☼ Chapter XVI ☼

picture; Aven Vierseut

song; "Bury A Friend" by Billie Eilish

author's note;  I was able to write this chapter fairly quickly because majority of it was already written. Just had to edit and add some things. A very important event happens in this chapter, and we get some more information.

Tell me what you guys think so far. How do you feel about the end? What did you think of the death at the farsa? And the reveal with Cetilayn?

Comment + Vote, enjoy!

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We caught eyes for what seemed like the millionth time. I was getting my ass handed to me because I couldn't focus on what I was doing. Several slashes oozed red over my body thanks to the nonexistent mercy my opponent had.

She drove her sword into my side, a malicious smile teasing her lips. "Aww, did I knock you off your throne, princess?"

"No," I sneered through gritted teeth, the coppery smell of blood urging through my senses. "If I were having a good day, you would've been on the ground within a matter of seconds." I spat at her before using the blade of my sword to help me to rise to my feet. "You could never be a better fighter than me."

She let out an angry, rumbling noise that came from deep in her chest and came at me again, though I easily deflected her first blow this time.

I didn't hesitate to slice the sword across her stomach when I broke away from blocking her original attack. When I came up, I twisted on my heel to get away from another attack with her blade and brought the edge across her cheek. It created a small cut on her deep brown skin that immediately started to bleed.

She stumbled away touching her face with a grimace, but I didn't stop. I wrapped my ankle around hers and yanked, causing her to go tumbling down to the floor.

I smirked as I stood above her with my sword pressed harshly enough against the hollow in her throat to draw blood.

"You think you're so high and mighty, don't you? All you Royals are the same." She snarled up at me, but she didn't dare move to get away from the tip of my sword.

"I don't think I'm high and mighty because I'm a Royal." After a moment, I drew the blade away from her neck and held my hand out to her.

"I think I'm high and mighty because I'm strong." She continued to glare at me but took my hand so I could help her to her feet. "My skill gives me confidence, not my blood. Besides, you're definitely not the best fighter in our class."

"I'm decent." Her scowl intensified as she defended her combative talent, and I raised my brows and licked my lips to keep the shit-eating grin at bay.

"You're good." She admitted after we returned to our original fighting positions, though the scowl on her face remained. "Why are you so bad today?"

"Well," I drawled and lunged at her, catching the tip of the sword with her arm. "I'm distracted." My eyes jerked back to where the redhead from the club was fighting against her partner and I barely side-stepped another attack.

"By her? You're a lesbian too?" She managed to slice across my chest just below my collar bone and I staggered back, holding the new and stinging wound.

More like my sister murdered her sister. I remembered how Cetilayn had thought about the redhead crying over the black-haired girl. She had said they were sisters. And the club we were at was called a farsa, which translates to "fake".

I had no idea what a "fake" club was, but I know I definitely would be staying far the fuck away from them all from now on.

"Lesbian?" I shook my head. "I didn't know..." I swung my sword low toward her calf and missed by a centimeter. Regaining my stance I sliced at her arm and cut the fabric of her sweater, but barely scratched her skin.

"Huh, well Ever's pretty open about it. If it's not that, then what?"

"No big deal. Something shitty happened recently to her because of me." I easily lied. "I just want to apologize." I dragged the edge of my sword across her shoulder blade and she hissed in pain.

"Ever won't care about your apology." She backed away a few paces and moved into her fight stance again. "She's pretty unforgiving. If you fucked with her in some way, there's really no going back. Nothing you say can fix it."

"Are you two friends or something?"

"Or something." I deflected her sword and shoved mine into her side and twisted. She gasped from the pain and fell to the floor, clutching the bloody, gaping wound.

"I don't care if she accepts my apology or not." With an aggressively uncaring jerk, I snatched my sword from her flesh. "It's just the point."

"Reinove!" My head cocked back to find Hyacinth standing with three very stoic looking Protectors. I hurriedly made my way over to her, noticing how everyone in the class had stopped fighting and was just gawking stupidly at me. My gaze found Ever's once again and I swear I could see her eyes brim with tears. "You're excused for the day. These men need you to go with them."

