Moonfire Academy (NaNoWriMo 2023)

Chapter Seven: The Man From The Bar

Her chest burned with each cough, and more black inky liquid pooled out of her. Malakai retrieved a cloth and swatted her hand away when she tried to take it from him. She avoided eye contact while he cleaned her jaw and lips.

Seraphina stormed into the room, followed by Renin and Ezekiel, both appearing concerned. It must have been the poison making her hallucinate things. Neither of them knew her long enough to care about her well-being.

"Many are dying because of beasts' scratches. I'm so sorry--I should have reacted faster, but I was afraid that if I showed my true power..." Sadness flashed across her face. "My people have been used before--"

Cressida grasped her hand. "There is no need to apologize." She understood better than anyone the constant concern of being used as a war machine.

"How the hell are you still alive?" Renin asked, surprise evident in her tone. "Everyone else is dead, yet... here you are. Don't get me wrong—you look like shit, but you're alive."

Cressida laughed. "I'm harder to kill than you think."

Renin smiled. "It would seem so." Seraphina moved toward the door, but Renin seized her arm. "Where are you going?"

"Cressida has some herbs in her room that can help with the poison... or so I hope."

Cressida's eyes met Malakai's. "I don't have much of them left."

"What?" It must have clicked in her head then. "Oh."

"Are there no more in the Academy?" asked Ezekiel.

Seraphina squinted her eyes. "Perhaps in the herbs class, but I'm unsure since it's not something we make often. It's not a normal occurrence for people to be poisoned."

"Let's go before the sun rises," Ezekiel said as he opened the door.

"Why? Aren't you wearing your necklace?" Seraphina asked, curiosity laced in her voice.

"Yes, but I detest taking such a risk. The magic in the necklaces can be easily broken."

Cressida smiled at the memory of the enticement of pulling Malakai's necklace from his neck so he would ignite under the sun. When their eyes met, she could tell by his expression that he was not amused by her remembrance. As if he hadn't had thoughts of plunging a dagger deep into her heart or sucking her dry.

Everyone left to hunt for the herbs. For years, she had been told such a class was useless for a werewolf, but clearly, it was something everyone should know since it could save lives. Her eyes settled on Malakai, who leaned against the wall, looking way too relaxed.

Months ago, the others would have never dared to leave them alone, even less in her vulnerable state. Back then, Malakai would have simply watched with pleasure as she writhed in agony and took her last breath.

"If there are more herbs, why didn't they use them to save the others?"

Malakai raised his hand, and a small dagger materialized in it. He inspected before it disintegrated into the air, his eyes meeting hers. "Perhaps they did, but they didn't have the amount necessary for it to be potent enough for everyone."

She rose from the bed, but her legs wobbled, so she sat back down. "If it's true that there is a traitor inside the academy..." Her voice drifted off as her vision blurred like a camera lens struggling to focus on one object. "What if they collected all the herbs and got rid of them?" Her coughing worsened, and she held a hand over her stomach as the searing pain on her back shot painful electric currents through her veins. Each breath became laborious, her throat feeling as though something sharp scraped against it. "I don't think I'm going to make it through this."