The city's hum was almost soothing, with its bustling markets, clinking shop bells, and children laughing as they ran through the streets. Aiden and Kaelin strolled side by side, momentarily detached from the dangers they'd left behind at the Academy. Here, the world felt simple again.
"Feels good to be out," Kaelin remarked, a hint of relief in her voice. "Almost makes you forget everything…"
Aiden chuckled softly, glancing over at her. "Almost. If only we could have a few more days of this."
Just then, his gaze caught on a familiar figure up ahead. He tensed, instinctively reaching out to stop Kaelin. "Look," he whispered, pointing down the road.
There, slipping into a dimly lit alley, was Alistair. He moved quickly, glancing over his shoulder as though he, too, was hiding from someone.
"What's he doing here?" Kaelin murmured, her brows knitting in suspicion. "Shouldn't he be taking care of whatever made him cancel our classes for the day?"
"Only one way to find out." Aiden didn't wait for her response. With a swift motion, he waved his hand, casting a cloaking spell. Their surroundings shimmered, wrapping them in a nearly invisible veil. "Stay close, and don't make a sound."
Carefully, they crept into the alley, sticking to the shadows as they followed Alistair deeper into the city's winding backstreets. Alistair stopped near a row of dilapidated buildings and pulled out his phone.
"Yes… I sensed him," Alistair murmured into the phone, his tone clipped and urgent. "The one who stopped me from taking over the multiverse last time. He's back."
Kaelin's eyes widened, and she shot Aiden a startled look. The edges of Alistair's voice held something they'd never heard from him before—unease, maybe even fear.
Who was he talking about? And what did he mean by "stopped me from taking over the multiverse"?
"...No, no," Alistair continued, his voice dropping lower. "This wasn't part of the plan. I need your help to deal with him."
Aiden frowned. A plan? His thoughts spun, trying to make sense of Alistair's words. He'd always trusted Alistair; they all had. He was their mentor, their guide—but now, hearing the thinly veiled frustration in Alistair's voice, they were beginning to see him in a different light.
A pause. Alistair listened, nodding slowly at whatever response he received on the other end. "I understand. I'll do what I must," he muttered, his tone as dark as the shadows around him. "This… interference has gone on long enough. It's time I took over what is rightfully mine."
Kaelin's grip on Aiden's arm tightened, her nails digging in as she whispered, "He's hiding something."
Aiden swallowed hard, his heart pounding as he tried to process the implications. Alistair had been a trusted figure for so long, but now, watching him here in secret, speaking with some unknown ally—it was as though he was seeing a stranger.
Suddenly, Alistair stopped talking and turned, his gaze piercing and intense as it landed exactly where Aiden and Kaelin were standing.
Aiden's pulse quickened, his fingers twitching as he resisted the urge to move. They were cloaked—Alistair shouldn't be able to see them.
Should he?
"Come out, you two," Alistair called softly, his voice a strange mix of amusement and menace. "You're not in trouble."
Aiden glanced at Kaelin, unsure. His instincts screamed for him to keep hiding, but Alistair's tone held a subtle command that was difficult to ignore. Finally, Aiden gave her a small nod.
Kaelin took a steadying breath, and together, they stepped out of the shadows.
For a moment, Alistair's face softened, his eyes gleaming with something almost like pity. But it was fleeting—replaced by an eerie coldness that chilled Aiden to the bone. Without another word, Alistair reached behind his back, conjuring a long spear tipped with a strange, glowing substance. He held it low, keeping it partially hidden as he spoke again.
"There you are," he murmured, his voice gentle, almost reassuring. "Nothing to fear…"
Then, without warning, he hurled the spear directly at them.
"Kaelin!" Aiden shouted, instinctively ducking as the spear shot toward them. But Kaelin was already moving, her werewolf reflexes kicking in as she threw herself at Aiden, shoving him out of the way. The spear missed him by inches, but its sharp point embedded itself deep in her shoulder.
