?I shove that wishing star back into the darkness of me and turn towards Mr. Kyros. To icy blue eyes that are so warm and nurturing.
?I can feel pressure starting behind my eyes as needles prick at my nose. He better not move. I’ll beg because if he comes in and gives me a hug with his comforting aura and nature then I’m going to crumble. I’m going to fall and ball my eyes out and I do not deserve that. I do not deserve others to feel bad for me.
?He reminds me of my father.
?I blink at him and mentally shake that thought. I try my best not to think about my parents.
?Steeling myself, I bury every worthless emotion I’m feeling and straighten my spin. “As long as my group is okay with it, we can go first.”
?I’ll wait for after our presentation.
?Mr. Kyros nods and then gently smiles as he gestures for the door. “Best get going then. Presentations will begin soon and you need to get everything ready.”
?I shift and glance over to Jullia who is whispering to our group. Adam and the demon are holding the poster that shows the timeline and our stack of research. They start descending the stairs and I wait until they’re with me before walking out. Not a single one of us says anything.
?I lead, feeling blind, as I walk through the halls until we get to the opened path to the cafeteria. Instead of going in I take the thin path to the right that leads to where the witch’s observatory is. In my astronomy with relative astrophysics class we had sometimes met up here near nightfall to study the stars.
?A hush falls as we enter the building from everyone already seated. The whole room is packed – which should be a feat since there’s about three hundred seats and I’m sure most of these students have exams.
?Heads bow forward as I pass and stupid words about worship and gods and deliverance are whispered. A few words I hear about my appearance. Gods shouldn’t look like this. I had only looked for a second in the mirror after my shower.
?Dark circles under my eyes, my skin paler than it should be, jaw slimmer than it was a week ago, collarbones protruding. I look sickly thanks to my starving and for letting the wishing star close to the surface. It’s sucked more out of me than before.
?The room quiets again when we get to the front where the podium is. In the front row sits the Mage Board. Eight people who I haven’t seen all together since I was first brought before them, along with the Dean, Esmirra, and a few other professors. Behind them sit Hanna, Ricka, Asher, Kyno, and Scorn. I ignore all of them and step onto the podium waiting for my group. Hundreds of eyes all focused on me.
?Jullia steps up next to me and we turn our backs to the audience as Adam and the demon put everything on the table. There’s a single stand that we prop our poster on. Then everyone in my group straightens and looks at me expectantly.
?Jullia squeezes my arm and whispers, “Are you alright to present?”
?I was the one who was supposed to present. I’m sure everyone is expecting it.
?Without answering, I grab the stack of research and face the crowd. Percius and Castiel now sit with the other professors in the front row. I look each and every one of them in the eye.
?“May we begin?”
?I direct my question to the Mage Board. Eight beings who sentenced me to the school because it was either this or death when they labeled me an illegal vampire. Eight beings who most were alive during the end of the War of Gods and were the ones to help in creating the Willow of Lore.
?Mr. Arcturus nods at me and then I cast a broad look over the room. “The War of Gods,” I announce, lifting up the thick stack of papers, folders, and scrolls, all before I toss it before me. Our research skidding and flaring out before me on the podium in front of the Mage Board. “All that research. . .” I point to the strewed papers. “All the history, all the facts, all thetruththat you were told. . . it’s all a lie.”
?Silence. Then a presence slowly enters and I look down at those eight people and sneer.
?“The war did not begin between two gods. The war started with Hessenti, Goddess of Shapeshifters and Runes, sending her Primordial Devil to kill Sanivin the First Vampire. And Sanivin’s brother, to protect her, killed the Primordial Devil. Sanivin’stwinbrother, the Forgotten God of Blood Moons.”
?“ENOUGH!”
?And right as the demigod council member shoots to her feet and screams a wave of world destruction hits.
?I raise an eyebrow at Percius as the room goes up in chaos. You would think by now they wouldn’t be as surprised. How many times has this school been attacked?How many times have I saved them without a single casualty?
?I shut my eyes and release a slow breath as I begin rolling out my shoulder. I’m about to open myself up through the bond between me and Varian when something hits the middle of my chest. My eyes flutter open and continue to blink as I try to process what just happened.
?Beside me Asher is kneeling over Jullia and everything in my head goes very loud. There’s another pressure that hits my right shoulder next and it takes me entirely too long to realize they’re bullets.
?Something roars. In my. . . head? Maybe. Maybe not.
?Another bullet hits right above my heart before I feel it. Like a slow trickling of realization except it’s a tangible feeling through my blood. Those bullets. . . they’re full of blue belladon. A pure, undiluted liquid that floods my system.
?How. . . clever.
