Nate’s words were engraved inside my mind the following few days. It haunted the halls of the castle, stalked me into my classes, and even into my dreams.

I hadn’t seen Elijah for five days following that horrible night. No explanation as to where he went and even my friends were left humming with questions with his sudden disappearance.

It wasn’t until Thursday, as I sat in my room working on my homework, that a knock sounded against the door. I turned on my bed, peering at the empty bed where Ariah had been an hour before she gave up on homework, deciding she was going for a walk.

I...