FOUR: NEMUS

This whole drama is making my head spin. I just moved to a new town for a fresh start, only to discover that it's crawling with creatures that should only exist in myths.

I stood at my locker, my mind replaying Jennifer's transformation in the woods last night. The way her body twisted, her eyes glowed, the raw power she radiated, it was burned into my memory. And yet, this morning, she strolled into school as if nothing had happened. It was surreal.

Shaking off the thoughts, I opened my locker to drop off my bag. The moment I did, a small pink slip of paper fluttered to the ground. I picked it up and unfolded it.

Meet me at the basketball court by 3.

—Jesse

My heart skipped a beat. Jesse wanted to see me? Why?

Excitement and anxiety wrestled inside me. Jesse had never been anything but rude, yet the fact that he had gone out of his way to leave a note... it meant something. But what?

I shoved the note back into my locker and forced myself to focus on class. Overthinking it wouldn't do me any good.

The clock struck 3 PM, its chime echoing faintly through the hallway like a countdown. I hovered near my locker, chewing the inside of my cheek, uncertain. I could ignore him, pretend the note in my locker never existed. Jesse had done nothing but mock me, like it gave him some twisted satisfaction.

But curiosity got the better of me.

What if it was important?

With a reluctant sigh, I shoved my phone into my pocket and started toward the basketball court.

The corridor was mostly empty, the afternoon light slanting in golden bars through the windows. My footsteps echoed against the linoleum until a shadow detached itself from the wall ahead.

Jennifer Brown.

She stood there like she owned the hallway, tall, statuesque, beautiful in a terrifying, almost otherworldly way. Her dark eyes locked on me, framed by cheekbones so sharp it made her look both breathtaking and slightly inhuman and there was a wicked gleam in her eyes that made my stomach flutter with both awe and unease.

I still couldn't shake the image of her from last night, fur, claws, fangs. A literal werewolf, and yet here she was, looking like a fashion model straight out of a dark fairytale.

"Hello, sweetheart," she purred, licking her lips like I was dessert. Her voice oozed amusement, but there was something behind it, something feral. "Where are you off to?"

"The court," I said, trying to keep my voice neutral, steady. But a cold sensation crept up my spine. There was an intensity in her gaze that felt… invasive.

Her brow arched. "The court? Don't tell me you're a fucking cheerleader." The word dripped from her mouth like poison.

I shook my head. "No."

She stepped closer, and I instinctively took a step back. She smelled faintly of something floral. Her pupils dilated as she looked at me, head tilted slightly, like she was calculating the exact amount of pressure it would take to snap my bones.

"Hope you taste as good as you look," she murmured.

My body stiffened, heart pounding. I didn't know if it was a threat or a flirtation or both.

Before I could respond, footsteps approached. I turned and saw Jesse sauntering toward us, a lunch pack swinging from one hand. His usual scowl was softened by something that almost resembled… warmth?

For a split second, I felt relieved, like he was my knight in shining armor, swooping in to save me. But then he scoffed, and that feeling evaporated instantly.

"Hello, Jennifer," Jesse said, smiling.

I blinked. Jesse? Smiling?

Was this real?

It didn't make sense. In the short time I had known him, I was convinced Jesse had the emotional capacity of a brick wall. But here he was, looking at her like she mattered.

Did… did he have a crush on her?

"Tormenting the poor kid?" He smirked.

Jennifer's lips curled into a knowing grin turned her gaze back to me, her eyes gleaming. "Nah, She's too delicious to be tormented."

My stomach twisted. What the hell did that even mean?

She winked at me, satisfied with whatever reaction she got, then turned and walked away like a queen dismissing her court.

I exhaled sharply, only then realizing I'd been holding my breath.

Jesse's smirk faded as he turned his attention back to me. The warmth from moments ago had vanished, replaced by his usual icy detachment.

"You wanted to see me," I said, forcing calmness into my voice.

"I heard you were out last night," he said, his tone casual but his eyes were too focused, too sharp.

I tensed. "And?"

"You almost got caught by a wolf."

I blinked. "Don't tell me you're concerned."

