I nod. “So, they’re here,” Allie murmurs. A chill runs down my spine as the three of us fall silent. We’ve seen things and experienced things that feel unexplainable at times. Heaven had her first prophecy at the age of twelve, regarding the four rulers, and I’ve been seeing things for years and Allie? She just fits.
If you ask any of us how we first became so close, none of us really knows. It’s like we just became this tight-knit group without even realising, and despite our ages, we have done and seen more than most others our age.
Heaven whispers a spell so no one can hear us as she leans in. “Have either of you heard anything? Last time, Endora made the manananggals, so who’s making them now?”
“Endora created them from something she read, preciselyfrom the grimoire that is hidden away in the Rossi Mansion that no one but Ri can access. But she didn’t invent it,” Allie says.
“Agreed… so what you are saying is that these might not be created, but the… actual thing?”
Allie shrugs. “That’s something a bloodsucker would know.”
“Oi, that’s offensive,” Heaven whispers, glancing around as if forgetting we can’t be heard.
“Oh, does it matter? We live in a world where everyone gets butt-hurt over the smallest thing. Theyarebloodsuckers.”
I don’t respond, musing over what she said about the manananggal. She isn’t wrong. Perhaps they are being created from vampires or maybe they just came to be without being ‘made’.
“If that’s the case, would they be stronger than those created by Endora?” I ask the question that is on each of our minds.
It’s muchlater in the night, and I’m skimming through a book, pondering over my lack of control, when there’s a knock on the door. Anna looks across at me, woken from her sleep. “Expecting someone?”
A quick glance at the clock tells me it’s past midnight. I shake my head and get out of bed. Going over to the door, I unlock it, only to see Professor Loraina, one of the witches who teaches magic.
“Professor, is everything alright?” I ask, I had missed a lesson today, but that was with Professor Magdalia, who taught ushealing herbs and poisons, not Professor Loraina.
Her greying hair is pinned back, and her dark eyes are trained on me with an emotionless, assessing stare. “You have a visitor here.”
“A visitor? At this hour?” I ask.
Is it Ahren? My heart skips a beat, or maybe Mama or someone learned I skipped lessons the first day back, which I never have before. Maybe my powers are getting stronger as I’m approaching my eighteenth birthday? I don’t know, but I’m curious who has come to see me.
She turns, expecting me to follow, and I quickly grab my robe and slippers, putting them on over my sleeping shorts and top and hurry after her as she leads the way down the halls, the sound of her heels echoing loudly in the silence.
I glance around. The halls always look so empty at this time of night. Paying attention, I notice we’re heading towards the Headmaster’s Office.
She stops outside the door and motions for me to go inside. I nod hesitantly and knock on the door before stepping inside. I look around the dimly lit room, but it’s not Alpha Aaron in the chair, but… Uncle Leo.
He’s leaning back in the seat, his elbow resting on the armrest as he smokes a cigarette lazily, yet somehow… sharp. In the dim light, he looks even scarier than I remember, his piercing eyes almost glowing. Turning bravely, I turn the light up until it brightens the room.
There, all better.
“I can’t see well in the dark.” That’s not entirely true. I see everything, but it’s like I’m looking through a red lens, and it looks creepy.
“Shut the door and take a seat.” He motions to one of the ones opposite him. I walk to the chairs and sit down, feeling on edge as I perch nervously on the seat.
“You wanted to see me?”
“I’m not one to beat about the bush, so let’s get to this. You were absent from all your lessons today. On your first day back. Care to share why?”
Is that irritation in his voice? I’m not sure, but his cold eyes hold no warmth…
“I…” This is my chance to tell him I don’t belong here.
I look up and take a deep breath. “Because I can’t. I just can’t be one of your elite warriors. I probably don’t even belong in one of the four war academies. I don’t fit in, I’m useless, I’m not elite.”
“I hate that word…” he breathes, his eyes flicking away before he glances back at me. “We’ve had this conversation before. We both know what you’re capable of, so why are you not utilising that?”
“Because I can’t control it.”
