2. Invasion

Earis

No matter how many times I scrubbed, the dead girl's blood wouldn't come off my hands. 

Cassian's voice broke through the bathroom door of my dorm.  

“Earis, you can't just run off like that, you left us in the woods!” 

“We heard you scream. What happened out there?!” 

“Earis! Are you even listening to me?” 

I pushed the door open, then came out in a towel dripping with water. A fake smile tugged at my lips as I tried to hide my trembling hands. 

I pulled my wet hair over my shoulder trying to hide the mark from Vanya and Cassian. 

My heart pounded heavily against my ribs as I stood frozen in front of them unable to utter a single word. Their death stare locked on me waiting for answers. 

Hunter turned Murderer. Marked by the very thing I was raised to hunt. Gosh, I'd snap his neck if I could. 

I'm sure Cassian and Vanya wouldn't understand. Cassian would snitch to my father in a heartbeat. He thinks rules save lives. 

My father would strip me of my hunter's mark himself. Anya— my little sister who thinks of me as her hero. What happens to her then? 

A warm arm wrapped around me in a hug. I flinched at her touch. Warm and relaxing. 

Blond hair. Great Cologne. Claire. My Mundane roommate. 

“Cassian, out!” She snapped. “She doesn't need your Boy Scout lectures. She needs to go to class, she's already lagging behind!” 

Oh, Claire, I'm sure she thinks this is one of the flimsy boy problems she always had. But if she could get Cassian off my back then that's relieving. 

All I had to do was deal with Vanya.

Cassian left just as Claire ordered but Vanya's gaze still burned as I struggled to put on my dress, hiding the mark at all costs. 

The moment I stepped into the hall Vanya followed behind me. Textbook on her chest like a shield, eyes burning with questions. 

I hated this place. Mundane college. Four years of pretending to be normal. To understand what I'm supposed to protect. My father says it would make me a better hunter. But it only made me feel trapped and blinded like the rest of them. 

“Ouch,” someone gasped as they bumped into me. 

“I'm so sorry,” I responded as I leaned in to help her to her feet. 

“It's fine,” she stood up immediately, dusting herself off, and walked past me. Her shoulder slowly grazed over Vanya. 

A sharp pain surged from the mark the instant she walked past me. I grabbed onto my neck trying to hide the pain from Vanya behind me. 

“She just bumped into you! Didn't you see her do that on purpose?!” Vanya hissed, confusion sharp in her tone. 

What is she talking about? 

I turned behind me and I almost screamed. My heart skipped a beat. 

Red hair! Pale skin! My stomach twisted. What the fuck!

It was the red hair from last night. She looked alive and well. 

She turned to me with a smirk on her lips and then disappeared into the crowd. 

A loud ring tore through my head as I tried to catch my breath. 

I tossed her into the lake trying to cover my tracks last night. How is she here?! How is she alive?! 

“Earis put that down! You can't have your hairpin out in the hallway!” Vanya whispered, tugging at my arm. 

What hairpin!? 

My fist clenched— something cold, I looked down and almost leapt from the shock. My hairpin! The very one I had buried into the hound's neck last night. 

My hands trembled as I tightened my grip trying to steady myself. Was this his doing!? He must have done something to the red hair and sent her to me.

Shit! 

He must be lurking around somewhere. Maybe I would have sensed him if I had my Fae’s bracelet. But that again was another thing lost in the woods. 

I spun around searching but there wasn't a single trace of him. The only presence he had was the one that surged on my neck, proof he was closer than I’d ever want.

“Earis, you look like shit! Get a hold of yourself before someone notices,” Vanya said, pulling at my arm as we walked to class. “You seriously have to tell me what's getting you all worked up!” 

I walked behind her clenching the strap of my backpack even harder. My head spun from the unanswered questions. 

But what almost drove me mad was Vanya! A hunter with more experience than I hadn't sensed anything. 

Not the redhead who clearly was now a supernatural being or the intense surge radiating off my neck. 

This mark must be driving me insane!

I slipped into the lecture theatre behind her. Again I walked all the way to the last row where no one would notice me. Vanya played the smart student and sat in the front row just like always. 

I had barely settled down before I heard the voice. 

“Hi Earis,” I jolted and turned towards her. The redhead. She was sitting next to me. I hadn't noticed her earlier. 

“Who the hell are you! What do you want from me?” I snapped clinging onto my hairpin ready to take her out. 

“Calm yourself Earis,” she whispered then pointed in front of the theatre. 

My head moved in sync with her hand and that's when I saw him. The very hound that had marked me, dressed in a black suit leaning against the professor's table.

My breath caught in my throat. 

“Silence…” Prof. Corner's timid voice sliced through the noise in the theatre. 

“I know this is your final year but we have a new professor from Cambridge, he'll be taking your drama classes from today,” he added. 

“Well, hello there,” the hound spoke and goosebumps erupted across my skin from the sound of his voice. 

The mark ignited pulsing in response to his voice. I squirmed, grinding my teeth trying not to make a sound. 

I turned in search of Cassian but he was seated two rows in front of me. He was smiling, clicking his pen clearly unaware of who was standing at the podium. 

“My name is Magnus Voss, and I can't wait to get to knowyou better,” he said lastly with a smirk on his face. And the moment his eyes met mine he winked at me.