MAJESTY HIGH SCHOOL: THE RETURN OF THE ONE

oss the night sky

sound shook the windows of the sleeping quarters. Lightning flashed, turning the darkness silver for

ath her sheets, he

every direction. She tried to lift her hand, but her body would not obey. Her ches

she s

loaked in black. She could not see i

ressed agains

no sound came out. She thrashed, her fingers clawing at empty air, but the

you want from me?" s

across the walls like living things, whispering. The figure

ng inside Am

of golden light tore through the darkness, sending the figure f

t in bed, gasping for air. Her nig

nst the windows. She stayed completely still for several seconds, lis

fingers. Nothing there. No hand, no ma

red, her voice shaking. "I

a dream. The cold stil

e sure she was awake. Pushing the sheets aside, she slipp

ched ahead, illuminated only by the faint amber glow of enchanted lamps along the

ps, hugging hersel

he far end of the hallway

caught. "Hell

iding around the cor

ock the door. But something stronger made her follow. Her

t! S

ast empty classrooms, dark windows streaked with rain, and silent doors. The hallway seem

ld behind the dormitories. The stormy sky hun

e very center of the f

ing to soak her. "Who are you? Why are yo

still, its face stil

bring me here

t spoke, its voice was not one voice, but many w

ll know

had nothing to do with the cold.

ed its head. "W

pered, and though it was quiet,

he sky, so bright it turned night

ight, the sha

ly, her hair whipping

ant silhouette of Majesty High, its towers dark again

de. Something was wrong

mall puddles she hadn't noticed before. As she turned the corne

? Oh m

blanket, her eyes wide with worry. "Where have you been?

still shaking. "Miranda, I saw s

from worry to fear. "A shadow

and there was a shadow in the hallway. I followed it outside

the middle of the night during a storm?" Mi

But I couldn't just ignore it.

r voice, her own hands trembling. "There's something I have

ha

eople fighting, Amaya. Hundreds of them. In this school. Everyone was screaming, fire everywhere, blood

r own fear forgotten fo

ore," Miranda said, her voice breakin

We're just tired. The storm, exams, ev

really t

ll talk about it properly tomorrow m

of them noticed the faint darkness pooling at the en

jesty High, making the wet stone glitter. By daylight, it looked nothing like the terrifying maze

ivided by grades. Their abilities mattered. Their bloodline mattered. The groups they belonged to mattered. Some students f

weakness remained hidden for long. Everyone had a place, everyone had someth

think further, th

s to the great hall, n

who still looked pale f

all, a massive room with a vaulted ceiling and floating can

He was one of the senior instructors responsible for teaching students to control the da

stantly. He had th

cts this school is weakening. I expect every student to conduct themselves accordingly. Whatever happens

ed over the room. Students

that dust fell from the ceiling. Students flin

ening?" someo

enchanted ceiling that showed the sky outside

nt, nothin

of the hall exploded open with a

ed inside, its face covered by a hood, s

hall went d

nds already glowing with blue energy. "Who are yo

aised its head slowly, scanning th

it at

med into the intruder, sending it skidding backward ten feet.

k! Stay back!

nd tore through the room, water surged from the floor, the ea

the spells like they were nothing, its dark cloak absorbing the m

it s

s gaze locked onto Amaya

cold. Her le

could

it, ignored every other student screaming. It moved directly

er arm and trying to pull her away, b

, terrifying darkness gathered aroun

self seeme

e her chest, something she had never felt before began t

darkness aimed stra