LOGINBy the time morning arrived, everyone in the dorm was already exhausted and no one was speaking to each other. They had used the time of their rest to put out the fire and some had even gone out to search if there was any hunter around.Scott had his brows knitted together as he oversaw everything. No one had planned for a sudden attack, and it was disappointing that even now, no one knows who had started a fire. It seems like it was meant to shake them up, but he just can’t point out who would attack them if not the hunters. Still, he isn’t convinced that it was the hunters doing.Ryker soon walked up to him and he reported, “Everything is under control now. We still haven’t figured out the source of the fire and we still don’t know who the culprit is.”Scott only nodded and he moved his eyes toward a room. “Are the prisoners safe?”Ryker looked toward the direction. He hasn’t thought about the two since the fire broke out. “They should be lucky they are in there. The fire didn’t spr
Julianne stirred and woke to darkness. It was not the kind that came from closing her eyes, but one where she couldn’t tell whether they were open or shut.She blinked several times, trying to make sense of her surroundings, but nothing changed.Then her head throbbed. A sharp pain pulsed from the back of her head and she winced as she tried to move. She wanted to sit up, but that was when she realized something was holding her down.She tried pulling her arms out with force and she heard something scrape against the floor. Then she decided to make sense of her surroundings.Her wrists had been tied behind the back of a chair and her ankles burn, making her realize they had been bound too by a rope.It was then she had a memory refresh and she remembered what happened in the forest. She remembered the blow to the back of her head. Someone had hit her from behind, but the person she saw before she lost consciousness was Headmistress Eldryn.She swallowed hard and pulled against the rop
Cassian stared at her for a moment. Then he slowly leaned back against the chair.“You have less than fifteen minutes.”Velvet’s brows drew together. “To do what?” she asked.“To decide carefully what you are going to say and then tell me everything written in the last page, and what Julianne is trying to do.”“And what happens when I don’t tell you and the time is up?”“Trust me, you don’t want to know.”Something about the way he said it made Velvet wary. She noticed he now looks so relaxed and unbothered.Cassian turned his head just slightly to stare at his blood that dripped down from his wrist before looking back at her.“You know me well enough to understand that I’m not asking because I’m curious.”Velvet raised her brows just a bit.“I know Julianne is reckless, but if you lead her to danger, then I won’t be able to forgive you for everything you’ve ever done.” He continued, “I don’t care what people think of me anymore. I don’t even care what Scott does to this place, or if
“You must enjoy hearing yourself speak,” Cassian said flatly, his voice carrying a cold edge that made the words feel like an insult.Velvet laughed softly and tilted her head. “And yet, here you are, listening.”“Don’t flatter yourself,” he said with a quiet disdain. “I’m not.” She tilted her head and curved her lips into a lazy smile. “If anything, you’re the one pretending.”His eyes finally settled on her. “I know you came here willingly because you want something out of me. The Cassian I know wouldn’t let himself be humiliated in front of anyone and be branded a traitor.”The door opened at the same time and silence stretched between them. Maximus walked in with a tray in his hand and he settled his eyes on Cassian. Once the door was shut, he moved from there and made his way toward him without sparing Velvet even a glance.Without a word, he set the tray down which contained first aid equipments and he made to treat his wounds. Cassian turned his head away before he could dab
“I’ll stay and fight for my freedom.”Scott felt his heart pause just briefly when he heard that. “I’ll stay too.”“Me too.”Soon, everyone started to join in until their voices became one and chorused.Scott had never felt this sense of unity before. For the first time, it seems that they suddenly had one goal they needed to achieve together. He turned to look at them and couldn’t be more proud that they decided to get back what they also deserve and wouldn’t just let anyone take it away from them.One of the boys stepped forward and said, “Scott, we wouldn’t have made it this far without you. I don’t care about what they think our life’s worth is. I only know that I have so many brothers my mother could never give me, and we’ve become one family. We’ve had our ups and downs and we’ve gone through difficult times, but look at us still here and standing strong. It was all under your guidance, so why would we leave now when it’s time to reclaim what we’ve lost?”Another one spoke. “He
“Oh Cassian. You can’t drag us all out here and not tell us what is happening. You have to show leadership since you started this whole thing.” Scott’s voice echoed aloud in the forest. They had been roaming around looking for one person without any clear answer as to why she went missing in the first place. Not to even talk of the disturbance that happened in the dorm last night. He looked afar off to where Cassian stood and he started to get irritated when he got no response from him. “Cassian! What the hell is going on?”Maximus worried about the situation, but before he could talk to him again, Cassian was already going back down to where the others were. He followed immediately.“Finally,” Scott said and walked to stand in front of him. He motioned with his hands and asked, “Will you tell us now what this is about? I think we need answers. Isn’t that right?”“Yes.” Most of them agreed and one could hear the frustration in their voices.“Anyone who wants to leave can leave. I t
Julianne looked at Cassian after handing the piece of paper to him. She had thought about it several times, but there was no other person she could think of giving than him.“Can you help me?” she asked.Cassian flipped the paper to the back and squinted his eyes a bit. “The handwriting should fish
Julianne stared down, deep in her own thoughts with her legs crossed on Marianne’s bed. She recalled the earlier encounter at the boy’s dormitory and she felt a cold chill run through her, causing goosebumps on her skin.At least she had thought Cassian was still somewhere close to good, because th
“From the moment you came, something shifted and it is only the beings who lurks in the dark that knows. For some, it could mean danger for them. For another, it could mean another thing entirely. I also saw you as a threat and even now, a sleeping threat, until I find out exactly what you are. I h
“I like the length of your hair,” Marianne commented after glancing over Julianne’s hair since they started to head towards the boy’s dormitory.Julianne pushed the strands to the back of her ear and said to her, “Thanks.”“So, what is it you want from Cassian? Is it something he took from you? I w







