by Luna Pierce
A conversation appears in my senses.
“Is she okay?” one person says.
“Can you grab her?” another directs.
“You, take him. We have to get out of here.”
“Silas,” I whisper when his body is torn from mine, the pull of my heart that much more.
One by one, the sound and touch of Sydney, Deghan, and even Cameron, reassure me that they’re okay, that at least they are safe. But the one voice I’m the most concerned about doesn’t respond and is the epitome of silence. It’s deafening.
Exhaustion consumes me. Energy levels at an all-time low. I’m not really sure I could move if I actually wanted to. Existing feels like a burden more difficult than I’m capable of.
I’m carried for a little while, through long walkways, upstairs, more hallways, and am eventually placed on a soft, warm surface—a bed. I breathe deeply, not daring to open my eyes. I don’t recognize the space I’m in, it’s energy different than mine and Sydney’s and Deghan’s room. I’d only been in Cameron’s dorm a few times, but it’s not that.
I’m no longer able to process my whereabouts. Fear and misery roll back in, taking their turns assaulting me.
This is your fault, Willow.
You did this, Willow.
You are a freak, Willow.
You never deserved a single one of them, Willow.
I suppress a sob, curling myself into the fetal position.
“I think she’s in shock,” a voice… Deghan’s.
“I’ve never seen that kind of magic, the sheer volume of it was insane.” Sydney.
A clearing of a throat, “Uh…yeah, me neither.” Cameron.
How is he still in here? How is this not breaking the oath?
“Obviously,” Deghan replies sarcastically.
A warm body appears beside me; I’d be able to identify it anywhere—Deghan. We’ve spent many afternoons napping together that, even at a distance, I memorized the feeling of his presence over and over. He rubs my back, his energy pooling into me.
Cameron’s familiar hand finds its way onto mine, cupping my palm with his. He’s scared, but I can identify the worry is more for me than anything else.
“Here, hold this,” Sydney tells one of them.
Deghan shifts.
A strange whooshing emerges, and then a light wind, kind and delicate, traces my skin, but from the inside of my body. It’s strange, and within seconds, my energy increases a bit, like I’m being plugged in and recharged.
When I’m finally able, I open my eyes, soaking in all of the beautiful faces around me, all except one. My gut wrenches, and the pain of my reality slices through me. I start to cry again.
“Shh, it’s okay,” Sydney comforts. “You did so well, Willow.”
I did well? Silas is dead because of me.
I shake my head and scan the room.
Deghan, sitting to my right, gorgeous as ever, staring intently, rubbing circles and then grabbing my free hand.
Cameron, to my left, his kind eyes meeting mine, a type of understanding hidden within them, like he knows now why I did what I did, or at least part of it.
Sydney, planted below Deghan on the bed, holding a giant clear crystal in his lap, his hand on my leg, firm and accepting.
I meet their gaze and move my concern to the last remaining member of the room.
Silas.
His body remains still, lying on a nearby bed. So motionless.
What have I done?
I’m on my feet, scooting to the edge of the bed I was gently placed upon. I’m surprised at the strength returning to my body, the energy renewing.
“Let her go,” a voice whispers to another.
I crouch next to the bed, taking Silas’s hand into mine, holding it to my face, against my cheek. I’m so sorry. There are no cracks, no fizzling energy pulsing between us. No sign of pain on his face by the touch, and that’s how I know for sure, I did something terrible.
I did the thing I was so terrified of doing, and now, now it can’t be undone. I forced them away so none of them would get hurt, and here I am, staring the inevitable in the face.
I close my eyes, pressing his palm against my face, relishing the last remaining moments with him I have.
Bodies stir across the room, a signal that they’ll be prying me from him soon, that my time is limited that much more.
“I’m so sorry,” I say, this time out loud.
“How… how are you doing that?” a voice cracks, sending shockwaves through my body.
I open my eyes and nearly stumble back, only barely regaining my composure.
His eyes blink to life, along with my heart and soul.
“Do it again,” he pleads.
Without question, I take his extended hand, placing it to my face. No sparks. No wincing in pain. No restraints.
“I… I killed you.”
He smirks. “I’m immortal, Willow. I’ve died more times than I can count.”
“I killed you.” I laugh. “I broke the curse because I killed you.” I blubber the words, the realization overwhelming me.
More tears fall, and I’m unable to stop them, all of my emotions flooding into one gigantic mess.
I broke the curse.
Silas shifts his body, taking both arms to lift me off the floor and into his arms. His embrace is like a waterfall, so peaceful and serene but absolutely magnificent, and capable of wrecking me.
“I’m hugging you,” I say. “And you’re not in pain?”
“No,” he mutters beside my ear, breathing in deeply, savoring this moment.
A knock at the door resonates, and I don’t dare let go, not yet.
“I thought you were gone,” I admit.
He tightens his embrace. “You can’t get rid of me that easily.”
The door swings open. Abigail, Walker, and another professor, I’m unsure of his name, steps into the room.
“I see that you’re all safe and sound,” Walker speaks with authority. “We’ve managed to reattach and repair what we can of the shadow realm, eliminating the remains of the fallen demon.” He pauses. “I can’t thank you enough for what you did, although I’m not sure why you were there in the first place. That’ll be a conversation for another day.”