He laughed. It wasn't kind, it was loud, sharp, almost cruel. "Concerned? I wish the wolf had snapped your neck so I wouldn't have to see your ugly face around."

The words hit like slaps, and my fists clenched at my sides. "Seriously, what's your problem with me?"

His smirk deepened, but he didn't answer. He turned as if to leave.

"Is that why you called me here? Just to ridicule me?"

He paused, half-turned. "I wanted to check if you were dead or alive."

I stared at him, incredulous. "And why does that matter to you?"

For a moment, something flickered in his expression, something unreadable. Not anger, not softness. Just... something. It vanished almost as soon as it appeared.

"Well, you're alive," he said flatly. Then came that familiar smirk, sharp and insincere. "Guess the party wasn't enough of a warning, was it?"

He sighed, glancing away, like he was already bored of the conversation.

"Stop snooping," he muttered. "I won't always be around to save your ass."

And with that, he walked away, his footsteps echoing down the court.

I watched him go, fists still balled.

I hate that guy.

But I hated that part of me that still ached even after knowing exactly what kind of jerk he was.

I was just about to walk away when the sound of music floated from the court, low, distant, and unexpected. Curiosity got the better of me. I found myself moving toward it, drawn in despite myself.

The echo of music swelled as I stepped inside the court, the beat vibrating faintly through the polished wooden floor. Bright overhead lights illuminated the cheerleaders mid-routine, their synchronized movements sharp and confident. Pom-poms shimmered like sparks in motion, their energy infectious even from the sidelines.

Pink spotted me almost immediately. She broke formation with a bright grin, jogging over with her signature bounce before pulling me into a quick, tight hug.

"Roomie, welcome!" she beamed, breathless but glowing with excitement.

"Nice moves," I said, watching the team fall into a high-energy series of turns and flips.

"Yeah, I came up with the choreography," Clary chimed in as she twirled past, clearly having overheard me. Her tone was brimming with pride, chest heaving slightly from exertion but her eyes sparkling like she'd just won a medal.

Pink giggled and nudged my arm. "Hey, how would you like to join us?"

I froze.

The question hit harder than I expected. My smile faltered.

Suddenly, I was no longer standing in the Caveroop High gym but back in Oxville, the roar of the crowd deafening in my ears, the spotlight glaring down like a sunbeam made of fire. I could still feel the heat, the trembling in my limbs, the rush of adrenaline as I soared through the air.

And then, nothing. Just the cold, brutal shock of hitting the floor. My teammate's hands had missed. Or maybe they hesitated. I never really got a clear answer.

The pain wasn't just physical. It was humiliation. The silence that followed. The looks of pity. The weight of failure pressing down on me while the whole school whispered about what went wrong.

I blinked and the memory faded, but the ache lingered.

"Thanks," I said, forcing my voice to stay steady. "But it's not really my thing."

Pink didn't press. She just gave me a soft, understanding smile, the kind that said she knew there was more behind my answer than I was letting on before she spun on her heel and rejoined her squad, snapping back into formation like she'd never left.

"Hey." I heard a tiny voice from behind and quickly turned. A young, milky-blonde girl stood there, slightly taller than me. Her skin sparkled in the golden flashes of afternoon sunlight streaming through the window bars.

"Hi," I said, waving cautiously and taking a small step back. She was standing too close.

"I'm Summer Blake," she said, stretching out her hand. Her bluish eyes sparkled with amusement as she caught my death-cold fingers in a never-ending handshake, smiling like she'd just met her favorite celebrity.

I had to gently pull my hand back, trying not to make it obvious.

"I'm Terra," I replied, scanning her curiously with my dark brown eyes like she might be the enemy.

"I know," she giggled.

That didn't surprise me. Then she happily jogged back into formation with the rest.

I sighed.

Then came a voice beside me, low and amused.

"Popular already, huh?"

I turned and found Eska leaning against the gym wall, arms crossed and a knowing look in her eyes. As always, she looked like she'd seen too much to be impressed by anything.

"This isn't how I pictured my stay here," I muttered, the frustration slipping into my voice before I could stop it.

She raised an eyebrow, her lips twitching in a half-smile. "You don't want to be popular?"

