Page 65 of Immortal Consequences (The Souls of Blackwood Academy #1)

Blackwood Academy…corrupted. As she took in the words, a part of Masika had to admit that she wasn’t surprised to hear that darkness lingered beneath the institution she had spent so many years in.

Secrets festering in the underbelly. If Silas could keep a secret like the Decennial from the students, why not others?

“Wait,” Masika whispered, breathless. “You said Blackwood became corrupted in the wrong hands, but…that’s not possible. Silas has always been the Headmaster of the school. From the beginning of creation.”

Catherine’s stoic mask shifted a fraction. A flicker of rage ignited behind her eyes.

“No,” she whispered. “He wasn’t.”

It was Birdie who spoke next, her tone gentle.

“Silas has been the Headmaster for centuries…but he wasn’t the first. He entered the Ether as a Corrupted Soul.”

A sharp ringing echoed in Masika’s ears. “What? That—that can’t be true. If a Corrupted Soul crosses into purgatory, they’re consumed by the Ether in order to maintain balance.”

Russo’s voice cut through her like a sharp wind.

“Silas was different. He was born with anger in his bones. With the hunger for revenge sewn into his soul. And when he crossed into the Ether, he found a way to fight his fate. He resisted.” Her dark eyes trailed over Masika’s face.

“Do you even know where Corrupted Souls go? How they’re consumed? ”

Masika hesitated.

“No.”

“They’re taken to the Shadow Lands,” Birdie explained.

“If a soul crosses through and is marked as Corrupted, they’re tossed into the Shadow Lands and consumed.

The only thing that remains is the remnant of who they used to be.

The rot and decay and corruption. But when Silas was taken into the Shadow Lands, he found a way to fight back.

He wasn’t consumed— he consumed. All the darkness.

The festering corruption within the lands.

And that’s how he gained the power to free his soul. ”

Russo continued. “When he was strong enough, he went to Blackwood seeking revenge. He blamed Blackwood for naming his soul as Corrupted. He wanted to create his own rules. His own hierarchy of what was good and what…wasn’t.

So he infiltrated Blackwood, destroyed the True Headmaster and took over.

And anybody who tried to fight him, to speak against him, was banished from Blackwood. ”

“Haven’t you been wondering why the Ether fights you?” Catherine asked, stepping closer. “Why it’s demanding these horrific sacrifices?”

“Silas,” Masika whispered, the realization washing over her.

Catherine nodded. “When he took over Blackwood, something shifted in the Ether. It was like it could sense the corruption. It began demanding more, requiring the souls of students in order to properly function. If we want to return the Ether to its natural state, we have to stop Silas once and for all. He must be destroyed. It’s the only way to restore true balance to the afterlife. ”

Seconds dragged by. Nothing but the howling wind and the oppressive silence.

Masika found her voice. “The ones who were banished…where did they go?”

“To the outskirts,” Catherine replied. “Into hiding.”

“The Demien Order,” Masika whispered, the pieces slowly coming together. “That’s how they were formed. The students and Housemasters who were banished when Silas took over.”

Birdie nodded, solemn. “Yes. And its original purpose was really to find a way to overthrow Silas, but then…the Soulless One arrived.”

“Corruption isn’t born…,” Masika whispered, the truth settling into her bones. “It’s created.”

Catherine’s eyes traveled over her face.

“Do you see now? This isn’t about choosing sides.

This is about stopping the corruption before it spreads.

We need to stop Silas, but we also need to stop the Demien Order from destroying Blackwood.

If either side wins…the very seams of the afterlife will unravel. ”

“Why are you telling me this?”

“Because we want you to join us.” Catherine paused, waiting for a response, but Masika found herself unable to speak. “I know this might not be the easiest thing to hear, and I know that the two of us probably need to talk about—”

A sudden burst of noise drowned out her words. The clatter of footsteps. The flutter of rapid breaths.

Catherine stepped in front of Masika, twirling the spear in her hand. When she moved, something inside the spear shifted. At first, Masika thought it might just be a trick of light, a reflection of the ice beneath them.

But then the tip of the spear crackled with bright sparks, spreading through the weapon in glowing rivers of silver light.

They’ve imbued their weapons with corporeal magic. Masika’s gasp caught in her throat.

“He’s here.” Catherine slammed the spear against the ground, thrusting it in front of her like a shield.

Masika’s chest shuddered as she drew in a ragged breath. “Who?”

Birdie and Russo moved with a swiftness that startled her, darting in front of Masika, shielding her with their arms.

“He’ll try to distract her,” Birdie whispered, daggers in hand. They shimmered with the same magic as Catherine’s spear as she twirled them between her fingers. “I know the situation is complicated, but we also know what he’s capable of.”

Russo nodded and unsheathed her saber. It glowed with silver light. “He can’t be trusted.”

Masika felt like she was going mad. Nothing made sense.

“Can someone please explain what’s going on?!” she shouted.

And then someone walked into the room.

