Prom was supposed to be such a big deal, yet they held it in annex number three, the same room they used for the advanced and master classes of Major Magical Control. From TV and movies, Dylan knew it was typical for prom to be held in the school gym, but he’d been hoping for something more.
He half expected to be challenged at the door, but the teacher took their tickets with a smile and a nod, telling them to have a good time.
The school had made some effort. A small stage had been set up at one end with a DJ booth next to it, and they’d put in a floor where the dirt used to be in the middle of the gym. Huge speakers were hung on the walls, and the whole place had been decorated.
“Oh, it’s so pretty.” Sakura squeezed his hand.
Okay, so they had a serious advantage over mundane proms. The ceiling had been enchanted to resemble the night sky twinkling with stars.
“So um, I guess you want to dance?” Dylan said. The DJ was currently playing an old, upbeat song from the ’90s.
She turned, giving him her full attention. “I would love to.”
Dylan felt awkward, especially since people kept looking at him, but he moved to the beat and spun Sakura around a few times. After two songs they took a break and Sakura spotted Izume.
He left them exclaiming over each other’s dresses and went to get some punch. Out of the corner of his eye, he spotted Mr. Johnson standing near the wall. So the warden liaison was watching the dance. Just being a chaperone, or did he expect trouble? Dylan ducked his head and hurried to the refreshment table, hoping Mr. Johnson wouldn’t notice him.
The punch tasted like cheap crap, but Dylan drank it because he was thirsty.
Someone nudged him. “Wow, didn’t think I’d see you here.”
Dylan turned to face Hanna. Great. Like things couldn’t get more awkward. “Oh, hi.”
But she was smiling. Hanna’s hair was pulled up in an elaborate style, and she wore a blue-and-green dress with a crisscrossing top. It wasn’t super low but still showed some cleavage. “Did you come here with someone? Or did you decide to come alone?”
“I uh, came with Sakura.” When she raised her eyebrows, he went on quickly, “What about you?” Did she have a new boyfriend? Had she lied about why she dumped Dylan? Or had she been on her own long enough and decided it was okay to date again?
“I’m here with my pack. The seniors anyway. I even got Carter to dance.” She turned and pointed to the ghoul kid, who was dancing badly with the vampire girl. He had a wide grin on his face.
It was selfish to feel relieved since Dylan was here with another girl.
“So you and Sakura?”
Dylan groaned. So much for trying to distract her. “She asked me, and I said yes. We’re not dating or anything. Although I guess this might count as a date, huh?”
“Don’t worry, I’m not jealous.” She put a hand on his arm, then drew it back, looking self-conscious. “Sorry, I’m used to touching my pack.”
“It’s fine. Are you having a good time?” If she hadn’t broken up with him last year, would they be here together? Or would Dylan have screwed things up somehow?
“I am, actually.” Hanna smiled.
“Wait. Did you sneak out to get here, or did your parents actually let you come?”
“They let me come. I talked them into it.” She looked extremely pleased about that. “Dad even bought me this dress.” She did a little twirl and the skirt puffed out. “Isn’t it pretty?”
“Yeah. And you’re pretty too.” He’d liked dating her. Holding her hand and kissing her. And from what he’d seen over the past year, she’d gotten more confident and happier. He liked this new Hanna. Maybe… But then he remembered she was a senior. In a few weeks she would graduate and leave town. “I mean, you know. Just saying.”
She blushed. “Thank you.”
The music changed to a slow song. “Dylan!” Sakura appeared out of nowhere and gripped his arm. “I love this song. Will you dance with me, please?”
“Um, sure.” He gave a parting smile to Hanna as Sakura tugged him toward the dance floor.
He hesitated, and Sakura put his hand on her waist. This was a song meant for an actual partner-type dance, and it made Dylan nervous. He’d seen the strappy little shoes Sakura was wearing, and they wouldn’t be any protection if he stepped on her feet.
She moved closer, looking up at him. The swirling light from the disco ball made her eyes sparkle. “Thank you for coming here with me. This is… a dream come true.” The hand on his shoulder moved a bit, fingers brushing the hair on the back of his neck. “I’ve had a crush on you for years.”
His heart beat double time. “Really?” Aiden had called him oblivious, and maybe he was. “I didn’t know.” All this time?
Sakura looked down. “I hid it really well. Even Izume didn’t know until last year.”
Dylan didn’t know what to say to that.
She met his eyes. “Do you like me, Dylan?”
Aw, crap. He almost tripped but managed not to stomp on her feet. “I think you’re cool.” That was the truth.
“Oh.” Somehow she took that as a bad thing and looked away. “Are you still in love with Hanna then?”
“What? No,” he said a little too loud. “I mean, we were never in love. I liked her a lot and stuff, but it wasn’t love.” Although now he wondered if Hanna had loved him. But then why would she have broken up with him?
One side of Sakura’s mouth turned up. “I’m sorry. I shouldn’t be pushing. I’m just glad you’re here.” She laid her head on his shoulder.
Her warm body pressed against his as they swayed to the music. Dylan wrapped his other arm around her waist and listened to the nervous flutter of her heart. He could even feel it against his chest through the thin fabric of her dress. “This is nice,” he said into her ear. “Dancing with you.”
She lifted her head to look at him, eyes searching.
All he could think of was how beautiful she was, how good she felt in his arms. Her lips parted slightly, and he thought, Well, why not? Slowly he leaned in.
The lights went out.
People cried out in surprise and grumbled in complaint. Even with his night vision Dylan could hardly see. They were inside, without any moon or starlight. The magical lights in the ceiling had gone out too. Only the red exit lights shone in the huge gym.
“I’m sure it’s just a malfunction of some kind,” a teacher said. “We’ll get this fixed in a few moments.”
“Hey, my magic’s not working,” someone said.
Dylan took a few steps back from Sakura. “Need a light?” he joked. But when he reached for his magic, nothing happened. “What the hell?” He tried again. Nothing. His magic had never failed him.
Except once.
When the wardens had put him in that cage, trapping him so he could be hunted.
His breath came faster.
Sakura gripped him. “I can’t use my magic either.”
A few lights sprang up through the room as people turned on their phones.
“I can’t get a signal.”
“Me either—no bars.”
“There’s a barrier.” A faint ripple of magic cast a light purple glow at one side of the gym. Jabu stood a few feet from the wall and reached out. Magic rippled again. “Someone changed the wards to trap us in here.” He pointed at the floor where a silver line indicated the edge of the wards.
They were meant to keep spells inside so they wouldn’t damage the building or hurt the students waiting their turn.
One of the teachers came over to test the barrier, pushing hard to no avail. “Why would someone do that?”
The scent of fear grew in the room. Some of it was coming from Dylan. “The wardens,” he told Sakura. “They trapped us in here.” Panic made his chest tight. He was helpless. They were all helpless.