Bile rose in my throat, sharp and stinging. I pressed my hand to my mouth, forcing myself to swallow hard.

No matter who this person was, why did they want my mother invited to Parent's Day? What difference would it make if she was invited or not? Who cared enough to threaten me over it?

Was this the same person who'd left the note in my locker earlier today?

Nervously, I chewed on a loose piece of skin around my thumb. The thought of inviting my mother made my nerves churn in my gut. Alek had wanted to talk to her, discuss why I was at Whitethorn. I didn't want him to know my secrets.

But if I didn't send a letter to my mother, the whole school would know anyway.

Sighing, I sat down at the desk and tugged out my notebook. As much as the note that was left scared me, I knew that I needed to invite my mother for me.

I needed to know if she would truly abandon me or if she would come if I asked her to. The words she'd spoken were harsh, sure, but part of me hoped that they were just said in the moment.

So, I opened my notebook to a blank page and I grabbed my pencil.

Dear Mom,

I know you told me you didn't want to hear from me again. But you're my mother. And I'm your daughter. We're family. And after dad died, you promised that you would always be there for me.

Whitethorn Academy is having Parent's Day this weekend. And I would really love it if you would come and visit me. Maybe we could talk about everything.

I love you, and I hope you still love me,

Selene

I ripped the paper out of my notebook and folded it up, feeling like I'd written away a piece of my heart. Then I shoved it in my backpack. I'd ask Naomi to help me mail it tomorrow.

There was some homework I needed to work on, but I didn't feel much like doing anything. I changed into my pajamas and curled up on the bed with the book I'd been assigned in English class.

Maybe I could get a chapter or two in before bed. Loki gave a soft meow as he curled up beside me.

~

The sidewalk was cold under my bare feet. Goosebumps rode along my flesh as a biting wind coursed over me, freezing me to my core. And yet, I stood still on the sidewalk, my gaze frozen on the evergreens.

A small expanse of frozen grass stood between us, the grass blades glittering like diamonds in the light of the moon.

Come to me, a voice called from the trees. It was a whisper that caressed my skin, breathing shivers down my spine.

But I was completely enraptured by it.

I stepped off the sidewalk and into the grass, the blades stabbing like knives into the bare soles of my feet. Ignoring the stinging pain, I walked over the grass, more shivers slipped down my spine, arms, and legs.

My teeth began to chatter, but still I moved, until the boughs of the evergreens brushed against my cheeks as I stepped into their embrace.

Inside the trees, it was nearly impossible to see. The branches of trees formed a perfect canopy above, blotting out the moon. But that voice called to me and I kept moving, my feet sure of their destination.

Sticks and frozen grass stabbed at my bare feet, but the cold had numbed them to the point of feeling no pain.

Not far into the forest, a small clearing burst from the trees, a halo of light illuminating the ground.

A perfect circle of dead grass waited for me.

It loomed in front of me, the brown edges barely an inch from my bare feet. The tendrils of grass were cold beneath me, the blades stiff with frost.

The cold sent shivers over my skin and I blew out a cold breath that fogged the air in front of me. The boughs of the trees beyond the circle twitched and I was sure there was someone lurking there, watching, waiting.

Just as before, a whispering voice called me forward, as if begging me to step foot into the grass. I wanted to do it. And yet, there was a tiny voice inside of me telling me that doing so was a bad idea. That if I touched that grass, nothing would ever be the same.

Naomi had stopped me before. She'd snapped me back to myself on that sidewalk. But now, there was no one and nothing that prevented me from entering that circle.

Except, that small feeling in my gut that told me this was a bad idea. I should turn around and head back to my dorm, where I would be safe in my bed. But the odd circle was alluring in a way that I couldn't explain.

It was strange, the way it was geometrically perfect. It looked as if someone had carefully measured it before being drawn. But that made little sense. Did it?

I took a small step forward, not enough to place myself inside the area. But my toes brushed against the last blades of green grass, and I shivered. A wave of power crashed over me, sending goosebumps flaring across my skin.

Come to me, the voice called. I can show you things you've never even dreamed about.

I closed my eyes as a frigid breeze shuffled my hair back. Another shiver sliced up my spine, sending cold that flared like lightning over my skin. And I took the final step forward.

As soon as my bare skin touched the dead grass, everything shifted. Pain lanced through every inch of my body, searing everything. My skin and bones felt like they were being turned into ash, as if my very being were dissolving into nothing.

I crashed to my knees, the frozen shards of dead grass spearing into my skin. A million needles flared across my flesh, icy to the touch. My skin was burning, burning, burning.

And yet, my breath fogged into the air in front of me as the first scream ripped itself from my throat.

I screamed into the void and everything went dark.

"Selene!"

Hands gripped my shoulders, shaking me awake. My eyes snapped open, meeting Inara's slate-gray gaze. Ms. Rose stood just behind her, eyes wide with fear.

Loki perched on the dresser, hackles raised as he watched me. The room was freezing, my breath puffing as I breathed.

