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    Immortal
    Immortal
    Immortal
    Ebook283 pages4 hours

    Immortal

    By Gillian Shields

    3.5/5

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    About this ebook

    Wyldcliffe Abbey School for Young Ladies, housed in a Gothic mansion on the bleak northern moors, is elite, expensive, and unwelcoming. When Evie Johnson is torn away from her home by the sea to become the newest scholarship student, she is more isolated than she could have dreamed. Strict teachers, snobbish students, and the oppressive atmosphere of Wyldcliffe leave Evie drowning in loneliness.

    Evie's only lifeline is Sebastian, a rebellious, mocking, dangerously attractive young man she meets by chance. As Evie's feelings for Sebastian grow with each secret meeting, she starts to fear that he is hiding something about his past. And she is haunted by glimpses of a strange, ghostly girl—a girl who is so eerily like Evie, she could be a sister. Evie is slowly drawn into a tangled web of past and present that she cannot control. And as the extraordinary, elemental forces of Wyldcliffe rise up like the mighty sea, Evie is faced with an astounding truth about Sebastian, and her own incredible fate.

    Gillian Shields's electrifying tale will dazzle readers with suspense, mysticism, and romance.

    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherHarperCollins
    Release dateAug 4, 2009
    ISBN9780061859168
    Author

    Gillian Shields

    Gillian Shields is the author of Immortal, Betrayal, and Eternal, the first books about the sisterhood of the Mystic Way, as well as many other books for young readers. She spent her childhood roaming over the Yorkshire moors and dreaming of the Brontë sisters. After studying in Cambridge, London, and Paris, she became a teacher. She has taught in a girls' boarding school and also in a drama school where it was rumored that the ghost of a young girl could be heard crying in the night. Gillian was inspired to write this series in celebration of the power of first love, the strength of female friendship, and the haunting mystery of the past.

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    Reviews for Immortal

    3.5/5

    170 ratings20 reviews

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    • 4/5
      My Thoughts: Part ghost story, part romance, there was no putting Immortal down. I had to know what happened next. Evie Johnson is a very "no-nonsense" character. In the very first line she says "I don't belive in ghosts. I don't believe in witchcraft either...not any of the whole mumbo jumbo of the 'other side'." It makes you stop and think 'Wait, I thought I picked this up in the paranormal section?' This isn't the type of book where our heroine is so easily swayed to believe the supernatural just because of some swoony, dark-haired mystery boy...ahem, Sebastian. Evie has to be convinced, multiple times, until there's no denying the supernatural and how deeply rooted in the "other side" she really is, even without knowing it. Immortal is almost reminiscent of Libba Bray's Gemma Doyle Trilogy. Evie Johnson: Evie is so relatable. She's been uprooted from her home, taken away from everything she's ever known, and thrown into this new world she doesn't belong in, and one she hardly enjoys. Evie embodies the idea that "sometimes we have to do things we don't want to". She has to make the best of it, there is no other choice. I applaud Ms. Shields for taking how we all feel inside and putting it on paper in the form of Evie Johnson. Sebastian: I loved Sebastian, but I have to say he seemed almost cliche. The typical YA paranormal boy. Brooding, dark-haired, and tortured inside by something he can't share till the second half of the book. Given, Sebastian's situation was unique, and we all know this is the kind of boy we love to read about. Hello, guilty pleasure.
    • 3/5
      Reminded me a lot of Hallowmere. I love the genre and though this wasn't the best of it, I did really enjoy it.
    • 1/5
      I can honestly say this book holds absolutely no entertainment to me. It sounds a bit like the Gemma Doyle Triology but to not make it too similar to that story, the author plops in stuff about ghosts and the like. I just don't know why - maybe it was the 'light' writing style- but this just wasn't a captivating read in any aspect. I feel bad for hating on a book, so I suppose one thing that perked my interest was the communication between the horses caretaker Josh (I think that's his name) and Sarah. But that only happened like twice in the story for a good 3-4 sentences. I won't even mention much about the main couple; like the book, I was not emotionally attached to either of them. Anyways, give it a shot for sure but I didn't enjoy my experience with this book. I checked out the sequel and I'm definitely going to delay reading that.
    • 3/5
      Immortals is a decent book, which starts off just okay and finishes strong. Evie is a girl from the sea who gets sent to the moors of England to a prestigious, uppity boarding school. She is a scholarship student (gasp!) and the other girls are predictably nasty. Over the course of a semester, she makes a couple of dear friends, falls in love, and discovers a family secret. Again, predictable, but enjoyable all the same. It didn't really interest me all that much until the last few chapters where the action sets up a sequel, which I think has more promise than this book. Fans of the House of Night series might enjoy the supernatural elements of Immortal since they are similar. It was a fast and easy read, but I'll withhold further judgment until I can get my hands on book two!
    • 3/5
      The basic story line of the book is typical of a book in this genre but I decided to read it anyway.

