Selene slowly turned around, half expecting the Dark Lady to be standing there, her hood covering most of her face, her black eyes peering out from beneath her cowl, painted lips pressed together, the same way she had shown up in Selene’s dreamscapes.

But the hall was empty behind her as much as in front of her. Silence. Only silence. And emptiness.

Then a hand gripped her shoulder. “You’ve come at last,” a raspy voice whispered.

Selene froze. A putrid smell wafted beneath her nostrils as the air grew even colder. She could see long white fingers along her shoulder, ending in pointed nails.

“You’ve come, my little raven.”

She focused on her breathing as she fought the impulse to explode into her raven form and fly away. Even now her body shivered, ready to change.

No.

Selene closed her eyes, ignoring the deathly smell and the tight grip along her shoulder. No. The cycle needed to stop. No more running. No more flying away. If she transformed, the same thing would happen again and again. The Dark Lady would follow her. She would always follow her. And more people would get hurt.

If she wanted to be free of the Dark Lady, then she needed to confront her. Now.

Slowly, the Dark Lady came around her. Selene watched her move, her heart thudding inside her chest. Even this close, she could not see beneath the Dark Lady’s cowl, only pinpricks of light bouncing from unending black orbs. Did the Dark Lady even have a face, save for her painted lips?

The thought sent a scream up her throat, but she kept her lips sealed shut.

“You’ve stayed away, little raven.” The Dark Lady dropped her hand and stood in front of Selene. “Why?”

Selene remained silent.

“I only want to help you,” the Dark Lady whispered in a harsh voice.

“Help?” A burst of anger sent the word flying.

Black lips turned upward. “Yes. Help you become the most powerful Raven ever.”

“Why?”

“Every other house possesses gifts in the real world. You are the only one who can walk in dreams. In my world. The combination of our powers would be unstoppable.”

Her mouth slowly loosened. “And what of my mother? My sisters?”

The smile slid from those black lips. “None of them are as powerful as you.”

A fire began to burn inside of Selene. “My mother has served you for many years. You would discard her for me?”

“I never discard a Ravenwood. I groom the next one.” The pinpricks of light seemed to stare intently out from beneath the cowl, almost as if they could see through her.

“And what if I say no?”

The air dropped in temperature, and the light in the sanctuary grew dimmer. The Dark Lady’s face seemed to retreat inside her cowl, and the light in her eyes disappeared, leaving only shadows. “I will always be here in the dream world. You cannot escape from me. You cannot escape your destiny.”