“Emma, wait for me.” I hurried to fasten my prosthetic. Once I had it on and thrown on some pants, I rushed after her. I didn’t bother to put on a shirt, though thankfully Emma had slipped on a pair of my pajamas, so she didn’t go running into the hall in her underwear.
Many students were clustered outside, sleepy and alarmed. We hadn’t been the only ones awakened by the horrible wails. People looked around, confused as to where it was coming from. It was still dark outside— only hours had gone by since Emma and I had passed out.
A door sprung open— Gabby’s dorm. She came crashing out, scratching at her arms. Black spots like burns were spreading over her skin. She itched at them frantically, trying to get them to stop.
My stomach turned watching her. The black spots bloomed like mold, eating away at her skin. They spread from her neck up to her cheekbones, growing over her body and morphing it into nothing but pain. Gabby’s eyes turned pitch black, and she screamed even louder.
Her friends, Melissa and Morgan, didn’t rush to help her, only watched in horrified terror. The only one who went to aid her was Elijah— he was in nothing but his boxers as he ran to his mate. He went to touch her, but his fingers on her arm must’ve caused pain, because Gabby screamed even harder. She began sobbing, her fingernails bloody as she tore at her skin, trying to get the black blossoms out.
“Get the hell out of the way!” Elijah snarled. He picked Gabby up in his arms, though she wailed in agony, and carried her out of the dormitory. Even as she left, you could hear her desperate cries from the first floor, pleading for Eli to make it stop.
Many students were ashen. A couple looked like they might throw up, but no one went back to sleep.
My eyes were stuck on Kiara. She’d watched the whole scene with a satisfied smile on her face.
Emma reacted before I did. She stomped forward. As people turned to conversation, gossiping about what could’ve happened, Emma yanked Kiara into her dorm. I had seconds to slip in after her.
“What the hell did you do?” Emma hushed in a low voice. My heart thudded in fear, wishing this wasn’t what I thought it was.
Kiara’s expression was cold. “I taught Gabby a lesson. She won’t lay a finger on Alexei ever again.”
“Gods, Kiara, does she know it was you?” I choked out. Kiara would be expelled.
“No. I cast the curse when everyone was in bed, and got rid of the evidence after,” Kiara hissed. “I’m not stupid enough to get caught.”
“But they’re going to suspectus!” I shouted.
“Let them!” Kiara shrugged. “I’m tired of being on the losing side. They’ve doneso much, but there’s never any proof to confirm it, so we can never catch them. I decided to take a page out of their book and do the same.”
“I can’t believe you did this. It isn’t like you,” Emma said weakly.
I agreed. Kiara was so shy, sweet and soft— the person before us was ruthless. It was hard to picture her in such a way.
“The spell isn’t going to kill her. It’s just a warning,” Kiara seethed. “Next time, she won’t be so lucky.”
“Kiara, you can’t do this again,” Emma pleaded. “It’s wrong. Even for Gabby.”
“I will doanythingto protect Alexei,” Kiara snapped. “She finally got a taste of her own medicine. Maybe now she’ll leave us alone.”
Gabby would never leave us alone. This would only make her retaliate further. “Hide the grimoire,” I told Emma, turning on her. “If they search your room and find it, we’re fucked.”
Emma nodded. She hurried out of the room, and Kiara said, “They’re not going to search. I was smart enough to plant a decoy.”
I was pissed at her, so all I said was, “Better safe than sorry.”
It wasn’t an hour later that Lady Magdalina forced her way into the dormitories fully-dressed, several teachers behind her. She snapped her fingers and exclaimed, “Everyone in the Rec Room!Now!”
That tone she used left no room for argument. Lady Magdalina stood tall as students gathered around her, and she bellowed, “Miss Gabriella Ciar has been a victim of an Unseelie hex. As you all know, such magic is forbidden at Arcanea University, and we will not tolerate an assassination attempt on our future queen. Wewillfind the culprit and expel them from this university, though I can assure you, if you are the one responsible that is the least of your worries. If you come forward now, we will not hand you over to the Arcanea Alliance. This is your only warning.”
No one said anything. Lady Magdalina’s eyes hardened, and she said, “Very well.”
She held up a crystal on a cord. It was the same stone I’d seen around Kiara’s neck so many times before. “When questioned, Miss Ciar says the hex came from this stone— though she can’t remember how she got it. It has been tainted with dark magic. If anyone recalls where this stone came from, they are to come directly to me.”
I glanced around nervously. Kiara kept the crystal under her shirt at all times— besides our friend group, I didn’t think anyone even knew she had it.
Magdalina’s lips were thin. “Everyone back to bed,” she barked. “I think there’s been enough excitement for one night.”
Students returned to their rooms silently. Emma squeezed my hand in a wistful goodbye. My heart ached at her absence, but I knew not to play around with Lady Magdalina.
