Page 64 of The Scars Within (Twisted Thorn #1)
Time is running out. I’ve done everything I can to warn the Grim that Scarlet Thorne isn’t who he thinks she is, but he ignored me—sending his men to attack her during the campaign anyway. If they’d succeeded, maybe, just maybe, the Grim would have finally let me go.
Scarlet’s absence yesterday was the final nail on her coffin.
I paced the hall all day, lurking in the shadows, trying to catch him—trying to get answers. Enough is enough. I’m done being his slave, his pawn, his tool.
But he didn’t show. No one unusual entered our dorm.
It wasn’t until tonight that I realized my fate is sealed. As I settled into bed, my heart nearly stopped when I found a small note, folded with care, under my pillow.
Magically placed there by the Grim.
I’ve spent the day attending classes, catching up on missed lessons from yesterday, and squeezing in some self-defense practice on the rooftop.
I love the thrill of bettering myself physically.
Although, it’s much harder to practice these moves solo.
But, I haven’t seen Rhodes all day to ask for a partner. Is he avoiding me?
It’s been an eventful day for sure. After crawling into my bed, an uneasy feeling settled in my gut. Something was off, and my instincts could feel it. Bringing my book with me, I made my way toward Dragon Valley, the evening air cool against my skin.
After scanning the area to ensure I was alone, I conjured a fire orb—just as Rhodes had shown me on our way back from the tavern. Its soft glow illuminated the path ahead, casting flickering shadows. A sense of relief washed over me—it felt good to be connected to my element again.
Wading through the tall grass, I silently prayed to the elements that no snakes were lurking nearby. The moonlight caught the angle just right, revealing the familiar silhouette of Lakota’s back.
But he…
My pace quickened, and my feet nearly bounced through the grass. As I got closer, I turned my head, trying to fully comprehend what I was seeing. Lakota laid sprawled on the ground, his wings stretched out and draped over his body like a shield.
“ What are you doing? ” I asked, tilting my head.
“ Sleeping, ” he grunted without lifting his head.
“ No, with your wings. What’s that about? ”
“ I like to be covered when I sleep .”
“ So... you’re using your wings as a blankie? ” I snorted, trying to suppress a laugh.
Lakota opened his eyes and growled.
“ I think it’s cute, ” I teased.
He raised his head, glaring at me. “ Nothing about me is cute. ”
Shaking my head slowly in disagreement, I grinned. But before I could respond, his eyes widened, and his entire body tensed.
“ You need to hurry back to the castle. Now. ”
I frowned, confusion swirling. “ Why? What’s going on? ”
“ Something’s happened. Mount up. We need to fly. ”
I didn’t waste time asking Lakota any questions.
With the night shrouded in shadows, I could barely see ahead, but Lakota zoomed in the air back to Mageia.
On our flight to the castle, Lakota didn’t have any more information on what was going on.
He slowed his speed as we approached, dropping me off at the front entrance.
I raced up the stairs and burst through the castle doors. The Great Hall was flooded with cadets and faculty, and I found myself swept into the crowd. Standing on my tiptoes, I scrutinized the people around me, searching for my friends.
Everyone’s chatter filled the air, loud enough that I couldn’t hear myself calling out for Cleo, Laney, and Tatum. Military personnel worked to guide us all into the auditorium.
As the crowd thinned for just a moment, I spotted something unsettling. I slipped through my peers, moving against the flow, until I reached the far wall—the one facing the stairs we had climbed on initiation day.
Blackened words were scrawled across the brick, dripping ominously down the wall.
The forgotten realm is due. The Crimson Wraith is here –The Grim
Seeing a phrase from the prophecy scrawled for everyone to see sent a chill through me.
My hand instinctively reached out to touch the black substance, but I quickly pulled it back.
Whoever this ‘Grim’ is, there’s no telling what kind of magic they used to leave this message.
Was the prophecy left by the Grim? Is the Grim responsible for the evil running through these halls?
I started to follow the crowd. But without warning, a firm grip seized my arm, yanking me backward .
“There you are,” Captain Thorne shouted, his voice cutting through the chaos. He drew me close, our faces inches apart. “Got you.”
Thorne shoved me through the crowd, not giving me a chance to ask a single question.
I stumbled over my own feet, and at some point, he resorted to dragging me.
My anger boiled, and I wanted to release myself from his hold in the ways that Rhodes taught me, but I didn’t want him to have an actual reason to prosecute me.
Several military officers trailed behind us as he led me to Chief Kalluri’s office.
“Get off me!” I yelled.
“Shut up,” he barked and tugged me for emphasis.
The doors swung open, and Thorne shoved me into a chair. But this time, the room wasn’t filled with professors. It was just me, Thorne, Kalluri, and a tall man that I hadn’t met.
Kalluri looked worse than before—deep, dark circles shadowed his eyes, his white hair disheveled, and his uniform wrinkled. He approached me with fury blazing in his eyes.
“Where were you yesterday, cadet?”
I swallowed, straightening in the chair and remembering what Rhodes said about Allie. “I was in a private lesson, approved by Professor Maksimov. You know, the day after Shayde and I were rescued.”
His look was incredulous. “You just took the day off for a private lesson ? That’s your sorry excuse?”
Did he just ignore the comment I made about our rescue?
Why does nobody care that we were literally stranded in a collapsed cave, on the verge of freezing to death?
“It’s not an excuse. It’s the truth. You can ask her about it,” I snapped, my voice hardening.
I had to remind myself that Kalluri was the War Chief, a man who could expel me with the flick of his wrist.
“It has to be a lie, Chief. None of this happened until she enrolled. You need to face the facts,” Thorne cut in, his voice sharp.
“Shut up, Captain! ”
I couldn’t stop the snarl from curling on my lips. Thorne stepped back, looking like a dog with its tail between its legs.
The mysterious man stood rigid, arms clasped behind his back, his gray eyes locked onto me with an intensity that sent a chill down my spine.
He had stubble along his jaw and facial lines to show his age.
His deep brown hair fell in slight waves over his forehead, contrasting sharply with the battle leathers he wore—definitely not Mageia’s uniform.
My gaze drifted to the corner of his jacket, where a faint dragon mark peeked out, the ink curling like red smoke.
Whoever he was, he wasn’t from here, but he looked familiar.
Kalluri’s hand shot out, grabbing the front of my tunic and yanking me close until we were nose to nose.
“You expect me to believe a professor was murdered under my roof once again the day you were away for a private lesson ?” he enunciated the last two words.
“After Tyrians were spotted on our territory? After–” He stopped himself.
I gasped, suddenly realizing the threat in his grip. My mind raced, and I tried to remember if I’d seen Aunt Cora in the Great Hall earlier.
“Professor Reyes?” I whispered, my voice barely audible.
Kalluri snarled, shoving me back into the chair. He turned away, running his hands through his hair, down his face, and over his jaw as if trying to scrub the frustration away.
Still facing the wall, he spoke, “Professor Reynoski was found dead in his chambers within the last hour. It seems that he passed yesterday after his classes. Unlike Hogboom, no evidence was left behind. But after the current events, we’re almost certain it was nightshade poisoning. His blood is being tested now.”
His words echoed in my head over and over again.
He turned to face me again. “The only reason I’m not sending you to the Barrens right now,” Kalluri continued, his voice low and dangerous, “is because Althea,” his well-renowned dragon, “confirmed your private lesson with Roux. The cadets are currently in the auditorium. But you– go to your chambers and stay there. ”
I bolted for the door, but his voice sliced through the air.
“And no channeling. Your elements are suspended until further notice.”