Chapter 7 – Whispers and Nightmares.

Mirabel's POV.

A dull ache spread through my body, the kind of pain that sat deep in the bones, dragging me between wakefulness and sleep.

I wasn't sure how long I had been out.

Seconds? Hours? Days?

My eyelids felt too heavy, my body refusing to cooperate as I tried to shift.

Then a voice.

Low. Smooth. Calm.

"You're awake."

It took effort, but I managed to blink.

My vision was blurry, unfocused. The dim light above flickered slightly, casting shadows across the ceiling.

Then movement.

I turned my head, just barely, and saw him.

Raphael.

Sitting in a chair beside my bed, his posture uncharacteristically relaxed. Arms folded, legs stretched out slightly, watching me.

For the first time since I'd met him…

He didn't look distant.

Didn't look cold.

There was something softer in his expression or maybe I was imagining it.

Because his voice, when he spoke again, was quiet.

"You've been out for a while."

I tried to respond, tried to force out some sarcastic remark Oh, great, my grand return to consciousness is greeted by the Ice King himself? but my throat refused to work.

All I managed was a soft, tired noise.

His gaze flickered, something unreadable crossing his face.

"Don't push yourself," he murmured, leaning forward slightly. "Just rest."

His voice.

It wasn't harsh.

Wasn't indifferent.

It was… steady.

Warm, even.

I must have been dreaming.

That was the only explanation.

My vision blurred again. My body felt too heavy.

Then darkness.

*******

A battlefield.

A sea of bodies painted the ground in red.

The air reeked of blood, fire, death.

I stood in the center of it all, my chest tight, my breath coming in short, ragged gasps.

Above me, angels soared through the sky their glowing white wings stained with ash.

Demons moved through the wreckage, their claws tearing through anything that stood in their way.

But they weren't fighting each other.

No.

They were fighting against witches.

Screams echoed across the village.

Women. Children. None were spared.

A man with silver armor raised his sword a single swing, and a witch's head rolled onto the dirt.

A child ran, tripping over broken bodies, only to be yanked back a hand tightening around her hair, a blade plunging into her chest.

I couldn't move.

I couldn't breathe.

This wasn't a war.

This was a massacre.

A flicker of motion someone was running toward me.

Fast. Too fast.

I turned just in time to feel the cold steel of a blade piercing my stomach.

Pain exploded through me.

I gasped, looking down. The sword was buried deep.

A hand tightened on the hilt.

My breath hitched. I knew that hand.

Shaking, I lifted my gaze.

And froze.

A man stood before me, his face hidden behind a mask of black and silver.

But the eyes

Red. Piercing. Familiar.

My lips trembled. My hands reached up, grasping at the edges of the mask, pulling it free.

And then I saw him.

Raphael.

His face was blank, void of emotion, but his grip on the sword didn't falter.

His lips parted.

His voice was softer than the chaos around us.

"I'm sorry."

Then

He drove the blade in deeper.

I screamed.

I woke up gasping.

My entire body jerked, a sharp burn spreading across my stomach, as if the dream had left something real behind.

My breath came fast, uneven.

The room was dim, quiet.

No battlefield. No blood.

Just me.

Alone.

I let out a slow, shuddering breath.

Then winced.

Everything ached.

Sweat clung to my skin, my limbs trembling from the sheer exhaustion of… whatever the hell that was.

A dream? A nightmare?

It had felt too real.

I squeezed my eyes shut, trying to push away the lingering images, the feeling of that sword of his hand gripping it, of his voice whispering that apology.

I inhaled. Slow. Deep.

But the fear? It didn't fade.

After awhile I was able to calm down.

I stared at the ceiling.

The dim glow of the lights above was oddly hypnotic, flickering slightly, as if the universe itself was undecided about keeping me awake.

I couldn't move much, but at least I was awake.

For now.

A bitter laugh escaped my lips.

First day at school? Almost died.

Barely a few weeks in? Actually did almost die.

And now? Lying here, still trying to figure out if I'd wake up tomorrow or if some cosmic joke had already sealed my fate.

I sucked in a slow breath, staring at my hands.

They were still mine.

Still normal.

No trace of the dark energy that had burst from them.

No proof that I had even done it except for the fact that I was still alive.

What the hell was I?

I didn't get time to dwell on it, because the door creaked open.

I blinked, shifting slightly, pain flaring up as I turned my head.

A man in healer's robes stepped in, his sharp gaze landing on me. His expression remained professional, but there was a flicker of relief.

"You're finally awake," he said, stepping closer.

I blinked at him, then exhaled. "Depends on how you define 'awake.'"

He chuckled. "At least your sarcasm is intact."

I watched as he pulled out a small vial, inspecting the contents before turning back to me.

"How do you feel?" he asked.

Like I got hit by a train.