"Why?" I scowled at the Protectors as I sized them up. One scowled back while the other two curiously looked down at me.

"I don't know, Sonya. That's not my business."

"So, you're letting them pull me out of class and you don't even know if what they want me for is important?" I scowled at Hyacinth now who frowned at me.

"Well, I'm sure it's important because Head Vierseut sent them for you." I gulped as my head lolled back again so my eyes could grab Ever's.

One of the men reached forward and grabbed my upper arm and I yanked out of his hold, hating the angry jolts of fire that exploded over my skin where he had touched me. He looked confused as he stared at his hand, and I knew he felt the fire as well.

It wasn't anything like what I felt with Derik. This heat was so hot it had hurt, almost as if it were warning me that I belonged to someone else and he shouldn't be touching me in any way. It was the first time I'd ever felt it, and it instantly made me want it to be the last time I'd ever feel it again.

"I can walk, thank you." My voice came out much calmer, and void of emotion. Giving my eyes over to Hyacinth, I handed her the sword I was sparring with and took one last glance in Ever's direction.

Breathing in deeply, I started to lead the way toward the exit doors with the three Protectors trailing my heels closely. We walked in all-encompassing silence all the way to the administrations building where Head Vierseut's office was.

Despite the fact it was nearly a twenty-minute walk in the burning cold, I didn't feel anxiety or even a general awkwardness. The closer we got, I felt all my nervousness melt away and a sense of complete serenity wash over me. I wasn't worried at all, and I didn't know if that was good or bad.

The Protector closest to me didn't pause at all and pushed Head Vierseut's office door open, causing me to frown at how disrespectful that was. Allowing my hand that I had raised to knock fall, I followed the Protector inside.

"We've brought her, Aven." He said before moving over to the right side of the room to stand beside a female Protector who looked very pissed off about being here.

I looked at the Protector who had spoken to Head Vierseut strangely, wondering how he had the audacity to address him by his first name. Pushing forth the best smile I could, I bowed my head in respect. "Head Vierseut."

"Please, Sonya, call me Aven." My eyes sprinted up to connect to his in shock. Head Vierseut and I had only ever been face-to-face once before when I first was brought to Siekrov Nyx. Why he would let me call him by his first name?

Aven Vierseut wasn't just what humans would call the principal or dean of the Academy, but he was the youngest born Original Vampyre; Head Vierseut was one of the last supernaturals left who held Power and influence like he did since he was one of the first of our kind.

He was the Head to my Academy, a Royal, a First Child, and an Elder. No fucking way was I going to call him "Aven" like we were best buds.

I shook my head at him. "I really would rather not." Head Vierseut smiled and it caused the darkness of his eyes to glow. He emanated such Power, some small part of me wanted to cower away—probably the human part. Most of me was utterly attracted to it, almost awed at his authority.

"If you chose to address me with my title, I will address you by yours, Princess." I made a face at that, but didn't object or change my mind. It just wasn't custom to call an Ancient or Elder by their first name if they weren't family or familiar to you; it was actually considered rude. "Do you know why I've called you here today?"

I shook my head and fought the urge to roll my eyes. "No, Head Vierseut, but I do know I was pulled out of combats, so hopefully it's important." I inhaled sharply when I realized my tone and choice of words, then bit my cheek before bowing my head again. "I apologize. I don't mean to be rude."

It's been a while since I've had to address someone of high title and rank in the Unknown World. All my customary respect went out the window right after I said I didn't want to call him by his first name. I wanted to smack myself.

"Yes, Princess, of course. Lessons are top priority at the Academy, so it is of the utmost importance. We would not disturb you otherwise." Head Vierseut gestured to the seat across from his and I slowly moved to it before sitting down.

"These men accompanying us today are Protectors, but they are not the of the kind that patrol the perimeters of the Academy or of the kind a majority of your teachers were formerly. These Protectors work on the sleuthing side of pursuing criminals—not dissimilar to Trackers and Watchers."

"They're the Stationary." I smirked haughtily as the thought passed my lips.

Stationary—or Investigation—Protectors were the ones that didn't graduate as Grade-A's from the Academy; they were generally pretty smart and took to the textbooks rather than punching bags.