      The Good
      I liked how the author added a twist with the magic in this book and didnt just make the standard witch stuff. I loved how she included the journal entries throughout the book. I think it made the story that much more interesting to the reader and it also aided in figuring out a lot of the story. I also liked how I thought the ending was going to be predictable, but it wasn't. I was both happy with the way it ended and relieved that I didn't always know what would happen.

      The Bad
      The romance was the only part of the story that was predictable. I knew that they were gonna fall in love. The guy would say sweet things, tell her how he can't live without her then out of nowhere say that they can't be together. I hated when the book took that turn. Way to typical of a male lead these days.

      Overall
      Overall I didn't hate the book, but it wasn't a book where I absolutely had to know what happened. It was a book that I could set down and go a day without reading it. That is the exact reason why it got 3 stars, it wasn't horrible, but it wasn't amazing either. But I would recommend that you read the book, it just didn't exactly suit my taste.
    • 4/5
      Immortal by Gillian ShieldsA young girl sent off to a gothic boarding school where she falls in love with an inappropriate young man seems to be a popular theme these days (Fallen by Lauren Kate and A Great and Terrible Beauty by Libba Bray are just two that come to mind.) Gillian Shields’ Immortal is about Evie Johnson a teen who lives with her grandmother, Frankie, because Dad is a deployed soldier and mom died when Evie when was younger. All is well until Frankie falls ill and Evie has nowhere to go until Dad gets her a scholarship to Wyldcliffe Abbey, a boarding school for rich stuck-up girls. Things go wrong from the beginning. Evie’s arrival at the school is delayed by an encounter with a dark and brooding young man. She engages the wrath of a fellow student simply by existing. And the head mistress seems to dislike her just on principal. Things seem hopeless until she meets once again the dark brooding young man that she encountered just before arriving at Wyldcliffe. Not surprisingly, Evie becomes obsessed with this young man, Sebastian. Also not surprisingly, Sebastian has deep dark secrets. However, he is not the only one with secrets. There are secrets in Evie’s family history and even the head mistress is keeping secrets. All these secrets are tied together and make for a brooding angst filled story. Though this story does not stand out from others like it, I did find it interesting. Shields hooked me on her story and I plan to read the next book, Betrayal, which is due out in August. Fans of Melissa Marr’s Wicked Lovely series, Libba Bray’s A Great and Terrible Beauty trilogy, and Lauren Kate’s Fallen will enjoy Immortal.
    • 4/5
      Sadly,I had to rewrite this review since blogger somehow deleted everything when I posted it. I happened to find this book when I was writing down a list of books I wanted to read at my school's book fair. I didn't buy it, though. So when I walked into the library one day, I found Immortal and immediately grabbed it. A day after, I also found Betrayal, also by Gillian Shields, the sequel to this book. Immortal is a story about Evie Johnson, a girl whose grandmother just recently died. Evie starts meeting a mysterious boy named Sebastian at night and finds out secrets about him and herself. Stories about her ancestors, her true identity and who she is encircles her. Evie meets Sarah and Helen, and together, they call the elemental powers and interweave them to form one powerful force. Soon, Evie finds out the truth about the amulet she wears that was given to her from her grandmother. Either Sebastian will kill her to get the amulet that will make him immortal, or he will spare Evie from a horrible fate that will end her life forever. It's up to Sebastian to save Evie-or doom her.
    • 2/5
      This book is ok for me but it realy didnt keep my attetion for long . I would recomaned to people who like hear about bordering schools.
    • 4/5
      A decent enough book about ghosts, secrets, magic and a girls' boarding school in the middle of nowhere. Shields' book is composed of a diary and the story of our heroine, Evie and how she must confront her past in order to survive the future. A lot hinges on two characters who come together, even though they've never met. A decent YA fantasy romance.
    • 1/5
      Positives: It was fast paced, a bit interesting but not original and Agne's journal entries and character development was the best part of the whole book. I mean if this book was only focused on Agne and her journal then I probably would have given this book 5 stars. She is the only character who really has any development. Sebastian has some too. Now Negatives on to the of this book. There is a lot. I really hate giving bad reviews but if it come to that I will. Where do I start? First off the dialog was unrealistic and cheesey. The book was lacking good writing. The writing basically dragged the whole plot down the drain. The plot was interesting but the writing brought down the whole book. The romance was rushed. Evie's character wasn't developed much, especially her thoughts so when it came to a emotional part in the book the emotions were lacking. I mean when Sebastian and Evie fought, instead of feeling anger and understanding Evie's character, I laughed. Stuff was added randomly. Spoiler: Like when Sarah was a friend one moment and then the next she was able to see things, like the future. Like they never hinted at