LOGINThe bed creaked softly as Dee shifted restlessly, her body burning up. Sweat trickled down her forehead, her lips parting as her eyes fluttered open. She inhaled sharply, confusion flickering in her gaze as she scanned the room.What was this strange, suffocating feeling?She sat up, grabbed the bottle of water on her bedside table, and took a sip. The air around her felt heavy, pressing against her lungs. Before she could steady herself, everything blurred—colors melting, the ground tilting.“Ah—”Her body hit the cold floor with a soft thud. A hiss escaped her lips as she blinked rapidly, trying to make sense of where she was. The familiar chill in the air, the eerie silence—it all came rushing back.And then she saw him.Val.The vampire.His blood-red eyes glowed in the dim light, fangs bared, his bare chest rising and falling in ragged breaths. He looked feral, starved… and yet heartbreakingly beautiful.Dee’s throat tightened. She stood shakily, pressing herself behind a wall, pe
“Explain, please… I’m confused,” I sighed.Dee stood, walked to the door, cracked it open to peer outside, then quietly shut it again. Her irises turned a misty white.“Aza Demos Debuf,” she whispered.The spell rippled through the room like a wave. I felt it crawl beneath my skin—the air grew heavy, sound vanished. The chamber was sealed.Dee’s eyes faded back to normal as she returned to sit beside me. “The book,” she began slowly. “It was said to have been burned and destroyed centuries ago—but it chose its own fate.”Her voice deepened, mesmerizing.“It was crafted by the first witch ever created—a slave who refused to bow forever. She hid forbidden spells within it: both black and light magic. Everyone wanted her power, so she sealed it inside that book and bound it with her blood. She wanted freedom for her kind, not servitude. But when others discovered what she’d done, they tortured her until she confessed that her powers, her very soul—were trapped beyond good and evil within
SERRA’S POVI was confused—utterly disoriented. The book had sucked me in, and now I was here? What in the hell was happening? My thoughts spiraled like a storm I couldn’t control.“I’m your roommate,” Dee said softly, stepping closer. She had sleek black hair, dark glowing skin, and wore brownish cargo pants with a fitted blouse. A suitcase dangled from her hand, and she smiled brightly.I couldn’t help but return the smile. She was beautiful—her pale brows contrasted perfectly against her deep complexion.“Nice to meet you,” I said.“Same here,” she replied, her eyes lingering on me, gaze steady and curious. “You look kind of famil—”“I’m your roommate too!” Linette’s cheerful voice cut in as she appeared beside her. “Come on, let’s go.” She linked her arm through mine and led me down the corridor.The hallway stretched endlessly, grand and golden. Black-and-gold walls shimmered under the soft light, woven basket designs glinting like threads of magic.Then I saw it.A portrait—brow
THIRD PERSON POVAnnie rushed out of the room, clutching a stack of documents—some of which Serra quickly slid under her dress. She hurried down the corridor, breath shallow, until she reached her own chamber. Pushing the door open, she stepped inside, locked it tight, and pulled the hidden papers free.“Nothing?” she whispered in disbelief, flipping through them. Not a single mark appeared.A frustrated sigh escaped her lips. She dropped the paper on the bed and stared up at the ceiling. For a moment, there was only silence—until something glimmered in the corner of her eye.A faint sparkle.Light flickered against her vision. Serra froze, blinking rapidly, wondering if she was imagining it. But the glow remained—dancing faintly near her desk.She approached slowly.There it was.A book, its cover glimmering with golden dust and streaked with crimson lettering. Sharp spikes framed around the edges.“Bruja,” Serra breathed softly, the Spanish word rolling off her tongue. Meaning "Witc
Mahogany appeared in the woods — a sacred garden hidden among tall trees and shrubs. It was beautiful and colorful, filled with flowers and herbs.She was dressed in a purple gown with a red cape. Her perfectly curled, heart-shaped lips and thick lashes framed her face. Her raven-black hair shimmered beautifully in the light.Anyone who saw her would gasp at her beauty. She was stunning and graceful, but in truth, she was older, around thirty-two and had lived far longer than most knew.She held a wooden basket carved from fine oak, wrapped carefully with petals.Bending down, she gently picked a purple-hued flower, her soft hums filling the entire garden.This garden — Halvoc, they called it — was hidden from everyone and everything. Dangerous. Outlawed, they had tagged it. But she could walk here with her head held high, because she was a sorceress.Someone had asked for a potion, a forbidden one — and only she had the power to make it.She needed herbs to create the mixture, a liqu
arma stared at the painting on the wall. It was mysterious—splashed with multiple colors and brushstrokes that clashed and blended in strange ways. A Viking-like man held a sword, a massive wolf standing proudly by his side.She didn’t understand the painting. In fact, she didn’t understand any of them. For two whole hours, she’d wandered through Raze’s halls, studying every piece of art that lined his walls. She wanted to know why he liked staring at them every morning—or during his walks. Right now, though, they all just looked like nonsense.“Grasp anything yet?” Lucy asked.Karma sighed. “No…” She turned to her. It had been days since Raze and Serra left, and still no sign of their return. She was bored to death.“Give me something to do before I die of boredom,” Karma groaned.Lucy arched a brow. “Perhaps painting—or a walk in the garden could help,” she suggested gently.Karma scoffed. “Bori—”She froze midword. Her ears twitched at the faint echo of footsteps—heavy, deliberate,







