Maria’s quiet and fearful behavior had always made her an easy target in the eyes of the school’s bullies.
She walked with her head lowered and rarely defended herself when someone insulted her.
Instead of feeling sympathy, cruel students treated her fear like an invitation.
No one on the bus had expected Dante to stand up for her.
Warmth rose inside Maria’s chest as she looked toward him.
For a brief moment, it felt as though someone had finally noticed how much she was suffering.
That comfort was quickly replaced by worry because defending her might only encourage Mark to torment her more later.
Dante remained silent as he rose from his seat.
His relaxed expression disappeared while he moved down the aisle with slow and steady steps.
His cold gaze stayed fixed on Mark until the bully’s confident smile began to weaken.
Mark felt an instinctive chill spread through his body.
He glanced toward his friends and tried to convince himself that Dante would not attack him in front of everyone.
“What?” Mark demanded.
“You want to fight?” His voice was loud, but the slight tremble beneath it exposed his fear.
Dante stopped directly in front of him.
“You heard what I said.
Move your leg.” Mark’s face reddened as several students watched the confrontation.
Backing down now would destroy the reputation he had built among his friends.
He stood so quickly that his knee struck the seat in front of him.
Even at his full height, Mark remained several inches shorter than Dante.
“You don’t tell me what to do.” Mark raised his chin and tried to appear fearless.
To Dante, he looked like a frightened dog barking because it had nowhere left to run.
A trace of contempt entered Dante’s eyes.
Mark opened his mouth to insult him again, but Dante moved first.
His hand shot forward and caught the front of Mark’s jacket near the collar.
The power of the Ox Talisman flowed through Dante’s arm.
He lifted Mark from the floor with one hand.
Mark’s feet swung several inches above the aisle.
His angry expression vanished as he grabbed Dante’s wrist and struggled to pull himself free.
The effort accomplished nothing.
Every student on the bus fell silent.
Mark weighed well over a hundred pounds.
Even a strong adult would have struggled to lift him with one arm while standing inside a moving school bus.
Dante held him as though he weighed no more than a backpack.
Mark’s friends stared with their mouths open.
None of them stepped forward because the impossible display of strength had erased whatever courage they possessed.
Only Mark’s frightened breathing broke the silence.
Dante raised his free hand and slapped him across the face.
Smack!
Mark’s head snapped to one side.
Before he could recover, Dante struck him twice more.
The sharp sounds echoed through the narrow bus while every student watched in stunned silence.
Dante tightened his grip and forced Mark to look at him.
“Listen carefully.
I hate bullies more than anything.” Mark’s eyes widened.
“If I see you harassing Maria or anyone else again, I’ll show you exactly what it feels like to be helpless.
Do you understand?” “Yes.” The answer came out as a weak whisper.
Dante’s expression did not change.
“I couldn’t hear you.” “Yes!
I understand!” Mark nodded so quickly that his entire body shook.
Dante released him and shoved him back onto the seat.
Mark landed beside one of his friends and immediately moved toward the window to put as much distance between them as possible.
His followers avoided Dante’s gaze.
The same boys who had been laughing moments earlier now sat with their hands in their laps and their mouths closed.
Dante turned away as though nothing important had happened.
He returned to his window seat and looked outside while the bus continued toward school.
The houses of Derry passed beneath the pale morning light.
A soft voice came from beside him.
“Thank you.” Dante glanced over and found Maria standing in the aisle.
She held her books against her chest while looking at him with nervous gratitude.
“It was nothing.” He turned his attention back to the window.
Maria remained beside the seat for several seconds before gathering enough courage to speak again.
“Can I sit here?” Dante shifted toward the window to give her more room.
“Of course.” Maria sat beside him and placed her books carefully on her lap.
The fear in her eyes slowly faded once she realized Mark had no intention of approaching them again.
“Thank you,” she repeated.
This time, a genuine smile appeared on her face.
The expression transformed her completely.
Without the fear and sadness weighing down her features, Maria looked bright enough to draw the attention of nearly everyone nearby.
Dante gave her a slight nod.
