Chapter 8
Eight
LILITH
Classes have kept me so busy that it feels like I blinked, and a whole month has slipped by. That’s how I find myself walking along the withered path, surrounded by my fellow students as we make our way to the Shadowing.
It doesn’t feel like we’re ready for this, but perhaps that’s the essence of the ritual itself. The Shadows that will awaken tonight are said to emerge from the deepest, most primal parts of ourselves—the ones that are the hardest to tame and control. I suppose I’m about to find out how true that is.
As I come to a halt just before the edge of the forest, I scan the clearing before me. The full moon looms overhead, casting an eerie glow that seems almost unnaturally bright, as if it knows what is about to unfold beneath its gaze.
Once a year, on this very night when the stars align and the moon is at its fullest, every training academy in the realm performs this ancient ritual: the Shadowing. Its purpose is to strengthen our realm against the forces that threaten its stability. As I stand here, anticipation and anxiety twist in my stomach, I realize that tonight will change everything for me and my fellow students. The moment we’ve been preparing for has finally arrived.
Tonight, hundreds of Predators and Prey will fully awaken all over the realm for the first time, ready to perform their duty toward the Balance. Or at least that’s how my dad explained it to me, trying to prepare me for what’s to come.
And yet, as I’m staring into the impenetrable depths of the forest, I can’t help but feel a strange buzzing sensation pulsing through my body, similar to the feeling I’ve been getting within the walls of the school but different. It’s urging me to run, but I resist the impulse.
I’m here at Obsidian Academy to embrace my powers, to connect with my Shadow, and to follow in the footsteps of my ancestors. Well, really my dad’s. Hopefully.
I tilt my head slightly, taking in my surroundings as best I can. Every student here feels drawn to the forest, knowing it’s where our powers originate. But there’s an undeniable, threatening aura emanating from its depths that makes it impossible to ignore. It’s as if the forest itself is alive, waiting for us to make our move.
We gather around the perimeter of the forest, waiting for Headmistress Bennett to begin her ceremonial speech. She stands before us, her imposing figure draped in scarlet robes, a crow-shaped brooch glinting on her chest. Her gray hair is slicked back, adding to her formidable presence as she prepares to address us.
Her Shadow—a fiery crow—streaks across the sky before landing on her shoulder. It’s a rare sight to see anyone maintain a permanent connection with their Shadow like that, and it fills us all with a sense of awe, reminding us of the immense power we have the potential to access tonight.
Beside her stand a few familiar faces. Simon, tall and lean, exudes confidence with his arms crossed. Next to him is Vaughn, who always seems to have a mischievous glint in his eye that makes me want to roll mine in exasperation. But I resist, still trying to convince myself not to bolt.
The third member of their group wears a black hood that conceals most of his face, keeping to himself and adding an air of mystery to the trio. I’ve seen him around but haven’t spoken to him; it’s probably for the best, given the strong aura of danger he radiates.
A few others linger behind them, but my intuition tells me that these three are the key figures in whatever this situation with Bennett may be.
Instead of fixating on their faces, I turn my attention to the spot where my destiny will be decided. The air is thick with anticipation and tension, it feels like an actual force pressing down on all of us. Each breath feels heavy, and every movement carries a sense of purpose. My heart pounds in my chest, and I find myself simply waiting. I don’t know what lies ahead, but I’m determined to confront it head-on.
“The Shadowing is the most significant ritual for all Predators and Prey,” the Headmistress finally announces, her icy gaze sweeping over the crowd. It’s as if she can peer into our very souls, evaluating who will rise to the occasion and who will falter. There’s no way to know what her predictions might be, but she clearly seems to lack optimism. “Our task is unique, determining the fate of our realm,” she continues. “Every cell in your being is aware of this destiny; the only question is whether you can harness the strength of your mind to awaken the ancient forces within you.”
I steal a glance at Tony beside me, and my heart sinks at the sight of his drawn expression. He looks so anxious that I half-expect him to have an asthma attack any moment. He’s like the brother I never had, and I can read him like an open book. It suddenly hits me that everything is about to change. What if we don’t get to continue the next phase of our training together?
The Headmistress’s words about some students leaving tomorrow morning loom over us like a dark cloud. The thought of being separated from Tony sends a pang through my chest, and I have to resist the urge to rub it away.