it. I don't remember the author hinting at it when I read it. Another thing is theres to much plot events which make it confusing. The ending ended with not all the events wrapped up. Meaning there will be a sequel. I will read the sequel hoping that it's better. I think this book could of had so much potential if it was worked out better and had lesser plot events. Also if the writing was written better. I felt Gillian Shields didn't really understand a teenagers mind. I mean I felt she didn't write for a teenage audience. I mean when she wrote adult characters in Immortals they sounded like adults but when she wrote teen characters it just was so unrealistic and cheesey. The whole first meeting with Sebasistian was to quick and cheesy. I just didn't enjoy this book. This book would get good, then fall, get good, then fall. I don't know it just wasn't my type of thing.
    • 4/5
      Wyldcliffe Abbey School for young ladies is a gothic mansion on the bleak northern moors. It is an exclusive, expensive, and unwelcoming school. Evie Johnson’s mother was killed when Evie was just a little girl. Her father is in the marines so she was living with her grandma. Her grandma became very sick so she got sent to Wyldcliffe Abbey School. Her ancestors also used to live in Wyldcliffe. But while she was there she met a mysterious guy named Sebastian who comes out only at night and is surprised when Evie can see him. He is mocking, rebellious, and dangerously attractive young man. Every night she sneaks out to meet with him, each night her feelings for him grew. Later she finds out one of her Ancestors, Agnes, lived in the house when it was still a house. But there is no record of Agnes having children. Even later she finds out that Agnes and a childhood friend found a book called The Mysticke Way and Agnes was chosen and the friend was jealous. Evie also sees Agnes and she helps out Evie but she does not know thatYes I liked the book. I liked it because it is interesting. It is very original and mysterious. It recived the rating it did because i has everything i like in books. It had romance and eeryness. It has friendship and betrayal. It even has that supernatural thing going on. Plus there are some major suprises. It also has things you wouldn't expect.
    • 3/5
      3.5 starsEvie is sent away to a girls' boarding school and has some trouble fitting in. She meets a boy she is drawn to, but there's something a little different about him. In fact, there's something going on at the entire school. I enjoyed this, but probably would have liked it better in print. I listened to the audio, and my mind tended to wander so I did miss a few things. The book does go back and forth in perspective between Evie and Agnes (through Agnes's journal), who lived at the school in the late 1800s. That's partly why I lost where I was a few times. In a print book, I could have flipped back to see whose perspective we were looking at at various times, but with the audio, that's trickier. It is a series, but I'm not convinced that I'll keep going.
    • 4/5
      not so bad if u like old romance (which i do) good plot but the author really mess it up in the end sadly i hope it was going to be super cool not just good hope that next time ther are 2 boy not only one boring one
    • 4/5
      Once you get drawn into the young adult literature (YA) spiral, it’s hard to pull yourself out, and Gillian Shields’ new release Immortal is just one reason why. For those of you that are like me (and I know you are out there) that got sucked into the world of supernatural romance and urban fantasy after you read Twilight, then you will appreciate why I had to have Immortal. The cover promises suspense, mysticism and romance, and for the most part, it delivers. Immortal has a lot going for it. It’s got a creepy boarding school, first love, dark family secrets, and of course, magic. The book starts off slow, with the protagonist, 16 year old Evie Johnson, lamenting her arrival at an unfamiliar and faraway boarding school, and quickly delves into both history of the school and its paranormal ties to her. Evie also quickly meets Sebastian, a young and mysterious boy with whom she becomes involved. The romance of the novel seems unlikely, Evie meets Sebastian, obsesses over him for awhile, then sees him again and suddenly they are undyingly and passionately in love. Sure, I can get swept up in first love and impractical romance that abounds in lots of YA novels, but their love seems rushed and their connection seems to have no real development. Apart from the romance of the story, the author weaves in excerpts from a diary, intertwining the past life of Evie’s ancestor to the present storyline, and of course, her history is tied to the school, and the discovery of magic. Through Evie’s discovery of her ancestor’s identity she starts to learn about her tie to her own magical power, and a dark secret of Sebastian’s past. As the storyline is uncovered, the plot races ahead at breakneck speed, packing a punch at the end, where Evie’s self discovery makes her an enemy of her love, and the novel ends leaving plenty of room for the author to make a sequel. Although the story is predictable at times, and the romance between Evie and her first love Sebastian seems unfounded, the book serves up a good mix of the supernatural, mystery and self-discovery and is great for any avid YA readers who want a good, albeit dark romp through a Gothic castle, discover inherent magical abilities and suffer the joy and heartbreak of a first and impossible love.
    • 2/5
