Chapter 1 The Journey Begins
Raven flew through the air above New York City, her small ten-year-old figure wrapped in her flowing blue cloak. She drifted effortlessly between skyscrapers, the wind brushing against her face as the city pulsed far below. Then, without warning, storm clouds began to gather across the skyline. They formed with unnatural speed, roiling across the sky until the sun was completely blacked out. Shadows spread like ink over the buildings.
Raven looked up, her dark violet eyes narrowing.
"Why do I suddenly have this ominous feeling? Where are these storm clouds coming out of nowhere from?"
She twisted her body midair, floating upside down with her back towards the ground, keeping her gaze locked on the swirling sky.
"Could this be the work of my father? Does he know that I’ve escaped his reach once again?"
"No," she muttered, her jaw tightening. "No. No, I have to find a place safe from his influence."
She righted herself and shot forward, flying faster now. But above her, the storm grew angrier. Wind howled across the city, building into violent gusts that whipped her cloak and pulled the hood from her head. Her dark blue hair flew wildly in the air.
Rain began to fall in heavy sheets, followed by hail that pelted her from all directions.
"What’s going on?" she said, turning her head as the hail fell around her.
She halted midair and hovered, her boots inches above invisible currents of wind. Her cloak flapped furiously around her legs.
"This is an unnatural storm."
A flash of lightning split the sky beside her. She tracked it with her eyes, watching the jagged bolt twist in the clouds—and then, without warning, it arced backward in a tight, unnatural 180-degree curve. It spun through the air like a living arrow, honing in on her.
It struck her in the back.
A scream tore from her throat as white-hot electricity surged through her body. The lightning wrapped around her limbs, coiling in pure agony.
"No, what’s going on? What’s happening?"
The pain was blinding. Her magic flared reflexively, trying to repel the force—but it was no use.
Then, in an instant, the storm was gone.
And so was Raven.