Chapter 6 — Shadows In The Dark.

The healer's hands moved swiftly over her wound, a faint glow emitting from his fingertips as he muttered incantations under his breath. But I could still see it the sickening black veins stretching outward, creeping like a parasite from the gash in her side.

I sat in the chair beside the bed, arms folded, gaze locked on her. My face was calm, unreadable, but inside? Inside, I was a storm. My jaw tightened as I watched the slow rise and fall of her chest, waiting no, needing to see her open her eyes, to hear her breathe without that ragged hitch.

And I didn't fucking know why.

No. That was a lie.

I knew exactly why.

But I wasn't ready to say it.

The door slammed open, and I didn't have to look to know who it was. The air shifted, a thick, charged energy filling the room as Azazel stormed in. His face was dark, his usual amused smirk absent. He was pissed.

"The actual fuck happened?" His eyes darted to Mirabel's unconscious form, and I saw the flicker of something else anger, yes, but something deeper. Something more dangerous.

I exhaled through my nose, leaning back. "Rogues. Four of them. One got close enough to do that." I nodded toward the wound. "But they're dead now."

Azazel's jaw clenched, his hands curling into fists. His anger wasn't just for the attack it was the how. The why. The who.

The door opened again, and Darlin Kimper, the school administrator, stepped in. His sharp gaze swept the room before settling on Mirabel. Hazel and Daniel followed, their expressions unreadable, though Hazel's lips pressed into a thin line.

Kimper exhaled, rubbing his temples. "We need to talk. Now."

I stood up, my muscles tense, and gave Mirabel one last look before following them out.

The meeting hall was dimly lit, the long wooden table stretching across the room, lined with chairs meant for only the highest-ranking members of Eldermire. This wasn't a casual gathering this was where decisions were made, secrets were kept, and problems were dealt with.

Tonight, I was the problem.

Kimper sat at the head of the table, fingers pressed together, his sharp gaze sweeping across the room like a man already calculating outcomes. Hazel and Daniel took their seats without a word, their expressions unreadable.

Azazel, however, didn't sit.

He stood near the fireplace, arms crossed, his entire frame tense with something barely restrained. His crimson eyes flickered in the dim light, his anger coiled so tightly around him it was suffocating.

Kimper was the first to break the silence.

"Two angels are already investigating the scene," he said, his voice smooth, controlled. "We'll have a report soon. Until then..." his gaze flicked to me, "..you're going to tell us exactly what happened."

I exhaled slowly, leaning back in my chair. I already knew the questions coming.

And I already knew how much I wasn't going to say.

"Four rogue demons got onto the school grounds," I said, keeping my tone even. "Mirabel was attacked. I arrived before the last two could finish the job. That's all."

Azazel laughed.

Not his usual, amused chuckle no. This was sharp, humorless.

"That's all?" he repeated, pushing off the fireplace and stalking toward the table. "You say that like it's normal. Like rogue demons just happen to wander through one of the most heavily guarded schools in existence."

I met his gaze, unblinking. "It's not normal."

Kimper studied me, unreadable as ever. "And yet it happened."

Hazel leaned forward, her piercing blue eyes narrowing. "The security enchantments should've vaporized them the second they tried to enter."

Daniel, who had been quiet until now, finally spoke. "Unless they weren't from outside."

A heavy silence fell over the room.

I already knew what he was suggesting.

But it was Kimper who voiced it first.

"The underground facility," he said darkly.

The thought had already crossed my mind. The containment cells beneath the academy held rogue demons for study, for control.

But if the ones that attacked Mirabel came from there…

Then someone had let them out.

Azazel's smirk returned, but it was sharp, edged with something dangerous. "So, what are we thinking? Someone just happened to trip over a cage lock and oops demonic chaos?"

Kimper didn't look amused. "There are only a handful of people with access to those chambers."

"Then one of them isn't as loyal as we thought," Daniel murmured.