“You don’t have to thank me every time.” Maria lowered her gaze, though her smile remained.
The bus entered the school parking lot a few minutes later.
Students quickly gathered their belongings and moved toward the exit, but everyone gave Dante and Maria more space than usual.
Mark waited until Dante had already stepped off before leaving his seat.
Dante entered the school with the morning crowd.
Instead of going directly to class, he headed toward the administrative office to handle Carrie’s absence.
The teacher responsible for attendance sat behind a desk covered with folders and unfinished paperwork.
She looked up when Dante knocked on the open door.
“What can I do for you?” “I need to explain why Carrie White won’t be at school today.” The teacher’s expression became more serious.
Dante described the argument at Carrie’s home and explained that she was currently staying with his family.
He left out Margaret’s collapse and every supernatural detail, but he made the years of abuse clear.
“My mother is contacting the police and child protective services this morning,” Dante finished.
“Carrie needs a few days away from school while they sort everything out.” Concern appeared on the teacher’s face.
“I knew Carrie had difficulties at home, but I didn’t realize the situation was that severe.” “It is.” The teacher nodded and opened the attendance records.
“I’ll mark her absence as excused.
Tell Carrie she should take all the time she needs.” “I will.” Dante left the office and headed toward his classroom.
He had completed everything Sarah asked, so there was nothing left to do except wait for the school day to end.
He dropped into his usual seat and leaned back.
Frank had not arrived yet, which allowed Dante to enjoy several rare minutes of silence.
That peace did not last.
Jennifer Check entered the classroom with Needy behind her.
She noticed Dante immediately and crossed the room with a confident smile.
Needy continued toward her own desk while Jennifer stopped beside him.
“Are you ready?” Dante looked up at her.
“For class?” Jennifer stared at him as though he had said something unforgivable.
“For tomorrow night.” Dante continued looking confused.
Jennifer tapped his arm.
“The Low Shoulder concert.
Don’t tell me you forgot.” Understanding appeared on Dante’s face.
With everything involving Marquis, Carrie, and Maria, the concert had nearly slipped his mind.
“How could I forget?” Jennifer narrowed her eyes.
“You hesitated.” “I was wondering why you thought I’d forget.” His excuse was weak, but Jennifer chose not to challenge it.
A playful smile appeared on her lips as she stepped closer.
Before Dante could react, she turned and sat directly on his lap.
Several nearby conversations stopped.
Jennifer leaned close enough that her hair brushed his cheek.
Her voice dropped until only Dante could hear her.
“I bought a special outfit for tomorrow night.” She pulled back just far enough to watch his reaction.
The mischievous light in her eyes made it clear that embarrassing him had been her goal from the beginning.
Dante felt heat rise across his face despite his effort to remain calm.
Jennifer noticed immediately.
“What’s wrong?” she asked innocently.
“You look nervous.” “I’m not nervous.” “Of course not.” She leaned closer and whispered near his ear.
“I hope you like surprises.” A warm breath touched his skin before Jennifer stood.
Dante shifted in his seat and tried to ignore the knowing looks coming from the surrounding students.
Several boys watched with open jealousy.
A few girls exchanged amused smiles while Frank entered the room at the worst possible moment.
He stopped in the doorway and stared at Jennifer standing beside Dante.
“What did I miss?” “Nothing,” Dante answered.
Jennifer placed both hands behind her back and tilted her head.
“I was only reminding Dante about our date.” Frank looked personally wounded.
“I’ve been asking him to teach me his secrets all morning.” Jennifer laughed and began walking toward her desk.
Before leaving, she looked back at Dante and gave him one final playful smile.
“Don’t be late tomorrow.” The bell rang before Dante could respond.
Students hurried toward their seats while the teacher entered with a stack of books.
The classroom soon became quiet.
Dante opened his notebook and pretended to focus on the lesson.
Jennifer’s teasing smile remained in his thoughts as he glanced toward her seat.
She had enjoyed making him uncomfortable far too much.
A faint smile appeared on Dante’s face.
Tomorrow night, he would find a way to turn the tables on her.