Chapter 6: The Nephilim

Before I could stop him, Dorian came from behind the pillar.

He stands between me and Professor Vance, shoulders forward, hands held loosely at his sides. He's looking ready to fight. "She's with me," he growls.

Vance laughs, the sound like dry paper crinkling, then slowly lowers the silver dagger into his jacket pocket. "Easy bloodsucker. If I wanted to kill her, she'd already be dead."

I also step out from behind the pillar, my legs shaking slightly, though I don't want to feel like a child cowering behind a grown-up. "What do you want from me?"

Vance turns his sharp eyes on me, and there is a lack of coldness now; he seems almost curious. "What do I want? The same thing you do. For the demon to be gone."

"And why should we trust you?" Dorian growls.

"Because I am a nephilim." Vance says it as if it explains everything. Neither of us says anything, and Vance lets out an exasperated sigh. "Half-angel, half-man. My race hunts demons. It's in my blood. Raze has been lurking around this campus for weeks and I've been tracking him; I've been tracking your roommate, Arya too. She is getting worse."

"How do you know who I am?" I ask, still wary.

"I saw you in my class. You jumped when I spoke of possession, you stared at the symbols on the board as though you had seen them somewhere before. You know..." Vance inclines his head, his sharp eyes seeming to gaze right through me. "... I can smell your magic; it's ancient and potent."

Dorian steps closer to me, standing his ground in front of me. "She isn't your tool."

"Never said she was." Vance produces a piece of chalk from his pocket and starts to draw something on the stone floor of the chapel, a circle, with various symbols surrounding it. "The grimoire is kept in the restricted area of the library. You already knew that, though didn't you?”

I nodded.

"The lock on that door was witch-made. It only opens to witch blood," he continued to sketch, "but that is not the difficult part. The grimoire itself has a guardian spirit. Those who attempt to steal it without its permission will be physically attacked, it will attempt to kill you."

My stomach fell. "Wonderful. Anything else?"

Vance glanced up at me. "The new moon is tomorrow night. The guardian is weakest then, so we go at that time."

"We?" Dorian's tone was hollow.

"Yes we. I have been studying that particular spirit for years, and I know how to divert its attention." Vance completed his sketch and stood up, "You will have only perhaps five minutes to snatch the grimoire and be gone."

"And you're helping me because you're such a good person?" I inquired.

"No," his lip curled into a smile, void of any warmth, "I am helping you because if Raze opens a portal, demons will be crawling all over campus. Nephilim or not, I alone cannot handle a demonic army and still stay alive. Self-preservation."

That I understood perfectly.

Dorian crossed his arms, "The vampire council is sending a team, led by Mira. Are you aware of this as well?"

Vance's smile vanished. "I know. And your information is wrong. They are not arriving in three days. They are arriving in two."

My heart stood still, "Two days?"

"I have the most reliable sources." Vance gazed at me with a faint hint of sympathy, "you have less than 48 hours to get that grimoire, learn that spell, and trap Raze. After that Mira will be on campus with a squad of a dozen vampire enforcers. And if they catch you, you will not be killed, you will wish that you had been."

Dorian took a step toward Vance. "How do you know so much of the council's movements?” He locked gazes with Dorian. "Because I am not a professor, Dorian. I have been living for three hundred years. I have friends in high and low places." He pulled out a gold pocket watch and flipped open the cover. "Tomorrow night. Midnight. Library back entrance. Be there."

He began to head toward the chapel door, but he stopped.

"Arya." He didn't turned his back to me. "Your mother. She was a good witch. A brave witch. She did not deserve what happened to her."

I couldn't breathe. "You knew my mother?"

"A long time ago." He nudged the door open with the side of his foot. "We can talk about it tomorrow. For now, you should get to your room before your roommate wakes up and finds out you are missing."

And then he was gone.

Dorian and I stood there, unmoving for a long time.

"Do you trust him?" I finally managed.

"I don't trust anyone," Dorian replied, and then he looked me in the eyes. "But he is right about one thing. You need that grimoire, and you cannot obtain it without assistance. I will be there tomorrow night."

"You do not have to-"

"I do." His voice was firm and serious. "The council wants you. That makes you my responsibility."

" Your responsibility?" I raised an eyebrow to his words.

He almost smiled. "My concern. There is a difference."

I did not know what I should say. I did not say anything at all. I walked towards the door and he came out behind me.

The trip back to the hostel was silent. Dorian walked in the shadows, but I knew he was watching me go, to make sure I was okay.

I sneaked through the back door and creeped my way up stairs.

The hallway was dark and vacant. I opened my door quietly.

Zoe was sitting up in bed. Her eyes were brown and normal, but her smile was odd. Too wide. Too knowing.

"You smell like angel and vampire," said Raze out of her mouth. It was a deep amusement. "Making friends, little witch?”

I didn’t reply. I got to my bed and sat down.

Raze tilted Zoe's head. "Tomorrow night you're going to the library, you know. I see what Vance is saying in his classroom. The walls have ears, Arya."

I froze.

He laughed. So soft and so cold. " I will be watching you, don't forget who you share your room with."

I got down, pulled up the blanket above my chin. My heart beat so strong it felt like it would break through my ribs.

"Good night, Zoe" I whispered.

"Good night, witch" he replied back.

I closed my eyes and wished to be in another place. Any other place.

Suddenly, I felt a cold breathe blow on my face.

I opened my eyes.

Zoe stood by my bed and her head was inches above mine. Her brown eyes were not brown anymore. Completely black, with no pupil and no white. Just dark.

"Sleep well witch" I heard Raze whisper, "I will be there inside your dreams"

I tried screaming but my throat felt closed and tight as somebody held it with their hands.

Zoe smiled then she went back to her bed and got under her sheets, she then started humming her cheery pop song from this morning

I didn’t sleep all night but lay down staring at the ceiling and feared when it was time for my sleep and how he would be in my dreams.