Chapter 91 Chapter 91

Chapter 91 Chapter 91
A moment of tense silence passed between us. Ivan kept looking at me like he always did, with a studious gaze that could probably see right through to my soul. 

He always had a way of figuring out exactly what was plaguing my mind, and this time was no different.

“I didn’t mean for it to happen, you know?” He lowered his head, his tone heavy with barely controlled emotions. 

He ran a hand through his hair, messing it up even further, and still he looked just as good. Calling him handsome or beautiful or good-looking was never enough. Ivan was ethereal, angelic, both inside and out, and my heart wrenched as I let my eyes roam his face freely. 

Kind, courteous, and ever so charming, he was simply one of the best people out there, and that was why I found it so hard to let him go. 

His words brought me back to reality, and I shook my head in an attempt to clear it of the haze that settled around it.

“I was lost after what happened. I was struck with anger, grief, and despair. Gianna was there…” He didn’t get to finish his thought.

“She was there for you, and she stuck by you in your time of need. Yeah, I get it, Ivan. You told me all of this before.” I sighed, once again fighting the onslaught of tears with all my might.

“I’m so sorry.” He swallowed heavily, his eyes watering.

“Don’t be.” I shook my head and patted his shoulder. “It’s not your fault.”

“This isn’t how it was supposed to be.”

“But it is the way it is.” I shrugged. “You’re with Gianna now, and I just have to deal with that.” My smile was bitter, and Ivan could probably see right through it.

“I don’t know what to do.” He whispered dejectedly.

“You don’t have to do anything. I’m the one who has to move on.”

I closed my eyes for a brief second, flashbacks of all the time we spent together running through my head like a movie trailer.

Taking a deep breath, I went to say something else when a loud, pain-filled scream echoed through the school.

Seconds of tense silence covered the academy, like the quiet before the storm. Fear was palpable in the air as everyone prepared for the worst-case scenario, and a second later, another scream broke the silence of the night.

Everyone moved at once, as if a switch was flipped, and we all ran in the direction of the pained sobs that could be heard clearly even through the stomping of hundreds of students. 

Before Ivan and I could make it to the main building, Rose darted out of the bushes at full speed and almost collided with me if I hadn’t stopped her just in time.

“Rose. What the hell is happening?” I steadied her, keeping my hands on her shoulder for good measure, and waited impatiently for a few seconds until she caught her breath.

“The portals are open.” She glanced between Ivan and me.

“The academy is under attack.”

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The once dark and cold night flashed with the glowing lights of elemental magic. The portals- too many to count and too dark to glimpse through- opened through the academy grounds and unleashed the army of the underworld, the smell of death and decay seeping from within.

Ivan, Rose, and I ran forward, launching ourselves into the battle without as much as a second thought. Our endless training and mystic instincts kicked in, and we had but one purpose: protect the academy and send these invaders back to hell.

As I looked around, however, I noticed that our numbers weren’t as impressive as I thought they would be. It appeared that to every five Grim Ones there was only one Mystic, and if it weren’t for the fortunate lack of dead bodies littering the ground, I would have thought we were doomed.

I closed my eyes for a brief second and relished in the buzz of magic that rushed through my veins as I summoned my fire. My body felt warm, buzzing with energy, and ready to unleash my pent-up emotions.    

I had no idea where this power came from, seeing as how I was so desperate to get to bed not even five minutes ago, but I was not about to complain. The second I opened my eyes again, a portal opened up right next to me, and I was faced with six shadowy figures slithering out from the depths of the underworld. 

My heart skipped a worried beat, but as my fingertips sizzled with fire, I recovered from my hesitation and launched.

Flames, as volatile and destructive as they were these past couple of days, burst out of my palms and headed directly towards the first Grim One. 

It was making its way towards me, the stench of death surrounding it and the dark aura of black magic hovering over its hands, when it was suddenly engulfed in fire. 

A shriek so loud and so shrill I thought I’d go permanently deaf left the creature before it was nothing but a pile of ash on the ground. 

I thought my attack would deter the others or at least stall for a moment, but they didn’t even hesitate; the soulless, bottomless pits where their eyes should have been gazed into nothing as they advanced.
I had to think fast. To the rest of the academy, I was still Lilith, which meant I only had access to two elements: Fire and Water. 

Taking a deep breath and regretting it immediately due to the stench, I held my hands palms up and aimed them at the two creatures in the lead. Fire headed straight for one of the right and met his attack head-on, resulting in an explosion of opposing forces. 

I didn’t hesitate, however, and summoned my flames again, this time aiming for its heart, or where the thing should be. It went right through the creature’s chest and blew it up in seconds. 

Water, at the same time, rose from my left palm and aimed. In any other circumstance, regular water would have been of no use against the Grim Ones, but seeing as how this water was essentially made of elemental magic, it had a fatal effect on the creatures that were nothing but darkness.