Chapter 8 NIGHT LESSONS
CHAPTER 008: NIGHT LESSONS
“But we can't just leave like that." I explained
“You don't know what the headmistress is capable of
“But running away won't solve anything, and I don't know if anyone around here." I said, looking aroun
“Wait… where do you think we're going?" Cassian asked, surprise laced in his voic
“I… thought we're leaving the academy.” I stutte
" No… we ain't leaving the academy." Cassian laughe
“Then where are we going?" I asked, carefull
“If you're going to protect yourself from the headmistress and other threats, then you have to train yourself and learn how your power works, and prove yourself worthy. So I'm taking you for training.” Cassian explains, full
" Okay… so… where… is the training?" I stutte
“Okay… follow me." He gestured to me as he turned around to leav
“You’re late again, Zev.” Alaric said
His voice wasn’t teasing or smug. It sounded tired and worn out, like he had been fighting something all night and have finally gave u
But that wasn’t how the dream starte
It began with fir
It's not a gentle fire but a courtyard swallowed by heat. I saw a girl who looked exactly like me standing in the center of the flames. She was screaming my name even though her mouth never moved
The ground trembled. Four silhouettes ran toward her like they were fighting the world to get to her. I reached out but my fingers didn’t move. The smoke entered my lungs until I couldn’t breath
Then the ground cracked open like a glass and I fell throug
I woke up choking on air and clutching my bed sheets like they were the only thing keeping me from falling agai
That’s when I saw hi
Zev sat on the chair beside my bed, his elbows on his knees, his hair falling over his face. He looked like someone who hadn’t slept in days even though he lived inside dream
I pushed myself up. “Were you in my head again
He lifted his face. His violet eyes almost looked bruised in the dim light. “Not like before. I didn’t choose that one
I hugged my knees to my chest, trying to calm the my body. “I saw fire. A girl like me. You were there. All of you were there
His lips pressed into a thin line. “I know. I felt you panic, i came because I thought you would break again
“Break?” I repeated, frownin
Zev let out a breath that sounded too heavy for someone who acted so smooth and effortless most of the time. “You pull me when you dream. I don’t even have to try. It happen unexpectedly one moment I’m somewhere else, the next I’m here
He looked at his hands as if they had betrayed hi
“I can’t control it.” He said. “Not with you
My heartbeat skipped. “Because you’re an incubus
“Partly.” He said, leaning back on the chair. “Incubi feed on dreams and desire. We slip into minds like it’s nothing but you…” His eyes met mine. “You drag me in. You drown me in it
I swallowed. The room suddenly felt warme
“That’s not normal for you
He shook his head. “I’ve been doing this for almost a century. No one has ever pulled me first
Something in my chest twisted. “Almost a century You look nineteen
He gave a small tired smile. “And I have been nineteen for decades. You think I enjoy being stuck like this Waiting for someone who doesn’t remember me
My breath caught. “Remember you
Zev rubbed the back of his neck. His usually arrogant energy was gone. No smirking, no flirting just a boy who looked like a storm had lived inside him for too lon
“In the dream.” I said slowly. “I saw a young girl who looked exactly like me, burning. Were we there?, Were you trying to save her
His brow twitched. “You were supposed to forget until we were sure you were safe but your mind is waking faster than expected
“Safe from what
He didn’t answe
Instead he stood and walked toward the window. He pushed it open and a cold rush of night air swept in. His hair moved with the breeze. The moonlight made him look unreal like a shadow like huma
“You weren’t supposed to come back this soon.” He said softl
“Come back?” My voice cracked a little. “What do you mean come back, Where did I go
“You died
My breath stopped in my throat. I stared at him waiting for him to take it back, maybe laugh or tease, just anything but he didn’
He turned toward me, his face blank. “You died and we kept waiting because we knew the cycle would turn but we didn’t think it would be now
My entire body went cold. “You’re messing with me
“I wish I was
My fingers dug into my sheets. “Cassian said he died and woke up searching for someone. Was it me
Zev didn’t mov
“Alaric said something too.” I murmured. “And Kieran looks at me like he’s trying to remember something he almost had
“They all feel you.” Zev said quietly. “We all do
“But I don’t know any of you."
“That’s because your memories died with you.” He said. “Only pieces survive and now those pieces are leaking
I pressed a hand over my chest trying to steady my heartbeat. “That burning courtyard… was it how I died
“I can’t tell you everything.” He said. “Not yet
My voice rose. “Why not
“Because knowing too soon can kill you again
There was a long silenc
“Sit.” He sai
“I’m already sitting
“Closer
I hesitated. He sounded nothing like the teasing incubus who used to whisper in my dreams. I slid to the edge of the be
Zev knelt in front of me. His palms hovered near my cheeks but he didn’t touch me. His voice came out lo
“There’s something in you waking up, something old and I need to help you handle it before it burns through your mind
“What is waking up
“Your past self
A shiver crawled down my spin
“Close your eyes
“I don’t want to see that again
“You won’t. I’ll guide it this time
His voice softened, like he didn’t want to scare me awa
I closed my eye
A cool presence swept through my thoughts, not intrusive, not forceful just there and it's like someone gently touching water, watching the ripple
Images flickered, hands covered in ash and a silver ring, four boys kneeling in front of m
My chest tightened so hard and I gasped and opened my eye
Zev looked shaken too, there’s weat clung to his forehea
“That’s enough.” He sai
“That wasn’t a dream
“No. That was memory
My throat felt tight. “Zev… how did I die
His jaw clenched. “I can’t tell you yet."
“You keep saying that."
“And you keep asking."
“Because it’s my life."
“And it’s my job to keep you alive this time.” He said, his voice sharp for the first time.
He lowered his gaze. “I know you’re confused. I know you want answers but every time you remember too quickly, your body reacts like it’s reliving the pain, the fire, the fear and I can’t let you fall back into that.
I wrapped my arms around myself. “So what now.
“Now.” He said, standing. “I leave before I pull too much from you.
I frowned. “Pull what?"
He paused in the doorway. “Desire, fear and all the things I’m not supposed to take from you. It’s getting harder to resist
“Why does it have to be me
His eyes softened. “Because you’re the one who tied us together
“How
“That answer will break you if I give it now
That didn’t make me feel any bette
He stepped back into the moonlight. His glow flickered like it was dimming. He really did look tire
“Zev.” I said quietly. “Are you okay
“No.” His smile was faint. “Not when you keep waking pieces of me I buried a long time ago
My chest squeezed. “Then stay, just for a minute
“I can’t
“Why not
He closed his eyes for a moment like he was fighting something inside him. When he opened them again, they were darker
“If I stay.” He whispered. “I won’t leave your mind for the rest of the night
“That sounds like a threat
“It is.” He said. “And also the truth
My breath caught. “Zev
But he had already fade. His silhouette flickered like smoke
“Wait.” I reached out.
He didn’t touch my hand, but something brushed my fingertips like a whisper across ski
“Thalira.” He said, almost too quiet to hear. “There are things coming for you. Things that killed you before. You have to be ready
“Ready for what
“For yourself."