"Not really." I sighed and ran a hand through my brown hair. "People act like it's something to fight over. Like it means power or status or… I don't know. But if they want it that badly, they can have it. I'll gladly step aside."

Eska tilted her head, studying me like I was a puzzle she hadn't quite solved yet. Then her smirk deepened.

"You're an interesting one, Terra Tunes."

I smiled, turning to leave. "Hope not."

...

Despite my plans to have a quiet, uneventful weekend curled up with my laptop and some popcorn, Pink, as usual had other ideas.

"Alright, girls, today is booked!" she declared, bursting into our room with the energy of a caffeinated cheerleader. She was already dressed in a cropped pink hoodie, designer shades perched on her head like a tiara, and different shopping bags in hand. "First stop, the mall. Then mani-pedis. Then, we're front row for the boys' basketball practice tonight"

I flopped back onto my bed and groaned into my pillow. "You've got to be kidding me."

Pink just giggled like I'd told a joke and started tossing the shopping bags at each of us like party favors. "Chop-chop! Fashion doesn't wait for the lazy!"

What followed was a whirlwind of changing room chaos, overpriced smoothies, and endless debates over crop tops versus cardigans. By the time we finished parading through half the mall, my feet were sore, my wallet lighter, and my brain fried from all the perfume samples.

By early evening, Clary's living room transformed into a pillow fortress of snacks, soda cans, and streaming drama. Halfway through the second movie, Pink was still rating everyone's outfits from earlier, and Eska kept rewinding scenes to overanalyze the vampire love interest.

Halfway through the movie, Pink checked the time and jumped up like she was late for a fashion show.

"Okay, let's go! Practice starts in twenty minutes!"

We all groaned in unison, but fifteen minutes later, we were trudging through the cool night air toward the gym, bundled in hoodies and carrying leftover snacks in our tote bags.

The basketball court was packed, shoulder to shoulder with students buzzing with weekend adrenaline. Sneakers squeaked against polished floors as players ran drills, their sweat glistening under the fluorescent gym lights. On the sidelines, the cheerleaders practiced their routines with laser focus, poms flashing silver and maroon in perfect synchronization.

Eska and I found seats in the second row, close enough to see the tension in the players' muscles and the sharpness of the coach's barked commands.

"You into any sports?" she asked, brushing a loose strand of hair behind her ear.

"Not really," I said, shrugging. "You?"

"Tennis." She smiled faintly. "But only when I'm mad."

We both laughed, the sound lost in the sea of chatter and sneakers. I was about to ask her what that meant when the lights above flickered, just once. Then again.

A strange, low buzzing sound filled the air, like a generator struggling to breathe.

The crowd shifted uneasily.

"What the hell?" one of the players muttered, bouncing the ball less confidently now.

A chill licked down my spine. I turned to Eska, my voice barely a whisper.

"What's going on?"

She didn't answer right away. Unlike everyone else who were frozen in shock or whispering in panic, she sat still, eerily calm, like the tension crackling through the air was something she'd expected. Her posture was relaxed, but not careless. Watchful. Calculated.

When she finally spoke, her voice cut through the chaos, low, even, and flat. There was no fear, just caution, like someone choosing their words very, very carefully.

"It's Nemus," she said. "He sure does like making an entrance."

The name struck me like a slap. My pulse skyrocketed.

Nemus!

Before I could process it, the lights cut out completely, plunging the gym into darkness.

Gasps and shouts broke out. Someone screamed. I could hear metal bleachers creaking as students scrambled, unsure if they should run or hide. My breath hitched, chest tightening with panic.

Then snap, the lights came roaring back to life.

And there he was.

Nemus sat calmly in the umpire's seat like he'd been there all along, legs crossed, draped in a long black coat that pooled around him like oil. His grin stretched too wide, sharp teeth gleaming under the harsh gym lights. His brownish eyes were bottomless voids twin abysses that sucked all warmth from the room.

Beside him stood a woman cloaked in crimson, her red hood casting her face in shadow. And at the four corners of the court, two towering men, identical, pale, and expressionless, stood like gargoyles.

