Blade institute: the unseen prophecy

5

We head back to the Institute in silence, the tension between Rian and me still simmering, as if the air between us is charged with static, ready to spark at the slightest provocation. Every now and then, I catch him shooting me a sidelong glare, and I respond with a tight-lipped scowl of my own. If looks could kill, the Institute would have two fewer recruits by the time we got home.

Roger pulls up in the van, his expression unreadable. He gives us a quick once-over, probably gauging the mood, but says nothing. The ride back is quiet, but the atmosphere is thick with unspoken anger and frustration. Every bump in the road feels like it could set off an explosion, and I'm gripping the seat so hard my knuckles turn white. I refuse to look at Rian, but I can feel his presence like a thorn in my side, sharp and irritating.

When we arrive at the Institute, the Headmaster is waiting for us. He's standing by the entrance, his stern gaze sweeping over the group as he calls us inside. The air around him is cold, unyielding, and it makes the tension in the van feel like a gentle breeze by comparison.

"Report," he demands, his voice cutting through the silence like a knife.

I open my mouth to speak, but before I can get a word out, Rian steps forward, his voice sharp and accusing. "Evangeline let Sophia get away."

His words hit me like a slap, and my eyes widen in disbelief. I whirl to face him, my anger flaring. "What? I didn't—"

But the Headmaster cuts me off, his face darkening as he slams a fist on his desk, the sound echoing through the room like a thunderclap. "How could you let this happen?" he roars, his eyes blazing with fury as they fix on me. It feels like being pinned under a spotlight, every flaw and mistake magnified a thousand times over.

I take a deep breath, forcing myself to stay calm even though my heart is pounding in my chest, a storm raging inside me. I recount the events of the night, my voice steady despite the anger threatening to choke me. I tell him about Sophia's speed, how she outmaneuvered us, how Rian and I struggled to take down the other demon while she escaped. I don't embellish, don't try to shift the blame, but I don't hide the truth either.

The Headmaster listens, his expression hardening with each word. When I finish, his gaze shifts to the entire group, his disappointment palpable. "There should have been two of you against Sophia, not just Evangeline. This was a team effort, and you failed. This isn't just on one person—it's on all of you."

The weight of his words hangs in the air, pressing down on us like a physical force. I want to defend myself, to point out that I didn't choose to go after Sophia alone, that circumstances pushed us into that position. But I know it would sound like excuses, and the Headmaster doesn't tolerate excuses.

He orders the others to leave, but tells Rian and me to stay behind. His voice is cold, clipped, every word as precise and sharp as a blade. "You two are the top of the academy. You need to do better. I already know what happened between you." His eyes flash with an intensity that sends a chill down my spine, and I realize with a sickening sense of dread that he can see events after they happen, that he knows exactly how this mission went down, how we failed.

Rian shoots me a dirty look before stalking out of the room, his shoulders tense with barely contained fury. I don't respond, but my heart is pounding with a mix of anger and frustration, and something else I can't quite name—something that feels a lot like betrayal. I leave the Headmaster's office, my mind swirling with too many thoughts, too many emotions. Rian's accusation still rings in my ears, his words cutting deeper than any blade.

I find myself at Ethan's door, needing an escape from the weight of the night, from the mess I've found myself in. I knock once, then let myself in, locking the door behind me. Ethan's sitting on his bed, looking up with mild surprise, but the moment he sees the expression on my face, he understands. Without a word, he stands and closes the distance between us, his arms wrapping around me in a tight embrace. It's not a gesture of romance, but one of comfort—something solid to hold onto when everything else feels like it's spinning out of control.

I press my lips to his, needing to lose myself in something other than the chaos in my head. Ethan doesn't hesitate, kissing me back with a familiarity that's both comforting and numbing. His hands move to my waist, lifting me effortlessly as he carries me to the bed, his lips never leaving mine.

Ethan begins undressing me, his movements slow and deliberate, but I'm impatient, my hands fumbling with his clothes, desperate to feel something other than the frustration and anger coursing through me. He slips his fingers inside me, his touch both familiar and comforting, pulling out moan after moan. But it's not enough. I need more—I need to drown out everything else.

He bites me lightly, testing the waters, but I want more. I've told him before that he won't hurt me, but he's always hesitant, never going as hard as I need. I press my hips against his hand, urging him on, but he pulls back, his eyes searching mine with concern.

"Are you sure?" he asks, his voice low and gentle, but there's a hesitation there that drives me crazy.

"Harder," I whisper, trying to convey what I need, but he still holds back, his touch too soft, too careful.

Frustrated, I push him onto his back and take control, straddling him as I press my hips against his. I ride him hard, letting the physical exertion drive out the anger, the betrayal, the hurt. The release comes quickly, too quickly, and for a brief moment, the turmoil inside me eases, giving way to something that almost feels like peace.

Afterward, I get dressed in silence, avoiding Ethan's eyes as I gather my clothes. He doesn't say anything, but I can feel his gaze on me, a mixture of concern and something else—something I don't want to name.

I leave without a word, not looking back as I step out into the night. The cool air hits my skin, clearing my head slightly, but not enough. The night is quiet, the only sound the distant hum of traffic and the rustle of leaves in the wind. But inside, my mind is anything but quiet.

Rian's words echo in my head, his accusations like barbs lodged deep in my skin. The Headmaster's disappointment, Ethan's concern—they all swirl together, a storm of emotions I can't seem to escape. I walk through the dark streets, the sound of my footsteps on the pavement the only thing grounding me, but even that feels tenuous, like I'm just one misstep away from falling apart.