh, cool, I've never been down there."
Oh?"
No I –" The bus lurched and everyone stood up was thrown onto the luggage, including me and Garrett.
LISSY!
Shelly, you OK?
We've got to get off this bus!
You don't say!
The engine was on fire, you could smell the gas burning.
FIRE! GET EVERYONE OFF THE BUS!" was my immediate reaction. I threw my water bottle at the 'Smash here' sign on the casing of the fire extinguisher as people flooded around me.
THESALIA!" it was Garrett's call, "THESALIA YOU HAVE TO GET OUT OF HERE!" I threw my water bottle at him.
NO! YOU GET OFF!" I dragged him to the doors and started squirting the fire extinguisher at the growing flames. My head span and I realized that I was beginning to inhale the smoke.
LISSY!
Shelly where are you?
I'm –" she coughed, "Right here!" She flailed out and grabbed my arm, and we kind of fell out of the bus. Somehow I managed to run to the nearest shelter of trees. Shelly collapsed on the floor next to me and I could tell I was going to pass out too. My legs were like jelly as I sank to the ground and darkness flooded over me.

During my unconsciousness, it came to me that we weren't even halfway to London, on the first day. One day gone. Wasted. Dissipated. Lost.

Chapter four: We are not alone
Thesalia…?" A weak mutter pulled me above the water. There was only one person who called me we that tone of voice.
Garrett? What are you still doing here?" It came out as some kind of wild rasping noise. I had inhaled a lot of smoke. Not good.
I just woke up. Outside the bus." He didn't have a very strong voice either. I still hadn't opened my eyes. I was afraid that we would be in a graveyard or something scary.
Is the bus OK?"
Always worry about the bus and not me!"
Uh-huh, that's me all over!" My eyes flickered open. I was in the forest, under a canopy of light. I could still smell the smoke but not clearly. Garrett was sat cross-legged opposite me, pulling at the grass. Shelly was walking about with her pen-knife, gathering water from the roots, a trick we had learnt in our first year.
Shelly, you are absolutely amazing, where did you learn to do that?" Garrett asked.
School." Shelly was smiling slightly, smugly infact. Like me, Shelly slightly edited the truth. Slightly. I sat up rapidly. My head span and with a gasp, I fell over again. Shelly laughed and gave me a drink of warm lemony water, something she had obviously packed… uh-oh.
My bags!" I squealed.
Girls." Muttered Garrett.
I've got them Lissy."
Really?"
Yeah… thought you'd want them!" she grinned and chucked me my rucksack. I had never felt so happy to see it. I then generally took in what had happened.
Garrett. We have stuff to do." It was my voice that broke the silence.
Ahh, don't worry. Shelly filled me in on the bank robbery and the Witcheeness… if that's a word."
SHELLY! That's against our laws!"
Oh well. They'll have to get through me to get to you guys, so I'm sure you'll be OK!" I raised my eyebrows at that.
Well… seeing as you know, I think we should start planning!" We all rubbed our hands together, like some kind of greeting. I exploded into a giggle, which spread around the area as Shelly, Garrett and Nature joined in.

Have you got any more pie?" asked Garrett piggishly. I was astounded someone could eat that much in fifteen minutes! He had got through nearly half the food!
Shelly scoffed, "Ha! More? You only left us a slice each! I do admit, that was a pie of good quality!"
Yes, because –" I was interrupted by Shelly.
– because I made it I know! You don't half eat some junk Garrett!" Shelly gestured absent mindedly towards the crisps Garrett had his hand dipped into. I had heard of crisps, they were just potato, a great potions ingredient if you used it wisely, which obviously humans can't, because they just cover it with salt and eat it. I personally would use it in a draught of absence – to make people late for appointments or not even go. Useful for if you don't want a tooth removed!
We aren't going to be able to do this. One day gone, six to go." That was me, being a pessimist as always.
Gurble." Garrett said in a muddled way. It sounded like agreement.
Pah!" Shelly snorted and packed the plates and the remnants of the food back in her rucksack.
We don't want to be late, do we?" Shelly said while she was quickly wiping the dishes. I began folding up the fold up chairs, we would carry one each.
Nu-huh. What's the plan in brief Garrett? You always forget it!" I said as I stuffed the chairs into their cases.
I will go to the bus remains and wait for the police to arrive and tell them that I survived. They will take me to the police station where I shall make my way to the bank and meet you there. However you plan to get there."
And then…?" You could hear Shelly laughing softly as Garret stumbled over his words.
We go in and wait for the guide to take us to the reception where we'll tell them that we are orphans wanting to visit our accounts. I will open my safe and take out my camera. We will take photos and plan from there."
Huh. Very good. Go on then!" Shelly was still giggling.
You won't abandon me?"
You wish!" He left.