The buses waited outside Ravenshade High before sunrise.
Three enormous black buses stood in a row, their engines running while students dragged their luggage toward them. Teachers shouted names, prefects checked lists, and excited voices filled the cold morning air.
But Sofia wasn't excited.
She stood beside her luggage, staring at Blackthorn Forest.
The forest stretched beyond the school grounds like a dark wall.
Tall trees covered the horizon.
Mist floated between the branches.
Even from a distance, Sofia could feel something watching from inside.
She swallowed.
She had heard stories about Blackthorn Forest.
Students had disappeared there.
Creatures lived beneath the trees.
Old magical barriers had been placed around certain areas because even experienced supernatural hunters refused to enter them.
And now she was expected to spend three days there.
With Rohgah.
Sofia closed her eyes.
"This is a nightmare."
"Talking to yourself?"
She turned.
Rohgah stood behind her.
Her heart immediately began beating faster.
"No."
He picked up one of her bags.
"I'll carry this."
Sofia quickly grabbed it.
"I can carry my own things."
"I didn't say you couldn't."
"Then don't."
He stared at her.
"You really don't like me."
Sofia looked away.
"You make it difficult."
Rohgah smiled.
"At least you're honest."
Before she could answer, Nicole's voice came from behind them.
"Are you two already arguing?"
Sofia turned.
Nicole, Ashbel, and Bella stood together.
Nicole looked from Rohgah to Sofia.
Her expression was unreadable.
Bella carried a large backpack over one shoulder.
Ashbel held several books.
Nicole looked at Rohgah.
"Don't tell me you're in charge of our group."
Rohgah adjusted his prefect badge.
"I am."
Nicole groaned.
"Wonderful."
Bella laughed.
"You're going to survive."
"I'm not sure about that."
Rohgah looked at all four girls.
"Listen carefully. We stay together in the forest. Nobody wanders off."
Nicole smiled.
"Bossy."
"I'm head prefect."
"Unfortunately."
Rohgah ignored her.
"Sofia?"
She looked at him.
"Yes?"
"Stay close."
Sofia's expression tightened.
"I'll be fine."
Rohgah lowered his voice.
"That's what I'm worried about."
Nicole noticed the exchange.
Something unpleasant stirred inside her chest again.
She didn't understand why.
She barely knew Rohgah.
Yet every time he looked at Sofia, she felt irritated.
Ashbel noticed Nicole's expression.
She leaned toward Bella.
"This isn't going to end well."
Bella whispered back,
"I know."
The students boarded the buses.
Group Seven was assigned to the second bus.
Rohgah sat near the front.
Nicole, Ashbel, and Bella took seats together.
Sofia sat by the window several rows behind them.
Rohgah glanced back.
She was staring outside.
He wondered what she was thinking.
He had never been this interested in another person.
It irritated him.
He was used to controlling his emotions.
His father had taught him that emotions were weaknesses.
Yet Sofia had somehow become the one thing he couldn't control.
The bus began moving.
Ravenshade disappeared behind them.
The road became narrower.
The buildings vanished.
Trees replaced everything.
An hour passed.
Then two.
The farther they traveled, the darker the forest became.
Ashbel looked outside.
"I don't like this."
Bella smiled.
"You're a mermaid. You're supposed to like dangerous places."
"I like dangerous oceans. Not dangerous forests."
Nicole laughed.
"Same."
A sudden bump shook the bus.
Students screamed.
The driver slowed.
The teacher stood.
"Everyone remain seated."
The bus continued.
Then the engine stopped.
The entire bus became silent.
The driver tried restarting it.
Nothing.
He tried again.
Still nothing.
Rohgah stood.
"What happened?"
The driver shook his head.
"I don't know."
The teacher looked outside.
"We're only a few minutes from the campsite."
Rohgah frowned.
Something felt wrong.
He stepped off the bus.
The other students followed.
The forest was silent.
Too silent.
No birds.
No insects.
Nothing.
Bella looked around.
"Where is everyone?"
The other buses were nowhere in sight.
Rohgah walked toward the road.
"Stay here."
Nicole followed.
"Where are you going?"
"To check the other buses."
"I'm coming."
"No."
Nicole smiled.
"You don't give me orders."
Rohgah stared at her.
"You could get hurt."
Nicole's eyes flashed red.
"I'm a vampire princess."
Rohgah smiled.
"Exactly."
He walked away.
Nicole stared after him.
Bella came beside her.
"Don't."
"Don't what?"
"Fall for him."
Nicole turned sharply.
"Who said I'm falling for him?"
Bella smiled.
"Your face."
Nicole scoffed.
"Please."
But she didn't deny it.
Rohgah walked deeper along the road.
He could feel magic.
Old magic.
Powerful magic.
Something was disturbing the protective barrier around Blackthorn Forest.
He stopped.
A strange mark had been carved into a tree.
Rohgah touched it.
The moment his fingers made contact, a sharp pain shot through his hand.
He pulled away.
The mark glowed red.
Rohgah's expression changed.
"This wasn't here before."
A branch moved behind him.
He turned.
Nothing.
He looked around again.
Then he heard a whisper.
"Rohgah…"
His blood went cold.
It was Sofia's voice.
But she wasn't there.
He turned toward the forest.
"Sofia?"
No answer.
He followed the sound.
The deeper he went, the stronger the magical pressure became.
"Sofia!"
Still nothing.
Then he heard her scream.
Rohgah ran.
Back at the bus, Sofia suddenly stood.
Her face had gone pale.
Ashbel noticed.
"What's wrong?"