Like I was drowning in exhaustion.

Like my entire world had tilted sideways and no one bothered to warn me.

But I just said, "I've been better."

The healer hummed, his hands glowing faintly as he checked my pulse. "That's to be expected. You've been unconscious for two weeks."

My breath caught.

Two weeks?

I blinked, trying to process that. I had lost two whole weeks?

No wonder I felt like a corpse.

"Your body was fighting off the poison," the healer continued. "It took time, but we managed to counteract the worst of it. The rest should fade with rest."

I swallowed. "And if it doesn't?"

He smirked. "Then I'd be a terrible healer."

I sighed, closing my eyes for a brief moment. Two weeks. What else had I missed? What had changed while I was stuck in my own head?

Before I could ask, the door opened again.

A familiar, calm presence filled the space.

Daniel.

Tall, composed, exuding that same effortless serenity he always carried.

His blue-gray eyes met mine, steady and unreadable, before he gave a slight nod.

"You're awake," he said simply.

I exhaled. "So I've been told."

The healer stepped back, nodding toward Daniel. "I'll give you two a moment."

As he left, Daniel moved closer, stopping at the foot of my bed.

For a long second, he just looked at me.

Not with pity. Not with amusement.

Just assessing.

Then

"You caused quite the stir, Mirabel."

I let out a weak chuckle. "Yeah, well. It's a talent."

His lips quirked slightly, but his eyes remained sharp. "We need to talk."

And just like that, my brief moment of peace disappeared.

Daniel's gaze held mine.

Calm. Steady. Unreadable.

He didn't move right away, just observed me like he was piecing together a puzzle only he understood.

Then, finally, he exhaled and took a step forward.

"You look like hell," he said.

I huffed out a weak laugh. "Gee, thanks."

He pulled the chair closer and sat down, drumming his fingers lightly on his knee. "How do you feel?"

How did I feel?

Like I'd been hit by a truck.

Then thrown off a cliff.

Then stitched back together with regrets and bad decisions.

I shifted slightly, wincing at the pull of pain. "Like I fought a demon and lost."

His brow lifted slightly. "You didn't lose."

I scoffed. "I blacked out for two weeks."

"You're still here, aren't you?"

I opened my mouth. Paused.

Technically, yes.

And the way he said it like it wasn't just about surviving but about something bigger made my chest tighten.

I looked away, suddenly feeling exposed.

The silence between us stretched for a moment before he leaned back in his chair, tilting his head. "What do you remember?"

The question felt heavier than it should have.

What did I remember?

Pain. Claws. Blood. Fear.

A power inside me I didn't understand.

And him.

Raphael.

Emerging from the shadows like some untouchable force, destroying everything in seconds.

Then those eyes.

The way he had looked at me.

I swallowed. "Not much," I lied. "It's all… blurry."

Daniel's expression didn't change, but I could tell he didn't believe me.

"Hmm." He hummed, thoughtful. "That's probably for the best."

That made me frown.

"For the best?" I repeated. "What does that mean?"

He just gave me a small, almost apologetic smile. "It means you should focus on getting better. That's all."

I didn't like that answer.

At all.

But before I could press further, the door opened again.

Sofia.

The relief on her face was immediate.

"You're awake," she breathed, hurrying over to me. "Finally."

She didn't hesitate to sit on the edge of my bed, taking my hand as if to confirm I was real.

I gave her a tired smile. "Hey."

Her lips pressed into a thin line. "Two weeks, Mirabel. You scared the hell out of me."

I squeezed her fingers. "Didn't do it on purpose."

Sofia exhaled sharply, like she was about to scold me but decided against it. Instead, she turned to Daniel.

"Have they figured out what happened?" she asked.

Daniel's expression darkened slightly. "They're working on it."

Sofia's jaw clenched. "That's not an answer."

"It's the only one I can give you right now."

The tension in the room shifted.

I felt it.

Whatever had happened… it was serious.

And I was at the center of it.

Sofia turned back to me, her expression softening just a bit. "Get better soon, okay?"

I nodded, but something in my chest felt uneasy.

Because for the first time since waking up…

I had the distinct feeling that being alive might not be enough.

Sofia didn't let go of my hand.

She held it tightly, like if she let go, I'd disappear again.

I didn't have the heart to pull away.

Her face was carefully composed, but I could see it the worry beneath her confidence, the way her fingers trembled just slightly against my skin.

I sighed. "So… two weeks, huh?"

She gave me a flat look. "Don't say it like it was a nap."

"I mean, I feel like I just woke up from one."

Daniel hummed, amused. "A nap that nearly killed you."

"Details," I muttered.

Sofia wasn't amused.

She let out a sharp breath and finally released my hand, leaning back slightly. "You don't get it," she said, shaking her head. "The school has been insane since that night."

