Secrets of Veil High: The Awakening (BOOK 2)

Chapter 10: Friend or Foe?

The mood at Veil High had changed, growing colder and darker as whispers of The Awakening slithered through its halls. The students, already wary of the unknown forces at play, now cast sidelong glances at Ava whenever she walked past. She could sense the growing distance between herself and her friends—an invisible wall that seemed to grow thicker each day. She barely spoke to Ethan and Lila now, and whenever she looked in their direction, she found their gazes shadowed with doubt and concern.

At first, Ava tried to ignore the rift, but the feeling of isolation gnawed at her. She felt trapped between two worlds, neither fully accepting her. Kael and the Circle of Shadows were drawing her deeper into their secrets, each step pulling her closer to the ritual. But as the mystery around the Awakening unfolded, Ava’s certainty about Kael’s intentions started to crumble. She noticed subtle things—whispers exchanged with Circle members when he thought she wasn’t looking, or the way he grew silent and evasive whenever she asked about the next steps of the ritual.

One evening, after a strained meeting with the Circle, Ava lingered in the dim light of the abandoned classroom where they met. Kael had just left, speaking in hushed tones with one of the other members, a girl named Rowan who seemed almost as committed to him as Ava was. As Ava watched them leave, she caught a glimpse of Rowan’s face, her expression clouded with something that looked like resentment. Before Ava could retreat into the shadows, Rowan approached her, her dark eyes piercing.

“We need to talk,” Rowan whispered urgently, her eyes darting around as though to make sure they were alone. “There’s something you don’t know, Ava—something Kael hasn’t told you.”

Ava’s heart pounded as she gestured for Rowan to continue. For a moment, she feared that Rowan’s words would confirm the suspicions growing in her mind. “What is it?”

Rowan hesitated, her voice low. “Kael is using you. The Awakening is real, yes, but he doesn’t care about saving Veil High. He’s here for his own power—to claim it, to shape it to his own will. You’re just… a part of his plan.”

The words hit Ava like a physical blow, yet somehow, they didn’t surprise her. “Why are you telling me this? Aren’t you a part of his plan too?”

Rowan’s gaze softened, but there was no warmth in it. “I used to believe in him. I used to think the Awakening was something we all needed, something that could make us stronger. But now I see that he’s just… obsessed with the power. It doesn’t matter to him who he hurts to get it. Not me, not you, and not Veil High.”

Ava’s mind reeled, a flood of memories and conversations flashing through her mind—Kael’s intense eyes, his whispered promises, his insistence on secrecy. She realized that she’d been caught in his spell, enchanted by the promise of answers and purpose, but those promises had come with a terrible price. And now she was left stranded, unsure of whom she could trust.

Ava looked back at Rowan, who was watching her with an expression of tired resignation. “What do you suggest we do?”

Rowan hesitated before responding, her voice barely above a whisper. “There’s a way out, Ava, but it won’t be easy. We have to leave the Circle of Shadows—abandon the Awakening.”

Ava’s breath caught in her throat. The Awakening had been everything she’d thought about, the one thing that connected her to the school and her strange visions. But Rowan’s words planted a seed of doubt in her. “Leave?” she echoed, her voice faint.

“Yes,” Rowan continued, her gaze steady. “But you have to be prepared. Kael won’t let you go easily. He’s too close to his goal.”

Ava nodded, a cold sense of dread spreading through her. She watched as Rowan left, her shadow disappearing into the dark corridor, leaving Ava alone with her racing thoughts. She had no idea how she would face Kael—or her friends. It was a strange irony that, just as Kael had claimed her trust, Rowan was now sowing seeds of suspicion in her heart.

The next day, Ava tried to avoid Kael, but it proved impossible. He seemed to sense her hesitation, his usual cool demeanor masking something darker. After class, he approached her, his gaze piercing as he whispered, “We need to talk.”

Reluctantly, Ava followed him to the school’s courtyard, where the afternoon sun cast eerie shadows over the stone benches and crumbling statues. Kael turned to her, his face unreadable.

“Something’s wrong,” he said, his voice devoid of its usual warmth. “I can feel you pulling away, Ava.”

Ava forced herself to meet his gaze, her heart pounding. “Kael, I need answers. I don’t understand the Awakening, or why I’m a part of it. And I’m not sure I can trust you anymore.”

Kael’s eyes flashed with something fierce, something almost desperate. “Trust me, Ava. We’re closer to the truth than ever before. You’re part of this because you’re special—you feel the pull of the Awakening as much as I do.”

Ava felt her resolve waver, his words stirring something within her. But then she remembered Rowan’s warning, the doubt that had crept into her mind. She shook her head. “I don’t want to be manipulated, Kael. I won’t be a pawn in someone else’s game.”

A dark look crossed Kael’s face, his voice lowering to a dangerous whisper. “You think you’re being manipulated? You wanted answers, and I’m the only one who can give them to you. But if you’re not willing to see it through…”

He trailed off, his words laced with a subtle threat. Ava’s heart clenched, and for the first time, she felt a real fear of him. Kael, the one she had trusted, the one who had brought her into the Circle of Shadows, now felt like a stranger—a powerful stranger with his own agenda.

The tension between them grew, each moment stretching into silence. Ava realized that whatever choice she made, it would change everything. She could abandon the Awakening, escape from Kael’s influence. Or she could see it through, risking everything to discover the truth, even if that truth came with a terrible price.

In the end, she did the only thing she could think to do: she turned and walked away, leaving Kael standing alone in the courtyard, his expression dark and unreadable.

That night, she sought out Ethan and Lila. She found them in the library, pouring over old records and books about Veil High’s past. Their faces lit up with relief when they saw her, but there was a lingering wariness in their eyes.

“Ava,” Ethan said, his voice soft with concern. “Please, tell us what’s going on.”

Ava hesitated, glancing over her shoulder as if expecting Kael to appear at any moment. But the only sounds were the distant hum of the heating vents and the faint scratching of pen on paper from a few other students. She took a deep breath, the weight of her fears and doubts heavy in her chest.

“I don’t know who to trust,” she admitted, her voice barely a whisper. “Kael, the Circle… everything feels like it’s falling apart.”

Ethan reached for her hand, squeezing it tightly. “Then let us help you. We can get through this together. You don’t need to go through with this ritual if it’s not what you want.”

Lila nodded, her eyes filled with determination. “We’ve already faced one curse here. We can face another if we have to.”

Ava felt a flicker of hope, the tension in her heart easing as her friends surrounded her. She knew the price of the Awakening, the terrible cost that came with it. But now, standing with Ethan and Lila, she felt a glimmer of strength, the courage to face whatever lay ahead.

As they whispered their plans into the late hours of the night, Ava knew that the path forward would be dangerous. Kael wouldn’t let her go easily, and the forces that bound Veil High wouldn’t relinquish her without a fight. But as long as she had her friends by her side, she believed they could find a way to break the curse and uncover the truth—no matter what price they might have to pay.