Sofia looked toward the forest.
"Rohgah."
Nicole frowned.
"What about him?"
"He's gone."
Bella looked around.
"He said he was checking the road."
Sofia shook her head.
"He's not on the road."
Nicole stood.
"How do you know?"
Sofia didn't answer.
Bella grabbed her backpack.
"Let's go."
The four girls entered the forest.
Nicole immediately sensed something.
"There is magic here."
Ashbel nodded.
"Dark magic."
Bella tightened her grip on her weapon.
"Stay together."
They moved between the trees.
Then they found Rohgah's footprints.
They followed them.
Suddenly, Sofia stopped.
She was staring at something on a tree.
A symbol.
Her expression changed.
"What is it?"
Sofia stepped closer.
"I've seen this before."
Nicole looked at her.
"Where?"
Sofia didn't answer.
Bella touched the symbol.
The tree shook.
A powerful wave of energy exploded outward.
The girls were thrown backward.
Sofia screamed.
"Don't touch it!"
Bella struggled to stand.
"What is this?"
Sofia stared at the mark.
"It's a warning."
"From whom?"
Sofia whispered,
"Machir."
Nicole's eyes narrowed.
"Why would Rohgah's father leave a warning here?"
Sofia looked deeper into the forest.
"Because he knew Rohgah would come."
Rohgah finally reached a clearing.
Sofia stood in the center.
But something was wrong.
She was surrounded by shadows.
Three enormous creatures circled her.
Their eyes glowed red.
Rohgah's expression changed.
"Sofia!"
She turned.
"Rohgah, run!"
The creatures lunged.
Rohgah raised his hand.
A wall of magic appeared.
The creatures slammed into it.
Rohgah gritted his teeth.
His magic was struggling.
That was impossible.
These creatures were stronger than anything he had encountered at school.
One creature broke through the barrier.
It attacked.
Rohgah moved quickly.
He grabbed Sofia and pulled her aside.
The creature's claws struck the ground.
Sofia fell against him.
Their faces were inches apart.
For a moment, neither moved.
Then Sofia whispered,
"You're hurt."
Rohgah looked at his arm.
Blood was running down it.
"It's nothing."
"It is."
She touched his wound.
A strange warmth moved through him.
Rohgah stared at her.
"How did you do that?"
Sofia pulled her hand away.
"I don't know."
The wound began closing.
Rohgah stared at it.
Sofia looked frightened.
"I don't understand."
Neither did he.
The creatures growled.
Rohgah stepped in front of her.
"Stay behind me."
Sofia shook her head.
"No."
"I said stay behind me."
"You can't fight all three."
Rohgah smiled.
"Watch me."
His eyes began glowing.
The ground beneath his feet cracked.
Power exploded through the clearing.
The creatures backed away.
Sofia stared at him.
She had never seen Rohgah use that much power.
Then suddenly, one creature attacked from behind.
"Rohgah!"
Sofia pushed him aside.
The creature's claws came down.
Rohgah turned.
"Sofia!"
He caught the creature's arm before it struck her.
With a roar, he threw it across the clearing.
Sofia fell.
Rohgah rushed toward her.
"Are you okay?"
She nodded.
"I'm fine."
He knelt beside her.
"You could have been killed."
"So could you."
"I don't care."
Sofia stared at him.
"You should."
Rohgah looked into her eyes.
"I care about you."
Sofia froze.
The words were simple.
But they carried a weight neither of them was prepared for.
"You shouldn't," she whispered.
"I know."
"Rohgah…"
"I don't care."
He reached toward her.
Sofia pulled away.
"You don't understand what you're feeling."
"Then help me understand."
"I can't."
Before he could respond, a massive roar shook the forest.
The trees trembled.
The three creatures disappeared into the shadows.
Rohgah stood.
"Something bigger is coming."
Sofia's face turned pale.
"What?"
A huge shadow moved between the trees.
Nicole, Ashbel, and Bella appeared behind them.
Bella raised her weapon.
"What is that?"
Nobody answered.
The ground began shaking.
Then a pair of enormous red eyes appeared between the trees.
Nicole's eyes turned crimson.
Ashbel's hands began glowing.
Bella raised her sword.
Rohgah stepped forward.
"Stay behind me."
Nicole scoffed.
"We can fight."
Rohgah looked at her.
"This isn't a normal creature."
Bella nodded.
"I can see that."
The beast stepped into the clearing.
It was enormous.
Half wolf.
Half something else.
Its body was covered in black scales, and smoke came from its mouth.
Sofia stared at it in horror.
She knew what it was.
"A Guardian."
Rohgah looked at her.
"Guardian of what?"
Sofia didn't answer.
The creature roared.
The sound shook the entire forest.
Then it looked directly at Rohgah.
And bowed its head.
Everyone froze.
Nicole whispered,
"Why did it bow?"
Rohgah stared at the creature.
"I don't know."
Sofia's face had gone completely white.
Because she did know.
The Guardian wasn't bowing to Rohgah because he was Machir Perez's son.
It was bowing because it recognized something in him.
Something connected to a past that had been hidden for years.
Something Sofia desperately wanted to forget.
And somewhere far away, Machir opened his eyes.
He felt the Guardian's awakening.
His face became pale.
"He's found it."
A servant looked at him.
"Who?"
Machir whispered,
"Rohgah."
Then he looked toward the dark forest.
"And if Sofia is with him…"
He stopped.
For the first time in decades, fear entered his eyes.
Because the forest had just awakened a secret he had buried for years.
And this time, even Machir might not be powerful enough to bury it again.