Mr. Linden sat in the quiet library, carefully stamping each book and setting it down. But the silence was soon broken when Clara Meyers strut across the room to him, slamming down her books.

"I've finished them, Mr. Linden!" she beamed. The librarian winced at her loud voice but smiled and whispered, "That's wonderful, Clara."

Satisfied, she turned and skipped about the library, scanning each shelf, while Mr. Linden checked her books. "Which book should I get now?" she called to Mr. Linden. Several people shushed her and cast livid glares in her direction, but she ignored them. She strode back over to the front desk and waited for his answer, when a large black book caught her eye.

"What's this?" she grabbed the book before Mr. Linden could protest. But just as her hand brushed over the cover, it was quickly snatched from her and stuffed in the desk. Clara blinked and looked up to see Mr. Linden glaring at her. "You are never to open this book...are we clear?!" he hissed.

"Crystal...." Clara breathed. Everyone in the library was looking at them curiously. Mr. Linden motioned for her to leave, and she reluctantly dismissed herself.

Later that night, Clara's curiosity nearly drove her mad. So, being the mischievous girl she was, she decided she would steal the ominous book. Silently, she crawled in through the library window and tip-toed to the desk. As she pulled out the book, she started when she heard the voice she knew all too well.

"Who's there?!" Mr. Linden bellowed.

Clara slammed the drawer shut and sprinted across the room and out the window. She could hear Mr. Linden, yelling after her as she fled, furious.

Clara finally made it back to her house, and shut the door behind her. That was too close! She thought, and sighed. She made her way up to her room and flung herself on the bed. The recent adrenaline rush left her with a headache, and her ears were still ringing. Slowly, she got under the covers and made herself comfortable. Then, she opened the book.

Her jaw nearly dropped when she read the title, The Tree of Dark Magic.

She quickly turned the page and began reading. Clara realized that this wasn't a story, but a guide, full of spells, rules and warnings. She read of well known mages and witches, individual fighting spells and tricks, and every rule pertaining to the spiritual world. But one spell in particular stood out to her. She tried pronouncing it in her head.

E-Claree-Motemt-Lightenia...she pondered its meaning.

As time dragged on, she found it harder and harder to keep her eyes open. She became less attached to the book and glanced at the clock. It was past four in the morning. She yawned and lay on her soft fluffy pillow. She set the open book next to her. I'll just take...a little break.... she thought as she slowly drifted off to sleep.

Little did Clara know that she had just made the biggest mistake of her life. That book wasn't just a book, but a curse. For the Tree of Dark Magic was born, and growing rapidly right next to Clara.

Roots covered with pitch-black spores sprawled and twisted as they grew from the book's spine. They pierced through the floor and stretched past even the foundation of the house into the rich soil beneath. Then grew several thick stems, streaming around a thick trunk, with violet leaves spiraling through the air like snow. It began to split into branches and limbs, eagerly crunching through the ceiling and reaching for the stars.

Clara rolled around groggily; She was unaware of everything that was happening. Slowly, the cloud of unconsciousness released its grip on her mind, and she screamed when she saw the tree before her. She threw off her covers and stumbled over the bed. But a gnarled root tightly wrapped itself around her ankle and she couldn't move.

She panicked and threw her pillow at it, but a swift branch sliced through the air and cut it in two. Clara stared in horror at the slowly falling feathers that remained of the pillow.

She tried to recall anything, anything at all, from the book that might help her now, but her mind was blank with fear. But then, she remembered the spell that stood out to her.

"E-Claree-Momempt-Lightenia!!" she shrieked.

Instantly, the tree halted, and moaned eerily. The twigs twitched as though in pain. The roots started to shrivel up, and the leaves crackled and fell to the ground. Almost before Clara could blink, a blinding light flashed, and the tree was gone.

Clara stumbled to her feet and picked up the horrid book. She ran outside, hopped on her bike and peddled as fast as she could to the library. Once there, she pounded on the door and yelled, "Mr. Linden! Mr. Linden!! MR. LINDEN!!!"

The old man opened the door and was shocked to see Clara in front of him, tears streaming down her cheeks. But his concern was soon replaced by rage when he saw The Tree of Dark Magic in her arms.

"The book!! You took that bloody book!" he grabbed it from her outstretched hands. "Tell me you didn't leave it open...." he moaned. But when Clara sheepishly shifted her feet, he knew that she had. He sighed and gave Clara a long, hard stare. After a tense silence he finally spoke.

"You may never to return to this library again."

With that, he slammed the door. Clara shivered as a cold tear tumbled down her cheek, and even more tears fell from the clouds to join her.