As the Headmistress continues to speak of purity and power, she prepares us for the harsh reality that not all of us will make it. “It will be unfortunate to lose some of you, but our forces must remain strong for what is to come.” Her tone sends shivers down my spine, and I brace myself for what lies ahead.
This will not be an ordinary test. And only those with enough strength and focus will emerge victorious.
Tony’s hands clench into fists at his side, something I’ve noticed he does to keep his fingers from visibly trembling.
“Breathe. It’ll be all right,” I promise him in a whisper and the firmness in my voice manages to surprise even me.
“I actually feel like I might throw up,” he murmurs in response.
“It wouldn’t be the first time.” I nudge him in a weak attempt to lighten the mood. It doesn’t work though.
“May the Balance guide you,” Headmistress Bennett’s voice overpowers ours, and her disapproving tone makes it clear she heard our exchange. Shit. We’re off to a good start. “The two of you may go first.” Double shit.
Tony’s face goes pale, his eyes wide with panic. I can’t blame him—going first is probably the scariest. But someone has to take the plunge, and waiting for someone else to do it is pointless since no one really knows what to expect. The experience is different for everyone.
Since the beginning of time, the rules of the Shadowing have been clear: you must find your own way to tap into the darkness and draw the light out.
I take a deep breath. Here goes nothing.
“Come on,” I murmur, wrapping my hand around Tony’s.
It’s ironic, really. This moment is the most important of our lives—one that could lead to us being kicked out of the academy, or worse, something fatal—and yet it feels like the Headmistress and her entourage are sending us off to a party. The absurdity of it all nearly makes me burst into nervous giggles, but I manage to hold it together. Barely.
Tony hesitates, glancing back at Headmistress Bennett, her stern expression echoed by the older students standing around her. Their faces are like unreadable masks, revealing nothing. The clearing is completely silent, and no words of encouragement come our way.
I refuse to let my closest friend face the Shadowing alone, especially when he looks ready to pass out. His hand trembles in mine as we take another step closer to the darkened forest.
“I promise you, we’ll be fine. We’ll be celebrating in the Pred dorm tomorrow night, I’m sure,” I try to reassure him again, but the words feel like a lie. I push aside any notions of foreboding and uncertainty, and focus on the idea that we’ll get through this instead.
“I know you’re trying to make me feel better, but I don’t think it's working...” Tony trails off uneasily. “Plus, Vaughn will be there and I’m not sure I want to be a witness to murder.”
And to be fair, being in Vaughn’s presence has put me dangerously close to murder several times before. Even now, picturing his smug smirk, I feel an overwhelming urge to wipe it off his face.
“We’ll cross that bridge when we get to it,” I tell him with a small smile, releasing his hand. We have to enter the forest alone, without any energetic interference from anyone around us. No one nearby is allowed to help us in any way, as it may change our Shadows permanently. “I’ll see you on the other side, all right? You got this.”
Tony nods and, surprisingly, is the first to move. He vanishes into the darkness, and I hesitate for a moment before following, my heart racing and my palms slick with sweat. An ominous presence looms ahead, not Tony, something else, causing my skin to prickle with fear, and my breath to hitch in the back of my throat.
Throughout history, darkness has been misunderstood—or so we’ve been told. While it holds a lot of power, it’s not inherently evil, even if it doesn’t feel that way right now.
I pause, closing my eyes for a moment as I draw in a deep breath. The energetic field around me is powerful, pulling me in different directions, but it’s up to me to decide which path to follow to summon my Shadow. It’s ironic, really, since they are made of light, yet they’re called—
C o m e . The word is whispered inside my head so silently, yet it echoes through my mind so clearly. For a moment, I’m stunned, thinking that my own mind is playing tricks on me. The Darkness might be all-consuming, but it doesn’t... talk.
Or, at least, I don’t think it does.
I don’t dare to move; instead, I focus on the sounds around me. I hear Tony walking somewhere in the distance, but the voice that invites me forward didn’t come from him. No, it feels like something I can’t explain. Something far more sinister than I want to admit.
C o m e , the voice repeats, this time with an energetic pull that yanks me forward. I’m left with no choice but to follow its lead. I’ve heard many stories about the things that take place in the forest, but I never expected to be spoken to here. Not like this.
