In the entryway, professors spoke quietly within clusters, and they didn't notice me stepping free from the dark. Or trying to. Shadowy fingers curled over my shoulders and dragged at the back of my cloak. I shook free of them, but I had no idea what would happen if I couldn't.

I took up the two plates of food I'd hidden, headed back to my room - and stopped with a jolt outside our door. Three marks sliced across the wood. Like claw marks, but much bigger than a cat. And my ...