Stardust // Reggie Mantle (3)

Chapter Thirty

Archie took Ricky to the gym whole Jughead and Caia headed back to the school to address the rest of the Serpents.

"We found the kid, but he's still in danger," Jughead informed. "So is Archie for that matter."

Caia sat in a desk next to Sweet Pea. She glanced over at him as he began to speak. "So, what's the next play?" He questioned.

"It's a classic gambit," Jughead began. "The hunters become the hunted. Kurtz had said that there were some rogue Goyles. So you two-" Jughead whistled, getting the attention of two Gargoyles in the back. "Hey, Heckle and Jeckle, start talking," he commanded. "I want the names of those outliers. And I want sentries posted at the Gargoyle lair."

Caia nodded. Suddenly, Toni burst in the back door. She was frantic. "Jughead! You need to come right now," she exclaimed loudly.

"What, Toni?" Jughead inquired, slightly annoyed at the interruption. He was obviously not bothered by Toni's frantic state.

"Kurtz is about to kill Fangs," Toni spit. Caia immediately hauled herself out of her chair, along with everyone else in the room. They all followed Jughead and Toni to the fight.

Jughead sprinted through the large crowd of people gathered. He shoved people out of the way, making a path for the rest of the Serpents following. Caia gulped as she saw the sight in front of her- Kurtz and another gargoyle holding Fangs upside down off the balcony.

"Fangs!" Jughead exclaimed, frightened.

"What the hell?" Sweet Pea yelled.

Fangs was terrified. "Guys!" He screamed frantically. "Guys, help!"

Jughead tried to push past students on the stairs, but it was impossible to get up. Caia ran forward towards the stairs. Maybe she could squeeze up if she tried hard enough.

As she attempted this, she heard Kurtz speaking to Fangs. "Don't be scared, you dirty Serpent spy," Kurtz growled. "You're about to ascend, and you'll fly too."

Jughead held up his hand, trying to stop the scene. "Kurtz, don't," He warned.

"Happy landings, worthless snake," Kurtz spat.

Everything that happened next seemed to go in slow motion. Kurtz and his friend released Fangs' legs. Jughead and Sweet Pea bolted forward, breaking Fangs' fall with their own bodies.

Hot anger blinded Caia. She surged forward on the staircase, her adrenaline rush allowing her to push past everyone else. At the top of the stairs, she rushed forward towards Kurtz, who was smirking down at where Fangs and the others lay. Caia grabbed his shoulder and shoved him sideways so that his face was towards her. Then she pulled back and let a fist fly straight into his cheek. Hard.

"You little bitch!" Caia screamed as the boy in front of her wiped the blood of the side of his mouth and examined it. He hadn't been expecting the power in Caia's punch.

Kurtz was livid. He lunged forward, catching Caia and tackling her to the ground. Caia cringed as her head slammed against the floor. Looking above her, Kurtz looked deranged, almost psychopathic. He managed to land a few punches onto Caia's face before he was ripped off by Sweet Pea and Jughead, who had quickly recovered and sprinted up the stairs once they realised what was happening.

Caia let out a groan as she stared up at the ceiling. As much as it had been very satisfying, decking Kurtz probably hadn't been the smartest thing.

Her now throbbing face told her that much.

*

Sweet Pea handed Caia an ice pack. She gladly accepted it, holding against the large purpling bruise blooming of the left side of her face.