      I was very excited for this book when I read the summary. Girl goes to a mysterious school, mysterious guy with secrets, I was ready for a paranormal romance. I was dissapionted with what I got.I was enjoying it at first. The writing was easy to follow and discriptive. Once I got a few chapters in it got boring. I usually have no problem with a predictable story, but that is because there is usually great characters that keep me enthralled. The characters were flat. The romance was unimpressive, which was very dissipointing to me. With first love never dies on the cover, I was expecting more in that department.I enjoyed the journal entries of Lady Agnes, a character from the past, and that was what got me through the book. I was often forcing myself to finish this story, which is not what reading is all about.
    • 4/5
      I'll be honest. When I first saw this book, I figured it would be another blah YA novel dealing with paranormal romance. Then I read the back and had to admit that okay, it had kind of an intriguing plot, so I'd give it a chance.I'm glad I did.The early parts of the book wasn't particularly grabbing, and annoyed me more than anything else. The pacing seemed badly done, giving the backstory as a first-person exposition. But it was done in such a way that I couldn't really get a feel for the character. It came across as, "Things such but I'll stay strong, and I have to go to this boarding school to please my family even though I don't want to, and I'll miss my grandmother, and HOLY CRAP THERE'S ACTION ALL OF A SUDDDEN!"I realize that the backstory was put in there to avoid the reader having to sit through an entire chapter of it, but it felt so rushed and removed that I actually think I would have been less bored if the first chapter had consisted of nothing but Evie's discussion with her father about her grandmother's health and going away to Wyldcliffe.But once I got past that messy introduction, Immortal quickly turned into one of those books that has me looking up every once in a while and wondering just where the time went. The plot that unfolds is interesting, the premise decently original, and the hints that are dropped are enough to make the reader suspect and theorize but not quite know how it all fits together fully until much later. Not quite a Rowling-style adept at making literary puzzles, Shields certainly still manages to do a good job with her plot and its mystery.I was quite happy to see that the love story in this wasn't as contrived as some I've read this past year. Stories in which two characters fall head-over-heels in love and ignore all sense and reason are in vogue these days, and aside from an initial "tugging behind the ribs" sensation when Evie first meets Sebastian, their relationship actually developped quite well, starting with some forbidden midnight outings and eventually progressing to admissions of love, with some misunderstandings and spats in between. It felt real, not rushed; complete, not contrived. I also enjoyed seeing Evie's struggle with learning to use her newfound magical abilities. So often in books you have a character who can use magic and everything comes as naturally as breathing. There were such characters in Immortal, yes, but Evie wasn't one of them, and it was due to the kind of emotional blockage that makes sense to block something like magic (at least by my way of thinking).Ultimately, Gillian Shields seems to have a real talent for visuals and for interesting turns of phrase, as well as for weaving a YA storyline that I can really sink my teeth into. I look forward to seeing more of her work!
    • 5/5
      This book is about a girl named Evie Johnson who lost her mom when she was young and her grandma is in the hospital, ill. Evie's dad is in the middle of the war so he sent Evie to a place called Wyldecliffe. Wyldecliffe is an all girls school that has some mystery. A girl drowned in the lake, and the old owner Lady Agnes got murdered. People say they see Lady Agnes walk the grounds of the school, and she looks just like Evie. On the way to Wyldecliffe Evie got hit by a horse carage, A guy stepped off and helped her up. Evie had been cut by a glass picture frame. The next day the cut was healed, and it all leads back to the guy from the carrage. I like this book because it is mysterious and i couldnt stop turning the pages. There was alot of magic, Murders and ghosts, but those are my favorite kind of books to read. I think anyone who loves to be surprised at what happens next should read this book. They should also read it if they like mysteries. This book has a sequal and i cant wait to read it! Thats why i like this book.
    • 2/5
      It was ok book. If there is a 2nd book to follow it I would read it just to see how the story develops.
    • 3/5
      When Evie Johnson comes to stay at a creepy boarding school called Wyldcliffe, she meets a mysterious, attractive young man named Sebastian on a black horse which almost runs her down. Soon afterwards, she meets Sebastian again, and although several signs warn against it, she finds herself promising to visit him every evening. She longs to find out the truth of his story, for she suspects there is more to his story than meets the eye. Can Evie clear up the mystery surrounding Sebastian in time to save him? Read Immortal to find out.
    • 2/5
      This was interesting until I was thinking about the Fallen series [which I read first]...which this felt a lot like - teen girl at a school she doesn't want to be with, mystery boy, a ghost that looks suspiciously like the girl, secrets, rando shit happening...I got bored with this and stopped reading.**All thoughts and opinions are my own.**

