The night at Blackmoor Academy felt heavier than usual. Even with the scattered torches flickering along the ancient hallways, the shadows seemed to crawl closer, hungry for secrets. The air was thick with tension, as if the school itself was holding its breath.
Hope walked briskly beside London, their footsteps echoing in the silent corridor as they regrouped with Jessa and Stephen near the old alchemy lab. Raphael emerged moments later from the opposite direction, his black wolf form fading as he shifted back to his human self with practiced ease.
"We searched the west wing. Nothing," Raphael said, wiping sweat from his brow. "But I caught a strange scent near the old library… something I haven't smelled before. Not human, not werewolf, not vampire either."
Hope's brows furrowed. "Something new?"
"Or something hiding," London muttered. His hand brushed Hope's as they walked side by side, and for a moment, she didn't pull away. The warmth lingered between them longer than it should have.
Stephen leaned against the stone wall and raised a brow. "Well, isn't this romantic? The tribrid and the flaming boy." He winked, making London groan and Hope laugh despite herself.
"Can we focus?" Daemon said sharply, arms crossed. His stern gaze swept over everyone. "Richard's been gone for days. We're wasting time bickering."
Celeste stepped forward from behind her sister, her face pale. "I think... I might know something. About where Richard is. But... I'm not sure if it matters."
Jessa turned, eyes wide. "Celeste? What do you mean?"
Celeste hesitated, her eyes darting to Daemon, who was watching her with that unreadable expression of his. "I—I saw someone. A few nights ago. A student. I don't know who… but they warned me. Said I'd be better off if I stopped asking questions. That maybe my loyalty to the school was misplaced."
Everyone went still.
"Why didn't you tell us?" Jessa demanded, hurt flaring in her voice.
"I was scared!" Celeste said quickly. "And confused. But I'm not helping them. I swear."
Daemon's jaw tightened. "You should've told someone."
"She's telling us now," Hope said gently, placing a hand on Celeste's arm. "That matters."
Stephen broke the tension with a grin. "Well, if there's a traitor, maybe it's finally time to stir the pot. Let's go find them. I've been dying for a bit of chaos."
"Let's not forget we still haven't found Richard," Raphael added, his tone more grounded. "Let's split again. Search the north tower and the basement. Hope, London, and I will take the crypt tunnels. Jessa, Celeste, and the brothers take the observatory and the courtyard."
London hesitated. "Wait. The tunnels? Again?"
"You said it yourself, last time we were chased out. Maybe they were hiding something," Raphael replied. "Besides, you've got the girl who can burn down the world on your side." He smirked at Hope.
As they descended into the tunnels once more, the air chilled. Hope walked ahead, her fingers glowing faintly with magic. London followed, eyes on her more than the path. Her scent—earthy, wild, dangerous—was becoming too familiar.
"Hope…" he started.
She turned slightly, pausing in the silence. "Yeah?"
He looked into her eyes—those golden, glowing eyes that pierced straight through him—and stepped closer. "Back there... when you thought I died... what did you feel?"
She blinked. "I felt like the world cracked open."
London's lips parted. "Then maybe—"
A loud crash echoed through the tunnel, cutting him off. Hope spun around, magic flaring in her palms. Raphael appeared out of the shadows, breathless.
"I found something. A hidden passage. Looks like it hasn't been touched in years."
London sighed, frustrated, stepping back as the moment passed. Hope glanced at him, unreadable. "Let's check it out."
The three of them moved deeper into the tunnel, unaware that above them, in the tallest tower of Blackmoor, someone watched through enchanted glass.
Trent's eyes narrowed as he saw Hope and London enter the sealed corridor.
"So predictable," he whispered. "Let's see how well your fire burns in the dark."
And in the flicker of candlelight, Celeste lay awake in her dorm room, haunted by the memory of the mysterious figure who'd warned her… and the growing doubt whispering in her mind.
Was she strong enough to stand against what was coming?
To be continued.