The halls of Ravenbrook Academy buzzed with life as students filled the spaces between classes. For Dante, the chatter and laughter felt like white noise. His focus remained on blending in, keeping his head down, and surviving another day. But after the wraith's attack, the mark on his palm hadn't stopped tingling—a constant reminder that danger wasn't far behind.
Dante slid into his seat in history class, relieved that the teacher, Mr. Calloway, hadn't noticed his late arrival. As the lecture began, he leaned back, letting the droning voice lull him into a sense of calm.
"Dante," a voice whispered behind him.
He turned slightly to see a girl with short, fiery red hair and piercing green eyes. She had an air of confidence that made her stand out.
"I'm Isla," she said, smirking. "The new kid, right?"
Dante nodded, wary. "Yeah."
"You've already pissed off Gregor. Impressive," she said, leaning forward.
"I wasn't trying to," he replied, keeping his voice low.
"Doesn't matter. He doesn't like competition," Isla said, her smirk widening. "Word is, you've got quick reflexes. Almost… unnatural."
Dante stiffened. "I'm just good at dodgeball."
"Sure," she said, giving him a knowing look. "You might want to be careful, though. Gregor doesn't let things go easily. And this school? It's not as normal as it looks."
Before Dante could respond, the bell rang, signaling the end of class. Isla shot him one last glance before disappearing into the crowd, leaving him with more questions than answers.
Lunch was quieter than the day before. Dante sat in the far corner of the cafeteria, picking at his food while scanning the room for signs of trouble. Gregor was nowhere in sight, but his absence didn't ease Dante's nerves.
"Mind if I sit here?"
Isla stood across from him, her tray balanced on one hand. Without waiting for a response, she slid into the seat.
"You don't talk much, do you?" she asked, stabbing a fork into her salad.
"I'm not here to make friends," Dante said, his tone guarded.
"Too bad," Isla said with a shrug. "You'll need allies if you plan to survive."
"Survive what?" Dante asked, narrowing his eyes.
She leaned closer, her voice dropping to a whisper. "You think I don't see it? The way you look over your shoulder, like you're expecting something to jump out at you. You're not the only one with secrets, Dante."
His pulse quickened. "What do you know?"
"Enough to know that you don't belong here," she said. "But neither do I."
Before he could press her further, a loud crash echoed through the cafeteria. Everyone turned to see Gregor standing by the door, his face twisted with rage.
"Dante!" Gregor's voice boomed. "You and me. Outside. Now."
The room fell silent, all eyes on Dante.
"Ignore him," Isla whispered. "He's just trying to provoke you."
But Dante stood, his fists clenched. He couldn't run from this—not if he wanted to keep his place here.
The courtyard was cold, the sky gray with the promise of rain. A circle of students formed around Dante and Gregor, murmuring excitedly.
"I've had enough of you," Gregor said, cracking his knuckles. "You think you're better than me? Let's see how tough you really are."
Dante remained silent, his heart pounding. He felt the mark pulse, its energy tempting him to fight back. But Alaric's warning echoed in his mind: Control your powers. Don't let them see who you are.
Gregor charged, throwing a punch aimed at Dante's face. Dante dodged easily, his reflexes sharp. He stepped back, avoiding another swing.
"You're quick," Gregor said, breathing heavily. "But you're not strong."
Gregor lunged again, but this time, Dante caught his fist mid-air. The mark flared faintly, and for a split second, Gregor's eyes widened in shock.
"What are you?" Gregor hissed, yanking his hand away.
Before Dante could respond, a sudden shadow passed over them. The crowd gasped as a dark figure emerged from the far end of the courtyard. It was tall and skeletal, its eyes glowing red.
A wraith.
Panic erupted as students scattered, screaming. Dante froze, his blood running cold. The wraith's gaze locked onto him, its twisted mouth curling into a snarl.
"Dante, move!" Isla shouted, grabbing his arm.
He snapped out of his daze, pulling the dagger hidden under his jacket. Isla's eyes widened, but she said nothing as he stepped forward.
"Stay back," Dante said, his voice steady despite the fear clawing at his chest.
The wraith lunged, faster than the one he had faced before. Dante ducked, slashing at it with the dagger. The blade glowed with crimson energy, cutting through the wraith's shadowy form.
But this one didn't dissolve as easily. It reformed, its claws striking out and grazing Dante's shoulder. He winced, feeling the sting of its attack.
"Dante!" Isla called, tossing him a small vial of shimmering liquid.
Without thinking, he caught it and hurled it at the wraith. The vial shattered on impact, and the creature let out an ear-splitting screech as it disintegrated into ash.
The courtyard was silent once more.
Dante turned to Isla, panting. "What was that?"
"Holy water," she said, a sly grin on her face. "Told you I had secrets."
Before they could say more, teachers stormed into the courtyard, shouting questions and ushering students inside.
As Dante followed, he felt Isla's eyes on him. "You and I need to talk," she said softly.
He nodded, knowing she was right. Whatever was happening, he couldn't face it alone. And Isla, for all her mysteries, might just be the ally he needed.
But as he walked back into the school, he couldn't shake the feeling that his troubles were only just beginning.