    Book preview

    Immortal - Gillian Shields

    Prologue

    I don’t believe in ghosts. I don’t believe in witchcraft either, or Ouija boards, levitation, tarot cards, astrology, curses, crystals, second sight, vampires—not any of the whole mumbo jumbo of the other side. Of course I don’t. I’m intelligent, sane, sensible Evie Johnson. Girls like me don’t get mixed up in all that crazy paranormal trash.

    At least, that’s what I would have said before I arrived at Wyldcliffe Abbey School. But everything is different for me now. I have glimpsed her world, and I can never go back to being the girl I used to be.

    Imagine a wild, lonely landscape where the moors rise in harsh folds of green and brown and purple. Sheep are dotted here and there on the hillsides, standing patiently in the bitter wind. A few trees have managed to grow, but they look bare and stunted. The moors encircle a bleak little village at the heart of the valley, like the walls of an ancient prison.

    Welcome to Wyldcliffe.

    This is the place that haunts my present, my past, and my future. That is, if I still have a future. If he will permit that. If he doesn’t destroy me first.

    She is by my side, as my sister, but he is in my soul.

    He is my enemy, my tormentor, my demon.

    He is my beloved.

    One

    I never wanted to go to boarding school. Hanging out with a crowd of rich kids in a swanky school was never on my wish list. I was content with my old life, in a keeping-myself-to-myself kind of way. Not happy, perhaps, but content. And then, one soft blue September day, my grandmother—Frankie—became seriously ill.

    She had never been Gran to me, only dearest Frankie, my surrogate mom, my best friend. I had stupidly expected her to go on unchanged forever. But no one is immortal, not even the people we love. And now Frankie was sick and I was forced to pack my bags for Wyldcliffe Abbey School for Young Ladies. Life really gives you a kick sometimes.

    I was doing my best to think of it as a challenge.

    The journey to Wyldcliffe seemed to last hours as the train headed north. I was traveling alone. Dad had wanted to come with me, but I’d convinced him that I would be okay going by myself. I knew he wanted to spend every possible moment of his leave with Frankie at the nursing home before he had to go back to his army posting overseas. So I told him I was quite capable of sitting on a train for a few hours without ending up on a missing persons poster…. Honestly, Dad, I’m sixteen now, not a child anymore…. It wasn’t that difficult to persuade him.

    The truth was that I guessed it would be easier saying good-bye to him at home. The last thing I wanted was for those snobby Wyldcliffe girls to see me sniveling as my dad drove away. No, there was going to be no poor Evie this time. I’d had enough of that over Mom. People whispering about me in the street. The pitying looks behind my back. It wasn’t going to be like that again. I was going to show them that I didn’t need anyone. I was strong, as strong as the deep green ocean. No one at Wyldcliffe would ever see me cry.

    I transferred to a sleepy local train just as it was beginning to get dark. We chugged through an unfamiliar landscape of sloping hills covered with bracken and heather. In the depths of my misery I felt a twinge of curiosity. When I was little, Frankie had told me stories about Wyldcliffe, which she had heard from her mother, stories about the wild moors and the lonely farms and the harsh northern skies. I had never seen the place, but now I was almost there. I put away my magazine and my headphones and peered out of the window into the dusk.

    Half an hour later, the train pulled into a little station at the head of a deep, shadowed valley. As I heaved my bags into a beat-up old taxi, a gust of wind whipped up a spatter of rain. I said, Wyldcliffe, please, and we set off. I tried to make conversation with the bleary-eyed taxi driver, but he barely grunted in reply. We drove on in silence.