My jaw tightened. If that were true, then this wasn't just about security failure.

It was intentional.

Kimper leaned back, exhaling slowly. "We wait for the investigation report. Until then, no one says a word about this to the other students." His gaze swept across the room. A silent warning.

Hazel's nails tapped against the table. "And what about the Forsaken girl?"

Azazel's smirk widened slightly at the title.

I didn't react. "She was unconscious when I brought her in. She won't be talking about anything soon."

Hazel gave me a long look. Studying me.

I kept my face blank.

Kimper nodded, satisfied for now. "Then we wait."

The conversation should have ended there.

But Azazel… Azazel never knew when to stop.

His crimson eyes flicked to me, his smirk deepening. "You found her pretty fast, little brother."

I didn't move. Didn't blink.

Because I knew where he was going with this.

And I didn't like it.

Azazel tilted his head. "Almost like you knew something was wrong before anyone else did."

Hazel's gaze sharpened. Daniel raised an eyebrow.

Kimper's fingers steepled together, watching me.

I met Azazel's stare without hesitation, my voice smooth, unwavering.

"I was at the right place at the right time."

Azazel chuckled. "Mm. Convenient."

The tension in the room thickened.

Kimper finally spoke. "Enough."

Azazel exhaled, but the amusement in his gaze didn't fade.

I stood, not waiting for dismissal. "If we're done here, I have somewhere else to be."

Kimper waved a hand. "Go."

I didn't need to be told twice.

Without another word, I left the meeting room.

Because Mirabel was still unconscious.

And I wasn't leaving until she woke up.

The Next Day.

By the time the sun was at its highest, the school had already shifted.

The air was different. Heavier. Tighter.

Security had doubled overnight. More guards, more enchantments, more eyes watching.

And the students? They noticed.

The halls buzzed with quiet murmurs, rumors swirling like a rising storm.

"Something happened."

"Did you hear? A rogue demon attack?"

"But how? No one's ever gotten through the school's barriers before."

"Who do you think let them in?"

"What if it was one of us?"

Paranoia spread like wildfire. No one trusted anyone.

I heard it all in passing, but I didn't stop. Didn't react.

Because right now, I had bigger things to deal with.

****

The administrator's office was dimly lit, the scent of old books and burnt sage filling the space. Darlin Kimper stood behind his desk, his sharp, calculating gaze already locked onto me the moment I entered.

The door clicked shut behind me.

I didn't sit.

"I assume you've gotten answers," I said, voice smooth, unreadable.

Kimper exhaled, rubbing his temple. "Some."

A pause. Then he leaned forward, resting his hands on the desk.

"The angels found something," he said, watching me closely. "Something… unexpected."

I didn't blink. "Which is?"

Kimper tilted his head. "You told us last night you saw two rogues still alive when you arrived."

I nodded. Careful. "That's correct."

He studied me. "And the other two were already dead when you got there?"

Another nod. "Yes."

Silence stretched between us.

Then Kimper leaned back slightly, exhaling.

"They weren't just dead, Raphael."

I remained still. Expression blank.

He continued, his voice dropping slightly.

"Their bodies weren't just killed. They were obliterated."

His gaze was sharp now, digging into me.

"There was evidence of dark magic."

I said nothing.

Because I already knew.

I had seen it with my own eyes.

The black energy bursting from Mirabel's hands. The way it had consumed those demons instantly.

But I couldn't tell him that.

No one could know.

Because if they did if they found out what she was capable of she would be locked away, experimented on, used.

I knew how this world worked.

I had grown up in it.

If they saw power, they wanted to control it.

And Mirabel? She wouldn't stand a chance.

So, I did what came naturally.

I lied.

I tilted my head slightly. "Dark magic?"

Kimper's sharp gaze didn't waver. "Yes."

I frowned, feigning curiosity. "I didn't sense anything."

A pause. Then, "You're sure?"

