Her Curse, Their Claim

like the end

by ash and melted photo frames. Her bare feet pressed against scorched tile.

. The fire had take

this... and the strange, burnin

eared when she woke, seared into her skin just be

re after she splashed cold water on her face. Still there when she

buzzed in

age lit the c

n arranged. A

ender. Just tho

lid down

is Ashmoor?" sh

to a stop in front of the burnt remains of her house. Th

er's doo

, pale, and emotionless, with silver rings

lake?" h

hesi

ea

amped on the front: ASHMOOR

school," she said, hu

dn't ha

was clippe

been c

ere with some strang

ather st

o the wreckag

hing? Wit

jaw. That wasn't fa

er. Inside was a sl

here the Forgotten

ge, written in

efore the next moon. Or

nd tre

his a

's a wa

pened the

get

ed back on

nd her. Nothing left. No mom. No ans

go

a soft click that s

her, old books, and something fai

ly drove, long fingers tapping the

est and watched the world blur by.

en dense trees. Forest swallowed every

ished two hours ag

epper spray," she mutt

racked the s

dn't wor

blin

ha

aid noth

past dusk, the trees bro

or Ac

ke structure carved into a cl

a haunted cathedral-the kind built to kee

teeth. Windows glowed golde

e, but the sky above the schoo

out of the c

an't be

driver said. "And i

m somewhere deep

swal

for what,

nd out soo

a suitcase s

g you need

t bring

ust don't remem

nt, the car was gone-just like that. No hea

sive gate now creakin

gainst dead leaves a

scented with wax and smoke. Candle

g directly at them. A staircase moved ju

en she

Or maybe t

cked. Sil

by, her reflec

n fr

back-expression blank,

ed on her arm. The mark b

ore i

kin, brighter than ever-shifti

," a voice

pun a

. Her eyes were too pale. Her skin too smooth. There was so

tress Yvaine.

know I w

ses when it reveals itself. You are

d Seren

r n

tion fr

s slowly, like a queen, an

. From what's waking ins

he

eached into her robe and handed Sere

name she didn't recognize.

ebl

dorm. Her c

e," the headmistress said. "Tr