    Between the clouds, I caught sight of the sun slipping behind the moors like a streak of blood. The leaden sky seemed to press down heavily on the land. I had lived all my life next to the open sea, and those dark hills made me feel strangely hemmed in. For all my brave talk, I suddenly felt very small and alone. How stupid I’d been not to let Dad come…. Then the car turned a corner, and the church tower and gray stone buildings of Wyldcliffe village finally came into sight.

    The driver pulled up outside a tiny general store on the rain-blackened street. Where to, then? he growled.

    The Abbey, I replied. You know, Wyldcliffe Abbey School.

    He twisted his head around and glared at me. I’ll not take you to that cursed place, he spat. You can get out and walk.

    Oh, but— I protested. I don’t know where it is. And it’s raining.

    The man seemed to hesitate, but then he grunted again. It’s not so far to walk. Knock on the door of Jones’s shop, if you like. He’ll drive you, but I won’t.

    He got out of the car and dropped my suitcases onto the wet pavement. I scrambled after him. But where’s the school? Where do I go?

    The Abbey is yonder, he said, pointing reluctantly to the church. No more than half a mile from the graveyard. Tell Dan Jones that’s where you’re headed.

    A second later his car roared out of the village, leaving me behind like an unwanted package. I couldn’t believe that he had just dumped me there in the pouring rain. I knocked furiously on the door of the little shop, where the sign read, D. JONES, WYLDCLIFFE STORE AND POST OFFICE. There was no answer. It was a late, wet Sunday evening, and the whole village seemed to be shut down for the night. I swore under my breath. There was no choice but to walk.

    The sun had set, and the pale moon was struggling to break free from a rack of clouds. Tall black trees and slanting graves crowded the little church. As I walked past, I was startled by the sound of rooks screeching in the dusk.

    I shook myself angrily. I wasn’t going to be spooked by a few birds and a crummy churchyard. It looked like some ridiculously cheap set in a cheesy horror movie. Looking around, I saw an old sign marked ABBEY. I set off down the lane, hauling my suitcases over the mud. By now my long red hair was dripping with rain, and my hands were white with cold, but I felt boiling hot inside, raging against the unfairness of everything: first Mom, then Frankie, and now this godforsaken boarding school, the insane cabdriver, and the stupid, stupid rain….

    Lost in my bitter thoughts, I didn’t see the horse—or its rider—until it was too late.

    There was a great flurry of hooves and gleaming flanks and the swirl of a long coat. I looked up and froze, unable to get out of the way of a black horse that was hurtling toward me. Then it reared and screamed and something struck the side of my head. I just remember falling…falling into darkness.

    When I opened my eyes again, the rider had dismounted and was hunched over me. He was only a boy, a few years older than me, but he looked as though he had come from a different world, a storybook land of knights and elves and princes. His long dark hair framed a pale, sensitive face with high cheekbones and brilliant blue eyes, and he was staring at me so intently that I felt uncomfortable.

    This was unreal. I wasn’t the kind of girl who crashed into good-looking guys. I scrambled shakily to my feet.

    I’m…sorry, I stammered. I didn’t see you.

    You weren’t supposed to.

    He looked tired and tense, and the shadows under his eyes were like soft bruises on a tender plum.

    I’m sorry, I repeated stupidly, waiting for him to apologize in return. But the boy simply stared at me.

    Did you stop my horse on purpose?

    Did you ride into me on purpose? I fumed back.

    There’s no harm done to you, the boy replied. But I cannot say as much for my horse. The great beast was trembling and sweating, tossing its head and rolling its eyes as though it had seen a ghost.

    Oh, I am sorry, I snapped. Where I come from, humans are actually considered more important than horses.

    The world is overrun with humans, like rats, but I have rarely found a horse that suits me so well. His expression was as cold as a winter sea. He murmured to the shivering animal, his long fingers searching its mud-spattered sides. Then he looked up at me, a fraction less hostile. Fortunately there’s no real damage.

    Oh, great, I said. The horse is fine. Well, that’s a relief. I thought it might be bruised and covered in mud after being knocked down, oh, and late for its first day at a hideous boarding school, that’s all. But no, the horse is fine. Hallelujah!

    I scrambled furiously to collect the stuff that had spilled from my suitcases. Who did he think he was, this pretentious poser, with his long black hair and his long black coat? Some kind of romantic highwayman? Just some kind of jerk. I seethed, squashing everything back into the case as quickly as I could. A blue sweater lay in a puddle. I grabbed it, then yelped.

    Ouch!

