Celestial Guardians: Uniting Dimensions (Celestial Guardians Series, #1)

Chapter 16

Chapter 16

Jamaica's POV

The campus buzzed with life the next day, students milling around in the crisp morning air, laughter and chatter blending into a symphony of normalcy. But for me, normal didn't exist anymore.

I sat on the edge of the fountain in the courtyard, my eyes scanning the crowd. Everything seemed so...ordinary. Yet beneath the surface, I could feel the tension, like the calm before a storm.

Sofia had stayed hidden in my dorm room, too shaken to face the shapeshifter who'd taken her place. I couldn't blame her. I'd seen fear before, but hers had been raw, almost primal.

I leaned back, watching as Kevin and Nel walked across the courtyard. Both of them were laughing, and it seemed like everything was fine. But I knew better.

The Destroyer's influence was spreading, and they didn't even realize it.

I stood, brushing off my jeans and heading toward them.

"Hey," I called out, forcing a casual tone.

They turned, their smiles faltering slightly when they saw me.

"What's up?" Kevin asked, shoving his hands into his pockets.

"I need to talk to you. Both of you."

Nel raised an eyebrow. "About what?"

I glanced around, lowering my voice. "Not here. Somewhere private."

Kevin exchanged a glance with Nel, but they followed me without question.

We ended up in an empty lecture hall, the dim light casting long shadows across the room. I shut the door behind us and turned to face them.

"It's about Sofia," I began.

"What about her?" Kevin asked, leaning against a desk.

"The real Sofia."

Nel frowned. "What are you talking about?"

I took a deep breath. "The Sofia you've been hanging out with? She's not Sofia. She's a shapeshifter."

Kevin straightened, his expression darkening. "Jamaica, are you serious right now?"

"Dead serious." I crossed my arms. "Last night, I found the real Sofia. She was being held captive by those men Nel fought—the ones with the glowing blades."

Nel's jaw tightened. "You're sure it was her?"

"She told me everything. The Destroyer sent the shapeshifter. Her job is to gather people, to turn them into soldiers for the apocalypse."

Kevin ran a hand through his hair, pacing the room. "This can't be happening. How could we not notice?"

"Because she's good at what she does," I said. "And because she knew exactly how to distract you."

Nel looked at me sharply. "What's that supposed to mean?"

I held his gaze. "It means she played you both. She used your feelings to keep you off track. And it worked."

Kevin stopped pacing, his fists clenched. "So what do we do now?"

I took a step closer, my voice firm. "We fight back. We expose her for what she is and stop her before she can do more damage."

Nel's expression softened, guilt flickering in his eyes. "I'm sorry, Jamaica. We should have been paying attention."

"This isn't about blame," I said. "It's about fixing it."