Chapter Fourteen: Shadows of the Past

Seraphina POV

The hushed voices felt like a terrible ringing against my head, and I wished everything could go back to being quiet and dark.

But as my eyes fluttered open, so did that wish.

Ronan was seated by my side, clutching my hands tightly as though he was scared I would disappear.

I looked at my surroundings and noticed I was in the infirmary; how, though?

Last I remembered, I was trying to get to the garden when.

Oh no!

Everything came rushing back,

The teachers who had rounded me up and had then fought me using their powers, I had tried fighting back, but they defeated me and tied me down.

When I asked why they were taking such actions, they ignored me,

They ignored my screams.

My pleas.

And they freaking took me into the woods!

The woods where I had been trying so hard to stay.

The woods where my nightmare also happened,

At first, I thought they had discovered my nightmares and that the students in my dreams were real, so they wanted to punish me for it.

But when they rounded me and started some weird chants, I got even more confused.

I think that was when my memory got foggy cause I fell into a deep trance,

And now, opening my eyes, was Ronan sitting with me,

Did he save me?

"What happened?" I asked in a weak voice. As I tried to sit up,

Relief flooded Roman's eyes.

"Don't move flower, just stay still, oh I'm so glad you are okay." His voice was calm and so soothing, very unlike his brass tone, which I was used to.

And it made my chest tighten.

"How are you feeling?" Lena asked, bringing my attention to her,

Her eyes were scrunched in worry and guilt,

"I'm okay." I wanted to assure her of that; for some reason, I wouldn't say I liked her feeling guilty about me. We may not be close, but she shouldn't be burdened by me.

"Do you remember what happened?"

I swallowed.

"No the last thing I remembered was trying to get into the garden, everything is blurred from there."

I'm not sure why I decided to lie to her.

"Hm." She looked like she wished to say more, but she stopped herself.

"Get some rest, we shall talk when you are feeling…strong."

And with that, she walked away.

I couldn't help but look out for Ms riven, Alda and mr Leo,

They had been the ones who plotted my demise.

I had to know why.

"You lied," Ronan said after we were alone.

Sometimes, I hated how he could see right through me.

"I didn't."

"You can't fool me flower, tell me what happened." He demanded,

I wanted to deny it again, but then he would figure it out, plus I had to tell someone what happened; Ronan is the safest bet.

And so I narrated everything that took place,

When I was done, his brows had been scrunched in anger, and his fists were tightened.

"Xander was what right then."

"About what?"

"They were trying to offer you as a sacrifice."

A gasp escaped my lips,

Sacrifice? Whatever for?

"those nitwits, they would surely pay for every pain and fear you went through." He said to me, but somehow, it seemed like he was talking to himself.

"Why where they trying to offer me as sacrifice?"

"There's has been students missing, and by missing I mean they are dying, the teachers are scared and trying to hide it, and they must have thought you were the reason, since it all started with your appearance."

Shock filled my entire body.

What does that mean?

Oh no!

I caused it!

Each time, I saw a student dead. It wasn't a nightmare; it was real.

I killed them.

Suddenly, my breath constricted.

"Sera?" Ronan called, bringing me out of my thoughts; when I met his eyes, I snapped.

I'm a monster. I deserve to die.

The tears rolled down my eyes.

"Hey hey hey. Don't cry." He cooed as he placed me in his arms,

I snuck into it, enjoying his cinnamon spices scent that always comforted me.

I stayed in his arms like that, crying my lungs out,

Ronan didn't ask questions; he just stayed by my side. I had stopped crying then, but there was a stretched silence between us.

"I caused it." I finally broke it.

"What do you mean flower?"

"I killed them."

"Don't spurt rubbish, of course you didn't."

"It's not rubbish, I saw them, the dead bodies, I saw it in the woods, I always woke up next to it, and each time I did, I ran back to my room, and pretended it never happened, and when I come to check it, I discover the bodies were gone, so I thought I was hallucinating it, but the teachers must have hidden it, after I killed them."

Ronan was quiet. Too quiet.

Did he finally see me as a monster? Would he leave me now?

Would he kill me?

He always spoke about how I was his world. But no one wanted a monster in their world.

"It's not you." He finally spoke.

"What?"

"You didn't kill them, kyros did."

"Kyros is dead."

That's what the history teachers and then students said.

He had died cause he was killed by the heavens for being a crossbreed, like me. Except he was half vampire and half werewolf.

"He isn't. Why do you think no one is allowed In the woods?"

"Cause dangerous creatures roam there."

"The only creature in the woods is kyros, let me tell you a short story about two best friends."

"There was once two friends, who were very close and loved each other, one was the alpha son, and the other is was the beta son, both destined to take after their parents footsteps. The two friends wanted more than what was already destined for them, but they couldn't change their fate, they became the alpha and the beta. The alpha had grown to accept his fate, and even begun to enjoy it, but the beta.. he wanted more, he wanted to rule, he wanted to be feared. At first the alpha thought it was harmless, but with each passing days, the beta grew more deadly, and one day the beta discovered a way to make himself truly become powerful, and that was a spell that would make him a beast, half vampire, half werewolf. And not just that, he wanted the alpha to become that too."

Ronan paused. His jaw ticked, and I could see the sadness pooling around his eyes. I placed my hands on him, offering my form of comfort. He was relating his story, and I know it must surely be hard for him.

"You don't have to continue."

"It's okay." His voice is barely a whisper.

"The alpha refused at first, but the beta convinced him, the alpha just wanted to make his friend happy, however when the beta brought the requirements needed for him to become a beast, the alpha couldn't go on with it."

"What was it?"

"They were to kill the entire pack."

"Of course the beta tried to convince him, saying the pack would be revived, still the alpha refused, this caused the beta to snap, and then he left the pack."

"The alpha didn't hear from him for a year, and when he came back, he had become the beast. He tried to still change the alpha mind, but the alpha refused and sent him away, out of anger he turned to kill everyone in the pack."

"It was a Cold War, in which no one was saved, thankfully the heavens intervened, and subdued him, for he was trapped in the battle field, cursed to die. And to never find peace."

"The battle field must be the woods."

"Yes. And the academy was once the village of the pack."

"Oh." The sudden urge to hug and envelop him took over me.

He didn't have to tell me for me to know he was the alpha and that Kyros was his best friend.

The pain he must have gone through.

I tightened his palm in a form of comfort, and a sad smile played on his face.

"I'm sorry you lost your people. But if you weren't the one that caused it, then why where you blamed? Why were you cursed?"

"I…"

A knock sounded from the door, cutting him short; Ciaran entered,

Worry etched on his face immediately,

Ronan's entire expression changed from dynamic to blank.

And with a little bit of displeasure, I could sense that he was about to lunge at Ciaran,

But I stopped him with my pleading eyes.

"Hey cupcake, how are you?"

Ronan's snarl increased.

"I'm fine."

"You don't look fine, I leave you for a moment and you almost got killed. This is why you should stay by my side."

"Don't play house with your words. If you have anything to say, say it to me."

"Alright. You cannot take care of her. And you need to back off."

Ronan stood up and held him by his collar.

"Both of you stop!" I shouted, causing their angered gaze on me.

"He is here.." I pointed to the door.