Chapter 1

Raven

My father is looking straight ahead, silently driving me to where my grandmother will pick me up and take me to my new school. Occasionally, he will throw me a glance of concern, but I'm working hard to ignore him by staring out through the window.

"You know this is the right decision, even if it's hard..."

I resist the urge to roll my eyes. Tears are clawing at the back of my eyes, yet I refuse to give in and cry. My father has repeatedly told me that leaving me at Magic Academy is the hardest decision he has ever made. Unfortunately for him, I wasn't born yesterday.

My father is trying to get rid of me, dump the problem child onto someone else, and I can't blame him. There is magic coursing in my veins, yet I can't conjure the most simple of spells. I'm a complete failure. When I get angry, I make things explode or catch fire, and after having baked my old school, my father suffered a mental breakdown.

He doesn't know how to handle me, and it breaks my heart how he doesn't look at me in the same loving way anymore. Where there once used to be love and pride for his daughter, I can now only find radiant fear—my father is afraid of me.

I guess I can't blame him—I'm frightened of my powers too.

"You won't be alone at your new school." My father nods at the mirror resting in the backseat behind us. It's an antique family heirloom, an old golden mirror containing a demon, my mother's familiar. "Lucifer will be there with you."

I frown. "The demon hasn't shown its face since mum died..."

After mentioning my mum, the atmosphere turns heavy, and my heart cracks when I hear my father sigh. He is still grieving like me. My mum died way too young.

"I miss her more than anything in this world..." My father admits. "Your mother was a wonderful woman. It was a blessing to be her mate. There won't be someone else stepping into my life after her, she was too extraordinary, and her magic was beautiful."

Sadness grips my heart. Julia, my mother, was a witch. If she hadn't died in a tragic car accident, she could teach me how to control my powers.

"I wish she was here with us too..." I bite my lower lip not to hiccup and sound pathetic. "I don't want to be alone."

"I'm sure Lucifer will make his appearance once you need him," My father says and stares straight ahead, not even caring when we hit a bump in the road. He continues blinking away tears. "I was never very fond of that demon, but your mother used to talk to him every night. He is a manipulative little thing, though,"

"Don't worry. I'm not stupid." I glance down at the mirror myself, smiling when I see it shine—Lucifer is listening in on our conversation. Lucifer has never talked to me, but his presence is comforting. "I won't release Lucifer from his prison."

"Good, the last thing the world needs is a powerful raging demon." My father scratches his bearded chin, giving me time to take him in for what might be the last time.

He is stocky and built, with greying temples of what once used to be blonde hair. I wish I looked more like him.

Mostly, I resemble my mother with dark, cascading hair and alabaster skin. I barely inherited anything from my father, but I was lucky to be at least born with his stormy blue eyes. It will make it easy to remember him—all I need is to face my reflection.

My father clears his throat. "And try to make friends at your new school; it will make things easier."

"I will try..."

I'm smiling, even though his words cut deep. I suck at making friends, and I don't think things will be different at Magic Academy. The thought of being alone at a new school without a parent to return home to after a long day terrifies me.

My father would break if I told him that; therefore, I keep my mouth shut and stare out through the window. I might be angry at my father, but that doesn't mean that I don't care about him.

I don't want to make my father worry about me by pointing out that I'm afraid. Giving him a piece of my shitty teenager attitude seems like a more humane thing to do. Silent irritation is more expected somehow, not to mention less dramatic than begging him to take me back home.

"We are almost there." My father is beaming now. I blink up at him, surprised when silent wonder lights up his face. His lips are parted as if amazed at the scenery before him. "It's wonderful out here!"

Calmly, I look straight ahead—the scenery has changed. Winter trees have turned into pink-clad trees with colorful leaves sailing down from the bright sky.

I stare at the leaves with blinking eyes, convinced this is the work of magic. I know my grandmother can create beautiful hallucinations; my mother had the same gift.

"Your grandmother must be near; maybe I should stop the car."

I take a deep breath, unwilling to smile. The scenery fills my father with wonder. He is happy, and I tell myself to inspect him, save the image of his smile in my head because this might be the last time I ever see his face.

My father isn't a supernatural creature. My grandmother told him to jump into his car, drive out into the woods, and let his heart guide us to the meeting place. She must have meant her magic.

A human vehicle can't reach the other dimension where Magic Academy waits for me to enroll. My grandmother will take me there somehow, possibly by using flashy magic.

"Let's park here,"

Our large Volvo comes to a halt, and I wrinkle my nose, not exactly eager to leave my father behind. My grandmother will wipe his memories for his safety once I'm gone; I'm confident, and that thought saddens me. For him, it will be like my mother, and I never existed.

My father slams the door to the car. "Oh, wow! This place is incredible, Raven! Did your grandmother create this scene?"

Sorrow hits me hard when I step out of the car. My father looks up at the petals whirling down from nowhere, and I swallow thickly, knowing this will be goodbye forever.

A lump has formed in my throat, but I fight it and look at the beautiful trees surrounding us. Birdsong is in the air, and iridescent water drops are glittering from straws of grass. It should fill me with wonder; I should be happy.

I inhale the air to calm my turbulent heart but turn around when a pair of rattling bushes catches my attention. Then, for a brief second, I make eye contact with an abnormally sizeable chocolate-colored wolf.

Was it waiting for us?

Intelligent amber eyes stare into mine, and when I show no fear, the animal turns around with an unimpressed snort. I laugh—it seems like a student has greeted me already. And since it's in the human world, it must be an alpha—only those wolves are strong enough to travel through dimensions.