CHAPTER 2 RAVENSCAR FALLS

Damon woke to the faint hum of the train station announcement echoing through his mind. The last days at home felt like a distant memory now, replaced by the crisp chill of early morning and the quiet anticipation of a new city. After a quick shower, he hugged his mother tightly.

“I’m going to miss you,” Barbara said, voice soft but proud. “Oh, and your Jeep will be sent up next week, so don’t worry about that.”

Damon nodded, silent as always. They left for the train station together, walking through streets still damp from an earlier rainfall. The distant mountains loomed under the morning mist, dark and cold, exactly the kind of place Damon preferred.

As he was about to take his seat on the train, a boy came running along the platform, panting and flustered.

“Whoa! Made it!” the boy exclaimed, sliding into the seat next to Damon just as the train began to move. His face was bright with excitement, hair messy from the run.

“Hey… sorry for bumping into you,” he said, catching his breath.

Damon glanced at him briefly, expressionless. “No worries.”

The boy smiled, seemingly unconcerned by Damon’s detached tone, and looked out the window as the train sped along the tracks. Damon, of course, remained silent, watching the blur of roads and towns pass by, feeling the faint, nagging sensation that someone—or something—was still observing him. He dismissed it, assuming it was just the city’s natural hum or his own heightened awareness.

When the train finally pulled into Ravenscar Falls, Damon kept his hoodie pulled low, preferring to remain unnoticed. He ignored the occasional curious stares as students bustled past, some laughing, some showing off. Damon had no interest in appearances. His mind was focused only on getting to his dorm and settling in.

Arriving at his room, he began unpacking and organizing his things. Everything had its place. Everything had order.

Then, unexpectedly, a familiar voice broke the silence.

“Whoa… nice to see you here! I didn’t know you were coming to Ravenscar Falls too!”

Damon turned. Standing there, panting slightly, was the same boy from the train.

“Yes,” Damon replied calmly. “I’m here for school.”

The boy’s eyes lit up. “What course? What’s your major?”

“Veterinarien…” Damon muttered, almost dismissively.

“Animal doctor, huh?” the boy guessed, grinning. Damon didn’t respond, continuing to arrange his things with precise motions.

The boy shrugged. “Okay, since you’re not answering, I’m Jackson, by the way. And you are…”

“Damon.”

Jackson’s gaze lingered on Damon’s hair. “Wow… I like your white hair. It’s so pure.”

Damon looked at him neutrally.

Jackson leaned back, impressed. “Wait… it’s real? That’s so cool, man.”

Damon simply nodded. “Thanks.”

After a moment of silence, Jackson spoke again. “I’m heading to the cafeteria to grab some lunch. You want to come?”

Damon considered it briefly. With nothing else to do, he nodded. Together, they left the dorm, stepping into the bustling halls of Ravenscar Falls University, unaware of the unusual circumstances that had brought them here—or the strange forces that seemed to follow Damon wherever he went.

When they reached the cafeteria, Jackson ordered enough food to feed three people—burgers, fries, chicken, everything. Damon, meanwhile, only sat quietly with a plain cup of black coffee.

“Seriously?” Jackson laughed. “Are you on a diet or something?”

Damon didn’t answer. He only took another slow sip.

Then the cafeteria doors opened.

A girl walked in.

Pitch‑black hair. Pale skin. Eyes so sharp they felt unreal.

The entire cafeteria went silent. Jackson blinked.

“She’s… wow,” he whispered. Then quickly shook his head. “Nope. Forget it. Nevermind.”

They went back to checking their timetable.

“Bro! We’ve got Biology and Animal Science together!” Jackson grinned.

Damon only nodded.

After class, Jackson was talking excitedly about how his older brother once went to the same school… when he bumped into someone.

It was her.

Jackson froze, speechless.

Damon stepped forward calmly. “Sorry. My friend wasn’t looking.”

The girl smiled.

For a brief second… her eyes glowed red.

Then she turned and walked away.

Later, outside, a group of quarterbacks started mocking Jackson. One shoved him.

“If it isn’t Jackson. How’s your lame brother these days?” heard he got suspended for burning half the library

Jackson’s expression darkened. “Don’t talk about my bother like that.”

Another harder shove.

Jackson didn’t fight back. Damon then stared straight into the bully’s eyes.

Cold. Serious. Dangerous.

The quarterback faltered… then backed away.

When they finally returned to the dorm, Jackson sighed.

“Thanks for earlier, Damon.”

“It was nothing.”

“No… actually, there’s something I need to tell you.”

That made Damon look at him differently.

Jackson reached into his bag, pulled out a candle, set it on the desk… and closed his eyes.

The wick burst into flame.

No match. No lighter.

Just… fire.

Damon’s eyes narrowed slightly.

“This started months ago,” Jackson whispered. “I can do things. Things that aren’t… human. I can’t tell anyone. You’re the only one I trust.”

Damon looked calm… but his mind wasn’t.

“I’ve seen worse,” he said casually. “You’re still you.”

Jackson smiled a little. “Want to see something else?”

The lights faded to black.

The next morning, rain tapped softly against the dorm window. Damon was already awake, standing silently, staring at the gray clouds outside. He didn’t blink much… just watched.

Jackson woke up, stretched, then froze.

“You… awake? This early?” he laughed.

Damon didn’t answer. He kept watching the rain.

“Get dressed,” Jackson said suddenly.

Damon turned. “It’s Saturday.”

“I know,” Jackson grinned. “Yesterday you helped me. So today, I’m taking you somewhere. Somewhere fun. You look like you haven’t had fun in years.”

Damon hesitated… then grabbed his jacket.

They got into Damon’s Jeep and drove into the city, rain sliding across the windshield like silver threads. After a few minutes of silence, Damon finally spoke.

“That quarterback yesterday… what was he talking about? Your brother.”

Jackson’s smile faded.

“He meant this,” Jackson said quietly. “What I did… my brother can do it too. People used to call him a freak. Same with my dad. He’s even better than both of us. My brother went to train with him.”

“And you didn’t tell your father about your powers?” Damon asked.

“If I tell him,” Jackson sighed, “he’ll drag me away. No friends. No normal life. Just training. Forever. And I want my own life.”

Damon nodded slowly.

“So… what are people like you called?”

“My dad calls us supernaturals,” Jackson said. “There are more like us shapeshifters… immortals… a lot of things you don’t want to believe exist. But we’re not witches. We’re Spellcasters.”

Damon’s eyes lowered thoughtfully.

They spent the rest of the day out. Games. Food. Laughs. Jackson enjoyed every second. Damon didn’t smile much… but he stayed. That alone meant something.

Night fell.

Rain stopped.

They headed back toward the Jeep.

Then—

A low growl echoed from the woods.

Deep.

Familiar.

Damon froze.

“Damon…” Jackson whispered. “Don’t go.”

But Damon was already walking toward the trees.

Jackson cursed under his breath and ran after him.

Branches snapped. Leaves rustled. And then—

They saw them.

Massive werewolves tearing into each other in a brutal pack war. Some had glowing red eyes. Others glowed yellow. Claws clashed. Teeth snapped. The ground shook with their roars.

A larger one stood apart from the others.

Watching.

Commanding.

Its gaze slowly turned.

Straight to Damon.

Damon’s heart slowed.

Jackson’s voice cracked. “Damon… we need to go. NOW. We’re spoilers here.”

They ran. Wolves turned. Snarls thundered behind them.

They reached the Jeep.

Damon floored the engine—

A werewolf landed in front of them.

Towering.