A/N: This chapter is being posted at 11:26 pm CST on February 28th, 2025, therefore staying within monthly updates.

Classes fly by through the day as I contemplate what Kira told us earlier. Why was that book in her room? And why are we in it? And what the heck are we supposed to do to stop the Mystic Fury?

I let out a deep breath and un-tense my body. I just need to make it through the day, then Kira can tell us everything, I think to myself.

I hear three sharp raps on a desk, jerking me out of my thoughts. No one else seems to notice, but I do. It's the code me and Margaret used when we were alive to signal each other to come to the bathroom.

I quickly thrust my hand into the air. "Mr. Mativi? May I use the restroom?"

He frowns at me, but waves me off. "Yes, go. Here's the pass." He hands me a long ruler labeled "Girls Bathroom" in sharpie. He's had the same pass for twenty years, and you can tell where the faint previous sharpie lines were before they faded off and were written over against the rough wood.

I walk quickly out of the classroom, giving a well-practiced illusion that I really gotta go.

Finally, I reach the second floor bathroom and wait for Margaret to come a minute after me.

"What do you need that's so urgent it can't wait an hour and a half?" I ask. I cross my arms in front of my chest.

"Listen, I've been thinking about the prophecy. Kira copied it down and gave it to me, and in my spare time I've been doing research about the lines. Also, I think I know why my bracelets cursed." She casually throws in the last part, but I know it's not at all casual. She was worried that there's something wrong with her, and she's happy there's not, I think.

I nod. "Bracelet first."

"Well, I think that since it belonged to the High Demon originally, and she was evil, maybe some of the negative rubbed off on it!" Margaret says excitedly, squealing and clapping her hands.

"That's awesome! I knew it wasn't your fault," I exclaim.

"I know, you were right all along." She rolls her eyes.

"And the prophecy?" I prompt.

"Yeah. You want the bad news first, or the good news?"

"Good new—"

"Bad news, got it," Margaret interrupts.

I sigh but wait for her to speak.

"Ok, so I obviously first looked up what a Mystic Fury was. It's not common at all, and I only found a few sources that mentioned it, but one had a really in-depth description."

I nod along as she speaks.

"It said that the Mystic Fury is a dragon-like creature that feasts on bones and fear, with purple fire burning from its shoulders. It also said that it's apparently huge, and there's only one ever known, led by the High Demon and her Demoni army."

I look at her blankly, and slowly blink. "This is bad. It's huge, and the most powerful person behind the High Angel has it. Oh, and don't forget we're just two sixteen-year-olds who died then got powers and now have to deal with the consequences. We're never gonna go this," I moan, sliding down the wall to plop my butt on the bathroom floor.

"I know, but we have to. Our world apparently depends on it," Margaret says grimly.

I smile weakly at her, then check my watch. "Shoot, we've been in here too long. We need to go back to class. Tell me the rest at Kira's, ok? It can't get worse from here."

"Got it." I hug her and we walk out of the bathroom back to class, waiting to get home to Kira's place so we can talk freely about our new revelations.