Something Woke Up

Chapter Four: Something Woke Up

Lyla’s POV

“Lyla.”

Someone was shaking me.

“Lyla, you’re sweating. Are you okay?”

My eyes shot open. I sat up, breathing fast. My hands felt hot—burning, almost.

“What the hell?” I mumbled and looked down.

My fingers were glowing. Not like fire—but soft, golden light, pulsing beneath my skin.

“Rina…” I whispered.

She was sitting cross-legged on her bed, scrolling through her tablet, one hand halfway into a cereal box.

“Yeah?”

“Something’s wrong with me.”

“Did you start your period? There are pads in the bathroom.”

“No,” I said. “My hands. They’re—” I held them up. “They were glowing.”

That made her look up. “Glowing? Like glitter? Or full-on alien baby stuff?”

I wiped my palms on my blanket, but the glow had already faded. “It stopped. But I felt it. Something woke up inside me.”

Rina blinked once, then tossed her cereal aside and got off the bed. “Come here.”

“I’m not joking.”

“I know. Come here. Let me see your eyes.” She tilted my chin up like she was checking for a fever. “You don’t look possessed.”

“I’m serious.”

She looked at me for a second, then lowered her voice. “Okay, real talk. Did you do any spells in your sleep?”

“I don’t know any spells.”

“Exactly. That’s what’s scary.” She stepped back. “Get dressed. We need to go. Now.”

“Where?”

“Class. It’s day two. If you start skipping already, they’ll flag you.”

“I don’t think I can focus.”

“You think anyone here’s mentally stable?” she said, throwing me clean clothes. “Get up. You’re not dying today.”

⸻

We walked out of the dorm, the sky above grey and heavy. The trees surrounding the academy swayed too hard for a wind that soft.

The moment we stepped outside, I paused. The air felt different.

Alive.

Like it could see me.

“Okay. You’re doing that weird look again,” Rina said.

“I’m not imagining it,” I told her.

“Then maybe stop acting like you’re being hunted by invisible birds.”

I gave her a look. “You’re a great friend.”

“I know.”

We didn’t get far.

Because he was there.

A tall boy. Silver hair. Golden eyes.

Kael.

He stood near the courtyard archway, hands behind his back, eyes locked on me like he’d been waiting.

Rina nudged me. “Another one?”

I stepped forward slowly. “Um… hi?”

“You woke up,” Kael said.

I blinked. “What?”

“The power. It’s in you now. I felt it from across the courtyard.”

I looked at Rina. “Okay, did he rehearse that?”

Kael didn’t blink. “You may try to deny it, but it won’t stop what’s coming.”

I crossed my arms. “Listen, I’m just trying to survive math class.”

“I’m serious,” he said.

“So am I.”

He stepped closer, just a little. “Stay alert. Not everything around here is friendly.”

Rina leaned in from behind me. “You included?”

Kael ignored her. “You’re stronger than you think, Lyla. Don’t waste time pretending you’re not.”

Then, just like that, he turned and walked away.

Rina stared after him. “What the hell is going on with you? Are you a hidden goddess or something?”

“I don’t know.”

“That’s three alphas now. Riven, Dante, and Kael. What are you doing to them? Breathing?”

“I didn’t do anything!”

Rina held up her hands. “Hey, I’m not complaining. But if the fourth one shows up, I’m staging an intervention.”

⸻

We got to class a few minutes late.

Of course, all the normal seats were taken.

Except two.

Rina nudged me. “Fate.”

“Nope.”

“Yep.”

I looked up and saw exactly where the two seats were.

One beside Rina.

And the other—directly next to Dante.

I hesitated at the door.

“Lyla,” Rina hissed. “Move.”

“I can stand.”

“No, you can’t. That’s weirder. Sit.”

I took a deep breath, walked past the stares, and slid into the seat.

Dante didn’t even glance my way.

He was leaning back in his chair, arms crossed, eyes on the front board. Calm, still, untouchable.

His scent hit me right away. Not like cologne. Just clean, cold, sharp. Like winter air after a storm.

I folded my hands in my lap and didn’t move.

Then the professor walked in.

“Good morning,” he said without even looking up. “Test papers are being passed down. No talking. You have thirty minutes.”

I sat up straighter. “Wait. What?”

“Pop quiz,” the guy beside me whispered.

“But I didn’t study. I didn’t even know—”

Rina leaned over. “Just try your best.”

Papers were passed down the row. I grabbed mine and stared.

I didn’t understand half the questions.

What was rune resistance?

What did bloodline purity have to do with enchantment barriers?

My hands started to shake.

Then Dante moved.

He took his paper. Calmly. Filled in the first five questions like they were nothing.

Then…

He reached over.

And took mine.

I blinked. “What are you doing?”

He didn’t answer.

He just started writing on it. Fast. Clean handwriting. Like he’d memorized every answer.

I looked at Rina.

Her eyes were huge.

She mouthed: WHAT?!

I turned back to Dante. “Why are you helping me?”

Still no answer.

When the thirty minutes were up, he picked up both our papers, stacked them together, and stood.

He handed them in and walked out in silence.

⸻

I caught up to him in the hall. "Hey—Dante! Wait."

He stopped but didn't turn around.

"Thanks," I said. "For the test. You didn't have to do that."

He turned his head a bit, not quite enough to glance at me. "You shouldn't be here if you can't keep up."

I scowled. "That was… harsh."

"I wasn't trying to be kind."

"You're still not," I muttered.

He turned far enough to allow me to see his eyes. "Don't count on people like me. It never works out."

And then he departed.

I stood there, blinking.

Rina caught up. "Did he just save you and insult you in the same breath?"

"Apparently."

"God, he's so predictable."

I breathed in deeply. "What even is his deal?"

"Dante does not make deals. He makes threats. And power plays."

"I did not ask for help."

"I also did not say no," she said, smiling. "Do not worry. You will not be the first girl to get burned by him."

"I am not interested."

"Sure," she said, weaving in front of me. "That is what they all say. Before they go on filling out his name in their spellbooks."

I rolled my eyes.

But I couldn't lie.

Something about him… remained in my chest.

⸻

That evening, I lay awake with my gaze on the ceiling.

My palms were warm again.

Not glowing, just warm.

Like something was still present. Sleeping. Waiting.

"Who even am I?" I exhaled softly.

No answer.

Just the wind knocking on the glass and the steady throb of something very old in me.

Waiting to wake.