Finally, I dare to open my eyes and look around. Unsurprisingly, I’m met by complete darkness, yet I can somehow find my way forward. I don’t know where I’m going, but I know there’s someplace I need to be.
You have returned to me…
A feeling of unease creeps over me, and I swallow hard. My feet continue to move as if they have a will of their own, but every inch forward feels like a step closer to danger. The darkness around me seems to twist and shift, lightening enough to reveal gnarled trees that appear to be rotting right in front of my eyes. This feels… wrong.
Suddenly, a soft hum breaks through the silence, sending a chill down my spine and causing every hair on my body to stand on end. “Who’s there?” I demand, my voice echoing through the trees and fading into nothingness. “Show yourself!” I stumble backward, scared, only to hear a sickening sound of wetness underneath my feet.
Glancing down, my heart races as I realize I’ve stepped into something wet. A wave of horror washes over me as I see the color of the liquid beneath my feet—a deep scarlet—like blood.
Oh no. Shit!
Panic sets in as I realize that it stretches out endlessly in all directions, surrounding me in a sea of crimson as far as I can see.
“Fuck!” The sharp curse escapes my lips before I can even think, the word echoing through the dark forest in a neverending loop of fucks.
Shadows swirl and shift around me, causing my heart to hammer even harder against my ribcage. With each step I take back, my feet sink even further into the pool of thick crimson liquid, the squelching sound filling the air. The metallic scent is strong, nearly suffocating me, and I struggle to catch my breath. My panic doubles and I realize something has seriously gone wrong with this ritual.
When I open my mouth to curse again, no words come out. I try again, this time to scream for help, but nothing. It’s as if something has stolen my very voice. The dark energy seems to feed on my fear, if that fact it’s swirling closer and closer to me is any indication.
Nope. Not happening.
Fuck this shit.
Without a second thought, I turn and start running. My feet squelch against the ground as I push myself forward, not daring to look back at whatever is chasing me. But I can feel it gaining on me.
It’s no use—the entity catches up, slamming into my back and sending me crashing to the ground. Pain shoots through my body as I hit the forest floor. At least this part isn’t soaked in blood—small mercies.
As I struggle to catch my breath, I roll over in time to see the dark figure hovering above me, readying to strike.
Fuck. I’m going to die, I think to myself.
I raise my hand instinctively to shield myself, even though I know it won’t make a difference… until a beam of light shoots from my palm, illuminating the entire forest. Magic surges within me, concentrating into a single point before erupting in a massive shockwave.
Drawn by the surge of energy, a fox materializes in front of me, glowing with pure light and radiating a power that envelops me.
A Predator. I’ve summoned a Predator to protect me.
Astonished and relieved, I watch as the small fox bravely faces the dark entity, staring it down with unwavering determination. There’s no trace of hesitation or fear in its movements.
Seizing the distraction, I scramble backward, using the diversion to create space. The darkness looms ominously above me, like a storm cloud ready to strike, but instead of attacking, it simply hovers there.
Welcome back.
Then, as suddenly as it appeared, the dark entity vanishes into thin air, leaving me alone with the fox in the eerie silence. It locks its gaze on me one last time before fading away, taking the light it emitted along with it. My heart flutters in my throat as the oppressive darkness returns.
With trembling limbs, I force myself to stand up, determined to escape this place as quickly as possible. I take off, running and running, pushing myself until my lungs ache and my legs burn.
I can feel the air growing fresher, the oppressive weight of the forest beginning to lift, and I know I must be nearing the edge. The trees are thinning, their trunks becoming less dense.
It’s only when I’m nearly out of this nightmarish place that I finally dare to glance over my shoulder. But as I do, I collide with something solid and unyielding. I almost bounce off and fall backward, but arms shoot out to catch me. My gaze snaps up to the familiar figure holding me steady.
Vaughn.
Normally, I’d find his presence annoying, but right now, he feels like a lifeline. Without a word, he shifts me behind him protectively, sensing my fear—or perhaps he can see the terror etched on my face. With a swift motion, energy surges through him, coalescing into a massive wolf. Whoa.
The wolf casts a warm glow into the forest, its luminous fur illuminating the path ahead and softening the eerie shadows of the trees. But the entity is long gone and nowhere to be found.