MARKED BY THE MOON; SHE WHO SHINES IN BLACK

lia'

e about to raid a criminal's house was the way I jerked up after hearing that voice. The only difference was that it wasn't

that voi

FIED: MOON-BLESSED. STATUS:

t was mildly constipated and deeply confused. Did I just awaken a syste

ce in my head? And as if that wasn't scary enough, it spoke about powers like I was the chosen one f

eiling. "Okay. Wha

broke the rules of logic. But then my fingers tingled, and my heart beat

seventeen. The weird moonlight dream, a glowing woman who dressed lik

say I imagined it anyway. There was no point in calling him. I would have called my stepmom,

scaping a crime scene. My feet touc

at the clo

a few minutes. I should get

with one eye open. And the way she smiled at me made my ski

offers me tents... or stretchy lies. But today I had no time to worry about that. I grabbed my black leggings-

nto a messy bun. Edges? Do

ening, I wasn't going to be caught dead without shiny lip

bullies around. I had to get to the class before Ms. Hale. Just another day in Northmont, the academy

efore me. By the time I reached the biology lab, my nerves were f

't looking up when I quietly entered, but I knew she smelled me. Her nostrils flared slightly, like a predator catching a new scent in the wind.

nstructed without turning. "Today'

t all. She didn't notice I came

burns that looked like they had their gym routine, scooted slightly away from me. I was used t

nd, "we're discussing lunar influence

he day with something that

ou all know, the moon does not simply affect our shifts. It speaks to our blood-activati

? My ears

e. Just a glance. But it fel

hiv

e-are more sensitive to moon resonance. Their systems may activat

ent

allo

leston

ake notes, but really I was scribbling moon resona

et. But something was rising inside me. A weird warmth. Like my body had turned

n... I

AL ATTACK DETECTED. EV

d and lo

e usual suspects. Known for being rich, ruthless, and aller

e starin

spine before a

rd her desk. Her

something und

wins whisper

N INCOMING. 3

uck

a perfume bottle-flew over my

m went

ly, her gaze burning

ice so calm it made me w

e ans

gure out how I knew. How I moved. How I w

NSTINCT RESPONSE – A

. It was helping me. I didn't

nside me ha