She staggered, her hand flying to the wound as she gasped in pain.
Aiden's heart dropped. "Kaelin! Are you okay?"
But he had no time to think. Alistair's face twisted with a cold, ruthless smile as he raised his hand to conjure another weapon.
In a burst of adrenaline, Aiden threw out his hand, muttering a spell that caused a thick, swirling fog to envelop the alley. The mist obscured them from sight, a protective barrier between them and Alistair's deadly gaze.
Under the cover of the fog, Aiden grabbed Kaelin's arm, pulling her along as they staggered through the maze of alleys. Alistair's voice echoed through the mist, taunting them with every step.
"Come out, come out… You know you can't hide forever."
Aiden gritted his teeth, half-supporting Kaelin as they navigated the twisting paths, trying to ignore the ominous voice that pursued them. After what felt like an eternity, he found a secluded nook in a rundown part of the city. He carefully lowered her to the ground, his heart hammering as he took in her pale, sweating face.
"Lira… the spear…" His voice shook as he noticed the strange, darkened veins spreading from the wound. "It must have been poisoned."
Kaelin's eyes were unfocused, her breaths coming in shallow gasps. "Aiden… it feels… like fire…"
"Stay with me, okay?" He took a deep breath, steadying his hands as he prepared to remove the spear. "I need to get this out before it gets worse. Are you ready?"
Kaelin nodded, biting her lip as she braced herself. Aiden gripped the spear, counting softly. "One… two… three."
With a swift, firm motion, he yanked the spear out. Kaelin let out a strangled cry, her body tensing as pain tore through her. Her breathing quickened, each gasp ragged and strained as the poison continued to seep into her system.
But Aiden didn't hesitate. Placing his hands over the wound, he focused his energy, letting his magic flow through his fingertips and into her shoulder. He watched as her body slowly responded, the dark veins retreating, her breathing gradually evening out.
As the tension began to ease, Kaelin's eyes fluttered open. "Thank you," she murmured, her voice barely a whisper.
"Don't thank me yet." Aiden swallowed, wiping the sweat from his brow. "We still need to warn the others. Alistair… he's planning something. Something that can't be good."
She struggled to sit up, her eyes blazing with determination. "We can't just sit here, Aiden. We have to go find them."
"No, Kaelin." Aiden's voice was firm, his hand on her shoulder. "You're still healing, and he's out there looking for us. It's too dangerous."
"But—"
"No." He softened his tone, looking at her with a mix of worry and resolve. "I'll find them. You stay here and rest."
For a moment, she looked ready to argue, but eventually, she sighed and nodded. "Fine. Just… be careful."
He nodded, offering a small, reassuring smile before casting a vanishing spell and disappearing from sight.
Aiden materialized within the Academy halls, moving with cautious steps as he scanned the empty corridors. His senses were on high alert, every creak and whisper amplified in the quiet building. Just as he turned a corner, a familiar voice made him jump.
"Aiden?" Isolde's face appeared from the shadows, her expression a mix of concern and curiosity. "What are you doing sneaking around?"
Aiden caught his breath, glancing around to ensure they were alone. "Isolde… I'm glad I found you." He pulled her aside, lowering his voice as he explained what had happened. By the time he finished, her face had paled, her eyes wide with fear.
"Where are the others?" he asked, urgency lacing his tone. "We need to warn them."
"They left the school a few hours ago," she replied, her voice barely a whisper. "They haven't come back yet."
Aiden's heart sank. "We have to find them."
---
Back in the city, Kaelin sat hidden in the small room where Aiden had left her. Her heart pounded in her chest, every sound amplified as she strained to listen for footsteps.
And then, she heard them.
Steady, purposeful, moving closer. She recognized the cold, calculated rhythm.
It was Alistair.
She froze, barely daring to breathe as he stepped into the room.
"I know you're in here. Come out and I'll make this painless."