I stirred awake, groggy and disoriented, my entire body aching as if I had been run over by a freight train. The sterile smell of the infirmary filled my nostrils, a harsh reminder of where I was and what had happened. Bandages wrapped tightly around my chest, constricting me like a serpent, and every movement sent waves of pain through my limbs. The faint hum of machinery was the only sound in the quiet room, punctuated by the occasional beeping of a heart monitor—a rhythmic reminder that I was still alive.
I blinked, trying to focus, my vision swimming as I adjusted to the dim light filtering through the blinds. It took a moment before I realized I wasn't alone.
Three women stood at the foot of my bed, their expressions a mixture of concern and authority. Their presence, although quiet, was commanding. One was a harpy, her piercing eyes almost glowing in the shadows, her wings tucked neatly behind her back, a subtle but potent reminder of her nature. The second was a vampire, pale and statuesque, her sharp features lending her an air of untouchable power. The third, a shifter, stood slightly behind the others, her eyes dark and watchful, scanning the room as if assessing the very air I breathed. They were all clad in the black and silver uniforms of the kingdom's enforcement division, the embodiment of the matriarchal power that ruled our world.
"Dragonir," the vampire spoke first, her voice cool and level, cutting through the fog of my mind. "We need to ask you a few questions."
I swallowed, my throat dry and scratchy, the harshness of my situation sinking in. "About... what happened?" I rasped, already knowing the answer.
"Yes," the harpy replied, her wings ruffling slightly as she stepped closer, the faint sound like a whisper in the dark. "We've been informed that you were injured during what some are calling a 'training accident.' But we suspect there's more to the story than that."
Training accident? I wanted to laugh, but the sharp pain in my ribs stopped me. They really thought this was an accident?
"I wasn't in any accident," I said, my voice hoarse but steady. "I was... tortured."
The room fell silent, the weight of my words hanging in the air like a dark cloud. The shifter's eyes narrowed, her posture stiffening as if ready to pounce.
"Tortured?" the vampire echoed, her tone careful, like a cat circling its prey. "By whom?"
I hesitated. I still didn't know the name of the vampire who had done this to me. The one who had taken everything from me. But I wasn't ready to reveal everything. Not yet.
"I don't know her name," I admitted, wincing as I shifted slightly in the bed, the pain reminding me of the horrors I had endured. "But she... she kidnapped me. She kept me locked away for days, and when I wouldn't... cooperate, she hurt me."
The vampire nodded, her face expressionless, but I could see the flicker of curiosity in her eyes, a spark igniting a flame of suspicion. "And how does Seraphina fit into this?"
My stomach twisted at the mention of Seraphina's name. I had been trying to clear her name, to ensure she wouldn't be punished for something she didn't do. But no matter how hard I tried, everything kept spiraling out of control.
"Seraphina... she saved me," I said, my voice barely above a whisper, as if saying her name aloud might summon the shadows of doubt. "She found me after the torture. She wasn't the one who hurt me. She's not responsible for any of this."
The harpy tilted her head, her sharp eyes narrowing as she studied me with an intensity that made my heart race. "And yet, she's the one being punished. According to the dean, Seraphina is under investigation for her involvement in the attack."
"That's not right," I said quickly, my pulse quickening, the frustration bubbling within me like molten lava ready to erupt. "The dean's got it wrong. Seraphina... she's innocent. She didn't hurt me. She was trying to help."
The shifter stepped forward, her gaze unrelenting, a silent storm brewing in her dark eyes. "And how can we trust that you're telling the truth, Dragonir? You were found in a state that suggests a severe altercation. The academy is leaning toward the theory that Seraphina may have been involved in a fight that got out of hand. You're defending her, but we need more than just your word."
I clenched my fists, the frustration rising like a tidal wave, threatening to pull me under. "I'm not lying. You don't understand—Seraphina's been through hell just like I have. She found me and got me out of that place. If anything, she should be the one you're protecting."
The vampire's lips pressed into a thin line, a mask of authority. "So, if not Seraphina, then who? Who tortured you, Dragonir?"
"I don't know her name," I repeated, my voice tight, like a noose tightening around my throat. "But I know it wasn't Seraphina."
The harpy exchanged a glance with the vampire, a silent communication that sparked tension in the air, like the calm before a storm. They were suspicious of me, of the gaps in my story, but they couldn't push too hard—not yet.
"And the dean?" the shifter asked, her voice cutting through the silence like a knife. "Did you inform her of this?"
I let out a bitter laugh, a sound that echoed in the sterile room. "The dean doesn't care. Sera went to her. Told her what happened, and all she did was throw her under the bus. Punished her for something she didn't even do. The dean's more concerned with keeping her precious academy's reputation intact than helping anyone."
The vampire's eyes darkened at my words, the flicker of indignation sparking to life. "That's a serious accusation."
"It's the truth," I snapped, anger flaring up inside me like a wildfire, threatening to consume everything in its path. "If you want to know why Seraphina's in trouble, it's because the dean wants someone to blame. And Sera's an easy target."
The harpy's wings twitched, the tension in the room palpable, and she stepped closer, looming over me with an intensity that made my skin crawl. "If you're withholding information, Dragonir, you're only making this more difficult for yourself. We can tell when someone is hiding something."
I swallowed hard, forcing myself to stay calm despite the storm brewing inside me. They were trying to intimidate me, to get me to break, but I couldn't let them. I had to stay focused on what mattered: clearing Seraphina's name.
"I've told you everything I know," I said, my voice steady, each word carefully chosen like a soldier stepping onto the battlefield. "If you want to help, then focus on finding the real culprit. It's not Seraphina."
The vampire studied me for a long moment before nodding slowly, a flicker of understanding in her gaze. "We'll look into it. But you should understand, Dragonir—if you're lying, if you're protecting someone, there will be consequences. For you and for Seraphina."
"I'm not lying," I insisted, my jaw clenched, determination flooding my veins. "Just... find the truth."
The three women exchanged another glance before turning toward the door, their silhouettes framed by the sterile light of the hallway beyond. As they left, I couldn't shake the feeling that they weren't convinced, that they still suspected Seraphina. And I didn't know how much longer I could keep up the act.
Because the truth was, I didn't know how deep this went. I didn't know who Eleri really was or what her connection to Seraphina might be. All I knew was that I had to protect Seraphina, no matter what. Even if it meant going against the council, the academy, and everyone else who stood in our way.
As the door clicked shut behind them, I let out a long, shaky breath, the pain in my body a mere shadow compared to the weight of the secrets I was carrying. If I didn't figure this out soon, if I didn't find a way to clear Seraphina's name, we'd both be doomed.
I just hoped I wasn't too late.