20. Thalia’s POV
Chapter 20
Thalia’s POV
T he academy was a ghost town as Zarek, Nox, and I made our way towards my dorm. An eerie silence stretched endlessly as the cold wind swept through the empty courtyard, carrying the scent of winter and rustling the bare branches of the trees. Without the usual bustling crowds of students, the academy felt strangely exposed—the emptiness unsettling in a way that made every shadow seem deeper.
I pulled Nox's jacket tighter around me, shivering as the chill crept through the fabric. His scent was calming, wrapping around me like a comforting blanket. The air was heavy, almost oppressive, and I couldn't shake the feeling that we were being watched—even though I knew logically that we were alone. It was as if the academy itself had eyes, hidden in the dark corners and shadows.
“Kind of creepy, isn’t it?” Zarek said, breaking the silence. He looked over at me with a half-smile, his breath misting in the cold air. “I never thought I’d say this, but I actually miss the noise.”
I gave him a small smile in return, glancing around. “Yeah. It’s weird without everyone here. Like the place is... haunted or something.” My voice echoed slightly off the stone walls, emphasizing just how empty it was. “Plus, you just miss all the attention,” I teased with a small laugh.
Zarek gasped dramatically, placing a hand over his heart. “Me? Miss the attention? How could you accuse me of such a thing?” His playful smile cutting through the cold. “But, I suppose having someone to impress makes this whole eerie walk a little more worthwhile.”
Nox walked a few paces ahead of us, his eyes scanning the surroundings. He hadn’t said much since we left, his focus seemingly elsewhere, but I could feel the tension radiating off him—as if he was prepared for something to jump out at us at any moment. His presence, though silent, was strangely comforting—like an unwavering shield between me and the unseen darkness.
The pathways, usually packed with students, were deserted, the benches empty, the training fields stretching out like barren wastelands. The academy that had once felt alive now seemed utterly lifeless, the vibrancy drained away. The emptiness felt wrong, like the academy itself was holding its breath, waiting for something to happen.
Zarek nudged me gently with his elbow, drawing my attention back to him. “Hey, don’t look so spooked,” he said, his eyes twinkling with mischief. “You’ve got us with you. What could possibly go wrong?”
I snorted, rolling my eyes. “Oh, I don’t know. Plenty of things, considering my track record,” I replied, raising an eyebrow.
He grinned, a welcome warmth against the cold. “Fair point. But still, you’re safe with us.” He glanced ahead. “Right, Nox?”
Nox glanced back at us, his eyes meeting mine for a heartbeat before flicking to Zarek. “Just stay close,” he said, his voice carrying a seriousness that cut through the momentary lightness.
I nodded, falling silent as we continued walking. The leaves crunched beneath our feet, the only sound breaking the silence. There was something about Nox’s tone—something that made the hair on the back of my neck stand up. The academy might have been empty, but the sense of danger was still very real.
The women's dorm loomed above us, dark and quiet, the windows like empty eyes staring out into the night. I hesitated for a moment before stepping forward, the sense of unease still clinging to me like a second skin.
“Do you need us to come in with you?” Zarek asked, his voice softer now, the playful edge gone.
I shook my head, offering him a small smile. “I think I’ll be okay. It’s just grabbing a few things, right?”
Nox stepped closer. “Be quick. And if anything feels off, you call out.”
I nodded, the seriousness in his eyes making my heart skip a beat. “Got it. I’ll be quick.”
With one last glance at the two of them, I turned and made my way inside, the door creaking slightly as I pushed it open. The dimly lit hallway stretched out before me, the shadows seeming to shift and move as I walked. The silence was deafening, each of my footsteps echoing off the walls, and I couldn’t shake the feeling that I wasn’t entirely alone.
I took a deep breath, trying to steady myself. I just needed to grab my things and get out. The sooner, the better. Walking into my room felt different, like something was off. I noticed things were slightly moved around—books out of place, drawers not quite closed. Maybe Elara had been in here? No—it was locked when I came in.
A chill ran down my spine as unease settled deeper. I grabbed a bag and started stuffing clothes into it, moving as quickly as I could. I grabbed my essentials—clothes, a few books, my journal—anything I thought I’d need while staying at their place. As I turned to leave, I heard a creak from the hallway. My breath caught, and I froze, listening. The silence returned, heavier than before. Slowly, I moved towards the door, my heart pounding in my chest. I peered out into the hallway, my eyes searching the shadows.
