Jamie had woken in a groggy state. He groaned. The world swam in hazy swirls of white and black, different from his usual grey room, with yellow sunlight streaming through the windows-

Suddenly he was alert. He was strapped to a wooden chair, in a dark room. The only source was the lamp above him.

Where's Lottie? She's in trouble-

He scowled. Yes, Lottie was important, but his main concern should've been Ellie, and should always be.

He finally noticed two dimly lit shadows lurking at the edge of the light span. He growled, pulling at his binds.

A purr rang through the air. Jamie tensed, the sound familiar.

Ingrid.

She and Julius were a memory he wanted to forget, and yet, a memory still so livid in his mind, as if it were yesterday.

The second shadow was a tall figure, slender yet powerful. From the tension in their shoulders, Jamie could only guess that they were a man, his estimate proven correct.

"Jamie, is it?"

Jamie growled. The man had a thick French accent. It sounded familiar, he had heard it before, but his brain couldn't work. Still hazy from his slumber, he narrowed his eyes at the shadows.

"You surely remember what we want, don't you?" Ingrid snarled. Jamie could only bare his teeth in response. He didn't want to give away any impressions.

"Hamlin Formula. It does ring a bell, doesn't it?" It wasn't a question.

Ingrid came into the light. She was exactly as he remembered. The same mischievous, scheming glint in her eyes. However, she seemed tired, light bruising showing underneath her eyes. She leaned forward and gazed into his eyes. He glared back, not wanting to give her the satisfaction.

She smirked, leaning back. She slowly circled around him, tracing a light finger on his jawline. He clenched his teeth, tensing at her delicate touch. A low rumble came from her chest.

She's toying you.

"Ingrid." The man warned. Ingrid sighed in disappointment, appearing in front of Jamie. She smirked, rolling up her sleeve.

The two eyes of the Leviathan mark glared at him, and all he could see was red.

He became dizzy as Ingrid leaned in, tilting his head up.

Lift your arm.

Jamie became completely relaxed, his body swaying slightly, enticed in the trance of the Hamelin Formula. He lifted his right arm, holding it there.

Ingrid blinked. Her mouth slowly formed a cynical, sadistic smile. Her teeth bared like a serpent's fangs.

"Your pretty Partizan will be after you, Princess..."

🐺

Lottie woke in a cold sweat, shivering from her terrifying dream of Ellie being killed by a black wolf with intense brown eyes. She groaned, the warm sun hitting her eyes. She got out of bed, grateful for the Persian rug under her feet.

She silently dressed for the day, careful not to wake Ellie. On her way to the bathroom, she glanced at her desk. The letter was resting on top of her books. She cringed. Then a Polaroid caught her attention.

Hanging by a peg on a piece of twine was a picture she had taken over the summer.

Lottie, Ellie and Jamie were all posed, Hanna had offered to take the picture for them.

Ellie and Jamie were holding Lottie, Ellie holding her legs while Jamie held her body. Lottie has her arms wrapped around Jamie's neck. The two girls were smiling giddily, fuelled by sugar. Jamie was smirking, teeth glinting like fangs. They were in The Vault, Ellie's 80's themed rec room. Lottie was holding a cone of cotton candy.

Lottie felt tears prick her eyes. She was right: she had found her home in Ellie. But she couldn't live in it without Jamie. The Partizan who always seemed so cold with minimal humour, and yet she felt so empty without him.

She looked closely at the picture. Their Wolfson pendants twinkled in the light. But there was something sticking out of Jamie's pocket-

Lottie heard a yawn behind her. She turned, smiling. "Morning, Ellie." Her best friend yawned. "Morning" She slurred, rubbing the sleepiness from her eyes.

Lottie sat back down on her bed, brushing her tangly hair. She stared at her tiara. Her family tiara. Suddenly her pendant burnt on her chest. She could feel the weight of it.

Lottie knew that it was trying to tell her something.

She gritted her teeth, raking the brush through her knotted ends.

Jamie's strong. He can look after himself. He's unstoppable.

Ellie emerged from the bathroom. "Hey Lottie, you forgot put away the bandages again-"

She froze. Ellie noticed the tension in the room. "What happened, Lottie? Did you hurt yourself?" She asked carefully.

Lottie was well aware that her friends were stepping on eggshells around her. She hadn't been the same since Jamie left.

"I just scraped my arm while trying to move the easel, that's all." Lottie replied, smiling. Ellie didn't seem convinced, but didn't press her case.

Lottie had found an old easel hidden in the corner of their 'secret base' among other art supplies. The sketchbooks were aged and coloured, too fragile to use. She had moved some of her own art supplies down there, in case she needed them.

Earlier that semester, Lottie, Binah and Ellie has found a secret room underneath the Stratus Elwin statue, revealing Lottie as the tier of Rosewood, descendant of Liliana Mayfutt (William Tufty) and Henry Pitkin.

The two girls made their way to breakfast. Binah met them at the door. Together, the girls walked in, taking their usual spot at the window, overlooking Ryley the stag.

Ellie piles her plate up with toast and chocolate spread, finishing it off with an apple tart. Lottie and Binah looked her. "What? I need my strength for fencing" Ellie pouted.

Binah shook her head, biting into a ham and cheese pocket. Lottie cringed. She got her own slice of toast, topping it with jam and strawberries.

The three ate in silence. Lottie's mind wandered off to her picture. There was something in Jamie pocket. The picture taken just days before they went back to school. Had Jamie been planning something?

"Lottie?" Lottie felt her shoulder being poked repeatedly. She blinked back into reality, noticing that a majority of the students had gone. She turned to Ellie and Binah, who had finished their meals. She smiled. "Sorry, guys. Let's go!"

🐺

Ellie had noticed Lottie's melancholy eyes. She hadn't been the same since Jamie had disappeared. Ellie gritted her teeth, memories of her and Jamie's arguments coming back.

"Ellie, you don't understand. This is dangerous, and you could get harmed!" Jamie's expression was furious.

"No, Jamie. I know, and I'm not a little kid! I can handle myself. It's Lottie that need protecting-"

"Ellie! You're the princess, and we need to keep you safe!"

"And everyone thinks Lottie is the princess!" Ellie shouted. Her fury was smothered by the fact that her little ray of sunshine could be in danger

"I'd never forgive myself if anything happened to her" Jamie was caught off guard by the desperation in Ellie's voice. He sighed.

"Me too, Ellie. But it's our duty to keep you safe, and if you stop being so difficult-"

"Well if you find me so difficult, then why don't you leave!" Ellie regretted the words as soon as they left her mouth. She looked down, ashamed. "Jamie..."

"I'll always be here, Ellie," his voice was as cold as the snow outside the palace, "whether you like it, or not."

Furious tears welled in Ellie's eyes. He'd left. Because of her. She sniffed, forcing herself to turn her attention back to Mr Trigwell.

Somewhere, in the back of her mind, she knew he was still with her. Calling out for her.

A lost boy trapped underneath the mask of a Partizan.