Chapter 4: The Mark of Belonging
Keal twisted his body, trying to break free. His wrists trembled, and the sharp edges of the shadowy bonds stung against his skin. Lilith stepped closer, her heels clicking softly against the stone floor. Her calm face carried an odd kind of amusement, like she was enjoying every part of this with him.
"You're wasting your energy," she said, tilting her head. "Those shadows only tighten when you struggle."
He clenched his jaw. "Why are you doing this? What do you all want from me?"
Lilith opened her mouth, but before she could answer, the wall beside them shattered with a sudden burst of light. Debris flew through the room, and Keal turned away from the blinding glare.
Out of the dust, Linda stepped in, her hand still glowing with leftover magic. Her eyes were sharp and focused. "Get away from him."
Lilith's face shifted. Her calm expression twisted into annoyance, and she raised her hand to block the next incoming spell. Keal watched, stunned, as Linda hurled another bright pulse of magic straight at Lilith, knocking her off her feet.
The shadows around Keal evaporated as Lilith hit the far wall. He fell to his knees, gasping. Linda was already at his side.
"Are you okay?" she asked, putting a hand on his shoulder.
Keal nodded, still catching his breath. "Yeah... I think so."
Just then, a large black wolf burst through the broken wall and charged straight at Lilith. Its teeth bared, ready to tear into her. Lilith barely had time to react before shadow tendrils shot out from beneath her and flung the wolf across the room. The impact sent him sliding across the stone, transforming mid-air back into a guy—probably just another student from the academy.
Keal's hands were trembling, but he couldn't look away. Lilith stood up slowly, brushing debris off her dress. This time, her eyes were pitch black.
When she spoke again, her voice didn't sound like hers anymore. It was deeper, laced with something unearthly.
"Do you really think you can defeat me? Me? A queen of darkness? You think your little spells and transformations make you special? Pathetic."
She raised a hand toward Linda, fingers glowing dark. But before she could strike, a golden rope wrapped tightly around her ankle. Lilith gasped, spun around, and was yanked off her feet.
The girl holding the rope stepped into the light. Blonde, tall, in armor with gold trimming. Keal recognized her instantly.
"Princess Lora," he whispered.
She was the same girl Linda had introduced to him during her birthday party. Rumor had it her father died during a battle with the demon king himself. She pulled the rope tighter, then flung Lilith against the wall. The impact cracked the stone.
Lilith got up slower this time. Her glare swept across the room. She didn't say another word, but her look said enough. Then her body dissolved into smoke, and she was gone.
Keal slumped, the tension in his shoulders melting away. His legs gave out beneath him, and he was about to hit the floor when Linda caught him again.
"You're okay now," she said, her voice softer.
Keal nodded faintly. "Thanks... All of you."
…
Back in his room, Keal sat on the edge of his bed. His hands were locked together, fingers tapping restlessly against each other. Linda paced near the window, arms folded, eyes locked on him.
"Do you have any idea why the queen of darkness would be after you?" she asked, stopping to face him.
He hesitated.
"Keal?"
He gave a small shrug. "No clue. Maybe she's just into kidnapping random students."
Linda narrowed her eyes. "Don't joke. You disappeared. She took you. That wasn't random."
Keal stood and crossed the room. He didn't like lying, but he wasn't ready to say he'd met the demon king face to face. He couldn't even explain it to himself yet.
He turned to her and offered a small smile. "Whatever it is... thanks. You and your friends really saved me."
Another student stood up from the far corner. The guy who had turned into the wolf. He looked about Keal's age, with a laid-back expression.
"We all go to Brighton Academy," the wolf guy said. "Means we've got each other's backs. Doesn't matter if you've got powers or not."
Keal nodded. He didn't know what to say. Part of him still felt like an outsider, but hearing that... it helped.
One by one, Linda's friends started to leave the room. Each gave Keal a look of quiet reassurance. Some smiled. Some nodded. One girl gave him a thumbs-up. He didn't know all their names yet, but he was starting to feel like maybe he could belong.
Linda was the last to stay.
She walked up to him and held out a necklace. It had a small, silver charm shaped like a flame.
"Here," she said. "If you ever find yourself in trouble again, just say the phrase 'Las de vu.' I'll come. No matter where you are."
Keal stared at the necklace. His throat tightened a little.
"Thank you," he said quietly.
Linda smiled. "Don't thank me yet. Just wear it."
She stepped forward and looped it around his neck, her fingers brushing against his skin for a second. Then she pulled him into a hug.
"You should rest," she said near his ear. "Tomorrow's another day."
He nodded, still a little overwhelmed. She pulled back, gave him a final smile, then walked to the door.
As she stepped out, she turned briefly. "And Keal... try not to get kidnapped again."
He chuckled. "I'll do my best."
The room was quiet again. The only sound came from the soft hum of wind outside the window. Keal sat on his bed, looking at the book still resting on the mattress.
It was the same book—the one that had opened on its own. He hadn't touched it again.
He reached out slowly and lifted the cover.
Pages flipped on their own, stopping near the middle.
There was only one sentence.
"You are mine."
Keal stared at the words, heart pounding.
He didn't know what it meant.
But he knew—deep down—this was only the beginning.