After Eden [Book #1 of The Fall Trilogy]

Thirteen ☾ ☽ Immortality

"Because I could not stop for Death –
He kindly stopped for me –
The Carriage held but just Ourselves –
And Immortality." - Emily Dickinson

Thirteen  ☾ ☽ Immortality

"Is she dead?"

That was the first thing out of Minjae's mouth at the sight. Kiara shouldered past me and knelt down outside of the circle of blood around Miss Sage. Miss Sage's throat was sliced through cleanly, her arms spread out, palms upward, and eyes wide open and unblinking. Blood was still pulsing out of the wound and staining the floor. I wrinkled my nose as the strong, sweet aroma flooded my senses. Keep control.

"Yeah," Kiara's voice broke as she ran shaking fingers through her hair. "She's dead."

Kiara turned around, eyes zeroing in on the trembling banshee. "Aoife, did you see what happened?" The girl lifted her teary face from her hands, eyes rimmed with red. She shook her head slowly. "I-I was outside when I got the f-feeling. I ran inside, and she was like this. There was no one around."

Kiara's eyes flickered towards me. "You should get out of here."

"I'm fine." I looked over towards Miss Sage and swallowed. "I promise-"

"I know you have strange impeccable control, but if a teacher-or anyone for that matter- sees you here when they arrive, questions will be asked."

She glanced at Minjae. "You should take him. I'll explain every-."

The door burst open, and the familiar cold seeped into my veins at the sight of Headmaster V.

"Too late now," Kiara muttered underneath her breath.

Headmaster V surveyed the room before his eyes fell upon Miss Sage. He tsked and shook his head. I didn't know if he was upset because of the ruined floor or the fact that the librarian was dead.

"This is surely a predicament. No worries, everything will be fine," he said aloud but more to himself than anyone.

"The women is dead. Shouldn't we be worrying?" Minjae asked.

Headmaster V's gaze settled on the demon, eyes widening as if he hadn't seen him before. "I've issued an emergency lockdown on the academy. The killer is most likely still in the area or is hiding within. Hurry back to your dorms now."

His gaze shifted now towards me, and I felt my stomach drop.  "Don't get into anymore trouble."

I nodded mutely as Kiara grabbed onto Minjae's and I's shoulders, steering us out of the library and out of the Headmaster's chilling presence. The hallways were infested with curious students being herded back to the dorms by teachers. At the sight of me exiting the library, the commotion only got louder.

"Just great," Kiara hissed.

Minjae shook off Kiara's hold. "It's been a long day. I'm going to take a nap," he said as he disappeared into the  crowd. As his figure faded, two others emerged in front of us: Juno and Ronan.

"Hey, K," Ronan greeted.

"I don't have time for your antics," she mumbled, turning in the opposite direction of the dorms and crowd. We all three followed her.

"We just have some questions," Juno yelled over the noise.

"Yeah, like where are you going?" Ronan asked.

Kiara looked around quickly for any sights of teachers. She quickly opened a classroom door and ushered us in. At the click of the door falling shut, Kiara was bombed with questions. She held her hands up, silencing all of us.

"I'm just as confused as you are."

"Something is going on."

"Yeah, no shit, Sherlock," Kiara snapped at Ronan. He glared.

"Does this have to do with those people we saw the night of the party?" I asked, trying to rethink the conversation we overheard of them. "Is this about Pandora's Instrument? What even are those?"

"At the Fall of Eden or the Opening of Pandora's box, whichever you prefer, not only was that the birthplaces of most of supernatural races, diseases, death, and other worldly things. Two instruments or tools were created that could basically end the world as we know it," Juno informed as if she had those exact words memorized.

"A chalice that when drinken from gave the person infinite knowledge. And a stone, that when harnessed correctly, could give the possessor infinite abilities. The two instruments were loss along time ago."

"The intruders that were here that night were looking for them. They were certain that it was here in the academy," Ronan added. "Why kill Miss Sage then if they are the same people?"

"She probably had access to that information," Kiara answered.

An idea came to me. "She might have known where they were."

"And when she wouldn't tell..."

"They killed her, so she wouldn't tell others what they were up to. But who are 'they'?"

"That's absurd," Juno voiced. "Supernaturals from the beginning of time have given up their lives in pursuits of these instruments that could end the world. And over those years, the Chalice and the Stone end up at an academy and the only person who knows about it is the librarian?"

"I mean think about. The librarians have always been weird. The first one I remember was literally insane and just vanished into thin air, the second one killed herself, and know Miss Sage has been murdered. Coincidence? I don't think so," Ronan countered.

Juno and Ronan began to argue, but Kiara quickly broke them up. "It doesn't matter. We should leave this to the Council."

"Absolutely not. I don't give a fuck that your dad is on the Council, K, but they are corrupt. If we told them what we knew, things would go south."

Kiara flinched. "What are you saying? We should go after Pandora's instruments?"

"Who else can we trust with this info besides ourselves? Maybe we can stop the other guys from taking other people's lives, get the Council off Camden's ass, find the lost instruments and be heroes."

Juno smiled, and I found myself nodding in agreement.

"You're delusional."

"I'm creative and trying to be nice for once."

"By risking your life? Whoever we are up against are willing to not only die for this but kill for this. I'm sure of it."

"Hey, can't knock until you try it."

Kiara didn't respond. She crossed her arms and tossed her hair, defeated.

Ronan clapper his hands. "Okay, great. Does anyone have a plan?"

☾ ☽

SUPER QUICK CHAP. JUST A BIT OVER THAN 1K words but LOOK plot development. enjoy!!! Don't forget to vote AND COMMENT. Thanks!!!

- Sarah

p.s- THIS IS NOT EDITED