Chapter 298

Chapter 298
Lira's POV

I jolted awake, gasping for air, my heart pounding against my ribcage. The silver moonlight from my dream still flickered before my eyes, the ancient gaze of the Moon Goddess seemingly following me into reality. Her final warning echoed in my mind: "Remember, little witch, only truth can illuminate darkness. Your power exceeds your imagination."

What the hell does that even mean? I wondered, feeling lost and confused.

"Hey, you okay?" Nathan's warm palm gently caressed my cheek, his touch anchoring me back to reality. I blinked, finally realizing I was inside an SUV, the rhythmic hum of tires on asphalt filling my ears. Outside, pine trees rushed past like blurred shadows against the deep blue pre-dawn sky.

"Another nightmare?" Nathan asked softly, his fingers tenderly tucking a stray strand of hair behind my ear.

"Not exactly a nightmare," I rubbed my temples, trying to dispel the fog in my brain. "It was that Moon Goddess dream again. She seemed to be... warning me about something."

Derek's eyes met mine through the rearview mirror. "Let's hope it's not some catastrophic prophecy. We've got enough trouble on our plate already."

"Any news about Sophie?" I asked.

Nathan's expression darkened. "Robert was compromised. Cole's interrogating him, but so far, he's refusing to reveal Sophie's location."

"The training camp is on semi-lockdown," Derek added. "We need to make sure there aren't any other moles."

Damn it! If only I'd been more alert, if I'd paid more attention to the signs... "I can't believe the enemy was right under our noses and I didn't spot it sooner," my voice cracked with self-reproach. "If I'd been more vigilant, Sophie wouldn't be in danger."

"This isn't your fault," Nathan said firmly, his fingers pressing reassuringly into my shoulder. "Linda has been planning this for a long time. None of us saw it coming."

But I should have, I thought bitterly. She's my best friend, and if anything happens to her... I'll NEVER forgive myself!

---

The atmosphere at the training camp was suffocatingly tense. Guards stood like statues at every corner, expressions grim, hands resting on weapons. As we walked through the gray corridors, a horrific scream suddenly pierced the air, slicing through the silence like a blade and making my heart nearly stop.

"What was that?" I gasped, my voice involuntarily trembling.

No one answered. I quickened my pace, following the direction of the sound until I reached a heavy metal door. Through the small window, I witnessed a scene that froze my blood. Robert was tied to a metal chair, blood soaking through his shirt, his face covered in wounds. Cole and another guard stood before him, their eyes flashing gold under the harsh fluorescent lights.

Jesus Christ... they're torturing him. My stomach churned.

A strong hand suddenly blocked my view. Nathan had appeared behind me, his expression frighteningly cold.

"I don't want you seeing this," he said, his voice low. "Step away from that room. I mean it."

I straightened my spine, meeting his gaze directly. "This is my fight too, Nathan. She's my best friend. I should be in there with you."

"Not now," he commanded, then turned to two guards, making a quick gesture. "Take her away."

I watched in disbelief as he turned and entered the interrogation room, a feeling of betrayal and anger washing over me. I'm not some delicate flower that needs sheltering!

Derek cleared his throat. "I'll take care of her," he told the guards. "I'll keep an eye on her."

"I don't need a babysitter," I snapped, jerking away when he tried to grab my arm.

"Listen," Derek said, lowering his voice. "I was about to check out Robert's office anyway, see if there's anything useful. Want to come? Better than standing around feeling helpless."

I hesitated, still fuming at Nathan. At least Derek's offering me something to do instead of treating me like a child. "Fine," I agreed reluctantly.

As we walked away, Derek added quietly, "Nathan's just trying to protect you. When we go into interrogation mode... it gets ugly. Trust me, you don't want those images in your head."

"I'm not made of glass," I muttered, though some of my anger had subsided.

"Nobody thinks you are," Derek replied. "But that doesn't mean we want you to see us at our worst."

---

Ten minutes later, we arrived at Robert's office. The place smelled strange, like a mixture of metal and rotting vegetation, so pungent it made my stomach lurch.

"You smell that?" Derek asked with a frown, his nostrils flaring. "Something's off here."

We carefully searched the room, checking file cabinets and bookshelves. Suddenly, Derek slipped, nearly falling.

"Shit!" he cursed under his breath, steadying himself against the desk. We both looked down at the floor—a puddle of grayish-green viscous liquid glistened with an eerie sheen.

"What is that?" I approached cautiously but kept my distance. Looks like snot from hell.

Derek's expression suddenly turned vigilant. "Shapeshifter morphing fluid," he explained, his voice tense. "They can take the form of anyone—not just copying appearances, but memories and thoughts too. Almost impossible to detect."

"Shapeshifters?" I repeated, my mind reeling. Just how many supernatural creatures don't I know about? "Like, actually-can-change-their-face-and-body shapeshifters?"

"Exactly that kind," Derek confirmed, his gaze quickly scanning the entire room as if suddenly aware of danger. "We need to search this place thoroughly."

He called over a warrior and ordered him to check for anomalies. The warrior methodically tapped the floor with his boot, checking inch by inch until he stopped in the center of the room. "Sir, it sounds hollow here."

Derek motioned for two warriors to step forward. They quickly pried up that section of flooring—and I'll never forget the terror of that moment. Beneath the floor lay the real Robert, his skin waxy white, eyes staring vacantly at the ceiling, his throat slashed in a grotesque grin, dried blood pooled beneath him in a black lake. The stench of death hit me like a wall.

"Oh God," I felt my knees weaken, barely able to stand. The coppery smell of old blood made me dizzy.

Derek immediately steadied me, preventing me from collapsing. "Breathe, Lira. Deep breaths."

I forced myself to calm down. "This means... Nathan and Cole are interrogating an impostor."

Derek nodded grimly. "We need to tell them immediately!"