"I would've noticed," I said smoothly. Casual. Deceptively easy.

The lie slipped off my tongue like second nature.

Kimper studied me for a long moment. Too long.

****

After I left Kimper's office, I found myself drifting.

Not toward my next class.

Not toward the underground facility where I knew an investigation was still underway.

But to the medical wing.

Again.

The moment I stepped inside, I saw them.

Sofia and Gideon were huddled beside Mirabel's bed, whispering. Sofia's face was tight with frustration, her arms crossed, her foot tapping impatiently.

Gideon, as usual, looked too relaxed for the situation.

But I saw the tension in his shoulders.

Neither of them noticed me at first.

"She's been out for too long," Sofia muttered. "What if..."

"She's not dead," Gideon interrupted, flatly.

Sofia scowled. "I know that."

"Then stop acting like you're about to plan a funeral."

Sofia threw a glare at him, then sighed, rubbing her face. "I just…I know we just met two days ago but it feels like forever and seeing her this way....I don't like it..at all..."

Gideon exhaled, leaning back in his chair. "None of us do."

Then, he finally noticed me. His sharp green eyes flicked over, his smirk curling into place.

"Well, well. Back again?"

Sofia turned, eyes narrowing. "Of course he is."

I raised an eyebrow. "Is that a problem?"

Sofia didn't flinch. "That depends. Are you here because you actually care or because you feel responsible?"

I held her stare. "Both."

Her expression didn't change.

But something in her shoulders eased.

I glanced at Mirabel.

She hadn't moved.

Hadn't stirred.

Still too pale.

Still too quiet.

I clenched my jaw and turned away before I let the feeling in my chest settle.

I had other things to handle.

Things that didn't involve standing here, waiting.

I left the room.

And this time, I didn't look back.

****

The underground facility was colder than usual.

The air was thick with old spells, with protection sigils carved into the walls, pulsing faintly under the dim lighting.

Daniel was already there, standing near the containment cells where the rogue demons were usually held.

Two witches faculty members, trained in magical tracking were murmuring to each other, hands glowing as they worked their spell.

I stepped forward. "Tell me."

One of the witches turned, her pale eyes flickering. "We're almost finished."

I folded my arms, watching as they completed the reading.

A moment passed.

Then the energy in the room shifted.

The spell pulsed.

And then the answer came.

One of the witches straightened, looking at Kimper.

Her expression was grim.

"It wasn't from here."

Daniel stiffened beside me.

I inhaled slowly.

Which meant only one thing.

The school's security was breached.

Someone had gotten past every layer of protection, every barrier.

For the first time in years, Eldermire had been infiltrated.

And no one had noticed.

Until now.

The air in the underground facility felt heavier now.

No one spoke for a long moment.

The revelation settled over us like a weight that couldn't be lifted. A breach. Someone had entered Eldermire a place that was supposed to be impenetrable and no one had noticed.

That wasn't just a mistake. That was a warning.

Kimper's fingers tapped against his arm, his expression neutral, unreadable. But I knew better. He was calculating. Processing.

Daniel finally broke the silence.

"How?" His voice was calm, but there was something sharp beneath it. "How did they get in without triggering the security?"

One of the witches exhaled, rubbing the back of her neck. "That's the question, isn't it?" She glanced at her colleague before turning back to us. "The readings show no trace of a portal, no forced entry, no foreign spell signatures."

Daniel frowned. "So what are you saying? That they just walked in?"

The second witch, a man with graying hair and sharp features, let out a slow breath. "Not walked. They were let in."

A tense silence followed.

I didn't react outwardly, but inside? That answer was worse than any of the others.

A breach meant failure.

A traitor meant intent.

Kimper finally spoke, his voice carrying authority that silenced the room. "I want a full list of everyone with clearance to the security systems. Faculty, staff, students everyone who has ever had access in the last year."

The witches nodded immediately.

Daniel folded his arms. "So, what now? Lock the school down? Cancel classes?"

