Chapter 5

Chapter

Five

T he beam of light swept closer to our hiding place. I held my breath, certain we were about to be discovered. Suddenly, a high-pitched screech pierced the air, followed by the sound of wings beating the air frantically.

A large bat swooped down from the sky, diving and wheeling through the courtyard. Its movements were too precise and intentional to be a normal bat. My body tensed and I sucked in my breath.

Was it friend or foe? Could it be a member of the Bloodborne Brotherhood?

Jaxon murmured in my ear, “All good. It’s Valentin.”

I softly released my pent-up air.

“Blasted creature!” one of the hooded figures shouted. The magical light flickered and swung wildly as the men swatted at the air, trying to fend off Valentin’s airborne assault. He dive-bombed their heads, screeching and clawing, creating the perfect chaotic distraction.

In the confusion, I felt Jaxon’s hand tighten around mine.

“Valentin’s buying us time,” he whispered urgently. “We need to move. Now!”

Jaxon’s hand clamped around my wrist, his grip iron tight. My heart leapt into my throat as he yanked me to my feet, the sudden movement making my head spin.

I caught a glimpse of crimson eyes burning with an otherworldly intensity as the bat—Valentin—swooped past us. Wait—had the bat winked at me? My mind reeled, trying to process the surreal sight.

“Hold on,” Jaxon growled, his voice low and urgent. He effortlessly scooped me up into his arms and drew on his vampire speed to race across the courtyard. My stomach lurched at the abrupt change in position, a gasp escaping my lips. His body was hard as stone against mine, and I could feel he was unnaturally cold even through our clothes.

Without warning, the world blurred into a dizzying whirl of color and shadow. My vision swam, unable to focus on anything as Jaxon sped toward the faculty apartments. The air whipped past us, stinging my eyes and tearing the air from my lungs.

My fingers dug into Jaxon’s shoulders, clinging to him desperately. The pressure in my chest built, a scream of both exhilaration and terror trapped behind my lips. My ears popped from the rapid change in pressure, and the sound of our pursuers faded to a distant, garbled noise.

And then as quickly as it had blurred, the world snapped back into focus. We stood before the apartment door, the sudden stillness making me sway in Jaxon’s arms. My head spun, my stomach roiling as if I’d just stepped off a violent roller coaster. I gulped in air, each breath burning in my oxygen-starved lungs.

Jaxon wrenched the door open hard enough to make the hinges groan in protest. He shoved me inside forcefully, making me stumble as my feet tangled beneath me. I caught myself against the wall, scraping my palms.

He whirled around, positioning his body between me and the entrance.

“You’re safe now,” Jaxon whispered.

I nodded mutely, still too disoriented to form words.

Shouts erupted behind us, the cacophony of angry voices shattering the night’s silence. The sound scratched at my already frayed nerves like fingernails on a chalkboard. My heart seized in my chest, leaving me gasping, my chest tight as if bound by iron bands. Each attempt to inhale was a desperate, shallow thing, barely bringing any air into my burning lungs.

Jaxon’s head snapped toward me, his eyes wide.

“They’ve spotted us.” He gritted his teeth. “Rose and Valentin’s apartment is on the second floor, right?”

I nodded quickly, my voice a strangled whisper. “Yes.”

Jaxon’s hand shot out, clasping mine in an iron grip.

His fingers interlaced with mine, squeezing so tightly it bordered on pain. But the contact was also a welcome, anchoring lifeline in the storm of panic threatening to engulf me.

In a heartbeat, my stomach lurched once more as the world blurred again into a dizzying whirl of motion. The corridor became a smear of colors and shapes, racing past my eyes faster than my brain could process. The air whistled in my ears, drowning out everything but the thunderous pounding of my heart.

We tore through the building like a runaway freight train, each turn threatening to send us careening into walls. My feet barely touched the ground, Jaxon’s supernatural pace propelling us forward with a force that left me breathless, disoriented and nauseous as my inner ear rebelled against the impossible speed.

We hurtled toward what I hoped was safety, and the angry shouts of our pursuers faded behind us.

Jaxon slid to a halt, his arm shooting out to steady me. “There’s someone at the end of the hall,” he whispered, his voice tight with tension.

I squinted into the shadows. In the dim light, it was impossible to see who it was. My eyes strained with the effort of piercing the gloom, every muscle coiled and ready to flee. Cold sweat beaded on my forehead, trickling down my temples.

The silence stretched out, thick and oppressive. Each second felt like an eternity, the uncertainty gnawing at my nerves until finally?—

“Jaxon,” a familiar voice called out softly.

