𝐁𝐫𝐨𝐤𝐞𝐧 𝐀𝐧𝐠𝐞𝐥𝐬 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐓𝐚𝐭𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐞𝐝 𝐖𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐬

Valharis Academy of Mythological Studies

The trio shared a look before Elias came towards her. "I think it's best if you give us a moment." His eyes were in Sera but he spoke to Circe and Zephyr.

The pair nodded before exiting the room. Elias pulled the chair behind him and sat beside Sera. He untied the ropes that bound one of her wrists, his face firm.

"Elias...what is going on? How are we here? Why?" She had a thousand more questions but his silence quieted her.

"You must promise not to hate me." His yellow eyes were pleading almost and he fidgeted with his hands.

Hate him? Why would she ever hate him? What could he have possibly done that would cause her to hate him?

"Please, just promise me, Serafina." His lips were pulled back into a tight line and his eyes unblinking.
"Alright, I promise."

Elias took a deep breath and ran his hands down the length of his legs before he spoke.

"We are currently at Valharis Academy of Mythological Studies. It's a school dedicated to the science and study of mythical beings of all kinds run by Headmistress Keirke."

Sera opened her mouth but Elias cut her off. She had never heard of Valharis and yet she couldn't help but feel as if it felt familiar.

"The school is old, dating centuries back. The students here learn to identify and fight these creatures, like the one we saw and the vampire. They-"

"What does this have to do with you, Elias?" Sera finally interrupted. He bent his head and ran a hand across his jaw.

"I have been a student here since I was thirteen years old. Every one of my family members have attended Valharis for as long as the school has been around."

Elias paused, taking in Sera's silence. He had known about this world for almost a decade and never told her? He let her believe she was crazy for saying it was possible for warlocks and witches to exist.

"Students like Zephyr are here to train in the academy but also for the other students to learn about his kind. They're called Intakes." His voice faltered. "You're an Intake."

Sera gasped, confusion coursing through her body. "Me? But I'm human, there's nothing...supernatural about me at all."

He shook his head, his mouth parted to say something when the door burst open. A tall stern faced woman entered, Zephyr and Circe trailing behind her.

"I tried to stall her, I promise," Zephyr was saying, a sheepish look on his dark face. He gave Sera a lopsided grin that quickly disappeared when the tall woman shot him a look.

Turning to Elias and Sera, she narrowed her eyes before speaking. "I am Headmistress Keirke, I run this school-Mr. Pembrooke, why is she still bound?"

Headmistress Keirke reached across the bed and untied the other rope on Sera's wrist. Her light eyes locked with Sera's and that strange feeling shivered down her spine.

The headmistress seemed to be whispering something under her breath but Sera couldn't quite make out the words. She did know she did not like the feeling being around her caused; it was painful, like it was when she was near the vampire.

"There, now we must get you cleaned up and then we will have a proper chat." Headmistress Keirke stood back and folded her hands in front of her stomach.

"Circe, you should have some clothes Serafina can borrow, yes?"

Circe snorted, sizing Sera up as she stood up. Her knees wobbled and she clutched Elias' arm.

"It's hard to tell if we're the same size when she's wearing that ridiculous dress." Circe said with a laugh as if Sera had been wearing a circus outfit.

She looked down at her once pretty dress, now all crumpled and creased. Aunt Gladys would have had a fit.

Aunt Gladys! Elsabeth!

"Where is my Aunt and cousin?" She asked as Headmistress Keirke ushered everyone out of the room.

"They are home, dear. They are safe and at home."

"But-but where were they? When we went back into the manor everyone was gone."

Headmistress Keirke pursed her lips before answering. "Get cleaned up and we will have a proper chat."