Phila was walking to Empowered Items class, being absolutely normal. Suddenly, she felt hand on her shoulder. The girl’s clothes shapeshifted into something punk-rock and spiky as she stopped and turned around.

“What do you want, Chad?” She sighed.

Chad smiled. “Hey, Phila-rose!”

Phila’s makeup grew extremely dark and gothic. “Do not call me that.”

The boy grinned. “Why not? You morphed into one during practice the other day, back when everything was fine.” He ignored her scowl. “No, more than fine. In fact, it was so great, I’d like to go back to that. Truce?”

Phila snorted. “What are you doing?”

He looked at her sadly. “I don’t know what you think I did, but I swear I’ll make it up to you. Trust me! Can't I ask you out normally? ”

Phila huffed. “In your dreams.” She walked off, leaving a stunned Chad behind her.

As she opened the door to Empowered Items, Ella waved her to sit down next to her. Since Haze wasn’t in this class, her wings drooped slightly. From her other side, Sahara frowned. “What’s with the gothic look?”

“Chad,” muttered Phila under her breath as she morphed into a 20 year old version of herself.

Sahara frowned. “What’d he do? If he harmed you at all, I swear...”

Dian nodded. “We will kill him.” Knowing Dian, she could do it accidentally.

Ella agreed, “Painfully.”

Dian started planning, “Sahra, you trap him with a force field, Ella, you grab him and fly away to me, and I’ll shock him as he falls to his death--”

Phila interrupted them. “Guys! It’s not that bad! All he did was ask me out!”

There was an awkward pause as everyone looked away. Suddenly, Dian broke the

silence.

“But that’s terrible! The nerve of him! After what he did to you, and he still expects you to come crawling back to him? Get a grip on yourself!”

“What do you mean? I would totally go out with that hottie!” Ella exclaimed. She was relieved Haze wasn’t in that class with her, because that would be totally embarrassing. “I mean, if I didn’t already have Hazey.”

“Can we not talk about Haze,” said Dian, looking uncomfortable.

“Why? You jealous?” jeered Ella with a laugh.

Dian didn’t respond, but the lesson started, and the conversation was forgotten.

“Mrs. Osteler, are there any objects that could make someone, say, invisible?” asked Phila, remembering the conversation she had with her sisters earlier.

The teacher paused. “Why yes, Phila. Besides the regular potions, the philosopher’s stone is rumored to have that as one of its powers, but there is also a hat that creates artificial invisibility, a necklace, some eyeglasses, and a special lipstick.”

“Lipstick?” asked Sahara.

“Yes, it works when it is activated by saliva. So when wearing it, you could be visible until you lick your lips,” said Mrs. Osteler. “But it doesn’t work 100% of the time.”

“As anyone borrowed these items recently perchance?” asked Sahara casually.

“If you mean a student has been using these items to turn invisible and has been conducting these murders, then no. No one has access to these items ever since the murders started.” said Mrs. Osteler. “Sahara, I can read minds. Those aren’t very nice thoughts directed at me. You should be ashamed of yourself.”

Sahara’s face turned red and she went back to her seat. They were so close to figuring out the murder, but now it seemed impossible.

Sahara sat in her seat, miserable.

“Hey,” said a voice.

“Terrence!” exclaimed Sahara in a whisper and turned to face his invisible face. “What are you doing here?”

“Investigating,” he said. “Now shhh, I have a free period, and I'm incognito.” said Terrence.

Sahara couldn’t feel his presence and assumed he left to snoop. This is still so weird, she thought. I can’t believe I have an actual brother.