Page 45 of Immortal Consequences (The Souls of Blackwood Academy #1)

Emilio

When Emilio died, he felt the world slip away.

It was a strange feeling—knowing that everything around him was fading into his periphery, replaced by a warm and gentle pressure that seemed to spread over every inch of his body.

And then, before he could understand what was happening, the darkness took him.

He could still remember the untainted darkness of death.

How it went on forever, blotting out the rest of the world and everything he had once known.

He’d thought he’d never experience anything like it again.

He had been wrong.

The shadow creature sucked every particle of light out of Bonestrod, as if someone had turned off a switch and eliminated all the light from the world. Emilio scrambled backward, a choked breath ripping from his throat, and then a hand was grabbing him, taking hold of him.

He pushed back, terrified of what might be lurking in the darkness.

“Hey,” a voice whispered, gentle but urgent. “It’s just me.”

Olivier.

He could feel him now. His familiar hands. The sound of his voice. And then, despite the darkness, despite the uncertainty, Emilio relaxed.

“Olivier,” Emilio whispered. “What—what’s happening?”

“I don’t know.”

“I swear to God”—Irene’s voice cut through their hushed whispers—“why is it every time I’m with you people something bad happens?”

“Calm down.” August’s voice echoed in the distance. “Just stay quiet.”

“It’s the shadow creature,” Wren whispered. “I can feel it.”

“Screw this,” Masika muttered. A shard of light appeared at the center of the room, a sphere of flames hovering at the base of her palm. “I’m not going to just sit here in total darkness and wait for this thing to get us.”

August darted toward her. “Put that out. Now.”

“Why?”

A sound echoed in the distance—a loud whirring noise. The flapping of wings.

August stepped closer. “Do it.”

Masika flinched, her expression darkening. She shut her palm and the flames vanished.

“Happy?”

“Bloody thrilled.”

The darkness consumed them once more. Emilio sucked in a sharp breath, his entire body going rigid. Olivier, who was still beside him, scooted closer, placing his hand firmly on top of Emilio’s forearm. He didn’t need to say anything. The unspoken words rattled between them.

It’s okay. I’m here.

Masika let out a frustrated sigh. “Does anybody know what we’re actually dealing with?”

“Wren should know,” Irene sneered. “Considering she’s the reason it’s here in the first place.”

Wren groaned. It sounded like she was straining to stand. “I’m not sure. I couldn’t get a good look at it. But it’s definitely shadow magic of some sort.”

A shriek splintered through the night.

“ That doesn’t sound like shadow magic,” Olivier commented with a shudder. “That sounds…alive.”

“Well, whatever it is, we need to find a way to get rid of it,” Irene snapped. “Cowering in this room isn’t going to change anything. I say we go out there and face it head-on. I’m sure someone else must have heard it. There are probably Housemasters and a horde of Ascended on their way already.”

“The dormitories are far,” Emilio muttered warily. “And it’s past curfew. Most people are asleep. So unless someone miraculously woke up and heard it…” His voice trailed away, though the implication was clear.

They were on their own.

“It doesn’t matter,” Wren said. “The fewer people involved the better. That thing is dangerous. It…it almost killed me.”

“ Killed you?” Irene cackled. “Did you hit your head or something? We’re already dead.”

“It’s true,” Olivier whispered. “I saw her. If August hadn’t found her when he did…she wouldn’t have made it.”

“Bullshit,” Masika muttered, clearly unconvinced. “That’s impossible.”

“Look, we don’t have time to argue,” August interjected. “It doesn’t matter if you believe us. But Wren is right. That thing is dangerous. We shouldn’t involve other students. We should deal with it ourselves.”

“Fine,” Irene sighed. “Then what do you suggest we do?”

The plan was simple. They obviously had the upper hand when it came to numbers, so the sensible thing was to split up into pairs and attack the creature from all sides.

It couldn’t fight them all at once, so they’d have the perfect opportunity to overwhelm it and, ultimately, destroy it.

Something that, regrettably, none of them could confirm was actually possible. It was an assumption. A theory.

But it was going to have to be enough.

“Masika and I will head west.” Irene flexed her fingers and produced a shard of brilliant silver light from her fingertips. “We can use the old shed for cover.”

“I’m staying with Loughty,” August said. It clearly wasn’t a suggestion. “She’s too weak to hold her own. We’ll move farther north, back toward the main grounds; that way I’ll still be able to damage the creature, but I can relocate her back toward the dorms if need be.”

“August,” Wren muttered, wincing under her breath. “I’m fine. You don’t have to coddle me.”

He shook his head. “It’s not up for discussion.”

