Megara

I wince at the bright sunlight streaming through my window when I wake up the following morning. Apparently, I forgot to close the curtains before crashing into bed last night. My head throbs dully, a reminder of the drinks I indulged in last night, but it's a small price to pay for the privilege of having had a proper birthday party.

Throwing off my covers, I pad to my en-suite bathroom, eager to start my day despite the hangover. School has always been a sanctuary for me. A place where I can lose myself in learning and pretend, just for a little while, that I'm an ordinary girl with ordinary problems. It helped me get through after my parents were murdered by Hellbound, and it's helping me feel like my old self now.

University life, in the brief two months I've experienced it, has been everything I'd hoped for and more. No one here knows me as anything other than Meg, the student. Other than Zeph, no one worries about supernatural threats or the end of the world—unless the end of the world is running out of coffee.

A quick shower helps me wake up fully, and I'm in the kitchen having some breakfast when Chloe stumbles in, her blonde hair a wild tangle around her face. She's not a morning person on the best of days, and after a night of drinking, she's more zombie than human.

"Morning," I chirp, feeling quite good now I'm clean and caffeinated.

She grunts something unintelligible, making a beeline for the coffeepot.

Lily, on the other hand, looks frustratingly put-together as she joins us, her dark hair sleek and her skin glowing.

"How are you so chipper?" she asks, eyeing me with a mix of amusement and envy. "I feel like I've been hit by a truck."

"Well, you don't look it." I grin and shrug. "And I guess I'm just excited about today's lecture."

Chloe, nursing a steaming mug of coffee, rolls her eyes. "Only you would be excited about school after a night of drinking."

"What can I say? I'm a nerd at heart."

There's a loud noise as Zeph thunders down the stairs. Old houses are rarely quiet, but no one comes down the stairs quite like our one male roommate. He pokes his head around the corner to the kitchen, his dark hair still damp from the shower.

"Morning, ladies. I'm heading to campus in a few. Anyone want a ride?"

Lily and Chloe both shake their heads. They start later today, but I have a morning lecture, so I quickly finish my coffee.

"That'd be great. Just give me a sec."

I grab my jacket and laptop bag before following Zeph out to his car. The sleek black sports car is possibly another reason he's so popular among the female students. He's not a billionaire, like Luce, but I assume anyone who has lived as long as he has will have accumulated some wealth, and all Forsaken seem to have a predilection for fast, fancy cars.

What does Raze drive? It's not something I should think about, but considering he was imprisoned for the past two-hundred years, I can't help but wonder. Does he drive at all? When he was locked up, the most common mode of transport would still have been by horse and carriage. It must have been such a shock to see how far the world has come during his captivity.

As we pull out of the driveway, Zeph glances over at me. "Quite the party last night."

"It was good, wasn't it?" I very much hope he didn't see Raze in the garden. If he did, I'm sure Luce and my sister will be on my doorstep within a day telling me off for talking to him. It's like they don't trust me to make my own decisions, my own choices. Even if they mean well, it bothers me more than I could ever tell them.

"Yeah, it was fun. Always nice to let loose once in a while." His fingers tap against the steering wheel, a rhythmic beat that fills the silence between us until he clears his throat. "I noticed you slipped out at one point. Everything okay?"

Shit. I force my voice to remain even. "Oh yeah, I just needed some fresh air. It was pretty crowded inside."

He hums, his expression thoughtful. I can tell he's not entirely convinced, but he doesn't push. That's one thing I appreciate about him. He knows when to give me space. To let me come to him on my own terms. Cass, as much as I love her, has the gentle touch of a bulldozer.

I still remember the time I stayed behind after school, lingering on the walk home with the boy I fancied, hoping for my first kiss. While I did get my first kiss, it was abruptly interrupted when Cass appeared, furious that I was late, and dragged my arse back home. As mortifying as that was—and that boy never dared to kiss me again—I understand her, considering it wasn't too long after our parents' murder.

