16. Violet

16

VIOLET

It has been a very long day of trying to sleep but being restless with the events from last night. The session with Amara, the strange noise, the forest, finding Flint in the bat cave covered in shit and the reason why after we left. I need to have a word with him about nearly magicking little idiots to death in the name of my honour. I don't care if everyone thinks I killed those witches. I know I didn't, the guys know I didn't, and Blackthorne knows I didn't. That's enough for me.

For now.

Right now, I'm pushing all of that aside to focus on what Thorne is so desperate to tell us, but it had to wait until nightfall because of me and my stupid vampire daylight bullshit limitation. For the first time, I miss the sun and daylight in general and scowl at the moon visible in the night sky as I make my way to the library. The night air is crisp as we gather outside the doors, a sense of excitement in the air.

Flint, smelling way better than he did yesterday, smiles and gives me a quick kiss. Caine's is slightly deeper and more passionate.

"What's this all about, Thorne?" I ask, a bit breathless.

Thorne's eyes gleam with a mischievous light, reminding me of a cat that's just spotted an unsuspecting mouse. "My cousin gave me a tip," he says, his voice low and conspiratorial. "There's a way to access more restricted areas of the library."

Caine raises an eyebrow suspiciously. "Restricted areas? Where?"

"Follow me."

Flint perks up at this as we head into the library. "What exactly are we looking for in this area?"

"We need answers, and we're not going to find them in our standard textbooks."

"Is this allowed?" I mutter as we head towards a tall statue in the empty library. Everyone is at breakfast or dinner, depending on their schedule, so the place is deserted. The anticipation is making me fidgety, and I find myself bouncing slightly on the balls of my feet.

"No, I highly doubt it," Thorne says and stops in front of the statue.

It's of a woman, tall and regal, with flowing robes and an expression of serene wisdom. The plaque at the base reads "Morgana the Wise".

My eyes widen as I take in the statue's features. The high cheekbones, the shape of the eyes, the curve of the lips... it's like looking in a mirror. A stone mirror that's showing me an older, more refined version of myself.

I don't know if the guys can see it, but I definitely can. It seems to slot a lot more into place about my escapade in the forest last night and all that talk of a true heir. I'm not a believer, not yet, anyway, but maybe a tiny step closer to thinking it could be possible.

I step closer and reach out to touch the cold stone. As my fingers brush against it, I feel a tingle of something strange. A recognition, perhaps? Or a memory that isn't quite mine? It's like a whisper in the back of my mind, just out of reach.

"This is her, isn't it?" I whisper, my voice barely audible even in the quiet night. "Morgan le Fay."

Thorne nods. "Yes, and if the stories are true, she left behind more than just her legacy. She left knowledge, hidden away for her descendants to find. Knowledge that could change everything we think we know about magick and the supernatural world."

The world seems to tilt slightly as the reality of my heritage sinks in. The visions in the forest, the power I've been struggling to understand suddenly feels more real, more tangible. Like pieces of a puzzle slowly coming together.

Thorne glances around, scanning the darkness for any sign of movement. Satisfied that we're alone, he reaches behind the statue, feeling along its base. There's a soft click, and the base of the statue moves. Stone grinds against stone as a section of the pedestal slides away, revealing a dark passageway leading underground.

We exchange nervous glances, the reality of what we're about to do sinking in. This is clearly not meant for student use, so it's forbidden to go down there. We could get into worse trouble than cleaning up bat shit. This is something else entirely, something that could get us expelled or lead us to answers we desperately need.

"Well," Flint says, breaking the tension with a lopsided grin, "I guess we're doing this. At least it can't be worse than the bat cave, right?"

I chuckle softly, grateful for his attempt at lightening the mood. "Let's hope not. I don't think I could handle that smell again."

One by one, we descend into the darkness. The passage is narrow and damp, the air thick with the scent of old stone and secrets long buried. Thorne leads the way, a small ball of magical light hovering above his palm to illuminate our path. His shadows dance around us, creating eerie shapes that seem to move when I'm not looking directly at them.

We've only gone a few metres when Caine suddenly grabs my arm, his grip tight enough to be almost painful. "Wait," he hisses, his voice tense. "Look at the floor."

I follow his gaze and feel my breath catch in my throat. The stone tiles ahead are inscribed with strange symbols, glowing faintly in the dim light. They remind me of the runes we've studied in class, but these are different, older somehow .

"It's a trap," Thorne whispers, his voice tight with concern. "Step on the wrong tile, and well, let's just say it wouldn't be pleasant."

"Great," Flint mutters, glaring at them. "Any idea how to get past it? Because I've had enough of shit to last me a lifetime, thanks."

Thorne studies the tiles intently, his brow furrowed in concentration. "The symbols are an ancient form of Fae script. I've seen something similar in some of my family's old texts. If I'm correct in my recollection, they're a riddle."

"When have you never not been correct, you great big nerd?" Caine mutters.

"Hey," I chide, elbowing him. "Nerds are hot."

Thorne chuckles and gives me a sexy smile which just confirms exactly what I said.

"Can you read it?" I ask, peering at the strange markings. They shimmer slightly, as if they're not quite solid.

Thorne nods slowly, his lips moving silently as he translates. "It says... ‘The path of wisdom is straight and true. Stray, and meet your doom.'"

"Straight and true," Caine muses, tapping his cane thoughtfully against the ground. "So, we just walk straight across? That seems too easy."

"It can't be that simple," I say, but even as the words leave my mouth, I feel a pull. Something inside me, some instinct I didn't know I had, is urging me forward. It's like a voice in the back of my mind, whispering that I know the way .