“Hello?” I called out softly. No response. The silence pressed in on me, heavy and suffocating. I swallowed, stepping back into my room, my hand gripping the door frame for support. My knuckles turned white as I held on. I needed to leave—now. My instincts were screaming at me to run, to get as far away from this place as possible. A small, hysterical laugh bubbled up, quickly dying in my chest. I really should look into therapy. Maybe a nice padded room would do me some good.
I slung the bag over my shoulder and made my way back down the hallway, my footsteps as quiet as I could manage. As I reached the entrance, I could see Nox and Zarek waiting just outside, their figures visible through the small window in the door. Stepping outside, the cold air hit me like a wave of relief. Both of them looked up, their eyes locking onto mine.
“Everything okay?” Nox asked, his voice low, but the concern was evident.
I nodded, though my heart was still racing. “Yeah. Let’s just... get out of here.”
Zarek stepped forward, wrapping an arm around my shoulders and pulling me into his side. “Hey, you’re alright.” he said, his voice was filled with a comforting warmth that seemed to thaw the lingering chill.
Nox didn’t say anything, but he moved closer, his presence solid and grounding. I could feel the tension in him—the way his eyes kept scanning our surroundings as if expecting something to come at us from the shadows.
We started walking back, and I kept close between them, the cold night air biting at my skin. The academy loomed behind us, dark and silent, and I couldn’t help but feel like we were leaving something unfinished.
Zarek broke the silence after a few moments, his tone light, trying to lift the mood. “So, how about some hot chocolate when we get back? I think we’ve earned it after that little adventure,” Zarek suggested.
I couldn’t help but smile, the tension easing just a bit. “Only if you make it,” I said, nudging him lightly.
He grinned, his eyes sparkling. “Deal. My hot chocolate is life-changing, just you wait. I’ll even add marshmallows, for the full experience.”
Nox glanced over, his lips twitching slightly as if fighting a smile. “Let’s just get back safely first,” he muttered, but there was a softness in his voice that made my chest feel a little lighter.
"How did you see the house?" Nox asked after we had been walking in silence. The forest around us was dark, the cloudy sky allowing only the faintest slivers of moonlight to filter through the trees.
"What do you mean? I have eyes," I teased, my voice carrying a hint of playfulness.
Nox glanced at me, the corner of his lips twitching as if he were fighting a smile. "Funny," he said, his tone dry. "I mean, it was hidden—warded."
I blinked, caught off guard. "Warded? So, only certain people can see it?"
He nodded. "It's supposed to be invisible to anyone who doesn’t know the right… markers." He paused, his eyes going distant for a moment. "But you saw it as if it were just any other house."
I frowned, my brows knitting together. "I don't know. It just looked… normal to me. Maybe it wasn’t as warded as you thought."
Zarek, who had been walking a few steps ahead, turned around, a smirk tugging at his lips. "Or maybe you’re just special, Firefly. And here I thought we were the only mysterious ones."
I rolled my eyes, though a small smile tugged at my lips. "Yeah, yeah. Let’s not get carried away." I looked over at Nox, who seemed deep in thought. His expression was guarded, but there was a glimmer of curiosity in his eyes.
A shiver ran down my spine, the forest suddenly feeling colder, the shadows around us growing deeper. "Is that a good thing or a bad thing?" I asked, trying to keep my voice steady.
Zarek shrugged, stepping back to walk beside me. "Could be both. I think it just means you’re even more interesting than we thought." He nudged me lightly with his elbow.
I gave him a sideways glance, my lips twitching up. "You really know how to make everything sound like an adventure, don't you?"
"That’s because it is," he said with a wink. "Danger, mystery, handsome companions… What more could you ask for?"
I couldn’t help the laugh that fell from my lips, the sound echoing softly in the quiet forest. "I don't know who has the bigger ego, you or Damon."
Nox cleared his throat, his eyes flicking to Zarek. "Let’s stay focused. The wards being visible to her might mean more than we realize." He turned his eyes back to me. "We'll figure it out."
The way he said it—so sure, so steady—made my chest tighten. I nodded, matching his pace as we continued walking through the forest. The cold air nipped at my skin as we continued walking.
"Thalia..." Something whispered softly. I strained my ears, trying to make out the sound, but it was faint, blending with the rustling of the wind through the trees. I glanced up at Nox and Zarek, but they continued walking, their expressions unchanged. They hadn't heard it.
The voice came again, another faint whisper that sent a shiver down my spine, making the hair on the back of my neck stand up.
"Thalia... you can't run..."
I swallowed hard, my eyes scanning the darkness around us. The shadows seemed to shift, almost like they were reaching out towards me. My heart pounded in my chest, and I took an involuntary step closer to Nox, my hand brushing against his arm.
