Chapter 45 Shadows And Promises

Chapter 45 Shadows And Promises
Lena’s POV

The walk to the professors’ quarters felt endless.
Zara was still unconscious in Raphael’s arms, her head resting weakly against his shoulder. Xavier walked ahead nervously, constantly glancing around to make sure nobody saw us.

And me? I could barely walk properly.

One arm was wrapped tightly around Adrian for support while his hand stayed firmly around my waist, holding me steady whenever I stumbled.

“You okay?” he asked quietly.

No. But I nodded anyway.

The memory of Zara collapsing because of me kept replaying in my head over and over again. The fear in everyone’s eyes when mine turned red.

Finally, we reached the professors’ building.

Raphael adjusted Zara carefully in his arms.
“Which room?”

“The last one on the left,” I answered weakly.

Adrian helped me up the stairs slowly until we finally stopped in front of a dark wooden door.

I knocked immediately. Nothing.
Panic clawed through my chest.
I knocked harder this time.

“Professor Selene, please…”

The door suddenly opened.
Professor Selene stood there wearing a long black robe, silver hair loosely tied behind her back.

The moment her eyes landed on me, surprise flashed across her face.
“Lena?”

Then her gaze shifted toward Zara unconscious in Raphael’s arms.
And her expression darkened instantly.
“What happened?”

“I need your help,” I said quickly.

Selene’s face immediately became cold again.
“No.”

My chest tightened.
“Professor…”

“I told you before,” she interrupted sharply. “Anything involving you is not something I want to be part of.”

The words hit harder than I expected.
But before despair could fully settle in, I stepped aside slightly so she could see Zara properly.
“Please,” I whispered. “If not for me… then for her.”

Selene hesitated. Her eyes narrowed carefully as she studied Zara’s pale face.
For a second, I thought she’d still refuse.
Then finally, she sighed quietly and stepped aside.
“Get inside. Quickly.”

Relief flooded through me instantly.
We entered the room carefully while Selene shut the door behind us.
Her quarters smelled strongly of herbs, old books, and candle wax.

“Put her on the couch,” Selene instructed.

Raphael immediately obeyed. Zara looked frighteningly pale now.
My stomach twisted painfully again.

Selene turned toward me sharply.
“What exactly happened?”

I swallowed hard.
“We rescued me from the people who kidnapped me,” I explained quickly. “Then Zara touched me and suddenly…”

My voice shook slightly.
“She started getting weaker.”

Selene frowned deeply.

“There was light,” Xavier added awkwardly. “A lot of light.”

“And then Lena’s eyes turned red,” Raphael muttered.

Selene’s eyes snapped toward me immediately.
“Your eyes changed?”

I nodded weakly.
Her expression slowly shifted into something that looked dangerously close to fear.
“Oh no.”

The room went silent.
“What?” Adrian asked immediately.

Selene looked directly at me.
“You siphoned her.”

Everyone blinked.

“…What?” Xavier asked.

“I don’t understand,” I whispered.

Selene exhaled slowly before speaking.
“Siphoning means draining power from another supernatural being.”

My blood ran cold instantly.
“No…”

Selene nodded grimly.
“You absorbed Zara’s magic.”

Shock crashed through the room immediately.
Raphael looked horrified.
“You’re saying she stole Zara’s powers?”

“I didn’t mean to!” I said quickly, panic rising in my chest again.

“I know,” Selene replied softer this time.

Then she looked directly into my eyes.
“It’s one of the abilities hybrids possess.”

I felt sick.

“There are supernatural creatures capable of absorbing power from others,” Selene explained carefully. “But hybrids…”

Her expression darkened slightly.
“They’re far more dangerous.”

I stepped backward slowly.
Adrian immediately grabbed my hand gently before I could retreat further.
“Lena…”

“What if I hurt her again?” I whispered.

“You won’t,” he said firmly.

But even he didn’t sound completely sure.

Selene quickly moved toward Zara before the panic could worsen.
“We’ll deal with explanations later.”

She began arranging herbs and candles around Zara carefully while murmuring ancient words under her breath.
I stayed frozen beside Adrian the entire time.
Terrified. Minutes passed.

