CRESCENT BOUND

are in my school. Move

k and touched the silver locket around her neck-the one her mother tol

ke she had just done something very dangerous. The boy sitting next to her leaned forwa

rough voice. "I don't remem

to sit down," Elara said, looking right back at

is face went cold again. "Say my name one mo

. "You sound like a boy w

else moved. The teacher looked scared and kept his eyes on his book, acting like

ng right over her. He was tal

eat. "Will you get me kicked out

uld hear, "you will be on the floor saying sorry. An

ped his

-a boy and two girls with mean looks on their fa

oy said with a smirk.

"This is just a high s

He just stood there with his arms c

d, tapping her desk hard. "Around here, we don't tal

standing up slowly with her bag. "Because

about a desk," he said, looking around the room at all the students wa

abbing her bag. "I will leave. You can g

m, but he blocked her way

aves until

tch

ost fell and grabbed the desk to steady herself. As she did, her silver locket swung forward

nails said, reaching out fast to gr

t tou

. Kaelen looked mad.

as a bad temper. I like it. Too bad

n said in a flat v

e tried to ta

aid, getting close to her space. "I run things here. I say who sits whe

fting her chin. "And I definitely don'

Then Lila laughed out loud. "

nt totally blank. He leaned down

bow down. Or I will make yo

her kept reading his book. The other students watched wi

thing she had to keep her safe. Stay hidden, she told

breath. "I am no

trange color for just a second. He clo

d away like Elara didn't matter anymore. "

happy, mean sm

d closer, blocking the door and trapping Elara. Kaelen sat down at

was new, she was alone, and she didn't know how powerful these peopl

g. "You know," she said softly, "Kaelen usually doesn't care about new kids.

her locket. "Sta

up the scissors. "Will you cry?

t at Elara's face, bu

he l

harp blade caught the thin silver chain. It pull

ocket

dropping through the air. Kaelen's head

et hit t

poppe

hing s

hook. The room became so quiet that Elara could hear her own heartbeat, and someth

d down at

he glass, was a small carved black stone

l carved into the wooden si

ymbol Kaelen wore on a

g pale and scared, like

ice shook. "Tha

d held it tight to her chest. But it was too late.

, and all his anger was g

d, like he was afraid of t

uld lie or run away, the classroom doo

ore a heavy chain around his neck with the same silver moon symbol on it. He lo

a loud voice that shook the shelves.