She was so stressed and worried immediately after, and part of me definitely feels guilty for not always making it easy for her. In the end, I owe her so much. She paused her own life, stopped her Master's degree program, and stayed home to take care of me and Aura. In a way, she's sacrificed more than any of us. When she's too overbearing, I try to remind myself of that.

Sometimes I even remember.

I'm so glad she's got Luce now. Not only has his and the Forsaken's protection allowed us more freedom again, but he makes her happy. She no longer carries the sole responsibility of keeping us safe. And I know I don't always make it easy for any of them.

Looking over at Zeph, I put my hand on his arm. "By the way, I just wanted to say... I don't know. Thank you, I guess. For looking out for me."

He blinks, obviously taken aback by my unexpected gratefulness. "Uh...you're welcome?"

I grin at him, and we spend the rest of the drive in easy conversation, talking about our upcoming lectures and the latest campus gossip. By the time Zeph pulls into the parking lot, I've almost forgotten all about last night.

As we prepare to go our separate ways, him to his political science lecture and me to the computer science building, he studies me for a moment.

"Meg, speaking of keeping you safe..." he says slowly. "Do be careful, all right? I know it was only our garden last night, but you never know what could be hiding out there."

I barely manage to hold back a giggle at his choice of words, but I'm touched by his concern.

"I know. I promise to be careful."

He searches my face for a moment longer, then nods, seemingly satisfied. With a final squeeze of my shoulder, he turns and heads off to his own lecture, leaving me on my own.

Stepping into the lecture hall, I find my usual seat near the front and pull out my laptop. This is one of my favourites, an upper-level programming course that challenges me in all the best ways. But as the professor begins his lecture, I find my attention wandering and my gaze drifting over the other students. Not that I'm looking for anyone in particular, not really.

And yet I can't help scanning the room for a glimpse of raven-dark hair and silver eyes.

Unsurprisingly, Raze is nowhere to be seen. More surprising is the pang of disappointment. Which is ridiculous. It's not like I expected him to actually enrol in my courses. That's a step too far, even for him. Though the idea of someone who missed out on both the industrial and digital revolution joining in the course work for a BSc in Cyber Security with Digital Forensics is nothing if not amusing.

Shaking off my wayward thoughts, I force myself to focus on the lecture, my fingers flying over the keyboard as I take notes. Before I know it, it's over and I'm back in the hallway. I'm so lost in my own thoughts that I don't notice the person in front of me until I collide with them. Strong hands grip my arms to steady me, and I look up to see a familiar face.

"We've got to stop meeting like this," Bradley says with a rueful smile.

A flush creeps up my neck as I remember our last encounter when he cornered me at the party. But there's no trace of that drunken leer in his eyes now.

"Listen, Meg..." He rubs the back of his neck and shifts from one foot to the other. "I wanted to apologise for last night. That was way out of line. I had too much to drink, which isn't an excuse, I know. I shouldn't have come on to you like that. It won't happen again, I promise."

He seems sincere, and before the party, I have to admit I never thought he was a bad person. Just a bit of a knob.

"Thank you for the apology." I offer him a small smile. "I appreciate it."

Visibly relaxing, he smiles back. "So...we're good? No hard feelings?"

"No hard feelings."

"You're the best!" With a wide grin, he steps around me and heads off down the hallway.

I watch him go, and it's as if a weight has lifted off my shoulders. It's a small thing, but it feels like a victory. A reminder that I can handle myself, after all. I don't need constant protection from everyone in my life.

The programming lecture has taken my entire morning, so I head to the campus cafeteria to meet Chloe and Lily at our usual table. As we eat, the conversation turns to the party, but I'm only half listening, still unable to keep looking out for Raze. I don't know why I keep expecting to see him here. He probably figures I'm safe around so many other students, and with Zeph not far away.

"So, Meg," Chloe says, interrupting my daydreaming, her blue eyes sparkling with mischief. "Who was that tall, dark, and handsome stranger you were talking to in the garden last night?"

I nearly choke on my water, and I cough, trying to clear my throat. "Oh! Um...no one. Just some guy."

Lily raises a sceptical eyebrow. "Just some guy? I didn't see him, but Chloe said he looked a bit older."