"Did you hear that?" I asked, my voice barely above a whisper.
Nox turned his head slightly, his eyes narrowing. "Hear what?"
Zarek looked down at me, his brows furrowed in confusion. "Thalia, what's wrong?"
I hesitated, glancing between them. The voice had stopped, but the feeling of unease lingered, wrapping around me like a cold, invisible hand. "I thought... I thought I heard something but never mind."
Nox’s eyes darkened as he immediately began scanning the trees, his posture tensing. "I didn’t hear anything," he said, his voice low, but I could see the concern in his eyes.
Zarek stepped closer, his expression softening. "Hey, it’s probably just the wind." He tried to smile, but there was a flicker of worry behind his eyes.
I nodded, though the unease in my chest didn’t let up. The voice felt too real, too deliberate. Zarek must have sensed my jitters because he bumped his hip against mine, drawing my attention. "Why don't you tell us something about you before you came to the academy?"
"You’re just trying to distract me, aren’t you?" I asked, raising an eyebrow at him. A small smile played on my lips, trying to hide the genuine curiosity I felt. His attempts at distraction were endearing, though I wasn't about to let him know that. "It won't work, Zarek. Though, I am curious. What kind of stories are we talking about? Childhood mishaps? Tales of heroic feats? Or perhaps..." I paused, my gaze narrowing playfully, "embarrassing moments you'd rather forget?"
He grinned, unrepentant. "All of it"
Nox glanced back at us, his gaze lingering on me for a moment before he spoke. "We'll need to be careful tonight. If there’s something about you that allows you to see through the wards, it could be part of attracting attention we don’t want."
I swallowed, the weight of his words settling heavily on me. "Do you think someone’s watching?"
Nox’s eyes flicked away, his expression unreadable. "It’s possible. We need to be cautious."
Zarek sighed dramatically, though his eyes were serious. "Great, more shadowy figures lurking around. Just what we needed."
Despite the tension, I found myself leaning closer to Zarek, grateful for his attempts to lighten the mood. "Maybe they’ll be scared off by your charm."
He chuckled, his eyes sparkling. "They should be. I’m terrifyingly charming."
Nox shook his head, but there was the faintest hint of a smile on his lips. "Let’s just get back without drawing any more attention."
As we approached the house, the sense of unease only grew. The shadows seemed deeper, darker—alive. They twisted and shifted, reaching for me as if they knew my name. I studied them while walking, my heart pounding in my chest. These shadows were different—more sinister. Mine flickered softly, like they were ready to react. But these... these felt malevolent, as if they had a will of their own, eager to pull me into them. I shivered, feeling their cold presence inching closer, a silent promise of something far worse than I'd imagined.
As we entered the clearing, I looked over my shoulder to see the shadows hanging in the trees, watching. The whisper came again, louder this time, like a scream in my ear.
"Thalia... I'm coming..."
I stumbled, my breath hitching as fear surged through me. Nox’s arm was suddenly around me, steadying me. "What is it?" he asked, his voice urgent.
I shook my head, trying to regain control of my racing heart as my eyes scanned the tree line. Zarek’s eyes widened, his expression shifting. "We need to get inside. Now."
The three of us hurried towards the house, Nox’s arm still protectively around me. The shadows seemed to ripple, almost as if they were laughing at us, mocking our retreat.
We reached the front door, and Zarek ushering me inside. Nox followed, his eyes scanning the treeline one last time before stepping in and shutting the door firmly behind us.
The warmth of the house enveloped me, but the chill of those whispers lingered, echoing in my mind. Zarek turned to me, his eyes scanning my face. "Are you okay?"
I nodded, though my hands were still shaking. Nox’s jaw clenched, "I'll go talk to Damon."
Zarek nodded in agreement, his usual playful demeanor replaced by something more serious, but then his signature grin returned, accompanied by a wink. "We’ll get some hot chocolate started—extra marshmallows, just for you."
I watched as Nox ascended the stairs, his posture rigid with tension. The shadows seemed to cling to him as if trying to follow, and I couldn't help but feel a pang of worry as he disappeared from sight, heading to find Damon.
Before I could dwell too much on it, Zarek's hand gently tugged at mine, pulling me towards the kitchen. "Come on," he said, his voice softer now, trying to bring some levity back. "Let's get you warmed up with that hot chocolate. I promise, it's going to be the best you've ever had." He gave me a reassuring smile, his eyes searching mine, as if to make sure I was okay.
The warmth of his hand was comforting, and I let myself be led away.