Nick walked to the beach in silence. He wondered if last night was a dream. It was almost midnight and Serafina was nowhere to be seen. He turned to look back at his house. He had gone through the first day of his life without his mother. BJ was taking it okay, but Aaron, Angel, and Leslie were not doing as well. As for his father, he put on a smile, but Nick could sense the deep loss that he was feeling. But Serafina's words kept floating through his mind.

"Sorry I'm late," said Serafina. Nick turned around to face Serafina and Kaisa. She gracefully dismounted. Then Nick noticed a black drawstring bag hanging on her shoulder.

"It wasn't a dream, was it?" asked Nick.

"No, it wasn't. For a while, I couldn't believe it either."

"Why did you come last night?"

"I'm not really sure. I couldn't sleep. Something kept calling me to the ocean. So I left my room and rode Kaisa for a while. Then I saw you, just walking straight into the water, about to kill yourself. I wasn't just going to sit around and let that happen."

"And you didn't. I know I shouldn't, but I feel better than I ever have before. Refreshed I guess you could say."

"You didn't tell anyone about me, did you?"

"No, I still thought it was a dream."

"Good. Only my two closest friends know about my powers."

"Then why did you tell me?" Serafina sat down on a nearby rock.

"I don't know," she sighed. "Something about you, or something inside me, or maybe both, was telling me to trust you." Nick sat down next to her.

"I wouldn't have believed it either, but there was something telling me it was true." At that moment, a breeze came, blowing the clouds out of the moon's way. Serafina smiled to herself. Sebrena and Dreama must have been out on one of their midnight walks.

"You must promise not to tell a soul. My life depends on it. If people found out about me, they'd want to put me in a laboratory and do experiments. Or worse, it could be like the Salem Witch Trials all over again."

"I promise with every molecule in my body."

"Good. If we're going to summon Stripes, we better start now." Serafina opened her bag and drew out a crystal and 6 white candles.

"What are those for?" asked Nick.

"Well, normally, summoning an animal doesn't require any tools. But since it's a specific animal, and it's dead, it requires a lot more concentration and power." Serafina took the crystal and drew a small circle in the sand. She then drew a five-pointed star in the circle, making a pentacle. At each of the points, she placed a candle. "Now comes the difficult part. Think of a memory of Stripes. Fix it in your mind. Imagine Stripes alive again. See her, feel her, smell her." Serafina took the 6th candle and made Nick hold it in between his two hands. She placed her hands over his. "Let the memory flow from your mind, down you arms, into the candle." She started chanting something, but Nick couldn't make out the words. He started to feel the memory travels through his body and into the candle. A small electric shock passed through them. "It's done." Nick looked down at the candle. It was no longer white. It was now covered in colors that swirled in complicated patterns that seemed forever changing.

"How did that happen?" he asked, still staring at the candle.

"I infused your memory into the candle. That's what the pattern represents. Now for the final part of the preparation." Serafina took the candle from Nick's hands and placed it in the center of the pentacle. She took the crystal and moved it in circles around the candle. Suddenly the wick burst into flame. The light from the candle traveled along the lines in the sand, as if it were liquid, and the other five candles lit as soon as the light reached them.

"What do we do now?" asked Nick.

"We wait. Kaisa will watch the circle for us." Serafina walked along some rocks and out onto the jetty. She seemed totally unaware of the waves crashing violently against the rocks at her feet. She walked to the very end and sat down, her legs dangling in the water. Nick followed her and sat down.

"So tell me about yourself," said Nick.

"Well, you already know part of my life. I'm 19 and I guess you could call me a witch. Other than that, I try to lead a normal life, or as close as I can get to one."

"What about those two friends? Why did you tell them?"

"Well, I haven't been completely honest. My friends are just like me. But Calysta's strengths lie in emotions and healing/medicine, while Sebrena's lie in the weather. We met right around the time we were first starting to use our powers. Kaisa is telling me that Stripes has been contacted. It's time for the final step." She walked back along the jetty. She picked up the center candle and passed it to Nick. Nick was surprised, the candle wasn't hot. "Stand in the center. In about a minute, it will change into Stripes. But only for 2 minutes, then the candle and Stripes will disappear."

"All right," said Nick. The melting wax from the candle began to take shape. In about a minute, a tabby kitten was awakening in Nick's hands. The kitten mewed softly. "Hey, Stripes." Serafina walked over to Kaisa. She pulled a small carrot out of her bag and gave it to Kaisa.

"Kaisa, should I have told him? I never told anyone except Alex and Sebrena, but they're going through the same thing as I am. I think I can trust him, but I'm not sure." Kaisa rubbed her head against Serafina. "I know I have to tell Alex and Sebrena. Tomorrow when we meet is probably the best time, and you can tell Dreama and Dia." Serafina felt something rub up against her leg. She looked down to find Stripes. She picked the kitten up and cradled it in her arms. At that moment, Nick ran over.

"Good, you found her," he said, out of breath.

"More like she found me. Stripes tells me her time is almost up. Here." She passed the kitten to Nick. After a few seconds, Stripes disappeared. The light and the candles of the pentacle blinked out. Serafina silently picked up the candles and placed them in the bag. Then she wiped the symbol away with her foot.

"Thank you," said Nick, coming up behind Serafina.

"For what?"

"For showing me that life is worth living, although I'm not sure how I came to that conclusion. And for bringing Stripes back for one last time." Serafina looked into his eyes. They were now filled with life, though the pain was still apparent, it was much less, as all human eyes should be. They were very different from the dull, lifeless eyes that she had seen the night before. "I was wondering, if there was anyway we could meet so that I get a full night's sleep?"

"Well, I wouldn't be able to use my magic, and Kaisa wouldn't be able to appear in her natural form. Also, I'm meeting Calysta and Sebrena tomorrow."

"Hold on, Kaisa can change her form?" asked Nick, with a look of disbelief.

"Yes, but only if it's really necessary."

"Do you think I could meet your friends?"

"Well, we are going to Disney tomorrow. Or today, or, whatever."

"Good, I'll bring my little brother and sisters and a couple of my friends."

"Now, I have a question for you. Are you a Backstreet Boy?"

"Yeah, how did you know?" asked Nick.

"One of the Grasty's little girls is obsessed with you guys."

"Is there anything else you're keeping from me?"

"Well . . ." Serafina snapped her fingers and Nick rose up off the ground. "That's one. Then there's the classic . . ." She snapped her fingers again. She disappeared. Nick watched marks in the sand appear as the invisible Serafina walked around him. He heard a snap, and he was lowered to the ground. He felt something pulling his hand towards the water.

"Hey! I don't want to get wet!" whined Nick. Serafina snapped again and she reappeared.

"Fine. Ruin my fun. Then there's my all time favorite power," Serafina said walking out onto the water. She did a backflip, and still landed on the water. Nick started clapping sarcastically (you know, when you clap really slowly and with out any enthusiasm). "You do realize that with a snap of my fingers, I can cause you excruciating pain." Nick immediately stopped. Serafina walked back to shore. "I better get going."

"Why?" (Blondes, go figure).

"Remember, Disney World? I kind-of want to get some sleep."

"Where should my friends and I meet you?"

"How about in front of the Haunted Mansion?"

"Great. Is one o'clock alright?" asked Nick.

"Sure. I suggest you get some sleep too." Serafina grabbed her bag and mounted Kaisa.

"Well, see ya later," said Nick.

"Bye," said Serafina. She kicked Kaisa into a gallop down the beach.