Trackers were in the field the most, but they are only supposed to Track the movement of Rogues, and only intervene when absolutely necessary. Watchers assist Trackers with their Gifts and Powers, and Watchers typically are Sorcerers because of their affinity for magick and placing Veils and casting Rituals.

The Stationary figured out the details and gave the information to the Matriarchs of the immediate area, who would then place the Hunting Protectors on missions to find and capture criminals. They were the brains behind the Protectors' system and I felt like their job was probably unchanging and boring.

"Yes," Head Vierseut's lips twitched, indicating to me he was fighting a smile. "The Protectors here today work in the supernatural murders regime." The smirk on my face fell away and I tensed up, my eyes sliding over the five Protectors in the room.

"They just want to ask you a few questions, Princess." If I didn't know any better, I would say that Head Vierseut was trying to reassure me—calm me even.

My eyes slid over his form, taking in his immense height even as he was sitting. Head Vierseut was probably eye-to-eye with Trent, and his hair was just as dark as his.

His skin had a ghostly tan, almost like he was supposed to be a deep bronze but it had faded to a washed out gray-brown. The orbs of his eyes were so black that you couldn't see his pupil and shadows lined the skin underneath.

He flawlessly fit the criteria of a Dark-induced being, but I couldn't feel any off-putting aura around him. The Power Head Vierseut emanated was the complete opposite of what I'd sensed from Cetilayn in my vision last night.

I swallowed and realized my mouth was dry before nodding curtly to Head Vierseut. One of the Protectors moved into my line of vision and I realized he was the one that had grabbed me earlier.

"Princess," He smiled at me weakly and I just stared blankly back. "My name is Micael Olicidove." I narrowed my eyes dangerously as I recognized his last name, anger filling my chest. My teeth pressed down so hard on my tongue I could taste blood. "Is it true that you have a Mate?"

I clenched my fists and basically snarled, "What does this have to do with a murder?" My protectiveness over Derik was probably going to get me into trouble, but I honestly couldn't care less.

Regardless of the fact Derik brought me to that "fake" club, I would protect his innocence to the end. He was with me the entire time and couldn't possibly have had anything to do with that girl's death.

"Please just answer the question, Sonya." My eyes turned to Head Vierseut and I struggled to swallow my anger, even though the tiniest semblance of worry began to ebb its way in.

"Yes, I have a Mate." The words were spoken through clenched teeth and my eyes were closed; I probably looked like it pained me to say anything.

"What's your Mate's name?"

"Why?" I demanded again, scoffing as I scooted to the edge of my seat. "He didn't kill anyone."

"We're not accusing him of anything. We're just making sure the information we've already gathered is correct." He nodded to another Protector who inched closer to us.

She placed her hand on my shoulder and I let out a sound that was more animalistic than human as I moved to break her wrist. A wave of calmness settled over my body and I relaxed, my eyes moving to Head Vierseut who looked slightly worried. "His name, Princess?"

I bit my lip as I stared at Micael. "Derik." I breathed, hating that I'd admitted it to him. "Derik Seilyar."

Micael looked confused, then surprised. "Derik Seilyar?" I scrunched my brows together as I watched him. "Do you know a Trent Codaihme?"

"Yes." And I refused to elaborate.

"He's not your Mate?" I let out a bark of laughter before remembering the fact that Ankiel told me just the night before that Trent had thought we were Mates.

"Obviously not; you can't have two Mates, can you?" The question was rhetorical, but Micael shook his head no as an answer anyway—but he looked unsure.

"Princess, you were seen at a farsă last night. Presumably with Derik Seilyar, correct?" I quirked an eyebrow up and stole another glance at Head Vierseut.

"Yes, why is the club called a 'fake' club, anyway?" Micael stared at me for so long I thought maybe he was zoning out or something.

"Derik didn't tell you what the club was?"

"He said it wasn't cliché." I shrugged like it was no big deal. "But he didn't really explain too much."

"A farsă is a trick club that disguises as a dance club but really is a hotspot for crime in the Unknown World." I couldn't believe what Micael was saying; was Derik really dumb enough to take me somewhere that crime is so common? Was he really stupid or plain reckless?