"No," Kimper said without hesitation. "If we change the routine too drastically, we risk tipping off the one responsible." His sharp gaze swept over the room. "For now, we tighten security. Let the students believe it's a preventative measure. We do not start a panic."

The witches exchanged a look but didn't argue.

I remained silent.

Because while everyone here was focused on how they got in…

I was still thinking about why.

Why now?

Why her?

Why Mirabel?

I hadn't spoken her name during the entire meeting, hadn't let her become the focus of the conversation because if I did, the questions would start.

And I wasn't ready to answer them.

Kimper turned to Daniel and me. "Both of you. Keep your eyes open. I want anything suspicious reported immediately."

Daniel nodded once. "Understood."

I gave a short nod as well, already planning my next move.

The witches continued their work, preparing another round of spells to search for traces of foreign energy, but I wasn't waiting around.

I turned and left the facility, my steps silent against the stone.

Because while they were still looking for who was behind this…

I needed to see her.

Again.

The remnants of the attack were still visible when we arrived at the scene. The ground was scorched in places, faint traces of demonic energy clinging to the air like an old wound refusing to close.

Azazel walked a few steps ahead of me, hands tucked into his pockets, his movements deceptively relaxed. But I knew better. He wasn't calm. He was calculating.

We stopped near the edge of the warding barrier the first line of defense surrounding Eldermire. It was intact. No cracks. No distortions.

I frowned.

Azazel let out a slow whistle, glancing around. "Looks normal."

I didn't respond.

Because that was the problem.

It looked normal.

Azazel turned to me, his expression shifting. "You're quiet."

"I'm thinking."

"About?"

I exhaled, scanning the perimeter. If the barrier wasn't breached, then how the hell did they get in?

Azazel studied me for a long moment, then smirked. Something dangerous flickered in his eyes.

"You know," he mused, "it's funny."

I didn't look at him. "Nothing about this is funny."

"Oh, but it is." His smirk widened. "You were the first person there."

My jaw tightened.

Azazel tilted his head, watching for a reaction. I didn't give him one.

"First one on the scene," he continued, stepping closer. "Like you knew exactly where to go."

I turned to face him fully. "You have a point?"

His gaze sharpened. "I don't like unexplained things, little brother."

I stayed silent.

Azazel's smirk never faded, but there was something coiled beneath it now, something heavier.

His voice dropped lower. "Stay away from her."

A warning. A demand.

I held his gaze, my expression unreadable.

Azazel let out a low chuckle, shaking his head. "No fight? No comeback?" He leaned in slightly. "That's not like you."

I didn't respond.

Because the truth was, I didn't trust myself to.

Azazel waited a second longer, then exhaled, stepping back. "Good talk."

Then, as if nothing had happened, he turned and started walking toward the security office.

I stayed still for a moment, forcing my muscles to unclench.

This wasn't over.

Not even close.

****

The security room was dim, lined with dozens of monitors showing various locations across the academy. The faculty member on duty barely acknowledged us as we stepped inside, too busy sorting through files.

Azazel and I approached the main console, scanning through the camera feeds.

"Rewind it to last night," I said, my voice level.

The technician tapped a few keys. Footage sped backward, blurring through hours of normal campus activity.

Then nothing.

The timestamp on the screen continued ticking, but the feed itself was blank.

I frowned. "It cut out?"

The tech nodded. "That's not all. Look."

The footage jumped ahead—skipping the timeframe of the attack entirely. The next thing visible was a figure.

A man in dark clothing, walking toward the outer perimeter.

But he wasn't hiding.

He moved deliberately, casually. As if he wanted to be seen.

Then—a flicker of dark energy.

And he was gone.

My pulse slowed.

The shadow I saw that night…

It was him.

Whoever he was, he had left on purpose.

Left after the attack.

And the message was clear.

This wasn't just a breach.

It was a statement.

And we were meant to see it.