I frowned. "Insane how?"

Daniel glanced at her, then at me, his gaze carefully neutral. "Security's tightened. There are more guards, more enchantments, more whispers."

I blinked. "Whispers?"

Sofia sighed, rubbing her temples. "Rumors. Theories. You know how people get when they don't have answers."

My stomach twisted. "What are they saying?"

She hesitated.

Daniel answered for her. "That someone let them in."

The air in the room grew heavier.

I felt it sink into my skin, coil around my ribs.

Someone… let them in.

I swallowed, my mind racing.

That meant this wasn't just an attack. It wasn't random.

Someone planned this.

Someone wanted this to happen.

Sofia exhaled, crossing her arms. "Of course, no one's saying it out loud, but… yeah. People are watching each other differently now."

"Like everyone's a suspect," I murmured.

She nodded.

Daniel's gaze didn't waver. "They're not wrong to be cautious."

Something in his tone made me pause.

I studied him carefully. "You think it was an inside job?"

A brief silence.

Then his expression darkened, just slightly.

"I think," he said slowly, "that nothing about this makes sense."

Sofia sighed, rolling her shoulders. "All I know is, I've had to hear Hazel talk about how much of a 'burden' the Forsaken are at least three times this week."

I groaned, closing my eyes. "Of course she's using this as an opportunity to be insufferable."

Daniel huffed, amused. "I'd say she's being more careful than usual."

That made me pause.

"Careful?" I echoed.

Sofia nodded. "Yeah. Even she's not saying too much. Which is weird because usually, she lives for moments like this."

My frown deepened.

Hazel was cruel, manipulative, and full of herself but she wasn't stupid.

If she was holding back…

That meant even she didn't know what was going on.

And that?

That was unsettling.

A sharp knock on the door broke through my thoughts.

We all turned as the door opened

And Raphael stepped inside.

The moment he did, the energy in the room shifted.

Sofia tensed. Daniel's expression flickered.

And me?

I just stared at him.

Because suddenly, all I could hear was his voice from before low, calm, steady.

"You're awake."

For a moment, I wasn't sure if I had dreamed it.

But the way his crimson eyes locked onto mine?

That was very, very real.

Daniel's phone buzzed.

He barely glanced at it before tucking it away. "I have class," he muttered. "Can't afford to miss another one."

Sofia snorted. "Since when do you care about skipping?"

"Since Mr. Kimper personally reminded me that my privileges aren't infinite." He exhaled, shaking his head. Then he looked at me, his expression softer. "I'll check in later, yeah?"

I nodded. "Yeah."

Sofia hesitated before standing. "I'll walk with you."

I blinked.

Since when did Sofia willingly leave me alone with Raphael?

She must've noticed my confusion because she shot me a look before heading toward the door. "Try not to overthink things," she said, not unkindly. "Just… rest."

And then they were gone.

Which left him.

And me.

In a very silent room.

I shifted awkwardly, not really sure what to say until he moved.

I barely had time to react before he was closer.

Too close.

My pulse jumped as he leaned in, his piercing red eyes staring right into mine, his expression unreadable.

I instinctively leaned back, but he followed, his face hovering way too close.

"What..." I started.

He grabbed my wrists.

My words died in my throat.

Heat flared up my arms at the sudden contact, my breath hitching. "What the hell are you?"

His fingers tightened slightly as I struggled. Not painfully, but enough to make me stop squirming.

He was staring. Studying.

Like I was a puzzle he couldn't quite figure out.

I tried again. "Raphael.."

His finger pressed against my lips.

I froze.

"You talk too much."

I blinked, completely thrown.

My face heated unwillingly. I wasn't sure if it was from anger or something else.

He held my gaze for a second longer before finally pulling back.

I exhaled, trying to reassemble my thoughts. "What… was that for?"

He didn't answer immediately. Instead, he tilted his head slightly, as if debating something.

Then he smirked.

Smirked.

I glared. "What."

He ignored my very clear irritation. "How are you feeling?"

I scowled, trying very hard to ignore the fact that my heart was still racing. "Like I got attacked by demons."

He hummed. "Understandable."

I folded my arms. "Since when do you care?"

His smirk faltered slightly.

For a moment, I swore I saw something uncertain flicker across his face. But it was gone too quickly for me to figure out what it was.

Then he exhaled, stepping back. "I'll let you rest."

He turned to leave.

I should've let him.

But instead before I could stop myself.

"Hey, Raphael?"

He paused, glancing over his shoulder.

I hesitated, suddenly second-guessing myself.

But the question was already on the tip of my tongue.

"…Were you here when I first woke up?"

His expression didn't change.

But his silence was answer enough.

I swallowed.

Then, just as quickly as the moment came, he was gone.

Leaving me very, very confused.