    The sweater fell open to reveal my framed photo of Mom. She was beautiful in that picture, laughing into the camera on a long-lost summer’s day. I had wrapped the precious keepsake in the sweater during my hasty packing, to keep it safe. But the glass in the little frame had broken and sliced into the palm of my hand, and now a drop of my blood oozed over Mom’s face.

    I rocked back on my heels. I just wanted to sit in the rain and howl. Look what you’ve done! I snapped angrily, trying to hold back my tears.

    The boy threw his horse’s reins over a low branch in the lane, then deftly folded the sweater around the broken frame. He whispered a few swift words before thrusting the bundle back into my suitcase.

    The picture was dear to you, the boy said abruptly. He looked at me in a strange, searching way, as though about to say something more. I caught my breath. He really was extraordinary, so pale and still and intense. Don’t cry, he said. Please.

    I’m not crying. I gulped, standing up and sucking my hand where it bled. I never cry.

    I can see that, he mocked. But your cut should be covered, and it seems that I must do it for you. He quickly twisted a white handkerchief into a bandage and tied it around my hand to stop the bleeding. A weird shiver ran through me as his hand brushed against mine. There, the boy said, looking at me more gently. I have more than made up for any tangle with my horse by saving your life. I’ve just stopped you from bleeding to death.

    A hint of a smile flickered over his lean face. I noticed the curve of his lips, and the arch of his black eyebrows. He was still holding my hand in his, and I felt a tiny knot of attraction tugging under my rib cage.

    Don’t be ridiculous! I answered, dropping my hand with an effort. A little cut like that isn’t dangerous.

    Do you really know what dangers might lurk in this lane? The boy moved closer to me and studied me with unnaturally bright eyes. I felt his cool breath on my cheek. Then he reached out and touched a strand of my wet hair and whispered, How do you know what is waiting in this valley for a girl from the wild sea?

    I trembled under his touch, not knowing what to say. How did he know that I came from the sea? Who was he? And could he—would he—do me any harm out here in this lonely place? Stepping away from him, I tensed up and started to rack my brains for everything I had ever learned about self-defense. The boy seemed to read my mind.

    Don’t worry; you’ll get home safely tonight. He grinned and mounted his horse. But we’ll meet again, I promise you!

    He galloped away in the direction of the village. We’ll meet again. I pushed the thought away into a secret place, unwilling to admit to myself that I hoped that he was right.

    The pelting rain brought me back to my senses. I gathered up my things and carried on down the lane toward the Abbey. At last I reached some iron gates set in a stone wall. An old sign was fastened on one side of the gates. It read:

    WYLDCLIFFE BE COOL OR YOU DIE.

    For a second I gazed in horror, then laughed weakly. I read the sign again, filling in the gaps where the painted letters had flaked away.

    WYLDCLIFFE ABBEY SCHOOL FOR YOUNG LADIES.

    I had arrived at last.

    Two

    I’ll never forget my first sight of the Abbey. I made my way down the drive, turned a corner, and my new home rose up in front of me—gaunt, gray Wyldcliffe in all its Gothic splendor.

    It was a brooding, heavy, secretive place. Towers and battlements jutted up crazily to the sky, and rows of hooded windows stared out like blank, blind eyes. A lamp swung in the wind above the massive front door. It was as though I had blundered back into a bygone age. I stood there, overwhelmed, then a group of girls dashed around the corner of the building and up the front steps, running to get out of the rain. They broke the spell, and I hurried after them.

    Reaching the top step, I pushed open the carved oak door. There was no sign of the girls. They had vanished into the cavernous building. The dimly lit entrance hall stood empty and silent. Faded school trophies were displayed in cabinets, and firelight flickered in a huge hearth. At the far end of the hall a wide marble staircase wound upward. A landing ran around each of the upper floors, and it was almost dizzying to look up so high. The whole place was like nothing I had ever seen before, except in museums. I walked across the tiled floor to the fireplace and tried to get warm.

    This is it, I thought. My new life. This was the famous Wyldcliffe Abbey School. It wasn’t what I wanted, but I would try to make the most of it. I wouldn’t complain, I would study hard and make Dad proud.

    You must be Evie Johnson, said an expensive-sounding voice. I spun around and saw a tall, elegant woman walking out of the shadows into the firelight.

    Yes, I am. I smiled, smoothing down my wet hair. I guessed that good manners would be a big thing at Wyldcliffe, so I held out my hand and said, How do you do?

    The woman ignored my outstretched hand and my smile. She paused and scanned my face intently, then frowned.

