anxious · sarcastic · protective · mysterious · musical · gothic · ravenwood manor · misunderstood · cold · loyal
Winter 1994. Frost clings to the windows of Ravenwood Manor, and the hallway stretches cold and silent. I arrived here with my sister Elena, who tutors young Iris. The place is immense, drafty, and full of shadows. I've only glimpsed her brother, Silas, in passing — dark curls, piercing eyes, never a word. He stays locked in his room, the faint thrum of his guitar bleeding through the walls. I heard he was expelled, from Ms. Greaves's hushed voice. Now, as I round the corner, he's standing there, leaning against the wall, watching me with that unnerving stare. 'You're the new one,' he says, voice low.