My New

“You’ve never been to the moon festival before?” Ariah’s eyes bulged.

“I’m not from a werewolf family,” I explained, placing my neatly folded clothes into our shared closet. Ariah had moved her clothes to her side to make space for mine, but it was a tight fit. Where her side was overflooded, mine was mostly empty.

I wasn’t sure how werewolves worked for money, but it was at the top of my list of things to do. “Like I said, humans don’t go out of their way to take part of anything out of the human norm.”

“Hmm,” Ariah responded. “I’ve seen a lot of humans partake in our festivities.”

“My parents are anti-werewolf.”

“Oh, you’ve got one of those.” Ariah remained silent for what could be a minute. “I’m sorry, Hailey. That must really suck.”

“Things happen, I guess.”

“Hey, you can always join mine during the holidays,” she perked. “Then you don’t have to be stuck here in old people’s company.”

I offered her a smile. “You barely know me.”

Ariah tapped the tip of her nose with a forefinger. “Wolfie senses. I can spot a bad person from a mile away.”

I snorted a laugh. “Funny, since I can’t tell the difference between a bunny or a snake.”

“Every wolf has their strengths. Mine is sensing intentions…” Her shoulders dropped. “Look, I’m just going to cut to the chase. Are you going to be okay? Your mood is like the center of a hurricane. If not worse. Can I ask what happened?”

“I’m not sure to be honest.” I turned to look at her. “This is a lot to take in.”

Ariah held out her bag of candy. “Want to talk about it?”

“Thanks.” I offered a weak smile and took one of the candies before plunking down onto my bed. “My mom didn’t take the news really well when I told her that I got marked. I doubt she even cares about me, since the only thing she worried about before dumping me at a train station was her next drink.”

“I’m so sorry, Hails.”

My heart constricted at the nickname Dad used to call me. “Yeah well, life. Right?”

Ariah’s face turned dark. “No, that’s not life. That’s bullcrap.”

I nodded, not sure what else to say.

“So, I know a spell that can turn a boy's balls into icicles,” she grinned. “I have yet to test it.”

I sputtered a laugh. “You can do that?”

“Totally. I can do a few other nifty things too. But, we aren’t allowed to use these kind of spells against other students. There’s no rule saying we can’t use it against humans.”

I smiled. “So, these kinds of spells, would I be able to do them too?”

“Yes. My favorite is making the popcorn machine do its work without getting up from my bed.”

“Awesome.”

“Right?” Ariah screwed up a candy wrapper between her fingers. “What’s your star sign?”

“Leo, why?”

“Oooh, Leo wolves are feisty.” Her face scrunched up. “So this means your birthday is coming up soon. When? We should totally have a dorm party.”

“Oh, no, please,” I shook my head. “Besides, it kind of was yesterday anyway.”

“No freaking way. The same day all this…”

“Yeah,” I narrowed my eyes. For some reason, I couldn’t look at her with this admission.

“That, girl, is just horrible.” Ariah leaped up from her bed and snatched up her bedside clock. “Breakfast is in an hour. Hey, Hailey?”

“Yeah?”

“I’ve got something I need to take care of. Would you be okay unpacking?” she asked. When I nodded, she added, “Great. I’ll come back for you when it’s time for breakfast so you don’t have to walk alone.”

It didn’t take me long to unpack the little I owned. By the time I came across the photo album filled with pictures of me and my parents, I had enough courage to tear up every last image and dump it in the trash. The last picture I tore up was a photo of Mom when she was pregnant with me.

Mom...I sucked in a shaky breath. I couldn’t believe she just abandoned me like this. I refused to believe she cared so little of me. I hadn’t realized I was crying until a fat tear tickled the side of my nose.

Using my shirt sleeve, I wiped it away, then rolled up my empty duffel and slid it underneath my bed. I knocked out a loose floorboard in the process, and it got tangled with the strap of my duffel. To free it, I tried to pull my duffel back out, but it got lodged under the bed.

“Oh come on,” I murmured irritably. After more shaking and tugging, it refused to come loose. “Ugh!”

I released the duffel and pushed the bed aside to retrieve the floorboard and put it back in place when I noticed it. Something silver gleaned from within the space where I knocked the floorboard out.

I fell onto my knees and stuck my fingers in between the small space, and retrieved the item. It was a skeletal-like key tied to a pink string. My brows furrowed. I stuck my fingers in the space again to see if there was anything else in there and withdrew a small, rolled-up piece of paper. Under further inspection, I realized it was a letter. It had so many crease lines from all the times from being folded and unfolded. The paper was soft from wear, and as I unrolled it, I discovered a tear in the corner.

Whoever this letter belonged to had been read dozens of times. Curious, I read it.

Dear L,

By the time you read this letter, it will be too late. I want you to know that this key holds all the answers. Be careful how you use it, as it can either bring good fortune or unleash hell.

I will always love you,

Sally.

I reread the letter a second time, twirling the key around the string with my index finger. L? As in Luca? I pulled a face. Did Sally know he was going to kill her? But if she did, why was she so loving toward him?

Something about this didn’t sit right with me. I wondered if the academy staff had seen this note when they cleaned up the scene. If they did, they’d surely have taken it, right?

I eyed the paper, contemplating what to do with this little discovery, when out of nowhere, at the bottom of the note, the words formed in ink: Help Me.

A screech of panic burst from me, and I dropped the letter. What the ever-loving hell was that? I stared at it, deciding whether I should pick it up or run from the room when the door cracked open.

“What?” I leaped up onto my feet.

Ariah’s brows shot up. “Uh, did I interrupt something?”

“No, sorry.” My cheeks flushed from my sudden outburst. I smoothed the front of my shirt with shaking hands, forcing a smile. “I’m just jumpy, sorry.”

The corner of her lips tipped up. “Let me guess, you're still paranoid about the dead girl?”

“I guess.” I snatched the letter only to discover the words had disappeared. I turned the note around a few times, examining it from a few angles. Maybe it was a trick of the light? Yet…

“I must have imagined it,” I murmured to myself.

“Did you say something?” Ariah asked.

I turned to her and shook my head, frowning. “No, nothing. Nevermind.” I rolled up the letter and stuffed it alongside the key into the side of my duffel.

“Anyway, I came to get you. Breakfast is ready,” she grinned.