I finally renounce myself from Silas, but only to turn around and face the headmaster, my body still pressed against Silas, not wanting to miss a beat of this newfound unrestrained distance between us. I’m close enough to Deghan to touch, so I reach out and grab his free hand, cupping it into mine.
“Cameron, these instances are rare, and there is a specific protocol we must follow.”
My body goes rigid. Protocol.
Walker raises a hand in my direction. “But, given the circumstances, I would like to offer you a choice.”
“A choice?” Cameron asks, his voice uncertain.
“Mmhm. It seems this group is rather fond of each other, and given the drastic majority being what they are, I’d like to offer you the ability to keep your memories or have them erased. Now, before you answer, I must warn that you will be forbidden from discussing any of these matters with another human student, and if you decide to agree, you will have to sign a magical oath that will disallow you from doing so. This is a very serious matter, so please use caution in your decision.”
Cameron’s attention shifts from Deghan to Sydney, to Silas, and then falls on me.
I nod, giving him what I can of an approval and secretly begging him to say yes, without using my magic to convince him to do so. Having Cameron knowledgeable would only make our lives that much easier, considering we all wouldn’t be hiding something insane from him, but knowing these things puts Cameron at risk, too. Had he known, though, maybe he wouldn’t have been lured into the shadow realm, and maybe that knowledge would have kept him safe. I have to hope like hell it will aid in his safety, if he chooses that option.
He swallows deep, the sound apparent even at a few feet apart. “I’d like to keep them, si
r.”
My heart swells, and I break contact from Silas and Deghan to grab Cameron and bring him in for a hug. Everyone must think I’m crazy, but the thought of losing him, or having him forget me, is almost too much to handle.
His energy is content and relieved.
“I thought you might opt for that.” At this, Walker then mumbles something to Abigail.
She reaches into her bag, exposing the same scroll and pen I signed my name to all this time ago. “Cameron, if you’d come over here so we can go over some details.”
He obliges, stepping away from my embrace, leaving me cold and alone.
Walker points to me. “You need to rest. The destruction you caused was immense and had to have taken plenty of your resources. I’m surprised to see you standing.”
“It’s not without challenge,” I admit.
“We will discuss matters in more depth come morning, in the meantime, I assure you that our perimeter is secure.”
“How can you be so sure?” I ask, not wanting to question his authority but not totally sold on his declaration.
“We have disabled the shadow realm.” His face is solid and serious.
I gaze at the man standing next to Walker, who hasn’t said a word since his arrival.
“You two haven’t met. This is Professor Tremont. He was able to provide his assistance in deactivating the realm.”
Tremont extends his hand, and when we touch, his energy is all over the place. He locks his eyes with mine. “It’s lovely to meet the infamous Willow Oliver.”
I chuckle, unsure of how to accept that response.
Walker clears his throat. “Now that Cameron has vowed his secrecy and we have exchanged formalities, we shall leave you for the night. Please,” he scans the room, meeting all of our eyes, “get some rest. We have a big morning ahead of us.”
Abigail winks my direction, and I offer a small smile in return.
They clear out of the room, a silence falling upon us that I know is my responsibility to break.
“I’m sorry, to all of you,” I start, meeting the stares of the guys. “I never meant to put any of you in danger.” I sigh. “I owe you all an explanation. A few weeks ago, I found out some details that, long story short, put all of you at risk. My ancestral curse states: love must die at the hands of the cursed in order to be free. I thought the only way to protect all of you was to push you away, to force you to go on with your lives without me in hopes that you would all eventually move on, and I would deal with things on my own… alone.” I shake my head. “Watching each one of you from a distance, not seeming to get over my absence… it tore me apart. There was never a day when I wasn’t there, you just couldn’t see me. But don’t for a minute think I wasn’t wrecked about this, it was the single hardest thing I’ve done.
“I knew it was wrong, though, and that I needed to say goodbye, to actually give you a bit of closure, but seeing how devastating that was, and how badly it pained me to feel your anguish, it was my undoing. I literally bawled myself to sleep, only to wake knowing I had to figure out some fucking way to break the curse. That’s when I went back to the shadow realm on my own to find answers, but instead found you.” I point to Cameron. “I knew something even more terrible had happened, because never in a million years should you have been there. Everything else sort of becomes a blur, but my point is and was, I’m sorry. I never meant for any of this. I’m sure this apology will more than likely mean nothing compared to what I’ve put you through, but need you to know I only wanted the best for all of you, and I knew with me in the picture, I’d only hinder that from happening.”
I stop speaking, and a million pounds weighs on my chest in anticipation of any type of response. I understand I don’t deserve anything from them, but the uncertainty drives me insane.
Cameron speaks first. “When did you get your hair done?”
“Rude.” I frown.
“No, I’m serious.” He points toward my head.
I walk to the mirror and gasp in shock. A thick lock of my forever silver hair is dark, like, jet-black dark.
Deghan walks up behind me, placing his hand on one shoulder. “I’m not mad at you, Willow, let me make that clear. I was worried. I was afraid. I hated not knowing why you left the way you did.”
