slivers of gold across the wooden floorboards. Dust motes danced in the

eyes snap

as wrong. A hush clung to her room like fog, heavy and still. The blanket clung to her skin as if she had em

ht. Not from pa

om the alley's assault, no wound at her neck.

ever meant

intly, like a dream

her forehead. Her skin was cool. Too cool. He

l been a

loak was folded over the stool. And on her desk, perfectly placed, la

bl

. "Selene?" her mother cal

her tone steady despite the

bruises or stiffness. There was none. In fact... she moved faster

her lay nestled beneath woolen blankets. A faint smile

again, slower than it should.

se is that? Of course you are. You've b

ek

e letter. Barely remembe

'm nervous,"

ood. Means you care." She reached for Selene's hand, her touch warm

d, eyes soft with pride

<<<<<>>>

ies of vendors ringing out across the stone paths. Selene's friend was waiting a

t said, stepping forward and squin

ed. She forced a smile. "

ered. "You look like

here-the metallic tang of iron on the wind, the rot of something long dead beneath the cobbl

t lurching. Somet

said n

sed. "You'd tell me if somet

ut what truth c

ssed in silver, wings outspread. The driver didn't speak. He didn't smile e

The door shut wit

-

ic spires cut into the clouds. The castle's vast stone façade bore centuries of moss and ivy, as if th

ched the courtyard, she

ilted skyward. Gold buttons, jeweled brooches, polished boots. Their voices rang with practiced arr

ath. Her sense

smoke. The faintest p

ch. To

of the world, but it was no use. Every

ed her. No one offered help. Students whispered behind sleeves, casting sid

d not to

, a narrow window, a sturdy bed. She unpacked

g's wron

wh

>>>

ainted with constellations, now faded with age. Wooden desks curved i

with silver hair and eyes like polishe

heard. Not Latin. Not any dialect she recogniz

stomach

bling notes as best sh

lic

eneath h

hen ice.

e a blade of fire. She gasped,

e not

allow. She tried to rise and fell forwar

napped into bruta

oy two rows down was sweating-coppery, musky. Som

uld hear t

at

a

ng

t drowned

desk, her knuckles

ce dissolved into

Thump-thump

. Surrounding her. E

ldn't b

h

her. Silken. Ca

you o

ed, brea

her had eyes th

too sharp