Chapter 27

Cadella's POV

"Cadella! I’m so glad to see you. I’ve been worried sick all day.” Mara said as she jogged up to me.

“Worried? Why?” My eyebrows drew together in confusion.

“Have you not heard? There was an attack just outside of campus. How have you not heard? I swear it’s all I’ve heard about all day. I’m surprised the headmaster hasn’t said anything about it.” She rambled.

“I heard about the attack. I thought it was an animal attack? What does that have to do with me?” I interrupt her.

“I’ve been trying to call you all day. I have barely seen you in like a week. You never answer your door anymore. Then there was the attack and I couldn’t reach you. I was worried sick.” Mara brought her hand to head, like it was aching.

“I’m sorry that I worried you. Things have been so crazy. I moved out of the dorm, but don’t tell anyone. I’m not ready to say it’s permanent yet. I’m staying with my boyfriend. I should have told you, but it all happened so fast.” I explained as I pulled my phone from my back pocket.

I pressed the side button, but there was no give. Dead. No wonder I hadn’t known she’d called.

“My phone died. I must not have plugged it in last night. I’m sorry. Gosh, I should like such a crap friend. And I’m going to be late for my meeting. I’m sorry I’ve been so crappy lately. Let’s plan a girls night soon. I’ll buy to make up for it?” I raised my eyebrows and leaned in slightly towards her, my lower lip pouting just a little.

“Ugh. Fine. You buy and you’re forgiven. But let’s do it soon. And for the love of God, text me once in a while. Or at least answer my texts. I never want to be this nervous again.” She rolled her eyes and gave me a hug.

“Deal.” I said as I hugged her back. “I hate to do this, but I have to-“

“Go to your meeting. I’ll text you later.” She smiled and turned back towards the dorms.

I took off at a job, hoping I would be too late for the meeting with the Mysterious Spirit Research Association. Pausing at the top of the stairs in the building, I looked at my watch as I tried to slow my breathing.

Ten minutes.

Not that horrible.

Opening the door I was shocked to see the craziness of the room. Sergei and Adina were huddled around a laptop, while Emilia was furiously typing on another one while Benny spoke quickly to her. Only Mark looked like he wasn’t doing some kind of panic research as he casually flipped through a large book.

Too caught up in the panic research everyone was doing, I released the door. The heavy door closed loudly, pulling everyone’s attention to me.

“Sorry, it slipped.” My cheeks heated as everyone focused on me.

“Cadella, good, you’re here. We can use more eyes. Come, come. I think we’ve figured out the answer.” Benny said, waving his hand toward him and Emilia.

“What answer?” I asked, setting down my backpack on the table and walking towards them.

“‘What answer’ she asks. Have you been attending a different college today? How did you manage to make it through the whole day without hearing?” He huffed.

“Are you talking about the animal attack? Why are we researching it? I thought that it was an animal attack.” I frowned at Benny who rolled his eyes.

“It’s always an animal attack, silly woman. Come, check out what we’ve found.” He pulled me closer to Emilia and the laptop.

The feeling of being watched pulled my attention from Benny’s excitement, and made me look around the room. Mark’s grey eyes met my own from across the room. His head was tilted to one side, while he sat frozen in place and his eyes moved over me. A look of relief quickly flashed over his face before he looked back down at his book.

“Cadella, pay attention. We’re wasting time.” Benny snapped from beside me.

“Sorry.” I looked at the screen.

An image of a large humanoid creature was pulled up in a e-book. The creature had broad shoulders and narrow hips. Its bottom canine teeth protruded up and over its upper lip. Its large frame was heavily muscled. Whatever the creature was, it was terrifying.

The picture took up one side of the book. My gaze moved to the other side, catching on the title of the page.

Orcs

Of course orcs are real. Vampires, demons and werewolves exist, why wouldn’t something as terrifying as orcs be real?

“You think an orc attacked the men last night?” I asked, my eyebrow raised.

“Maybe, maybe not. Look at this data.” Benny slid a folder towards me.

I flipped it open and scan the printed articles and reports. ‘Humanoid Creature Spotted Near Scene of Attack’. ‘Animal Attack? I think Not’. ‘Super disturbing, or Supernatural?’. All of the reports were from ghost hunting groups or conspiracy blogs.

“None of these sources are credible.” I said, closing the folder.

“What do you mean, ‘not credible’?” Benny sounded insulted.

“I didn’t mean to hurt your feelings. It’s just that none of these people have any accreditation or significance behind them. No one will take us seriously if we use these as our sources.” I point out.

“Do you believe in this?” Benny asked after being silent for a while.

“Of course I do. Otherwise I wouldn’t be here. But I think that some of what we’re led to believe is true isn’t. I think that things don’t add up, and we deserve to know the truth.” I argue.

“Then we need proof these aren’t credible, as you put it. I know that this attack was supernatural. There’s no question in my mind. We just have to prove it.” Benny paced behind Emilia.

Emilia looked to Adina. I watched as Adina’s eyes widened and she subtly shook her head. Emilia mouthed something to Adina, who frowned and sighed, but reached behind her for her crystal ball.

Adina closed her eyes and placed her fingertips on the ball. I watched, my eyes widening as the clear ball started to fill with looked like white smoke. Adina’s body stiffened as the ball became fully opaque, her eyebrows knitting together and her mouth turning into a frown.

“Are you-“ A firm grip on my hand stopped my words and made me turn around to see Barry with his finger over his mouth as he shook his head.

His practically bounced on the balls of his feet as he cheeks flushed and he bit his lower lip. His gaze never leaving Adina. A deep sigh broke through the silent room, and I turned back to see Adina slouching in her chair as the crystal ball became clearer.

“Well? What did you see?” Barry asked, stepping in her direction.

“The truth’s been revealed. It wasn’t an ordinary beast that attacked the men.” She said, not meeting Barry’s eyes.

“See. From our own truth seeker. Now we just have to prove it.” Barry said, moving back to the folder on the table.

I looked back at Adina, who was looking at me.

Are you okay? I mouthed to her.

She nodded and went back to working with Sergei. A sigh from behind me made me look at Mark. He looked frustrated, but went back to reading.

“I don’t think it was an orc. There hasn’t been a solid evidence about them for decades. However, another humanoid creature, like maybe a werewolf, that’s possible. How exciting would that be, a werewolf attack?” Barry dug through the reports as Emilia frowned, but went back to work on the laptop.

I couldn’t help but stare at Benny. Exciting was a word I’d use. People were severely wounded and killed last night. That’s not exciting. It’s sad.

“Look, this is my evidence.” Barry said, as he started pulling data and reports from the attack.

I don’t think I even want to know how he got official reports.

Movement in the corner of my eye made me shift in my seat so I could over at Mark who sat in the corner staring at the book on the table. At first glance it looked like he was reading, choosing to ignore Barry’s rambling. But as I studied him I picked up on the rapid fall and rise of his shoulders, and the flaring of his nostrils as he breathed heavier than normal. His fists were clenched under the table, and his gaze was unfocused.

Why would he be so angry?

He had been fine until Barry started discussing the werewolf possibility. I pulled the corner of my cheek in between my teeth as I studied him. My mouth dried and skin felt like it was crawling as unease settled in my chest. My mind flashed back to him sniffing me in Maga Park. Vasile hadn’t seemed concerned about it all, but something told me that Mark wasn’t human.