LOGINLyra POVI opened my eyes to find the chandelier was already dripping with a liquid, it was blood.Just as the light shined through crimson crystal, making every turning a reflection scarlet. The grand dining hall of the Bloodworth mansion, a room so huge it stretched around me, marble floors gleaming, walls lined with portraits of my grandmother whose eyes always seemed to follow you wherever you went. My black velvet dress hung loose on narrow shoulders, lace sleeves swallowing my hands. The chair beneath me felt too big; my feet didn’t quite touch the floor.I looked down at my plate. A single crystal goblet sat there, half-full of thick, dark liquid. Still warm. The scent hit me—copper and iron and something sweeter, like rotting roses.My stomach turned.The long table was set for a ceremony. Candles burned with red flames. My family sat in their places: Taylor on the left, posture perfect, elder-sister smile already sharpene
Lila POVThe light came in wrong when I woke up. Things felt off right away.Above, space stretched upward, endless. Underneath, the mattress rocked, unsteady, as if caught in waves. Sheets pulled tight around my body, heavy. Into sight came my fingers, slow. They stayed there, still, in front of my eyes.A tiny shape rests there. Fuzzy edges give way to gentle curves. Little rolls form at each knuckle. These belong to someone young.A tightness gripped my throat, stealing the air. What’s happening, I thought, sound cracking like dry wood. This time, silence wouldn’t hold. The mist must have gotten to me.“Lila, honey.”I turned.There she was, my mother wearing that blue dress she loved so much, her hair gathered neatly like on holidays long ago. A quiet smile spread across her face - soft, familiar - the kind she wore when we were young and the world seemed gentle. Her eyes held mine, steady, just like they d
Lily POVWide awake, my eyes flew open.Everything looked… bigger.Above me stretched the ceiling, far off as clouds. Lying there, the mattress seemed huge, its covers pulling me deep. My hands rose slowly, caught in the quiet light.Little fingers. Round wrists. Hands of a young one.“No,” I whispered, voice high and piping. “No, no, no. This can’t be happening.”Fear hit fast. Together my palms slammed shut. Out burst mana - purple force tearing through air. Glass-like, the false world split open, fractures sprinting along walls, huge chairs and tables dissolving into shimmering powder. Gone then was the small frame of a kid.Footsteps steady, she stood - once more her full height, calm as ever. The Lily people knew filled the space, quiet but certain.Yet the space had vanished.Out there, heat wobbled above the sand, a slow breath without sound. Sun hammered down - white glare swa
Julianna POVWe ran fast as we could. The hallway was a blur of tiles and flickering lights above us. My lungs were burning my legs pumping hard I could feel it in my teeth. Behind us this dark mist was rolling in like a wave. It was thick silent and it just kept coming. It swallowed up doors, corners and even the sound of our footsteps. All I could hear was my heavy breathing and Lyra’s beside me.We skidded to a stop near the fountain. Water was still trickling out the sound besides our gasping."What... Was that?" Lyra panted, hands on her knees.Lila straightened up wiping sweat from her brow. "It came from Selene. So it must be some kind of magical sleeping mist.""Has she lost control of her powers or something?" Lyra asked."I don’t know, " Lila said. "but we have some way to stop this, dreamwalker are extremely powerful, if Selene did lose control it is bad."Then it hit me."We left Scott and
Julianna POVThe common room was way too bright. It felt really normal which was weird. The light bulb was shining through the windows making the dust in the air look like it was dancing. Lyra was lying on the couch across from me with one leg hanging off the side flipping through a magazine like she was not really paying attention. I was sitting on the floor with my back against the coffee table pretending to look at my phone. Pretending like everything was okay.It was not okay. Lyra had not said anything for like ten minutes. That was bad news with Lyra. She was not the type.Finally, she threw the magazine on the couch. Looked at me with this stare that said she already knew I was hiding something."Okay " she said. "What is going on with you and Scott? He looks like someone kicked his dog or something. You are acting like he did something really bad to you."I kept looking at my phone. My thumb was just hovering over the thing I had been stari
Caleb POVRunning before my eyes even opened.Frozen ground shook under each step. Needles slapped skin, sharp and sudden. Shapes rushed by without names. Wet wool filled the air, mixed with something metallic - iron close, too close.I was alone.But I could feel him.Cameron.Down the road a piece. Pain shows up. It speaks its name.“Caleb… help…”A thin call split the air between trunks - trembling, quiet, just like that day long ago when he tumbled from the big oak and his breath caught sharp.I ran faster.Something in the trees pushed back. My sleeve caught on a splintered limb. Up ahead, roots lifted from the soil like warnings. Cold air twisted at my feet, thick with fog.“Caleb… it hurts…”Faster, I drove myself forward. Fire filled my chest with each breath. Then - scent hit me. His blood first. Next came sweat, thick and sour. Under it al
Julianna POV At first, I thought it was just a dream or a weird side effect of the weird pizza I had for dinner last night. But as I swung my legs over the side of the bed, I saw another flash, this time, of my best friend, Lyra, falling of the stairs.I jumped out of bed and grabbed my phone to text
Julianna POV Another day at school and it was the end of first period. The bell rang, meaning it's lunch time. As I walked through the hallway, the usual chatter and laughter were replaced by hushed whispers and nervous glances, couldn't help but over hear some students conversation."Have you heard?
Lyra POVI leaned forward, focusing on Julianna's training. "We just need to find a way to focus your mana in one direction."Julianna raised an eyebrow. "You make it sound easy.""Controlling your powers will prevent another full-time pulse," I explained. "Right now, your mana leaves your body uncheck
Julianna POV Lyra's eyes widened as she shouted. "What?!"I hushed her. "Keep it down. Everyone will hear."Lyra's grin hinted at mischief. "I can't believe you kissed Scott!"I clarified. "It wasn't a kiss; it was CPR."Lyra teased. "Oh, sure it was."I sought reassurance. "Aren't you surprised I can st