“But—”

“Oh, just listen to him,” Irene interjected, the shards of light traveling up her arms in agitation. “We don’t have time for you two to bicker back and forth like an old married couple.”

“Fine.” Wren glanced up at August. “But at least give me the chance to fight back.”

August, who seemed utterly transfixed, lost somewhere in the depths of his mind, nodded in response.

Emilio sighed and glanced up at Olivier. The reflection of Irene’s magic haloed his face, illuminating his profile in a soft glow. “I suppose that means you’re stuck with me.”

Olivier’s eyes slid over to him, the corners of his lips tugging into a smirk.

“I suppose so.”

“Great,” Irene said, bristling. “Now let’s get the hell out of here before I lose my goddamn mind.”

“After you, Your Highness,” Olivier said, mockingly bowing his head. Irene dismissed his comment with an uninterested wave as she opened the door and stepped outside. Masika trailed behind her, sparks sprouting from her skin. Emilio watched as the two of them disappeared into the darkness.

August went next. “Come on, Loughty. Keep up.”

Wren shot him a glare, opening her mouth to retort, but August was already crossing the threshold into the night. Olivier trailed behind Wren, moving swiftly through the darkness, and Emilio, of course, could do nothing but follow suit.

The open air offered some relief from the stifling darkness, the silver evening glow of Blackwood emanating in the distance.

But Emilio could sense the shadow the moment he stepped into the cool night air—the way it was lurking just beyond what they could see, the sound of it whoosh ing just above them, orbiting them like a predator stalking its prey.

Irene and Masika had already vanished toward the western side of the main gates, out toward the old shed.

“Stay low,” August hissed, pressing his hand against Wren’s shoulders and motioning Olivier and Emilio forward. They had taken a few steps when Wren came to an abrupt halt, bending over and slumping onto her knees.

August knelt down to face her, grabbing her firmly by the shoulders.

“I told you,” he sighed. “You’re too weak, Loughty. You have to go back to the dorm and rest.”

“I’m fine.” She coughed and wheezed in a breath. “I just need a moment to—”

“We don’t have a moment.”

August hoisted Wren into his arms in one swift movement before she had a chance to argue.

She tried to stop him, wriggling her legs in a half-hearted attempt to get away, but August didn’t so much as flinch, keeping his eyes steady on Emilio and Olivier.

“I’m taking her back to Pettyworth. Stick to the eastern side of the gates and prepare yourselves. I’ll be back in a few minutes.”

And then they vanished—gone in a puff of inky smoke.

Olivier blinked into the darkness. “I suppose that’s our cue.”

Emilio followed Olivier as he began walking toward the eastern side of the gates. He let his gaze momentarily lift toward the sky, overly aware of the darkness enveloping them. Every passing shadow made his stomach churn.

“You still with me?” whispered Olivier.

“Yeah.” Emilio cleared his throat. “Just thinking.”

“About?”

“Eternal suffering.”

Olivier chuckled, glancing over his shoulder. “ Ah. Not one for adrenaline and adventure, then?”

“I prefer the safety of the Library,” Emilio muttered, craning his neck up toward the sky.

“Is that why I always find you sulking in there?”

Emilio nodded. “I like being there. Surrounded by all the books. It feels…familiar.”

Olivier hummed. “I see. You’re still clinging to the remnants of home.”

“Aren’t you?”

“I’m not particularly fond of reminiscing. I don’t find the practicality in it. Seems like a waste of valuable time.”

“I think it’s important to remember home,” Emilio said. “To hold on to your humanity.”

Olivier faltered. “Is that what this is about?”

“What?”

“Your humanity.” Olivier turned to look at Emilio. “You’re afraid of losing it?”

Emilio shrugged. “Aren’t we all?”

“No,” Olivier chuckled. “Absolutely not. Do you really think Irene is at all worried about the state of her humanity?”

“I guess not.”

“See?” Olivier smirked, his emerald eyes iridescent in the darkness. “I told you I wasn’t wrong.”

“Wrong about what?”

“About you.”

Emilio blanched. “I don’t know what you—”

“You’re good.” Olivier took a tentative step forward. “And perhaps the only thing I truly like about this place.”

A spark of magic crackled in the distance, interrupting them. It was thunderous and bright—a shard of amber light sprouting from the ground and into the heavens.

Emilio and Olivier didn’t bother to hesitate or ask questions, sprinting toward the chaos through the tall grass, the cool air whipping against their faces.

Emilio drowned out the familiar panic rising inside him, the voice in the back of his head begging him to run in the opposite direction, to abandon ship and leave everyone else behind.

He refused to let his own cowardice get in his way.