He emerged from the darkness of the corridor, a bewildered look in his ashen eyes. Dark hair disheveled. Lips parted. His white shirt slightly unbuttoned and untucked. His gaze fell on Masika, his eyes locking with hers in a moment of disbelief.

She broke the silence.

“August?”

He took a step forward, but Catherine jabbed the spear toward his face. He staggered to an abrupt halt, hands raised.

“Let me talk to her.”

“Haven’t you done enough?” Catherine spat.

Masika tried to step toward him, but Birdie blocked her path. “Don’t. You don’t want to get near him.”

“But I know him,” Masika whispered, her gaze landing on August. Desperation clouded his eyes. There was something he wanted to tell her. Needed to. She could see it written across his face. “He’s my…my…”

“What?” Catherine barked, the muscles on her jaw tensing. “ Friend? Is that what you think? Is that what he’s made you believe?”

“Masika—” August started to approach her but stopped short when Birdie hurled a dagger at his face.

He stepped to the side, dodging it at the last second.

The dagger exploded in shards of brilliant silver light, cracking the wall of ice behind him, and flew straight back toward Birdie’s hand.

His face twisted in frustration. “Just give me a second to explain it to her. You know there are things I can’t—”

“Explain what?” Masika interjected, voice wavering. “August. What…what is going on?”

August’s eyes darted among the four of them. Masika had never seen him look so haggard, so torn. Something was plaguing him, tormenting him, his mouth opening and closing as he hesitated to speak.

“Tell her.” Catherine’s words dripped with a hatred Masika couldn’t understand. “Or I will.”

And then August spoke six words that changed everything.

“I’m part of the Demien Order.”

Masika blinked once. Twice. Her mouth ran dry, something inside her shattering.

“I’ve been undercover for the Order for a long time. But it’s complicated.” His eyes landed on Catherine, his gaze narrowed. “And she knows that. They all do. Which is why I just need a few seconds to explain why I can’t just—”

“Yes, we’re well aware of your little situation,” Russo seethed. “But that doesn’t change the fact that we gave you an out. An opportunity to leave and join us. But you said no. You continued to work for them.”

August shook his head, face contorted in anguish. “But only because I had to—”

“He’s been helping the Demien Order infiltrate Blackwood,” Catherine shot back, each word harsh and hurried.

Her eyes darted between August and Masika.

“Just like Birdie and Russo, he didn’t have to give up his humanity so that he could remain undercover at Blackwood.

But unlike them, he refused to leave the Order when he was given an out. He refused to join us.”

Masika took a cautious step back, doubt and betrayal clashing in her mind. “Is that…is that true?”

August didn’t hesitate.

“Yes.”

One word. That was all it took for the sense of betrayal to takeover.

The first spell came hurtling out of Masika’s palm without warning, a crackle of silver light flying right over Catherine’s head and hitting August square on the shoulder.

He let out a hoarse scream, staggering backward, a combination of pain and disbelief passing over his eyes that made her falter, but only for a moment.

“Please,” he whispered, hand raised. “Don’t do this.”

“You lied to me,” Masika choked out. “To all of us.”

August gripped his shoulder, brows furrowed in pain. “I had to.”

“Because you were given orders?” Masika asked, hoping and praying she was wrong.

“Yes, but—” August winced, cursing under his breath. “Masika, please. I can explain myself, but you have to come with me. Just give me a chance.”

Masika wanted to listen. She wanted to believe that his words held any truth. But the betrayal had hit her deep within the core of her soul, and all she could focus on was the fury building in her chest.

Catherine stepped aside. She watched Masika with a look bordering on triumph, eyes wild and lips curved into a smile. Birdie and Russo watched in silence. She knew what they were givingher.

Permission.

Masika had heard enough.

She released another spell. And another.

A scream ripped from her throat with every crackle of magic.

August dodged each one, never once raising a hand toward her, never once fighting back.

But she wanted him to. If only to make the betrayal hurt less.

If only to make the decision to hate him easier.

He stumbled to the ground, his knees pressed against the icy floor.

“Get up and fight me,” Masika rasped, stumbling forward. Sweat dripped down her neck as she summoned another crackle of magic into her palms. She was exhausting herself, depleting herself completely, but she didn’t care.

August shook his head, dark hair falling over his eyes as he looked up at her.

“No.”

One more. She just needed one more shot to call it even.

But when the spell darted out of her palm, hurtling toward August, he dove out of the way and it crashed into the wall behind him.

The mountain rumbled, cracks splintering through the sheet of rock, and everything around her began to collapse.

Shards of ice fell from the sky. Crashing onto the floor. The room roared.

August’s eyes widened in horror. “It’s coming down!”

Masika looked around, eyes searching for Catherine, but she was gone. Russo and Birdie, nowhere to be seen. When she turned back to look at August, he was still standing by the doorway, gesturing her forward, his eyes wide and desperate.

“Masika!”

She couldn’t hear him.

And then the walls around her came tumbling down.