Chapter 13 13: Elroy's sigil

Chapter 13 13 SHADOWS

SORAYA

Dear reader, Fenrir Academy held secrets and vermin I had come to realise—one of which was far worse than the other. It was up to us to find the most evil.

I might have unknowingly predicted a long night, but I was just not ready for how long the night would actually be.

At first, I couldn't sleep. It was probably the creepiness of the house, or maybe just the obvious reason on the left wing. I didn’t trust the prince. What if he stabbed me to death in my sleep? Because of my uneasiness, I found myself making it to the living room, counting my steps gingerly.

"Do you really think you can sneak into my room and take my life?"

I startled, almost slipping to the floor at the sight of Prince Daryl sitting on one of the sofas that graced the space.

"Excuse me?" I blinked, suddenly smoothing my hair after having recovered from the surprise.

"Is that not why you're sneaking around?" Daryl stated, still leaning on the chair with his eyes closed like he had no care in the world. But I could see the crease in his forehead, where the locks of his hair parted slightly, and even the clenching of his fist. The faint candlelight caught the edge of his jaw, the sharp angles of his face softened by the shadows.

"I have told you that I wouldn't try to kill you in such a tactless manner. You think I'd sneak up on you and take your life? Then you mustn't know me at all, Ender," I retorted, trying to keep a nonchalant stance.

Daryl's lip twitched, the faintest smirk forming. "Intriguing," he said, smooth and low. "How often have you thought of that?"

Before I could speak, a loud bang shattered the silence, springing us both into alertness. The candlelight flickered violently before dying out completely.

"What was that?" I hissed, reaching instantly for my dagger just as Daryl jumped to his feet.

"Upstairs," Daryl answered, already moving towards the stairs.

"Wait—"

He didn’t.

I tightened my grip on my weapon and followed, heart thundering. The old staircase groaned under our steps. The air grew colder the higher we went, thick with the metallic scent of old blood.

"Daryl," I whispered.

"Stay behind me," he muttered.

"I wasn’t planning on doing otherwise."

The door at the head of the staircase creaked open by itself, revealing a room that we both hadn’t suspected was there. A soft dragging sound echoed from inside, like something being pulled across the floor.

When we entered, it was the smell that hit me first. Sharp. Wrong. Decayed. A shadow moved in the corner of the room, and instinctively I raised my dagger, at the same time Daryl's claws extended in a blur of gold and black.

The shadow lunged, and immediately vanished through the wall. I stumbled back, eyes wide, my pulse roaring through my ear. "Tell me I imagined that..."

"You didn't," Daryl responded gravely.

"What was that?"

"How am I supposed to know?" He answered in a clipped tone, advancing gingerly into the room, and reaching out to search for a light switch obviously, because the only source of light was the moon.

"You really think you would see a light switch in this creepy ass room?" I deadpanned. My voice basically telling home to be so for real.

"It wouldn't hurt to check it out!" He snapped. I rolled my eyes again. I could feel the tension rolling off his body in waves. That makes two of us.

Suddenly there was a streak of lightning in the sky, illuminating the room just a little bit more for a split second, and in that second, I caught glimpse of words etched into the wall, in dark crimson blood.

My months of training eluded me as I stepped closer to Daryl. Whatever was going on here was not a joke, if anything, it was as serious as the murder we were imprisoned here for.

"We should get out!" I reckoned, eyes darting round the once again dark room.

Without thinking, I grabbed Daryl’s hand and bolted down the stairs. The door slammed shut behind us with a deafening bang.

When we got back to the common area, I let out a sharp breath. "What the heck was that?"

Daryl didn't respond, until I glanced at him. His gaze was fixed on my hand holding his, which I instantly let go as if it burned me. I took a step back. He looked at me. "We both saw it," he said calmly. "I am as clueless as you are."

I could swear I saw the same markings elsewhere, but I couldn't remember where. Frustrated, I ran my fingers through my hair, blowing out another breath.

"Do you think we are safe here?"

"After what we just witnessed, do you think we are safe?"

He didn't need me to answer that, because it was as glaring as day. I doubt we would sleep a wink.

\---

DARYL

I should have known the pack was up to no good when the principal had talked about the house arrest.

Bloody little traitors.

If this was not enough prove that I was not safe in Fenrir Academy, I didn't think anything else could counter it, and now they lock me up with Soraya Karter. The one girl whose existence is but a bane to mine.

I hated this.

I was quiet, my mind reaching to the markings we had seen. I knew it. I had something similar to it in the history books, and I would recognise it anywhere.

The language symbols of the ancients. It was a language that was lost in the archives, and only few could read, write or even speak it. I would have been one of the few, if I had not skipped my language lessons while growing up.

Now it was a mystery.

"So what are we supposed to do? Pretend like that didn't happen and go to bed?"

I would say that I had forgotten that Soraya was standing so closely to me, but that would be a lie, because I could still feel the warmth from where she held me moment ago, seeping through my leather gloves.

"What other options do we have?" I asked curtly, making myself comfortable as I lowered to the chair. She gave me a look of unbelief.

"You are sitting down?"

I shrugged. "Do you want to join me?" I spread my thighs invitingly, tapping it. "My knees are strong enough to hold you."

She stared at me with the dirtiest gaze she could muster. "Bloody asshole!" And begrudgingly, she sat opposite me, folding her arms firmly as if that would keep the evil away.

I chuckled and leaned back, keeping my wolf senses alert. "Sleep Soraya," I said quietly. "I'll keep the shadows entertained on your behalf."

And she did sleep.

I didn't.