Page 26 of Savage Hope

“Welcome, Veronica, you are a wolf. Please join your pack.”

The glowing symbol looks like a crescent moon this time, but it quickly dims as the whole room beams with pride, the chants and cheers echoing so loudly I almost need to cover my ears. A few of the witches around me, both boys and girls, lean in close, rubbing a hand down my arm, cheering, patting me on the back like I've done something miraculous, but all I've done is find out way too late in life who I truly am. As if the disadvantage of time doesn’t matter.

Professor Whitmore lifts his hands in the air to bring everyone’s attention back to him as he speaks. “Florentines, welcome to Trinity Falls Academy. Please follow your guides back to your houses, where everything you need will be waiting for you in your rooms. If you have any questions, please askthose around you. If not, lessons will begin tomorrow, and the professors will be able to offer support as needed. But please, more than anything, get some rest. Tomorrow is a new day, and work must begin immediately.”

Surrounded by my fellow witches,we cut through the path that leads through the immaculate lawn area, trailing toward four buildings that stand powerfully tall in the distance. As we draw closer, following the perfectly manicured shrubs and flower beds, I can't help but notice the only real difference between the four buildings are their colors.

The first one shimmers in a metallic bronze, a sight to behold as it looms ahead. The second stands just as strong in a startling silver, the light reflecting off the windows only making it seem brighter. The next is washed in gold from roof to floor, regal among the buildings, while the fourth and final building stands dark and dangerous, dripping in onyx. Just looking at it sets me on edge.

“Ours is the first one on the left,” the girl beside me states, and I nod in acknowledgment. “Whenever in doubt, always look for the sand. That's where you'll find us,” she adds, and I nod like it makes total sense to me, but it doesn’t, even though she seems to be very sure of her words.

I have no idea what her name is, but she's taken it upon herself to walk beside me, pointing out things along the way. It doesn't take long for the pathway to reach a fork, branching off in four directions, each one leading to a different building as the textures begin to change.

That’s when I see it.

The path shifts from perfectly paved stone to a winding sand trail.

Follow the sand.

I don't have a moment to take a deep breath or prepare myself for entering another new space. Instead, I’m hustled inside to find a substantial communal area. Sofas and chairs line the walls. There are coffee tables, a television in the corner, and an open archway leading to a minimalistic kitchen area.

There’s more here than I’ve ever seen before, and I watch in bewilderment as over half the group flops down into their familiar surroundings like it’s no big deal.

It’s definitely a big deal.

A commanding voice rings through the air as soon as the door clicks shut behind us. “All the new witches, please follow me. I'll guide you to your rooms,” says the girl who was walking beside me on the way here.

I’m hesitant to question whether I should follow her anymore, but it seems I’ve let her lead me this far; going up another flight of stairs won’t make much difference now.

She marches up the stairs, stopping halfway to turn to face us. “I’m Bryany, by the way. If you need anything, please ask. I'm always here to help. But for now, we need to focus on the fact that none of you have access to your magic yet, and you've got a lot to learn.” Without another word, she turns away, ascending another flight of stairs with determined purpose guiding her footsteps.

Trailing after her, we reach the fourth floor before she finally stops. She sweeps her hand to the side to reveal a few doors behind her.

There are three of us, three new witches.

“Your names will be engraved on the doors. This will have happened the moment you touched the chalice back in the Grand Hall. Everything you need will be inside. I know you’verecently eaten, but we will be leaving for a late supper in about two hours if you would like to join us.” Without another word, she heads back down the stairs, leaving the three of us to look at each other. D and H. That’s who they were back at Florentine’s, but I wasn't paying enough attention to know what those initials stood for.

Instead of extending the awkwardness between us, I turn toward the doors Bryany signaled to, searching for my name. I find the wordsPolaris Beauchampengraved in cursive font across the plaque fixed to the second door.

Rubbing my lips together nervously, I take a deep breath before I wrap my fingers around the door handle and twist. The door falls open, stealing my breath as I prepare myself for whatever may follow.

Before I dare take a single step over the threshold, I stuff my hand into my pocket, curling it around my coin for comfort.

I need the strength it offers. More than before, more than usual, more than ever.

Pulling it out, I uncurl my fingers to see the imprint and rub my thumb along the face. Emotion clogs in my throat, but I try my best to tamp it down. Stuffing it back in my pocket, I head inside and startle when I see my few meager belongings on the bed in the center of the room. I don't move toward them, though. Instead, I take in the space surrounding me. There's not much in here, but it's a complete contrast to the room I had at Florentine’s.

A double bed sits under a massive window sill, central to the wall ahead. There are nightstands on either side, a desk to the left, an oversized chair in the corner, and an armoire to my right, with a matching chest of drawers beside it.

There are a few piles of clothes on the bed that weren't mine before I came here, and I take cautious steps toward everything littering my new sheets. Rubbing a hand at my chest nervously, Ispy a folder nestled among the madness with the words “Trinity Falls Academy” scrawled across the front.

I’m definitely going to have to read that, but something else captures my attention and everything else around me drifts into nothing. Collapsing on the bed, I wrap my fingers around the familiar leather binding, grabbing the pen with excitement burning through me. I flip open the book, pressing the ink to the page, and the rest of the world drifts away.

Dear Diary,

Florentine’s is no more, not for me, at least.

It seems I'm now a student at Trinity Falls Academy. It seems I’m now a witch.

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