Chapter 266 Fire at midnight 13

A lone figure moved silently in the dark, passing by the lush trees and the now-isolated buildings of Paradise High, which had grown eerily silent. The only sound that could be heard was the continuous croaking of a frog.

Draped in a long cape that concealed their face and body, the strange figure kept walking. Beings lurking in the shadows dared not approach. There was something deeply sinister about this intruder—something that made even the boldest keep their distance.

Upon arriving at what appeared to be an empty expanse of land, the figure stopped. Slowly, it raised its hand—a massive claw, brandished and terrifying.

Approaching the sagging gates, the figure stepped forward. The gates creaked open on their own, not by touch, but as though forced by an unseen power. The creature's eyes glowed blood red, tears of liquid—clearly blood—dripping down its face.

Beyond the gate was a cemetery, long abandoned and sealed off for years. Scattered tombs lay exposed, skeletal remains and bones protruding from caskets that were meant to remain buried. Strangely, every casket was open. The figure paused, seemingly calculating something, before letting out a sinister smile.

"Welcome, Asher and Ava. What do you want—coffee or tea?" it asked mockingly.

And with that, a deadly force burst through the room.

Ava and Asher gasped, immediately snapping back to reality.

Emily and Jimmy both wore confused, concerned expressions. Asher was frozen and pale. Ava trembled visibly.

"What's wrong, Asher? Asher! Talk to me!" Jimmy urged, refusing to back down until he got an answer.

Emily also wanted to ask, but she dared not speak—not when everyone seemed to be mad at her for one reason or another.

Ava walked slowly to a chair and slumped into it.

"I am a goddess, yes. And Lamia... he was a destructive weapon. Not only is he possessed, but he now carries the forbidden Book of Shadows. Yet, where I sensed Rose and Slyvia, a formidable being guards that place. It feeds on supernaturals who cross its boundaries. And from his tone... he's waiting for us," Ava revealed it all in one breath.

Jeremy wasn't just shocked—he was horrified beyond comprehension.

"What the fuck do we do? Why does it keep getting worse? Are you sure it's still there, or was it summoned by Lamia?" Jimmy asked, his voice laced with disbelief.

Asher then walked gracefully to the center of the classroom.

The shock that had earlier marked his face was gone, replaced by a strange composure.

"Damn him…" Jimmy whispered to Emily.

"How does he keep being this elegant despite everything? He never breaks. Even when things go south, just by his presence, he looks like a winner already," Jimmy added, a note of admiration in his voice. He sighed, hoping he'd at least get the chance to have a happy ending.

But with the way the Battle of the Long Nights was unfolding, that hope was fading fast.

"You see," Asher began, his tone serious, "we were shown where Rose and Slyvia are being held. Finding the place isn't the issue. The real danger is the curse surrounding it. Apparently, that's the original site where the dead witches first emerged—the Clarksville Cemetery."

The room fell silent, a chilling truth settling over them.

Seeing their reaction, Asher continued.

"That's why the witches' powers have tripled. They're in a place that serves as their sacred temple—a domain where they're at their highest peak when performing dark magic," he said, his voice cold and steady.

Emily felt goosebumps crawl across her skin. These witches were far beyond anything they'd faced.

"That would mean... they have history with this school," she murmured, curiosity gleaming in her eyes.

Asher nodded. Then, suddenly, he felt a presence.

Turning slightly, he spotted the same cloaked figure with blood-red eyes, staring at him from outside, hidden in the darkness of the school grounds. It was smiling again—an eerie, chilling smile—silently inviting Asher to enter its territory.

But Asher wasn't foolish. He wasn't going anywhere.

"So, as I was saying," he resumed, his voice grim, "this entire ground is cursed. With the return of the dead witches, they've activated it. The curse has become bloodthirsty, and now, it seeks to consume every human here—including the students. As I speak to you right now... we have five days to stop this. If we fail, everyone on these school grounds will die."

Asher said it bluntly, leaving no room for comfort.