Chapter 9 Whispers in the Dark

Chapter 9 Whispers in the Dark
Chapter 9
Lira’s POV
Whispers in the Dark

"Did you hear that? Another one is gone as usual."

I froze mid step, straining my ears to get the full story. It didn't take much, and I got to know who the voice belonged to. It was the boy that I first met on the day of my arrival at the Academy. His tone was low, trying his best not to attract an extra ear, but anyone who pays close attention would easily catch a few details.

Another one again? That would be exactly three for this week alone.

"What does gone mean?" His friend asked. I realized he must have been a new recruit not to know what he was talking about.

"Vanished into thin air. Disappeared without trace. Just like the others before, there would be no scent to trace their disappearance, nothing related to their way about. And if I'm to speak my mind, I would say it's the Academy that's behind this, swallowing them all."

My chest burned on hearing that, but I didn't stop walking, my steps were now unhurried, like I wasn't interested in whatever they were discussing, but my wolf kept nudging me to continue moving.

"Lira, it would for you good if you keep walking. You shouldn't draw more attention to yourself than you already did." Nyra tried to pursued me, her voice protective, but I refused to heed to her warning.

"I'm not blind as you see me to be, Nyra. Something is definitely wrong over here "

"And if care isn't taken, if you keep mendling in affairs that doesn't concern you, you might be the next target."

I quietly slipped into the strategy hall, but the more I moved deeper, the more unease I grew. By the podium, I got a glimpse of a cluster of professors all discussing in a hushed tone. It was so low that no one was supposed to hear them, but I did.

"Failed candidates," one of them started. "It's a shame they had no stamina to withstand the process. Their weak bodies..." He stopped abruptly, carefully scanning the hall.

Another professor sighed with his arms folded. "The Council gave out their warning before now. They predicted this would happen. Some bloodlines aren't just useful, just weak."

What do they mean by failed candidates? I thought within myself, my stomach twitching nervously.

I quietly moved till I hid carefully near a shelf, a corner filled with scrolls from fought battles, leaning in a way that my ears were inclined to get every word they might throw around.

"And still," began a third voice with unease. "there's too many disappearing prediction. Even to the point the heirs also noticed. I learned that Dravenhart has started asking questions already."

Cael?

My pulse quickened at the discovery.

“Lira. You should take your leave now,” Nyra urged me, her tone coming out with urgency. "This isn't your fight, at least not yet. And if you insist, it might end you "

I bit my lip hard as I tried to understand what that meant. "This isn't my fight? It's very clear that the Council is experimenting on students, and they are the reason students kept disappearing without trace. How do you expect me to ignore such, and with the evidence clearly pointing at them...?"

"That's because, I forbid you from being their next target," she snapped without allowing me to finish. "Don't risk everything for just mere whispers which you have no solid evidence for."

I pressed my palm flat, holding down one of the scrolls, using it to help myself to stay calm. She was absolutely right. Being cautious and knowing when to move matters. But to worsen it, the hollow pit dug in my chest by the cruel practices of the Council, didn't give me the chance to care. It only craves to get answers.

The professors' conversation abruptly came to a stop just the way it had started, their robes carelessly sweeping the floor as they exited the building, followed by silence.

I turned to take my leave as quietly as I had come, but was startled by a voice.

"I couldn't help but notice that you eavesdrop way too much for an Omega with no place in this Academy."

I nearly spun, but instead, I chose to steady myself because, it's possible that I would give out my weakness to whomever has the voice if I did. Behind one of the pillars, Cael stepped out with his arms folded, his icy blue eyes fixed on me.

I held his stare, refusing to back down, or let it intimidate me. "That wasn't eavesdropping, I was just studying."

His lips curved suspiciously. "That's strange. I can't remember hearing a page turn."

Hearing him sound that way quickened my pulse, but I forced a smirk to cover it up, or I would blow my cover. "Perhaps, you are the one who didn't pay attention to details."

For some seconds, neither of us said anything. From where I stood, I could feel his wolf trying to connect to mine, trying so hard to test me.

"Do you have any idea what they meant with their discussion?" He finally asked, breaking the silence, and taking few steps closer. "The failed candidates?"

I furrowed my brows, feigning ignorance. "Was I supposed to?"

He clenched his fist by his side, not buying into my innocence, but there was no way he could prove me otherwise. "Lira, it would be wise if you stay out of things like this, especially the ones you don't understand. The Council that I know, isn't lenient when handling curiosity."

"You should ask if I'm scare of them, which I'm not."

He stood speechless on hearing that, narrowing his eyes unbelievably. It was more of him evaluating what I said, if it's the truth or folly. "You should be for your own good."

And just like that, I felt my throat dry, his word more of warning and his way of inflicting fear.

Before I could give him an answer, the door flung open and Riven stormed in. Just looking at his eyes, one could see mischief.

“Well, well. Who's it again if not our crowned prince in a romantic hide out with the Academy's prettiest mystery?"

"Don't bring this drama now, Riven." Cael said in-between gritted teeth but he ignored him, his gaze fixed on me as he continued his teasing. "Unlike some people, I would advise, keep digging Lira. Who knows, you might end up with something juicy unlike the rest."

I stiffened as he said that, my wolf restlessly as well.

"It seems he knows already." Nyra warned. "And he might know too much."

I quickly masked my expression before they could read through me. "And what happens if I'm actually digging?"

Riven raised a brow, taken aback by my response. "Then, it would be of your interest to pray, else you would end up like one of their failures."

Fear engulfed me immediately, making me to wonder if my mission would ever be successful. Will I be able to burn Vanguard from inside out
as planned, or I would be consumed right before I even get the chance to lit the fire?