"Crime like what? Dark-induced beings hang around there a lot?"

"No; trick clubs are mostly run by Warriors which means they keep Darkness out. But Rogue Lycans are pretty attracted to them. It's a place they can come to fornicate with unsuspecting humans and a lot of drug dealing goes on." I nodded in understanding.

"So, are you here to tell me that somehow a Dark-induced supernatural slipped passed the Warriors last night and that's how that girl was killed?"

Micael smiled, though it didn't shine in his eyes. "The girl who was killed was Katherine Dahlyke, a Royal of Sorcerer bloodline. We aren't exactly sure why she was targeted because her family is plentiful."

"What does the Dahlyke line have to do with her death? Why does it matter that she was from a family that has a lot of them left?" Micael looked to Head Vierseut as if he were asking for permission. Head Vierseut gave no indication of an answer from what I could tell, and my curiosity pulsated hungrily.

Now I wanted to know more. What were these Protectors not saying? I could recall how Head Vierseut told me all those years ago when I was first brought to Siekrov Nyx that there are supernaturals who want to kill off all the Royal bloodlines because Royals held all the Power in the Unknown World. But these supernaturals would target lines that were already dwindling, like mine.

If they kill someone like a Dahlyke who has a lot of family, they could be retaliated against. Sorcerers may not be the most physically strong supernaturals in the Unknown World, but their wrath is unmatched.

"We have reason to believe that she was not a random kill, especially since you and your Mate, Derik Seilyar, were both present. The Warriors didn't catch the person who killed Katherine Dahlyke. All of our Trackers were also either severely injured or killed as well. However, a Watcher was able to See who the murderer was."

As discreetly as possible, I dug my nails into the palm of my hand almost tightly enough to draw blood to keep my heart rate from picking up. If Cetilayn had gotten herself caught, I couldn't let on that I knew it was her as well. I could be punished for keeping Rogue information to myself, regardless of the fact it was my own sister.

"The farsa was attacked by Hunters." It was a chore to display shock across my features.

"Hunters? But why would they only kill the Dahlyke Sorcerer and no one else? That club was full of supernaturals."

Hunters would attack and murder any and all supernaturals with no bias. It didn't make sense that Hunters would only attack one Sorcerer and leave. They would've tried to massacre the club.

"That is something we are still trying to figure out ourselves. Though Katherine Dahlyke had a dominant Sorcerer gene, she could be more than that. There is a Foribus Oriculi that—"

"Alpha Micael," Head Vierseut interjected suddenly with a dangerous smile on his lips. He rose to his incredible height and slid his attention to me. "Princess Reinove has other lessons she must attend to. If you have no further questions for her, I think it best we release her back to her classes."

"There is one more thing." I said suddenly, standing. A small part of me felt bad about what I was about to say, but most of me didn't care. I wanted to feel safe, and I needed to let the Protectors to know some small portion of the truth.

Even if I was still technically protecting my traitorous cunt of a sister, I knew if I told them what Ever had said, they would double up on my protection, regardless of if I needed to be protected from Cetilayn and Darkness or Hunters.

"There was a red-haired girl crying over Katherine Dahlyke's body at the farsa. I don't know if they were friends or what, but this girl is in my combats class. She had said that 'they were there for me'. The person who killed Katherine Dahlyke, I guess."

Micael didn't seem phased by this new information. Was it because he already gathered that I might have been the actual target or he already knew about Ever's presence at the club? "Thank you, Princess, for your cooperation."

I shook my head. "I mean, I don't think she had anything to do with Katherine's death. But I just thought you guys should know." I paused as I realized I'd thrown Ever under the bus. I knew what happened; I knew Cetilayn murdered Ever's sister.

"You're not gonna lock her up, are you?" Micael smiled weakly but didn't respond. His eyes skirted mine as I started to glare while waiting for him to speak. A scowl formed on my face as he rose to his feet, indicating to me he was done with the interrogating and that he wouldn't be answering anytime soon.

"Do you have any other questions for me, Princess?"

