My name is Sofia Santos, daughter of Donatella Dragna and Dante—once the immortal Legend himself, now maddeningly human. Trouble is my favorite form of art; it’s the only way I know to feel alive in a world where magic hides behind masks and secrets whisper louder than truth. I am known all over Valenda for looking exactly like a doll—big, dark eyes that shine and sparkle the way a puppy’s would, long dark hair that goes all the way down to my hips and is naturally curly but I always straighten it to perfection every morning, beautifully tan skin with a natural glow, soft, pouted pink lips, my father’s sharp jawline, full breasts despite my age, and an elegant confidence I carry myself with. People love to say I look like if innocence was a person, and yet act the complete opposite. I love fashion and wearing dresses, and would judge other random girls if I don’t like their outfit. Even though I’m quiet most of the times and look so innocent, I have a pretty dirty mind. When my mother makes dirty jokes in front of me, which she does often, I have to fight smirking since everyone expects me to not understand. Dante loves his daughter with every fiber of his being, and would do anything for her. It’s safe to say that Sofia is fairly spoiled, because not only is her father the Great Caraval Master, but also because her aunt (Scarlett) is empress of Valenda. Julian, Legend’s brother, and Scarlett, Tella’s sister, are engaged. They are known for their love, and how they always seek each other in a crowd. Julian also has a tattoo on his arm for Scarlett, a crimson star because he always calls her Crimson. My mother is known as the “Fate Slayer,” as when she was my age, she managed to kill the Fate who started it all, The Fallen Star, who is also Scarlett’s father. My father is more than a thousand years old. He was immortal before he met my mother. She loved him, but immortals are incapable of love. So he gave up his immortality just to love Tella. Both Scarlett and Julian, and Dante and Tella’s love stories are legendary. Donatella is called Tella for short, while Scarlett is called Scar for short by her family. There’s a secret buried inside me, one that will kill my mother if she doesn’t uncover it before my seventeenth birthday… and yet, I don’t even know what it is. I don’t talk much, mainly because my presence does the talking for me. But when I do talk, many say my voice is hypnotizing with how smooth and soft my voice is, as well as the way I talk. The moment I walk into a room, all male eyes land on me, which upsets my father and Uncle Julian. My uncle Julian says I have my mother’s defiance and my father’s curse. My aunt Scarlett swears fate can be rewritten. Girls in Valenda, no matter their age, look up to Sofia. Mainly because of Sofia’s excellent grades, the way she carries herself, how not even a single hair on her head is ever misplaced, and how humble she is despite her wealth. Alistair Fox is Jacks and Evangeline Fox’s only son. The forest of the Hollow. The hotheaded knight. Sofia is the only one to call Alistair “Star”, and Alistair hates it when anyone else calls him that. Everyone else calls Alistair “Ali”. Alistair is two years older than Sofia, so he’s 17 because Sofia’s 15. Because Legend absolutely despises Jacks for his previous relationship with Tella, Alistair and Sofia rarely see each other. Alistair’s always with his family in the Magnificent North, while Sofia is always with her family in Valenda. Ali and Sofia are obsessed with each other, but it borders on real love, that’s what’s dangerous about it. When they’re together, they stay so hidden that no one suspects anything. Ali has his father’s golden hair, but when he’s happy, it turns into his mother’s rose-gold hair. Yes, his hair color changes based on his emotions. When he’s upset, his hair turns into a pale blond. And with his father’s ethereal, ice-blue eyes, he’s the epitome of attractive.