1
Skylar Alexia Erikson sat on the porch steps, her familiar Breezy perched on her shoulder. She stared at the night sky, an endless black sea with only a few diamonds twinkling. A soft breeze blew over her skin, causing goosebumps on her flesh.
Inside, her family was asleep. She knew she should be resting since they had a long drive back to the Ocean Falls Academy, but she couldn’t sleep. Her mind was racing and refused to stop. She couldn’t shake off the overwhelming feeling that something terrible would happen. It seemed like a curse had been placed on them.
Last year, portals were opening all over the Eternal World. One had opened to the Underworld, allowing a demon to appear and attack the Academy. Skylar and her triplet sisters, Tory and Tara, helped send it back through a portal from a Capturer Tory had taken from the Portals Lab. The demon was cast out from the Eternal World, but it had wounded her in the fight, causing a permanent scar on her back that was a reminder of that horrifying day.
Six months after the demon attack, Tara was attacked in the veterinary clinic at the Academy. Following the attack at the clinic, Skylar and Tory slept over in Tara’s dorm, and they were attacked, and their familiars were taken. Breezy and Raven - Tory’s familiar - escaped and returned to them. But Tara’s familiar, Sapphire, was nowhere to be found.
Caius Moonblood had been behind the attack and the one who kidnapped their familiars. Caius had confessed everything to Tara and knew Tory had taken a Capturer, and he held that fact over their heads. They had to find a way to stop him and ensure he wouldn’t send Tory to prison.
He’d tricked everyone around him into thinking he was a perfect, kind man who wanted to thrive at the Academy. No one would believe that he could be responsible for any of the terrible events that’d been taking place at the Academy. No one could see anything wrong with him. He’d brainwashed everyone to take his side.
But Skylar and her sisters knew better. They knew he had to be using Dark Magic, breaking the most severe law in the Eternal World. That was how he’d attacked their dorm and taken their familiars. The trouble was that they’d attempted to turn him in and prove how evil he was, but he was somehow always a step ahead and got away with everything.
They passed him daily at the Academy, and Tory worked beside him at the Portals Lab. It terrified and enraged her at how he was allowed to walk free after what he’d done, and he was so close to Tory. She always feared for Tory’s safety.
Breezy, a tiny hummingbird with yellow feathers tipped with blue, fluttered beside her. She pecked lightly at her temple, telling her she needed to get some sleep.
You can’t keep staying up all night, Breezy said to her through their mental bond. It’s not good for you.
Skylar waved Breezy away. I can’t sleep.
Because you fight it.
I have nightmares every night. I dread closing my eyes. I keep picturing that demon in my head. I keep thinking about Sapphire. I keep thinking about the fact that Caius Moonblood is out there.
I understand you’ve been through a lot, but you can’t be afraid. You can’t live your life in fear.
I’m trying not to, but it’s hard.
Then you need to open up to your family. You haven’t told them how you’ve been feeling.
They have too much to deal with right now.
It doesn’t matter. They’re your family. They will help you regardless.
Skylar released a weary sigh, knowing her familiar was right. Her siblings had taken time off work so they could go away for a couple of days. They’d traveled to their parents’ vacation cabin located at the outskirts of Raven City, which they’d visited consistently as kids, hoping it was the break they needed. But, honestly, it didn’t help much at all. Everyone was dealing with their issues and couldn’t enjoy the break from the Academy.
They would return to the Academy tomorrow, and she couldn’t wait to return, yet dreaded it. This getaway trip had turned out to be a disaster, and she wanted to return to work, but she dreaded being in the same place as Caius Moonblood.
She noticed the sun was rising in the sky. Damn, another sleepless night. She felt her eyelids droop from exhaustion, but there was no point in trying to sleep now. She grumpily got up and went inside to wake the others, knowing a long drive lay ahead.
She opened the door and paused when she heard a strange noise nearby. She frowned and turned to the noise, scanning the trees. She couldn’t see anything, but she heard the noise again.
Out of nowhere, Breezy released a loud whistle and dove into the trees.
“Breezy, stop!” Skylar shouted, but her familiar ignored her. A growl of frustration escaped her throat, and she shifted into her wolf form and ran after her. What the hell was the creature doing?
She tore through the trees, trying to keep up with her familiar who flew at blinding speed. She was too busy trying to keep her familiar in sight and wasn’t paying attention to her surroundings.
Her paw caught on an exposed tree root and flew through the air, tumbling through a thicket of bushes and down a steep hill, landing hard at the bottom.
She lay there for several minutes, trying to catch her breath, her body throbbing from pain. She slowly sat up, shaking her head, her vision spinning.
Two images of Breezy appeared in her vision. She let out a shrill whistle, making her flatten her ears against her skull, her already throbbing head aching even more.
She growled and got to her feet. What the hell was that? Why would you take off like that? What’s wrong with you?
Follow me, was all Breezy said before taking off again.
Wait - Skylar tried to stop her, but the hummingbird wasn’t listening.
She sighed and followed her to a clearing. Breezy was perched on a tree branch above, staring into the clearing with a focused expression in her eyes.
You need to see this, she said and flew to the clearing.
Skylar frowned, trying to understand what she was talking about, and her breath caught in her throat.
In the clearing, a shimmering red portal hung in the air, and a man lay unconscious on the ground below it.
Alarm shot through her, and she ran toward the man. She shifted into her human form and knelt beside him, her heart thundering.
She gently turned him on his back and felt his pulse. She released a sigh of relief when she felt his heart pump beneath her fingers. She felt over him, checking him for injuries, though it appeared he had none. It seemed like he was okay, only unconscious.
She studied his appearance. He had smooth, light brown skin, a handsome face, full lips, a straight nose, a strong and muscular body, long braided hair spread out on the grass above his head, wore a light gray shirt that read I Love NYC, and blue jeans.
He was incredibly good-looking, she noted, her heart fluttering, but she forced those thoughts out of her head. Now was not the time. She needed to focus.
She peered down at him, planning what to do. She would take him back to the cabin, and she and her family would drive him to the hospital.
She looked at his peaceful face, then at the words on his shirt. Huh, she thought to herself. What did NYC stand for? She had never seen those initials before.
Look at his aura, Breezy instructed, fluttering beside her.
Skylar did as her familiar was told. She studied his aura closely, trying to decipher the color. It was a light, orange color she hadn’t seen from anyone else before.
She frowned and looked at the portal. It was becoming smaller as the seconds ticked by. This man had come from another place, but where? Perhaps one of the other territories, like Silver Moon City? Crooked City? The Eternal Forest? The City of the Skies? She tried to look through the portal, but it closed and disappeared into the air.
He’s not from this world, Breezy said, breaking through her thoughts.
She snapped her head up to look at her, alarmed. What do you mean? Where’s he from?
Why do you think you can’t figure out what he is from his aura?
I don’t know, Breezy, just tell me!
He’s from the Human Realm.
It felt like an eternity for her to process what the familiar said. She sat there in stunned disbelief, trying to understand what she had been told.
You mean, he’s...
He’s a human.