Relief so intense as to make my knees weak flooded through me when Valentin emerged from the shadows, his pale face a welcome beacon in the darkness.

He motioned us toward an open door and I stumbled forward, my legs shaky but determined. The taste of copper filled my mouth; I’d been biting my lip without realizing it.

As we moved toward Valentin and the promise of safety, I could feel the adrenaline still coursing through my veins, making my hands tremble and my breath come in short, quick gasps. The immediate danger might have passed, and the knot in my chest might have loosened slightly, but we weren’t out of the woods yet.

“Follow me.” Valentin motioned with his arm toward an apartment.

I frowned. Something was wrong.

I dragged my feet and lowered my voice. “Jaxon, that’s…not their apartment.”

He put his hand on my lower back and kept maneuvering me firmly down the hallway. “The damn Brotherhood will chase us all over the academy. We don’t have a choice.”

I stared at Valentin uneasily. “This isn’t your apartment.”

He looked up and down the corridor. “No. It’s a vacant unit. Hopefully, the Bloodborne Brotherhood won’t find you in here.”

Jaxon and I went through the door. I held my breath, certain I was about to be ambushed.

I was wrong.

As we stumbled into the apartment, danger suddenly shifted to relative safety, leaving me disoriented. My eyes took a moment to adjust to the dim interior as the shapes slowly coalesced into familiar faces.

My roommate, Twyla, rushed over to me with open arms. Through the window, the moonlight glistened off her hair, making the crown of daisies she wore look like it was adorned with rain drops. The sight of her friendly face, so welcome yet unexpected in this moment of crisis, made my throat tighten.

“Peyton! I was so worried about you,” she cried, her voice cracking with emotion.

I hugged her so tightly my fingers dug into the fabric of her shirt, the reality of our situation crashing over me anew in this moment of reunion. “I was worried about you, too,” I choked out. “I thought... I thought they got you as well.”

She unraveled from around me, and I saw the moonlight glisten on her wet cheeks. The tears there mirrored my own barely contained emotions. “Rose and Valentin found me,” she explained, her words coming out in a rush. “Kamaron and Finn are here as well.”

As if on cue, Kamaron stepped up to me. His long white hair practically glowed in the darkness, giving him an otherworldly appearance. “You okay?” he asked, his usual jovial tone replaced by something more somber that echoed the concern etched on his face. For once he didn’t have a dad joke ready. I think that more than anything drove home the gravity of our situation for me.

I nodded, hoping I was projecting confidence I certainly didn’t feel. “I’m fine,” I said. Ugh, the words sounded hollow even to me.

Suddenly, someone came up behind me and turned me around gently. I found myself staring into Finn’s dark eyes, usually so warm and inviting, but now cold with suspicion and fear.

“Why did you bring Jaxon?” he demanded, his voice low and intense. “You know he can’t be trusted. He’s a traitor.”

The accusing words hung in the air, heavy and oppressive. All eyes snapped to Jaxon. The hostility crackled in the air, growing more intense by the minute.

I opened my mouth to respond, but no words came out. How could I explain what I barely understood myself? The room felt like it was closing in around me, the walls shrinking as the tension escalated. I could almost hear the dynamite fuse sizzling, counting down to the inevitable explosion.

My heart raced, thudding so loudly I was sure everyone could hear it. Sweat beaded on my forehead as I looked from face to face, seeing only suspicion, fear, and anger reflected back at me.

I finally found my voice, though it came out shakier than I would have liked. “He’s not a traitor,” I said, the words tumbling out in a rush. I swallowed hard, trying to steady myself. “He was under a spell.”

The room fell into a stunned silence. I could see the doubt and confusion warring on my friends’ faces, their eyes darting between me and Jaxon.

I glanced at Valentin, seeking support or confirmation. His face was an unreadable mask, but something in his eyes urged me on. Taking a deep breath, I gestured to Jaxon to continue.

“Your brother Dimitri saved me.” Jaxon squared his shoulders and stared at Valentin, his voice strong as if he didn’t care whether they believed him or not. “He used the Solarite ring in New Orleans. It lessened the grip the high priestess’ spell had on me.”

The mention of the Solarite ring sent a ripple throughout the room. I noticed Rose for the first time and saw recognition flash in her eyes, while the others merely exchanged puzzled looks.

Jaxon shifted uncomfortably beside me, the weight of everyone’s stares clearly bearing down on him. I resisted the urge to reach out and touch his arm, unsure if the gesture would help or hurt.

The silence stretched out, taut as a bowstring. I held my breath, waiting for someone, anyone, to react, knowing that the next few moments would determine whether Jaxon would be seen as our ally or remain branded a traitor