"What's happened?" I asked, wrapping my blankets tighter around me, trying to chase away the cold. My English book crashed to the floor and Loki hissed in fear.

"You were screaming," Inara said. "Ms. Rose and I heard you and entered your room. There was glass all over the floor. We thought someone had broken in, but there was no one here."

My eyes instantly moved to the window, where the curtains moved with an idle breeze. Glass sparkled like diamonds across the desk and the floor. How had I not heard that window shatter?

"How did that happen?"

Inara and Ms. Rose shared a brief glance. "We aren't really sure."

An odd feeling crossed over me and I knew Inara was lying to me. But I just wasn't sure why. Had someone done this intentionally? Were they trying to protect me from the truth so that I wasn't scared?

Had someone tried to break in? I shivered from more than just the cold.

"Let's get you into a new room," Ms. Rose finally said, breaking the tense silence that hung in the air. "It's freezing in here."

I nodded as I carefully stepped out of my bed. Loki meowed and hopped down off the dresser to twine himself around my legs. I picked him up, savoring the warmth of him. He purred and the calming vibration soothed me.

Inara led me to a room several doors down the hall. Inside was the exact same as the other room. I stepped inside, still clutching Loki to my chest.

"Does that sort of thing happen often? Windows breaking like that?"

Inara shook her head. "No, it does not. But don't worry, we'll have the maintenance crew tend to the window and you'll be back in your room in no time."

I knew her words were meant to be reassuring, but they didn't make me feel any better.

Inara sat down next to me. "Your room has been vacant for a while and the upkeep must have been lacking. I will have words with the maintenance crew about it."

I nodded, though something felt off. How had a window shattered like that? And why hadn't I woken up?

"I promise you, Selene, you are safe here."

"Thank you," I told her, though my words felt hollow. Inara wanted to ensure that I felt safe here. A memory of a dream came to mind, where Inara told someone else that enemies were coming for us.

But what enemies would a school have? And what did they have to do with a broken window? And how would that dream have been real?

Before I could think too much more on the subject, Ms. Rose arrived with a tote of my essentials and my backpack. She set them on my desk.

"I think this is most everything you'll need," she told me. "I'll have some fresh supplies for Loki brought in here tomorrow. But if there's anything else, let me know. I don't want you going in there with all that broken glass."

"Thank you, Ms. Rose."

"Get some sleep, sweetie," she told me, her eyes focused on mine. As she said those words, I was suddenly exhausted. I could barely string two thoughts together. Then she and Inara left the room.

Loki mewed at me as I moved further up on the bed, pulling the covers up. I stroked his fur, and he purred in response, rubbing his face against my hand.

"I don't know what's wrong with me, buddy," I said. Loki just stared at me as my eyes grew heavier and heavier, until I drifted off again.

I was in Inara's office again, her redwood desk covered in papers. But Inara paid them no attention. Dark circles were under her eyes and worry lines creased in her forehead. A desktop computer was lit up, the screen highlighting one side of Inara's face.

"She seems to be progressing faster than I thought she would," Inara told me. But once again, I inhabited a body that was not mine.

"Her Guide hadn't noticed any change in her. There was no way of knowing she was so close to Emergence."

Inara made a face, the worry lines deepening. "You would be a better Guide. You would have sensed the change in her. Her rising Emergence."

"I failed already," I said, irritation lacing my voice. Though deep down, I knew what she said was true.

Inara stood and turned to stare out a large window, the full moon sending slants of light into the room. Dust motes swirled in the air.

"You did not fail," Inara replied. "She's safe and that's all that matters."

"No thanks to me." My voice was bitter. Whatever this person had failed at was still an open wound. It was raw and festering.

Inara didn't turn, but the tight set of her shoulders said that this topic was old and had worn through her patience. "You did what you thought was right. No one could have predicted those circumstances."

"Her mother could."

"It was because of her mother that she was in danger at all. I don't know what she was thinking, playing with fire like that. She took too many risks. But she's safe now. And you'll have many chances to keep her safe. As her Guide."

"No."

Inara's shoulders tensed further. "No?" She asked, though she still never turned. "You have no desire to keep her safe from harm?"

"Her Guide is doing a good job. She deserves the best chance to prove herself."

"And you don't believe that you would be better suited?"

"I've already failed once." I repeated. "And as I've said before, Guides have been removed from their charges for failing. I am no different than the rest of them."

Inara made a noise, one that stated she held a different opinion on the matter. She rubbed her hand across her forehead, digging her palm into her temple.

"She's fine," Inara stated, her voice clipped and short. "And she would stand the best chance if you would stop playing games and just be her Guide."

"It's not worth risking," I replied. When Inara opened her mouth to retort, I snapped, "I won't risk it."

"As you wish." Inara said. "That still doesn't change the fact that she will Emerge soon. And then she will truly begin to feel—"

"That's enough," I snarled. "She will feel nothing. I'll make sure of it."