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“If that wasn’t the only monster out here then we need to prepare for an all out attack, and fast,” Landon declares. “Samuel and Luke, I need you to gather the professors and the headmistress and tell them what happened.”
Samuel and Luke take off into the school, pushing past the growing number of students taking up the doorway.
“We’re going to need to get all the students who can fight and put them into their teams,” Landon murmurs almost to himself.
“Greyson and I can go spread the word for the rest of the second years,” Carter says. I glance between the two of them, my stomach twisting at the thought of not keeping my eyes on Greyson and my brother to make sure they’re safe, but this needs to be done.
“Good,” Landon says with a sharp nod. Greyson looks down at me, his jaw tensing as he clearly doesn’t want to leave me either.
I mouth the word “Go” to him, wishing I could give him some other assurance. Thankfully he doesn’t argue, his eyes glinting with determination before he turns to follow Carter into the chaos.
Landon must’ve called someone while I was looking at Greyson, since he’s pocketing his phone again as I turn back to him. “The local hunter detachment is on their way,” he murmurs almost to himself.
He mutters a spell and Stacy’s body disappears in a blink, leaving only a thick pool of blood in its wake. He must’ve done that in combination with whatever witches or warlocks were on the phone since most of us can’t manage a transport spell on our own.
“Aria, you get the other first years and bring them to the cafeteria. Don’t open the door for anyone other than me.”
“That’s not happening,” I scoff, crossing my arms over my chest. “Didn’t you hear what I just said? I need to prove myself, and I’m not going to be able to do that hiding in a cafeteria.”
“Aria.” He takes off his glasses to scrub a hand over his face. A crease forms between his brows as he huffs out a breath of frustration, and I know he wishes he could argue but he can’t with everyone watching us.
I can tell that he’s scared, and hell, so am I. I don’t want anyone I care about, much less any of my fellow students to be in harm’s way, but there’s no way I’m letting the guys fight while I stay locked away, regardless of the omen.
“Fine,” Landon sighs, turning to the rest of my classmates gathered around. “But the rest of you need to go.”
“Have fun making me,” Denver huffs out on a breath of amusement. He takes a step closer to me, warmth radiating off of him and sinking into me, the only sign of comfort he can give me right now with everyone’s eyes on us. “Agreed,” Harper declares, moving to stand on my other side in solidarity.
“I’m staying too then.” Jakob narrows his eyes on Harper as though risking his life is part of some competition.
“No—” I start, but Denver cuts me off.
“You should stop now, Hart, because anything else you say will just be a waste of breath.” Denver chuckles.
“For once I agree with Prince,” Harper grumbles, cutting a glare towards Denver. “Say whatever you want but there’s no way I’m going to go hide in there while you’re risking your life.”
I give her a pointed glare, but she just smiles back at me gleefully, knowing that I can’t speak freely right now.
“Welcome to the dark side.” Denver grins mischievously, his shoulder bumping against mine as if I’m supposed to join in with his amusement when I’m pissed. Why does he have to be as stubborn as I am? At least if he were inside, that would be two people I wouldn’t have to worry about.
“Fine, only you four,” Landon groans, his gaze shifting to the door as the second years and some professors start filtering out.
He launches into action, directing the second-year professors to organize their teams and make sure everyone is accounted for, while the first-year professors disperse the crowd of students inside, directing them into the cafeteria. A few stay in there with them while the others prepare to fight.
I glance up at the imposing form of the gargoyles above us as they rattle in their places, and I’m grateful for the spells keeping them there. Their forced protection is precarious at best, but against monsters, I’m not sure if their allegiances could change, and none of us seem willing to take that chance.
As the entrance clears, Carter and Greyson rejoin us, along with a few other students who must be in their team. I search just beyond the door for any sign of the headmistress but neither she nor Samuel or Luke reappear.
“Do you think they would’ve gone to the cafeteria?” I murmur to Denver, glancing over the crowd of students. Anticipation hangs in the air as the second years prepare for their first hands-on battle, a mix of excitement and panic thrumming through the crowd.
“No, they’d at least come back to check-in,” Denver whispers back, his jaw tensing. I’m about to bring up the headmistress’ absence, when Samuel and Luke appear in the doorway, their faces grave as they join us.
“Were you able to find Graves?” Landon asks, rushing back up the path to meet them.
“No,” Samuel says, his lips pressing into a thin line as he glances around the crowd, seemingly making sure we won’t be overheard. “Even one of the professors went to check in her residence but she’s not there, and her office looks like she hasn’t been in at all this morning.”
“You should go—” Landon starts but his words are cut off as shouts erupt further down the path.
Students and professors spread out along the pathway, with witches and warlocks already murmuring spells under their breath while the shifters shed their clothes, fur sprouting forth as they transform. The groan of metal shredding draws my attention to the gates. Four ogres stand along the other side of the metal, their massive forms taller than the gates which have to be at least fifteen feet tall. I glance from my friends and back to the ogres, their pale green skin illuminated in the morning sun. Tusks protrude from their mouths and graze against their upper lips. This was the same type of monster that killed Stacy, and now there are four of them.