    You’re late. We don’t tolerate unpunctuality at Wyldcliffe.

    Oh, I couldn’t help…, I began, but her look warned to me to stop. I felt myself squirming under her cold gaze, as though she knew that I had been lingering in the rain with a stranger. I’m sorry.

    Don’t let it happen again, she replied coolly. I am Celia Hartle, the High Mistress of Wyldcliffe. Now follow me. Leave your luggage here. The caretaker will deal with it.

    So this was the principal. I hoped the other teachers would be slightly more human.

    She led the way down a dark corridor to the left, then paused by a door that had a sign in black letters reading HIGH MISTRESS. We entered an elegant study with paneled walls, furnished with books and paintings and antique furniture. Mrs. Hartle sat behind an impressive desk, and I sat on a hard chair opposite her. She seemed to examine me again before announcing, I was not in favor of accepting you into the school.

    Oh, great, I thought. She didn’t want me here. This was a perfect start.

    The term has already commenced, she went on, and it will be difficult for you to catch up with the advanced level of work in the senior division of the school. It will be even more difficult for you to learn our ways, our traditions. Wyldcliffe is not like other schools. This establishment is not merely about academic success. It trains young women for a place in society. In recent years, the number of scholarship places has been very limited. She paused, and I knew she was expecting me to say how grateful I was, that I would be humble and good and meek, the perfect charity girl in a school full of young ladies. I wanted to snap back with redheaded fury, I don’t want to be in your crummy school either. I want to go home! But I managed to keep quiet.

    Mrs. Hartle sighed and continued, The school governors, however, thought that in your circumstances they could not refuse assistance.

    Dad had told me there was an old clause in the school’s constitution to make provision for the distressed daughters of the officers of Her Majesty’s armed forces. In other words, free tuition for a motherless girl with a father in the army and not much money. Well, I’m distressed, all right, I thought with a grim smile.

    You have been fortunate to qualify for a scholarship. Make sure that you deserve it! She looked me over with distaste, taking in my muddy clothes and my stringy wet hair. Her eyes rested for a fraction of a second on the blood-spotted handkerchief that was still tied around my hand, then darted to the silver chain around my neck.

    Jewelry is not permitted in school.

    Instinctively I clasped the necklace that Frankie had given to me during my last visit to the nursing home. She had pressed it into my hand, unable to speak, her face twisted by the stroke that had nearly killed her. It was an old-fashioned trinket of intricately worked silver, with a bright crystal at its heart. I didn’t think it was valuable, but Frankie had wanted me to have it, and that made it precious.

    But Frankie, my grandmother, gave—

    I am sure your grandmother would want you to obey the Wyldcliffe rules, Mrs. Hartle interrupted disapprovingly. I quickly pushed the necklace out of sight under my shirt.

    That’s better. I might as well add that the use of personal phones, radios, and such is also forbidden. At Wyldcliffe we do not wish our girls to be overwhelmed by the gadgets of so-called popular culture, nor to be addicted to the mindless modern habit of communicating without meaning. You will give me any such devices for safekeeping, and they will be returned to you at the end of term.

    Reluctantly I handed over my cell phone and my precious iPod. I was beginning to dislike Mrs. Hartle and her rules.

    Now, as you unfortunately arrived so late, the girls have already gone to supper. You do not have time to change before you join them. Come!

    She stood up abruptly, and I guessed that sending me into supper looking like an absolute mess was punishment for being late. I shivered, and not from cold.

    Mrs. Hartle led me through a confusing maze of paneled corridors hung with gloomy paintings, and we finally reached the dining hall. It was a chilly, vaulted room set up with long rows of tables and wooden benches. A high table ran across a raised platform, where the teachers sat. They were nearly all women, and most of them were wearing formal academic gowns. It all looked depressingly like something from a hundred years ago.

    The murmur of conversation died instantly as Mrs. Hartle stepped forward. The students rose to attention, a mass of privileged girlhood from eleven to eighteen years old. They were all wearing the school uniform of dark gray and maroon—a sickly kind of bloodred color—and they all looked alike, with their shiny hair and clear complexions.

    Thank you, girls, said Mrs. Hartle. Please be seated. But before you continue with your supper, I would like to introduce a new student. This is Evie Johnson, who joins us as a scholar.

    She might as well have waved a placard saying, SHE’S NOT PAYING TO BE HERE; SHE’S NOT REALLY ONE OF US. I looked up at the rows of well-groomed girls, as

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