Sydney approaches next. “I had a feeling it was something to do with the curse, but I never expected you to deal with it on your own. And knowing what I do now, I have no reservations about staying by your side.”
Cameron continues, “I’m not mad, either. Honestly, I’m fucking surprised, at all of this. But I mean, it all makes sense, too. I’m just glad you’re okay.” He shrugs. “Promise you won’t leave us like that again.”
Warm tears well. I expected them to shove me out the door and never speak to me again. That type of response is what I deserve.
Silas rubs his neck. “Tell me next time you need to kill someone. I’m glad to be of assistance.”
I chuckle, waterworks bubbling over at their honesty.
They all reach in, grasping me for a big-ass group hug. I’ve never felt such an enormous and endless loving energy. It’s fucking bliss.
“I can’t believe any of you like me, especially after this.”
“I don’t know about all of you, but I’m beat,” Deghan confesses.
A few of the group murmur, and I yawn in response.
“Hold that thought,” Deghan says, opening the door and walking out.
A scratching sound fills the hallway, followed by him carrying a bed in sideways.
“What’re you doing?” Cameron asks.
“Slumber party, duh,” Deghan answers. He sets the bed on the floor and then grabs the others, arranging them in a circle around the room.
Sydney and Cameron help him position the beds, and Silas stands back, looking grumpy that they’re in his space but not betraying a word in objection. It’s then that I realize we’re in Silas’s bedroom.
Once the beds are in place, we all grab one and settle in under the covers.
“Goodnight,” I murmur.
A collective, “Goodnight,” follows.
A hand appears from my left, resting gently next to me. I take it, swimming in the ability to be able to touch him without fear of hurting him. Another moment passes, and Deghan reaches from the other side, and I place my hand on top of his.
I breathe in deeply, a calmness taking hold in their company, and somehow, despite the insane day, it pacifies me to sleep.
Chapter Twenty-Six
The following morning, I wake first and sneak out of Silas’s room, but not without pausing to look at each and every one of the men who saved me, from the demon, and from myself.
I’m just passing through the garden area when a figure appears in front of me.
“Is this another one of your disappearing acts?” Silas says, arms crossed, leaning against the wall.
“Believe it or not, a girl’s gotta shower, especially the whole spewing demon guts all over myself. You should probably wash those sheets by the way.” I point my thumb over my shoulder toward his dorm.
“Only as long as you’re not really leaving for good again.” His eyes betray a sadness.
I reach forward, resting my hand on his arm. The pulsing energy that exists between us now is something out of this world. “I’m sorry for leaving you.”
He grazes my cheek with his hand. “Go shower, I’ll be here when you’re done.”
Once I’ve cleaned the dirt and debris away, thrown on fresh clean clothes, and braided my still-damp hair, I walk back out into the hallway, uncertain of where exactly I’m supposed to go. Do I head to Walker’s office? Silas’s room? Deghan’s? Cameron’s? Sydney’s?
I let my stride take me down the hall, and when I enter the big opening in the center of the building, my heart happily pulses in response to what I see in front of me.
Sydney, holding a steaming cup of coffee. Deghan and Cameron chatting like best buds, and Silas, looking sullen and so li
ke himself. It’s truly a magnificent sight.
Handing me my drink, Sydney says, “You ready to go have the talk?”
“The talk?” I question.
“With Walker—he’s expecting us,” he confirms.
“Oh, right. Yeah. Thanks for waiting for me.”
We head downstairs, Abigail greeting us in the lobby upon our arrival.
“You all look great, well-rested.” She beams.
Funneling into Walker’s office, we each find a place to sit. Silas manages to grab the spot to my right, and Cameron to my left—Deghan and Sydney on the side next to Cam, like they’re avoiding being near Silas.
Walker clears his throat. “Good morning, group. I wanted to have this little meeting to fill you in on what happened.” He looks to Cameron. “I trust this is all in confidence, correct?”
Cameron responds, “Yes, yes.”
“Some of you may be aware that the shadow realm was able to maintain its power from the remnants of power that was left behind during each visit. While this is common and we frequently do routine maintenance to preserve any cracks that may develop, there became a point in which Willow’s energy reserves were so great that the shadow realm took more than what was necessary. And because she increased her visits, the realm got an abundance of power that essentially opened up a portal to a demon realm. We’re still trying to piece together exactly what happened, but that’s the brunt of what we have gathered.
“The demon targeted you specifically, Willow, luring Cameron in and trying to attack you, sealing you in from the inside. You are fortunate these young men followed you in, otherwise, I’m not sure how you would have fared alone. Not that you can’t hold your own, but fighting demons is uncharted territory for most.”
Silas interrupts, “She handled herself quite well.”
“She actually blew a burst of magic so massive that it obliterated the demon and then shattered the entrance. That’s how we were able to escape,” Sydney confirms.
“Ahh,” Walker says. “That answers one of the questions I had.” He pauses. “The realm was nearly destroyed by the time we got there, hence disabling it. It will take some time to repair, especially taking into consideration the recent vulnerabilities.”