Narrowing my eyes, I spat forth the question that had been burning me since he'd introduced himself. "Yes. Are you Stationary any closer to finding Rene Olicidove?"

Micael sucked in a sharp breath between his teeth and flinched like I'd slapped him. He slowly shook his head, his amber eyes filling with sadness. "No, Princess. We're still trying to find him."

"Don't worry about it." I rose to my feet and looked him straight in the eyes. "I want to kill him myself anyway."

☼

The walk back toward my dorm had been quiet. I decided to skip out on Gifts & Powers as I simply wasn't in the mood to feel like a failure once again.

Most Novices were still in class, so the only sound that accompanied me was the crunching of my combat boots in the hardening snow. I had managed to beat down all thoughts of Cetilayn into the recesses of my brain. My mind drifted in a more comfortable direction, to musings of Derik.

I missed him. It hadn't been an entire twenty-four hours since I'd seen him last, but the growing need to be with him was beginning to become all-consuming. For some reason, though, I was okay with it.

My hand had just settled onto the door knob of my dormitory so I could enter, but the pendant resting against my bosom grew warm—causing me to stop.

The stones that were once midnight-blue had turned a brilliant crimson and a thick blackness engulfed me. Indecipherable whispers clouded in on my body, and I gagged as a putrid and sour stench infiltrated my senses.

Ice slithered against my skin everywhere the cutting razor-like tendrils of darkness touched. The black vines seemed to ensnare me in a loving embrace, but I didn't feel warm or comforted; I felt terror rip through my chest and disgust fabricate in my very core. My entire body began to convulse in tremors from the bone-deep fear that cascaded through me.

The air inside my lungs was snatched away and asphyxiation claimed me. The amethyst jewel singed my fingers and I wrenched away, collapsing to my knees as I gasped desperately for the oxygen that seemingly vanished.

My heart beat roared in my ears and dizziness shrouded my vision. Things started to swirl around in quick circles, almost unable to be seen through the opaque blackness that caressed my body lovingly. "N-no." My voice was choked and whisked away with my air. "H-help."

A thread of black lashed liberally at my waist and absorbed the blood that flowed eagerly from the deep lacerations. I opened my mouth to screech in pain, but nothing came out because of my air-less lungs which were beginning to burn like they'd been set ablaze.

My heart was branded with fire, and I worried that it would give out on me from lack of oxygen. I tore at my chest, nails clawing greedily at my skin and drawing blood as the flames scorched on in an unrelenting manner in my chest.

I was losing my mind, stuck in the swarm of black, and I felt some part of me that I forgot was there grant me the strength to stand.

Everything inside me urgently shoved me to pull through the thickness of black. When I managed to find my footing, I instantly took off in a panicked run. The sound of my feet hitting the floor was the only thing that kept me from giving in to the dark that pulsated around me like a living thing.

I was still fighting to breathe, fighting to live even. I kept moving until the heaviness of the dark finally began to fade. Once I was able to breathe, I let out a soul-wrenching and guttural cry. It was born from the core of my stomach, laced with my desperation and horror. I pressed my hands to my scratched and bleeding chest and began to sob like never before.

Eyes rushing up to the gray-blue night, the shrieks I released seemed to echo around me. They slithered amongst the snow I knelt on, and brushed against the new flakes that began to fall. The iciness of the newborn snow met the hot tears on my cheeks.

Muted shock lolled through my mind as I realized that I had never cried this hard.

I didn't cry that hard when my father cringed away from me in fear for the first time. I didn't cry that hard when the love of my human life was literally snatched away from me. I didn't cry that hard when my mother was murdered right before my eyes.

I didn't cry that hard when everything I knew was torn away from me and I was brought to the Academy to live under the protection of the Elders.

I had never cried like this before.

The heart I thought that I had perfectly in check came pouring out of me. My fear was severe, wracked my body with an intensity I had never felt before. Just one touch, one run-in with Darkness and I was ready to tear myself away from my Vampyric soul.

And it wasn't because I was afraid to face the Black Force; it wasn't because I was afraid that it would overtake me and make me do horrible, monstrous things; it wasn't because of anything that would be rational or even sane.

It was because I loved the feeling of Darkness when it caressed me.