Emilia froze, staring at the door. She heard Michael's voice from the other side. She remembered Damien's warning. She was not to open the door for anyone until he returned.
"Emilia? I know you're in there. We need to talk," Michael called.
Her brows furrowed as she glanced back at the book on her table. Biting her lip, she wondered what she was supposed to do. Her heart raced, and she struggled to catch her breath.
"I know Damien told you not to open the door for anyone. Don't trust him, Emilia. He's not who you think he is," Michael said, shaking the doorknob as he tried to open it.
Emilia remained silent, trying to calm her racing heart. She knew Damien wasn't someone to trust, but something about his warning told her he was right. Besides, what was Michael doing here this late at night?
Michael's deep voice interrupted her thoughts.
"I know you're confused right now, but I'm asking you to trust me. Open the door, and I'll explain everything."
She was confused. She needed answers. Everything felt suffocating. The mysteries surrounding the academy, Camilla's death, the strange cult-like book that kept appearing around her, and, above all, Damien's cryptic warnings.
She needed an explanation for everything.
Yet, as she stared at the door, she couldn't shake the feeling that it wasn't Michael standing behind it.
"Emilia, look... I'm sorry about the way I've been acting these past few days, but I promise I would never hurt you. I'm just trying to keep you safe, especially from Damien. He's the one you should be wary of."
His hand rested on the doorknob, slowly pressing it down.
"What do you mean?" she asked, taking a cautious step away from the table.
"Damien is going to kill you if you don't let me in... just like he killed Camilla."
Emilia's breath hitched.
How did he know about that?
"I know you're wondering how I know Damien killed Camilla. I'll tell you everything you want to know. All you have to do is let me in."
"You have to be quick before he gets back."
Answers...
Tick...
She wanted answers.
Tick...
Damien...
The book...
This school...
Tick...
She wanted answers.
Taking another step toward the door, she convinced herself it really was Michael. He had saved her ever since she arrived at the academy. Damien, on the other hand, had done nothing but threaten her, throw her into danger, then save her afterward.
It made more sense to trust Michael.
She took one final step until she stood before the door.
She needed answers, and Michael was willing to give them.
Stretching out her hand, she reached for the key.
The room suddenly became eerily quiet.
Drip...
Drip...
Drip...
Rainwater fell from the ceiling onto the floor.
Emilia's fingers touched the key, slowly turning it.
With every passing second, she felt something looming over her shoulder.
"You really don't listen."
Damien's voice made her jump.
She spun around to find him standing behind her, shirtless, a deep frown on his face.
Emilia quickly withdrew her hand and stepped away from the door.
"I..."
"So, you want to know what happens when you don't listen?"
Damien walked forward, unlocked the door, and pulled it open.
A creature made of smoke with glowing crimson eyes let out a shrill screech as it lunged at him.
Its claws slashed across Damien's chest.
He didn't move.
He simply stood there, arms at his sides, allowing the creature to strike him again.
"Do you understand now why I told you not to let anyone inside?"
Another swipe tore across his arm.
Emilia stumbled backward, her heart pounding.
"W... what is that?" she whispered, horrified as she watched Damien take another hit.
"It's called a Shadow Shifter," Damien replied calmly.
A dagger materialized in his hand.
"I've had enough."
With a single swing, the creature let out a piercing cry before dissolving into smoke.
Damien slammed the door shut and locked it before turning back to Emilia.
She had retreated to the corner of her bed, tears streaming down her face.
Seeing Damien covered in blood, she whimpered and pressed herself farther against the wall.
Damien sighed.
"You wanted answers. The moment I showed them to you, you ran into a corner crying."
Rain began falling harder outside, sending a chill through the room.
Damien took a step toward her.
She cried even harder.
He stopped.
"Why are you crying?" he asked, scanning her body for injuries. "Did you get hurt?"
"Y-you..." she stammered, pointing at the three deep claw marks across his chest. Blood continued to pour from the wounds.
Damien glanced down.
"Oh... this?"
He casually ran a finger through the blood on his chest before licking it clean.
"It's nothing. It'll heal."
He smiled before walking into the bathroom to wash up.
Left alone, Emilia continued crying.
Her hands trembled uncontrollably.
She had just seen the most terrifying creature of her life.
What was she supposed to do now?
Was this what every day at this academy would be like?
All she wanted was to go home... to find her mother... to live a normal college life.
Why did that dream feel so impossibly far away?
The sound of pouring rain filled the room.
Dark clouds swallowed the moonlight, leaving the night cold and gloomy.
She couldn't survive here.
The moment everyone discovered she was human, they would kill her.
She had to find a way out.
She sniffled.
Damien walked out of the bathroom.
The blood had been washed away, and every wound on his chest had completely disappeared.
His damp hair clung to his face as droplets of water slid down his pale skin.
Drying his hair with a white towel, he paused when he noticed she was still crying.
"Are you sure you're not hurt?" Damien asked, his brows knitting together.
Emilia shook her head.
"Then why are you crying?"
"I..." She hiccupped. "...I just wanted answers."
Damien studied her for a long moment before letting out another sigh.
"If you want answers," he said, pulling out the chair beneath her desk and sitting down, "I'll answer your questions to the best of my knowledge."
He looked at her for a moment before adding,
"So... will you stop crying? You're only going to attract more Shadow Shifters."