Before anyone can stop me, I step onto the first tile directly in front of me. It glows brightly for a moment, the symbol etched into its surface, flaring with an inner light, then dims. Nothing happens.

"Whoa! Violet!" Flint hisses, his voice tight with worry. "What are you doing?"

"She wants me to come this way," I whisper, surprised by my certainty. "Follow me. Step exactly where I step."

With my heart pounding in a slow, erratic beat, I make my way across the trapped floor. Each step feels right, guided by that inner compass I don't fully understand and nor do I really want to. The others follow behind me, tension thick in the air. I can hear their rapid breathing, feel the weight of their gazes on my back.

As we reach the other side, there's a collective sigh of relief. I turn to see my friends looking at me warily.

"Well done, princess," Thorne says, looking impressed. "It seems your Morgana powers are growing."

"Or it's a lure. We get so far, and then boom," I mutter to their horror. "Kidding," I add when they give me looks of sheer terror. Not kidding. Something isn't adding up. Knowledge isn't just dumped in one's brain overnight. So, how did I know where to step? What guided me? And the bigger question… why?

Cautiously, we continue down the passage, which slopes downward. The air grows cooler, and the faint sound of running water comes from somewhere in the distance. The walls are damp now, glistening in the light of Thorne's magical orb, which suddenly extinguishes, plunging us all into a spooky darkness that feels like it's closing in on me.

"Erm…"

"Yeah, my magick has stopped working," Thorne's voice comes out of the dark. "Caine? Flint?"

We wait, but then they say the same.

"Yep, tapped out," Caine says.

"Same," Flint replies.

Suddenly, a low glow lights up the passage, which has somehow opened up into a large cavern. The ceiling soars high above us, lost in shadows. We are standing on a narrow stone bridge that spans a dark chasm, the bottom lost in inky blackness. On the other side, I can see an arched doorway, ornately carved with more of those strange symbols.

"I don't like the look of this," Caine says, eyeing the bridge warily. He taps it with his cane, two thumps that echoes ominously through the cavern.

I gulp back the growing fear as the bridge crumbles. Stones fall away into the abyss below, the sound of their impact lost in the depths.

"Move," Thorne yells, and we sprint in single file across the disintegrating bridge.

The stone beneath our feet trembles and shakes. I can hear it cracking and feel it giving way with each step. Adrenaline surges through me, my vampire speed kicking in as I race towards the other side. The wind whips past my face, my hair streaming behind me.

I reach the doorway first, turning back to see the others still on the bridge. Flint is right behind me, his Dragon reflexes serving him well. But Caine and Thorne are lagging. They are sluggish as if running through treacle. The bridge is crumbling faster than they can run.

"Come on!" I shout, reaching out my hand. Fear grips my heart as I watch them with no way to help them.

Flint makes it across just as the last section of the bridge begins to fall. Without thinking, I lunge forward, grabbing Caine's hand as he leaps the final gap. His weight nearly pulls me over the edge, but Flint grabs my waist, anchoring us both.

"Ah!" I scream as Thorne drops, but Caine's quick to extend his cane.

Thorne grabs it, his hand sliding down to the tip before his grip tightens, yanking us all forward.

Flint grunts as his hands clamp down on my waist, stopping us all from plunging to our deaths.

"Fuck," I pant and use my vampire strength to haul them up. But the weight of two fully grown supernatural men is a bit much, even with the enhanced strength.

"Flint! Reach into my jeans pocket. There's a stone. Give it to me!"

"I can't let you go, Violet. You'll fall!"

"Just do it," I grit out.

He shoots me a death stare and lets go of me with one hand, fumbling in my jeans pocket with the other. We slide forward, and I close my eyes, ready for death, when Flint slaps the imbued stone from Blood Magick class against my skin as he resumes his tight grip on me.

Okay, Vi. You can do this. I close my eyes and focus on the warmth of the stone against my hip in Flint's cool grasp. Feeling the power wash over me, I grunt loudly and strain my muscles. I haul Caine and Flint over the edge of the chasm, falling back onto Flint, who drags us all further onto the ledge.

We collapse on the other side, breathing heavily.

"That," Flint pants, his face pale under the ethereal glow, "was too close."

"No fucking kidding. How do humans cope with no magick?" Caine agrees, looking a bit shaken. He's still gripping his cane tightly, knuckles white. "Thanks for the save, snowdrop. I owe you one."

I nod, still trying to catch my breath. "Any time. But let's try to avoid any more near-death experiences, shall we? I don't think my nerves can take much more of this. Also, you don't miss what you never had."

"Philosophical, but accurate," Thorne says, finally letting go of his death grip on Caine's cane.

"We make a great team," I rasp, grinning wildly at the three guys surrounding me.

"That we do," Flint agrees, pulling me closer and then helping me to my feet.

"So now we have to get through that door, and I'd suggest sooner rather than later," Caine mutters. "Anyone got any bright ideas?" He stares at me, but I've got nothing. Whatever force pushed me over the first trap has abandoned me. I shake my head and stare at the door as Thorne inspects it.

"Violet, give me your hand," he says absently.

I hold it out without question, and he grips my fingers tightly, almost crushing my bones together.

"Close your eyes and feel my power wash over you," he instructs.

I do as he says, trying to sense whatever he is giving me. Behind my closed lids, I see a purple ribbon floating around us, and I reach out to grab it. "Is this you?" I murmur.

"Yeah," he says and then goes quiet as he concentrates. I open my eyes, and his hand is moving over the door runes, pressing lightly on certain ones which have no meaning to me at all.

Suddenly, the door flies open, crashing against the wall with a resounding thump. "Inside, now," he says urgently.

We just make it before it slams shut, plunging us once again into complete, impenetrable darkness.