The hallways of Pleasant Hills Academy buzzed with the usual energy—students laughing, lockers slamming, and the hum of voices filling the air. But today, the noise felt distant, muffled, like I was underwater. My legs felt heavy as I walked, each step slower than the last. The vibrant chatter around me seemed at odds with the gnawing unease I couldn't shake.
I adjusted my lavender sweater, the soft wool brushing against my skin, but even its familiar comfort couldn't calm the unease swirling inside me. My fingers instinctively curled around the pendant hanging from my neck—the silver rose my grandmother had given me. Its cold metal pressed against my palm, grounding me, but today it felt different. Heavier.
Leo was beside me, her voice cutting through the murky fog of my thoughts. She wore her signature bright smile, the kind that could lift anyone's spirits, but today I couldn't share her energy. My mind was somewhere else—back in that dark hallway, back to the shadows and the cold.
"Earth to Sera," Leo called, waving a hand in front of my face. Her tone was playful, but her eyes were full of concern. "You've been zoned out all day. What's going on in that head of yours?"
I forced a smile, shaking my head as if to clear it. "Sorry, just… tired, I guess."
Leo raised an eyebrow, her sharp gaze not buying it. "Are you sure? You've been acting strange since you got back to school. Is it… about what happened?"
I nodded slightly, my hand tightening around the pendant. "Yeah… maybe. I just feel like something's off. Like I'm missing something."
Leo sighed, her expression softening. "Well, you did go through something traumatic. It makes sense to feel weird about it." She nudged me with her elbow, trying to lighten the mood. "But don't worry, you'll bounce back soon. You're Seraphine Monte Riego, after all. Stronger than most of us."
Her words made me smile, but deep down, I knew it wasn't just about bouncing back. It was more than that. Something wasn't adding up, and no one could see it except me. The flashes of that night kept coming back—cold hands gripping my skin, the piercing pain, the darkness swallowing me whole. And then Kieran. Always Kieran.
I caught sight of him across the courtyard, leaning casually against the brick wall. His dark hair fell in his eyes, his hands stuffed into the pockets of his leather jacket. For a moment, our eyes met, and something flickered between us—a silent acknowledgment of that night, of what had happened. But just as quickly as our gazes locked, he looked away, disappearing into the crowd.
A wave of frustration washed over me. He had been avoiding me since the hospital, dodging every opportunity for a conversation, and it was driving me crazy. He knew something—something important—and he wasn't telling me.
Leo followed my gaze and smirked. "Is it just me, or has Kieran been acting super weird lately?"
I hesitated, pulling my sweater tighter around me. "I don't know… maybe. He's just... distant."
"Or he's avoiding you," Leo said pointedly. "Which is weird, considering you guys were paired for that project. But hey, maybe he's just one of those brooding types."
I laughed, though it felt hollow. "Yeah, maybe."
But deep down, I knew it wasn't that simple. The way he looked at me—it wasn't just distance. It was something deeper, something he was hiding. And I was determined to find out what.
That night, the dreams came again.
I found myself standing at the top of a long, winding staircase in the school, the kind that never seemed to end. The dim lights flickered, casting long, shifting shadows against the walls. I could feel the cold stone beneath my feet, and the air around me felt thick, like it was suffocating me.
I started running, my breath coming in shallow, panicked bursts. The shadows twisted and curled around me, dark figures with unseen faces. I could feel them closing in, their presence heavy and suffocating. My heart pounded in my chest as I ran faster, my footsteps echoing off the stone walls.
Behind me, the figure loomed closer, its breath hot and sticky against my neck. The cold grip of icy hands wrapped around me, dragging me back. I could feel the fangs again, sharp against my skin. I opened my mouth to scream, but nothing came out.
And then, like a burst of light, Kieran appeared.
He stood between me and the darkness, his presence strong, protective. His eyes glowed in the dim light, fierce and determined. He reached for me, his hand outstretched, but just as I reached back, everything went black.
I shot up in bed, gasping for air. The dream was so vivid, so real, like I had lived it. My heart hammered in my chest as I touched my neck, half-expecting to feel the bite. But there was nothing—no wound, no pain. Just smooth skin.
The room was dark except for the soft glow of moonlight filtering through the curtains. My breaths were uneven, and the cool sheets were damp with sweat. My hands trembled slightly as I reached for the pendant again. The familiar cool metal should have calmed me, but tonight, it felt different.
I held it in the moonlight, watching as the silver caught the faint glow. For a moment, just a split second, I swore I saw the pendant pulse—a faint light glowing from within it. I blinked, and the light was gone. My heart skipped a beat.
"What the…?" I whispered, staring at the pendant in disbelief.
The glow had faded, but my mind raced with questions. I clutched the pendant tighter, its cold surface grounding me again, but I couldn't ignore the feeling that something more was going on. Something my grandmother had known, something she hadn't told me.
I wasn't imagining things. There was more to this, and I needed answers. Kieran was hiding something, and it was time I found out what.
Determined, I arrived at school earlier than usual the next day. The morning sun had barely risen, casting long shadows across the empty courtyard. The crisp air bit at my cheeks as I scanned the area for Kieran, hoping to catch him before class started.
I spotted him near the old oak tree by the edge of the school grounds, his back to me. He leaned against the tree, his posture relaxed, but something about the way he held himself told me he was far from at ease. My heart pounded in my chest as I approached, my fingers instinctively clutching the pendant at my throat.
"Kieran," I called out.
He turned, his expression unreadable as his eyes locked onto mine. The morning light caught his features, casting shadows over the sharp lines of his face. For a moment, neither of us spoke. The tension in the air was palpable.
"I need to talk to you," I said, my voice firm, though my heart raced. "About what happened that night."
His eyes narrowed slightly, and I saw the flicker of something—guilt, maybe?—pass across his face. But just as quickly as it appeared, it was gone, replaced by a calm, almost cold, exterior.
"You're fine now," he said quietly, his voice low. "That's all that matters."
"No," I insisted, stepping closer. "That's not enough. I know something happened. I remember… I remember the cold, the bite." I paused, watching his reaction. "You were there, Kieran. You saved me."
He looked away, his jaw tightening. "You don't know what you're talking about, Seraphine."
"Then tell me," I pressed, frustration creeping into my voice. "What aren't you telling me?"
His silence was deafening. He shifted slightly, his shoulders tensing as though he was fighting an internal battle. The wind rustled through the trees, the only sound breaking the stillness between us. My fingers gripped the pendant tighter, the familiar weight of it grounding me.
After what felt like an eternity, Kieran finally spoke, his voice barely above a whisper. "Some things are better left alone, Seraphine. You don't want to know the truth."
But I did. And I wasn't going to stop until I found out.