The night air at Blackmoor felt different now—heavier, as if the walls themselves were holding their breath.
Hope walked silently beside London, their steps falling in sync as they made their way through the eastern corridor of the school. With Richard missing for days and no new leads, tension had threaded itself into the soul of Blackmoor.
"Anything on your side?" London asked, voice low.
Hope shook her head, golden eyes scanning the faintly glowing runes on the walls. "Only the usual whispers. Like something's watching... but nothing shows."
London chuckled under his breath, trying to lift the mood. "Maybe it's Stephen trying out his new invisibility spell again. You know, to sneak into the kitchen."
Hope smirked. "At least he doesn't vanish with food in his mouth anymore."
But beneath the humor, their expressions were etched with worry. Every lead had gone cold. Celeste had grown quieter since her strange encounter with the unknown figure. And though she hadn't told anyone, her distance hadn't gone unnoticed—least of all by Jessa.
The school had divided itself into three search teams. Stephen and Daemon were off scouting the nearby forest, Jessa and Celeste were combing through the hidden chambers in the lower towers, while Hope, London, and Raphael were assigned to the main grounds.
"Still no sign of Raphael?" London asked.
"He was heading toward the observatory. Said something about 'smelling something off.'" Hope frowned. "He better not be lying about snacks again."
As if on cue, a soft thud echoed ahead of them.
Hope and London exchanged a glance.
"That's not snacks," she muttered.
They approached the source—cautious, alert. As they rounded the corner, they found Raphael crouched low, fangs bared, claws halfway out. A broken glass orb lay beside him, glowing faintly.
"Raphael—what is it?" Hope called out.
Raphael didn't answer immediately. His nostrils flared.
"Someone was here. Just left. They were cloaked with a strong concealment charm... but they dropped this." He lifted the orb.
Hope took a step closer and gasped. Inside the glass orb was a flickering image—Richard, bound in chains of glowing ash, eyes closed, hovering in a circle of fire.
"He's alive," London whispered.
"But barely," Raphael added grimly. "Wherever he is... he's being drained."
Hope's heart thundered in her chest. "We have to show this to Daemon and Stephen. And Jessa..."
But before they could move, the torches lining the hallway flickered wildly. A gust of cold air swept through, and a whisper slithered along the walls:
> "Stay away... or burn with him."
Hope raised her hand, igniting her palm with golden fire. "We're done running."
London stepped beside her, fists clenched. "Let them try. They'll find out I'm not so powerless after all."
Raphael tilted his head, amused. "Look at you, finally sounding like a warrior."
Hope glanced at London, her firelight reflecting in his dark eyes. "You're stronger than they know."
Their moment was charged, closer than ever—and for one suspended breath, it felt like they'd close the distance between them.
But the hallway door burst open.
Stephen stumbled in, dramatically brushing off his cloak. "Okay, first of all, that forest is haunted. Second of all, why do I smell glowing chicken in here?"
Daemon followed, grim as always. "It's ash magic. That orb's not just a vision—it's a trap."
Hope clenched her fists. "Then we need to find where it's linked to."
Stephen raised an eyebrow. "Ooooh, dangerous mission time? Count me in. But someone better carry snacks. I swear on my fangs, if I go hungry again—"
Daemon shot him a look.
"What? A hungry vampire is a cranky vampire!"
London stepped forward. "Let's get serious. Richard may not have powers, but he built this school with blood, sweat, and some truly outdated design choices. We owe him."
Hope smiled faintly. "We're bringing him back. No matter what."
From the shadows, Celeste watched the group. Her eyes lingered on the orb... then drifted to the spot where the whisper had slithered by.
Something about that voice...
She clenched her jaw.
> "You think you know this school. But it has deeper secrets than even Richard revealed."
The words of the mysterious figure echoed in her mind again. She still hadn't told anyone about the encounter. She didn't know why. But part of her wondered—if she spoke, would she betray something... or someone?
As the group marched off toward the archive room, preparing for their next steps, Celeste hesitated for a heartbeat.
Then followed.
Because no matter what secrets she held—she couldn't let them face this alone.