Chapter 92 My Soul

Chapter 92 My Soul
Skylar

“I’m off then.”

They probably thought I looked completely fine, considering all three of them just gave me a quick nod as I turned to look back at them for a second.

I kept the knot of anxiety sitting in the pit of my stomach well hidden. I really didn't want Michael reacting on impulse and banning me from seeing Professor Rowland.

Gils would only get even more flustered—probably end up accidentally setting one of the canteen tables on fire. And Elroth? He’d take it as his personal cue to be as dramatic as possible, making the whole mess ten times worse.

Still, that underlying dread quickly escalated into proper, outright fear. My legs felt like lead as I dragged myself down the long corridor from the canteen towards the Headmaster’s office.

With every single step, my mind raced back to all the dead weird incidents that had been haunting both me and Katya lately.

Then, out of nowhere, a sharp, searing heat bit into my wrist. The Katarina sigil etched into my skin started throbbing slowly, before turning into a fast, violent pulse that grew more intense by the second.

I grabbed my wrist tight, trying to fight off the raw pain that kept escalating as I got closer to my destination. A few hushed whispers from some werewolf students—pretty sure it was Kareena and her clique—followed me all the way down the main hall.

The moment I pushed open the Headmaster’s door, the scene inside literally turned my blood to ice.

Katya was already there, sat in an iron chair right in the middle of the room. Her face, usually so full of fake charm, was dead pale, wearing a look of absolute horror I’d never seen on her before.

Her body was completely locked down, unable to budge even an inch under the binding spell—a weave of dark blue magic pulsing directly from Professor Varkesh’s hands. The stoat-faced professor stood tall, his cold glare locked dead onto Katya’s chest.

On the other side, Professor Rowland was moving rapidly around Katya’s chair. Golden light flared from his fingertips as he drew binding magic runes straight out of thin air, forcing them onto Katya’s skin and clothes.

Katya thrashed her body back and forth, trying to fight it off violently, but the magical runes steadily drained her strength until she let out a desperate, frustrated scream.

"Argh! Get off me!" Katya shrieked, her high-pitched cry echoing through the grand office.

The second she screamed, the pain in my wrist completely exploded. The sigil throbbed so hard that a brutal, shooting ache radiated all the way up my arm and into my chest.

Pure dread flared in my head, mixing with a physical pain so intense my knees nearly buckled underneath me. I winced, gripping my wrist tight as I stumbled back a step.

Before I could lose my balance completely, a strong, heavy hand caught my shoulder and yanked me back. My uncle, Kai, stepped straight in front of me, shielding my body to keep me a safe distance away from Katya.

"This is proper mental, Uncle Kai... and my hand..."

"Stay behind me, Skylar," Uncle Kai whispered sharply, his eyes glued to Katya. "This is going to turn into vampire business if she loses it."

Dad pulled me in close beside him. His protective aura instantly wrapped around me, settling my racing heart.

"Pray to the Moon Goddess," Dad whispered, his voice low but firm, not loosening his guard for a second.

Katya’s screams were practically deafening now. Dad stopped holding back his inner wolf altogether.

In a split second, his body shifted, turning into a massive, thick-furred brown wolf standing tall beside me. His muscles were strained tight, positioning himself to protect me at all costs.

In the middle of all the chaos, Katya’s head suddenly snapped up. Her wild eyes locked onto mine right through the gap between Uncle Kai and Dad.

"Skylar..." Katya rasped out, her voice rough and laced with utter, unhinged desperation. "Juliette Skylar... lend me your soul! Only your soul can save me! Give it to me!"

The words made the hairs on the back of my neck stand dead on end. That wasn't Katya talking—that was Katarina.

My whole frame shook, my legs turned to jelly, and I would’ve collapsed straight onto the floor if Dad’s massive wolf form hadn't propped me up.

Before Katya could get another word out, Professor Varkesh barked out a second incantation, his booming baritone echoing off the walls.

“Per maiores Equilibrii, pacem huic animae tribuite. A tenebris eam liberate.”

A sudden wave of raw magical energy surged from his hands, setting off a high-pressure blast of power that sent the heavy window drapes billowing violently as the temperature in the room plunged.

The stripping spell slammed right into Katya’s chest. The girl arched her back, screaming hysterically as the magical energy inside her was forcibly ripped away.

Right in the middle of the magical storm, the air in the corner of the room suddenly warped and twisted.

Headmaster Fischer stepped straight out of the dimensional fold, but he wasn't on his own—he was accompanied by two cold, incredibly elegant figures. My wolf senses immediately picked up the distinct scent of vampire off the pair of them.

The male and female vampires stared in complete shock at Katya, who was thrashing in agony under Professor Varkesh’s spellwork.

The male vampire let out a low snarl and made a move to step forward to break the spell, but Headmaster Fischer instantly threw his arm out, catching both vampires across the chest.

"Control yourselves!" Headmaster Fischer commanded, his voice calm yet carrying an absolute, undeniable authority. "This process won't harm or break her body. It’s the only way to purge the dark magic rooted inside her."

After a few minutes that felt like a bloody eternity, the violent surge of magic finally died down. The blue light and golden runes dissolved into nothing.

Katya’s body went completely limp against the chair, her head slumping forward as she panted for air. Even with all her energy drained, her pale lips still twitched, broken words slipping out.

"Mom... Dad..." Katya whimpered softly toward her vampire parents.

The female vampire couldn't hold herself back any longer. She rushed over to Katya’s side, dropping to her knees by the chair and cupping her daughter’s face in her hands.

They whispered to each other in hushed tones, using a language I couldn't understand. But mid-sentence, the female vampire abruptly went dead silent. Her deep crimson eyes slowly lifted, locking straight onto me with a look I couldn't quite read.

She stood up gracefully and turned to face me. "Miss McKirby..." her voice was smooth as silk, yet freezing cold. "Katya wants a word with you. She’s got a message she can only give to you."

My feet stayed glued to the floor. Massive doubt hit me like a wall. I clutched my wrist, which was still aching brutally. Everything that had just gone down—Katya’s hysterical screaming as her magic was ripped out, and that unhinged plea to borrow my soul—was still way too fresh, leaving me proper rattled.

Noticing my hesitation, Professor Varkesh lowered his hands and stepped forward. "There’s no need to panic, Miss McKirby. Katya’s magical reserves have been completely stripped. And Professor Rowland has placed a permanent seal on her power. She hasn't got an ounce of magic left to hurt you."

Even with Professor Varkesh vouching for my safety, the fear didn't just magically disappear. I remained frozen on the spot.

Suddenly, a warm sensation spread through my mind.

A deep, comforting voice echoed directly inside my head over the mind link.

\[Don't be scared, Skylar,\] my dad, Alpha Seth, spoke into my mind. \[Your uncle and I are right here. Not a single creature in this room is getting anywhere near you to cause you harm. Hear her out—it might be a message from the real Katya.\]

Hearing Dad’s voice in my head slowly melted away the fear locking my legs in place.

I took a long, deep breath, looked over at the massive brown wolf standing guard beside me, and forced myself to take a step toward Katya.