20. Adelaide

20

ADELAIDE

I stare at the book in my hands, my mind reeling from Crimson's revelation. Sisters? It sounds impossible, yet a part of me recognises the truth in her words.

"How?" I whisper, my fingers tracing the indecipherable text on page fifty. "How is this possible?"

Crimson's voice in my head is smug. Oh, come now, Addy. Surely you've noticed the similarities? Our shared power, our connection to the shadow realm, our taste in men. It's all there, written in our very blood.

I shake my head, trying to clear it. "No. You're lying. This is just another trick to get me to let my guard down."

Am I? Think about it, sister dear. Why do you think you were so quick to accept who you truly were? Why do you think you've adapted so quickly to the world of magick and monsters?

Her words hit home, forcing me to agree with her assessment.

"If this is true," I say slowly, "then why did Randall try to kill me? If you are connected to me, why did he try to—" The penny drops, and I smile slowly, and I gotta say, smugly.

Ah, now those are the right questions. Our sire is... complicated. As for why, well, let's just say our dear father has his reasons for keeping us apart ? —

"He tried to kill you , didn't he," I cut her off in triumph.

Crimson's laugh echoes in my skull. Yes, he tried. He failed, obviously. You, my dear sister, are my protector. My saviour. Your remarkable and unexpected strength is what not only saved me but increased your own power. Now you are capable of housing both of us. Light and Dark. Yin and Yang. However you want to say it, we are the same coin, two different sides.

"But I don't understand what that means. How are we supposed to share my body? Do you pop up whenever you feel like it, or what?" This doesn't sound ideal. Although, I'm not as scared as I was moments ago. She needs me more than she would like.

No, that's not how it works. We will be split ? —

I'm about to interrupt her, as that word doesn't sit right with me, when a commotion outside catches my attention. Shouts and the sound of running comes from down below. Whatever's happening out there, it's getting worse.

I move to the window, pressing my face against it. I can hear panicked voices, the occasional scream, and underneath it all, a low, ominous rumble that seems to be coming from the foundations of MistHallow.

"What's happening?" I ask, hoping Crimson has the answers.

The shadows are rising, sister. Our little family reunion has set things in motion that can't be stopped.

"What do you mean, ‘can't be stopped'? There has to be a way to fix this!"

Fix it? Oh, Addy. This isn't something to be fixed. It's destiny unfolding. Our destiny.

I'm about to argue when a sharp knock at my door makes me jump. "Miss Black?" It's Professor Thornridge again, her voice tight with worry. "We need all students to evacuate immediately. Please grab any essential items and come with me."

My heart races as I open the door. Professor Thornridge looks even more dishevelled than before.

"Professor, what's going on?"

She shakes her head, ushering me towards the stairs, clutching only the ancient book. "No time to explain now. We need to get everyone to safety."

As we reach the bottom of the stairs, I see other students being herded out across the courtyard, looks of confusion and fear on their faces.

We reach the Grand Hall, which is in chaos. Students are milling about, the tension thick. Through the windows, I can see flashes of light and dark shapes moving across the grounds.

"Everyone, please remain calm," Professor Blackthorn's voice booms out, magickally amplified to be heard over the noise. "We are implementing emergency evacuation procedures. Follow your House Captains to the designated safe zones."

As if on cue, the shadows outside seem to press closer to the windows, their inky blackness seeping through the cracks. A wave of panic sweeps through the room.

"This way!" Corvus shouts, gesturing towards a door I've never noticed before. It glows faintly with protective runes.

I hurry over to him, and he smiles briefly but is focused on his role right now, so I don't take it to heart.

Don't worry about them . We have more important things to focus on.

"Shut up," I mutter.

Before she can respond, a deafening crack splits the air. The floor beneath our feet shudders, and cracks begin to spiderweb across the walls.

"Move!" Corvus shouts, herding us towards the glowing door.

As we near it, I feel a strange pull, like a hook behind my navel. The air around the door shimmers, and I realise it's not just a door - it's a portal.

"Where does it lead?" I shout.

He grabs my hand and links our fingers as Carthage House files through the door. I don't know where the rest of the Houses are, but I can't stop to look as Corvus drags me through the opening.

As we cross the threshold, I cast one last look back. The shadows have broken through the windows now, pouring in like a dark tide. Students are screaming, staff members are casting spells to hold them back, but it's clear they're fighting a losing battle.

MistHallow is falling.

With a deep breath, I step through the portal with Corvus. There's a moment of vertigo, a sensation of being stretched and compressed at the same time, and then we're stumbling out onto soft grass under a star-filled sky.

We're in a clearing in what looks like a dense forest. All around us, other students and staff members are appearing, stumbling out of thin air as they come through other portals.

"Where are we?" I ask, looking around in confusion.

"The Sanctuary," a familiar voice answers. I turn to see Professor Blackthorn stepping through the portal. "We'll be safe here for now."

As more people from the different Houses arrive, I look around anxiously for my guys.

Sisters, remember. Light and Dark. A shared destiny.

I gulp at Crimson's reminder. The woman I was when I first came to MistHallow feels like a distant memory. In her place stands someone new, someone caught between light and dark, with powers she doesn't fully understand and a destiny she's not sure she wants.