Then suddenly, Zara gasped sharply.
Her eyes flew open.

“Zara!” I breathed.

Relief slammed through me instantly.
Raphael looked equally relieved beside her.
“You scared us,” he muttered quietly.

Zara blinked weakly.
“What happened?”

I instinctively stepped toward her, then stopped immediately. Fear rooted me in place.

What if I touched her again?
What if I drained her powers again?

My breathing became uneven.

Zara noticed instantly.
“Lena?”

I shook my head quickly and stepped backward.
“No.”

Adrian frowned.
“Lena…”

“I can’t…”

Tears burned painfully behind my eyes now. Everyone looked at me differently now. Even if they didn’t mean to.
I could feel it.
Without another word, I turned and ran.

“Lena!” Adrian called behind me.

But I kept going. Straight out of the professors’ quarters.



The academy garden was quiet.
Dark and Peaceful.
Moonlight spilled softly across the pathways while the night wind brushed gently against my skin.

I sat alone near the fountain, pulling my knees tightly against my chest.
Maybe Professor Selene was right from the beginning. Maybe helping me only brought danger. Maybe I really was too dangerous.

“You’re being dramatic.”

I looked up immediately.
Professor Selene walked slowly toward me through the garden. I wiped quickly at my eyes.
“I almost hurt my best friend.”

Selene sat beside me quietly.
“And yet you stopped yourself from touching her again.”

“That doesn’t change what happened.”

“No,” Selene admitted softly. “It doesn’t.”

Silence settled between us briefly.
Then Selene sighed quietly.
“The reason I didn’t want to help you…”

Her voice became distant suddenly.
“…is because I’ve done this before.”

I frowned slightly. Selene stared ahead at the moonlit garden.
“When I was a student at Blackwood Academy,” she said quietly, “my closest friend was also a hybrid.”

My chest tightened.
“She couldn’t control her powers either.”

Pain flickered briefly across Selene’s usually cold expression.
“I tried helping her,” she whispered. “Every spell. Every lesson. Every method we could find.”

Her voice cracked slightly.
“But it wasn’t enough.”

I swallowed hard.
“What happened to her?”

Selene looked down quietly.
“She died.”

Silence.
“I was afraid helping you would end the same way,” Selene admitted.
“But abandoning you would dishonor her memory.”

I blinked slightly.
“So,” she said quietly, “I’ll help you.”

My breath caught.
“I’ll teach you how to control your powers.”

Hope flickered weakly inside me.
“You mean that?”

She nodded once.
“I’ll be your personal guide.”

Emotion hit me so suddenly I nearly cried again. Without thinking, I threw my arms around her tightly.
“Thank you.”

Selene stiffened immediately in surprise.
Then slowly… very awkwardly, She hugged me back.
“Don’t make me regret this,” she muttered softly.

I laughed weakly through my tears.
After a few more minutes, Selene eventually stood.
“You should rest.”

I nodded slowly. Then she walked away, disappearing back toward the professors’ quarters.
I stayed behind for a moment longer.

And then, warm arms suddenly wrapped around me from behind.
I smiled immediately.
“Were you spying on us?”

Adrian’s soft laugh brushed against my ear.
“Maybe.”

I turned toward him slowly. For a second, neither of us spoke.
Then suddenly, he pulled me into his arms properly. And kissed me. This time deeper.

Every fear inside me softened slightly in his arms. When we finally pulled apart, Adrian rested his forehead gently against mine.

“I meant what I said before,” he whispered. “About caring about you.”

My heart raced instantly.
“I care about you too,” I admitted softly.

His smile was small
Then he suddenly groaned dramatically.

“What?”

“I just realized I confessed before my big hockey tournament.”

I laughed sof
tly.
“Poor timing.”

“Very.”

He brushed his thumb gently against my
cheek.
“Actually…” His eyes glinted slightly. “I have a surprise planned for you.”

I raised an eyebrow.
“A surprise?”

“Maybe.”

“That sounds suspicious.”

“It probably is.”

I laughed again. Then Adrian smirked slightly.
“But first,” he said, “I have to destroy Shadowcrest Academy tomorrow.”