"Who's that?" I whispered, barely recognizing my own voice.

Eska leaned in so close I could feel her breath against my ear. Her voice was low and steady.

"That's Regina Blake," she said. "Summer's sister. Half vampire, half siren."

Regina's gaze swept across the room, sharp and deliberate, her icy blue eyes landing on each of us like a silent threat. I could feel my pulse spike.

The energy in the gym shifted like the whole room exhaled a single breath of dread. A wave of panic rippled through the crowd. Whispers turned into murmurs, then into the tense silence of too many people realizing this wasn't a prank.

Nemus stood, spreading his arms theatrically. His voice rolled through the gym like thunder laced with venom.

"Hello, Caveroop High," he crooned. "Guess who's back?"

His chuckle followed, low and malevolent. He stepped down from the umpire's chair and walked toward center court, each movement deliberate, predatory.

"I told you all I'd return."

Then something shifted in him. As he smiled wider, his canines stretched into jagged fangs. Blackness spilled into his eyes, swallowing them whole. Inky veins crawled up his neck and face, pulsing with a sick rhythm like they had a life of their own.

Gasps exploded across the gym. A girl near the bleachers screamed. Even the basketball team froze, wide-eyed and helpless.

My heart pounded so violently I could hear it in my ears.

Eska, now fully alert beside me, whispered, "I can hear your heart racing. Stay calm."

Stay calm? I could barely breathe. This wasn't some drama. This was real. Every second felt like a countdown and if he recognized me from that night... I'm doomed.

Nemus prowled the court like it belonged to him and maybe it did now. Then, without warning, he stopped,

His head turned slowly, like a predator catching the scent of its prey. And just like that, his eyes locked onto mine. That grin returned. Wider. Hungrier.

I couldn't move. I couldn't even look away.

Just as my mind began to spiral, bracing for the worst, a shout rang through the gym like a war cry.

"Hey, asshole!"

All heads snapped toward the gym entrance.

A figure stood framed by the doorway, cloaked in black, her hood low over her face, but her stance was unshakable. Even without seeing her fully, her presence silenced the room.

Nemus's grin twisted into something gleeful and deranged. "Rejoice," he purred. "Oh, how I've waited for a real fight."

She stepped forward slowly, removing her hood to reveal a face half-shadowed by darkness, half-etched with glowing, inky lines. Her eyes had turned pitch black, matching his. Her voice, calm and clear.

"I beat you once, Nemus. I'll do it again."

Nemus bared his teeth. "Then let's finish what we started."

Without another word, Rejoice lunged.

A loud boom echoed through the gym as she slammed into Nemus, sending him crashing to the floor. The impact cracked the court beneath him. Without hesitation, she grabbed him by the throat, lifting him like he weighed nothing, and struck him hard in the abdomen.

The force of the blow sent him flying across the court, right into the cheerleaders. They screamed and scattered as his body crashed into the bleachers.

He staggered to his feet, coughing blood and laughing.

"You haven't changed at all," he spat, wiping his chin.

At that moment, he lifted his gaze and gave a subtle nod to Regina. She smirked, pulling her hood lower over her face before turning and walking away, disappearing into the shadows.

Rejoice tilted her head. "Neither have you. Still a coward."

Nemus laughed, then in a blur of motion, he sprinted at her.

Rejoice swung, aiming for his throat, but he ducked and struck her from behind. She stumbled, barely catching herself before he delivered a brutal kick to her ribs, then another.

She coughed, pain evident on her face, but before she could react, Nemus grabbed her and hurled her into the air.

Regina was waiting.

With inhuman strength, she caught Rejoice mid-air and slammed her against the wall, pinning her in place with a silver dagger.

A collective scream erupted from the students.

I couldn't breathe. My mind was racing.

What would Nemus do next?

His laughter filled the room once again as he turned to face the stunned crowd.

And then, in an instant, he was gone.

No. Not gone, moving.

Before I could even blink, he was in front of me.

I barely had time to gasp before his cold, clawed fingers wrapped around my throat, lifting me from my seat as if I weighed nothing.

His voice, now deeper and more distorted, sent chills down my spine.

"Hello, Terra Tunes."