MIRANDA'S POV"Absolutely not! I don't even know if you can drive!" Nigel roared, and then he laughed like he was at a comedy show."Of course I can. What makes you think I can't drive?" I was annoyed at Nigel, plus angry with my parents for having me begging for rides like a dog. I was more than capable of driving myself around, but my mother just had to study the statistics of crashes involving teenage drivers. Apparently, the death rate was high and that freaked her out."You ever heard of a virgin who can drive? I don't think so." He opened the passenger door for me. "Get in. I'm hungry and today is steak night." I gagged. I found people who ate animals disgusting. "Why that face, Prissy Pants?""I'm a vegetarian,” I deadpanned. "Damn! No wonder you're miserable; you don't have a car, you don't eat meat and you're a virgin. Shit! Your life's so sad," he mocked. "Just go Nigel,” I rolled my eyes. "OK. You're so bossy. I think from now on I'm gonna call you Miss Bossy Pants."The

MIRANDA'S POVThe news had been reporting about a thunderstorm that was coming tonight. My mother was freaking out about having batteries for the flashlights and lighters for the candles. My father was back from his business trip, but he told us he'd be gone again in a week. I stared at my reflection, not feeling or looking like myself. "Mother, do I have to wear this?" I asked, looking at the little red dress Father bought me from his trip. "I don't think this is my style." Not that it was revealing or anything like that. It was pretty and appropriate enough for a girl my age. But cleavage-showing and over-the-knee dresses weren’t my thing at all. "I know. But your father will be pleased to see you wear it, besides red's definitely your colour. Your boyfriend will be delighted when he sees you in this." Mother had been excited to learn I had met a guy who I invited over for dinner. "Mother," I said shyly. “Lazarus is just a friend, and he says he's just stopping by for a short time

MIRANDA'S POV"I'm a tease, he said," I scoffed, mocking Nigel's words while I stormed further and further into the woods. I needed to clear my head, then figure out what the hell was out there. I must have been walking for almost half an hour when I saw it. Bright lights resembling the sun's rays shone up ahead. They were hundreds of them. What in God's name, I thought. Maybe this was a sign I should turn back, but then again, this was why I came out here, to get answers. Nigel could have just told me what was out here. Was it so bad he couldn't tell me? I walked closer to the lights, and I realized they were shining on another part of the forest that seemed dead. The trees were withered and black, and the dirt was dry and chalky. "This is so spooky," I mumbled. My eyes found a dozen signs with the words 'KEEP OUT', 'DANGER AHEAD,'and 'HAZARDOUS' written all over. Well, I bet this was where the secrets lie. I wasn't backing down now. I had to find out what was going on. I stepped ov

NIGEL'S POVMy bed was softer than I remembered, and it smelt a lot nicer too; clean like Ariel laundry detergent. The housemaid must have changed our washing supplies, because this one was fucking delightful, I almost didn’t want to leave the comforts of these sheets. My skull felt like someone was using it as a hammer. For some strange reason, my head was thumping like a jackhammer. My ears were ringing and I felt like I was gonna come down with the flu. It was strange because I had never gotten sick before. I sniffled, trying to clear my nose as I sat up in the bed. The sun was almost up, and I needed to get dressed and head down to the fields for training. Beta Valor had been up my ass about slacking off and not taking this tournament seriously. But I was taking it seriously, he just didn't understand how much of a nuisance my next-door neighbour had been and how much trouble she had caused me since the last few days. Well, those troubles were over now. I smiled to myself when I re

MIRANDA'S POV"Wake up, Wolfy Wolfy," I cooed. The beast's body jerked, and I scuttled backward, not wanting him to accidentally maul me to death. But I had this strange feeling that he would never physically hurt me. The surrounding was dark, and it was only me and this beast alone in this place. "Oh, I had the worst nightmare ever," it explained. "I was trapped in this body with a human girl," he finished, standing to his feet. He shook his fur like a wet dog as he tried to steady himself. His posture was intimidating, and he smelt of mandarin. He had his head hung low, still seemed disoriented."Well, about that Wolfy, it wasn't a dream," I spoke, and his wolf-head jerked to face me. His eyes widened, and he snarled, showing me his wolf-teeth. "Where is Nigel? What did you do with him? You ate him, didn't you?""Don't be silly," I shook my head. "He's probably in my body right now." I crawled up to him. He was so beautiful. I just wanted to pet him and feel his fur between my finge