If I'd been drinking, I'd have choked again. Or sprayed water everywhere. Yes, I guess you could say Raze is older. I shrug, trying to appear unaffected. "He's someone I know from London. He was...in the area and stopped by."

"Well, he's hot." Chloe pretends to fan herself. "Like, really hot."

There's definitely a blush creeping into my cheeks as I remember the feeling of Raze's lips grazing my neck last night. "I guess. I haven't really thought about it."

Chloe snorts. "Yeah, right. As if anyone could fail to notice."

Desperate to change the subject, I ask Lily about her anthropology lecture. It's not a smooth move, and both of my friends notice, but they indulge me, and soon we're talking about assignments and the latest campus gossip. Even so, I can see the curiosity still burning in their eyes, and I know I won't be able to evade their questions forever.

The afternoon brings a new set of lectures, and I throw myself into them with renewed focus. But as I settle into my seat for the last one of the day, something catches my eye.

There, carved into the surface of the folding table, are a series of strange symbols. They're intricate and oddly beautiful. I've never seen these symbols before, and I've seen plenty during my research into the supernatural realm. Frowning, I run my fingers over the grooves, wondering who could have left them there.

I pull out my phone and snap a quick photo. Maybe it's just a prank, or some bored student's idea of art, but something about the symbols feels significant. Like they hold a deeper meaning.

As the professor drones on about data structures, my mind is miles away, trying to rifle through my memories to figure out what these symbols could be. I've always been drawn to mysteries and puzzles, loving the thrill of solving them. It's what drew me to programming in the first place, the challenge of breaking down complex problems into manageable pieces.

When the lecture ends, I gather my things and head for the library, determined to do some research. I don't know how long I spend in there, losing myself among the stacks as I pull out books on ancient languages and symbology, skimming over the pages for a hint of what I'm looking for.

I'm so engrossed in my search that I almost don't hear the conversation happening in the next aisle. But a few key words catch my attention. Leaning closer, I strain to listen.

"...another one. Just gone."

"That's two in the past month. What do you think is happening?"

"I don't know, but it's freaking me out. I mean, people don't just disappear like that."

That seems odd. Two students missing in the past month? It could be nothing, but my gut tells me it's not. And if my sister Cass has taught me anything, it's to trust my gut.

It's later than I realised by the time I leave the library, and the campus is quiet and still in the dark night. I hug my arms around myself as I walk, suddenly feeling vulnerable. Maybe I should call Zeph and ask for a ride home. He'll be annoyed I didn't if I take the bus.

I almost jump out of my skin when a smooth voice suddenly speaks behind me.

"You don't listen to anything I say, do you?"

With my heart in my throat, I spin around to face Raze.

"Shit!" I breathe, pressing a hand to my chest. "You scared the living daylights out of me."

His lips quirk into a smirk. "You should pay more attention to your surroundings."

I bristle at his tone. "And you should announce your presence!"

"Why are you out on your own after dark anyway?" he asks, ignoring my comment. "I thought I told you to be more careful."

"I'm sure the Hellbound won't grab me in the middle of campus." But even as I say the words, I'm reminded of the missing students. Were they taken from their homes or from university grounds?

"Why not? It's hardly holy ground."

That perks my ears up. "Holy ground is actually a thing?"

"Yes, but only for the more demonic Hellbound. Azazel and those closer to the original fallen angels won't be affected." He raises an eyebrow as he looks me over. "But that's neither here nor there. Where's your guardian? I thought Zeph was meant to keep an eye on you."

"He usually lets me move freely around campus." My chin lifts a notch. "I was only in the library, doing research, and lost track of time. I was just about to call him to pick me up when you startled me."

His eyes narrow as if he doesn't believe me, but then he asks, "Research? On what?"

For a moment, I hesitate, unsure of how much I want to share. But something in his gaze compels me, and before I can think much about it, I hear myself speak. "I found these symbols carved into my desk today. I wanted to see if I could figure out what they mean."

"Show me."

I pull out my phone and bring up the photo I took. He takes it from me, his fingers brushing mine, and a jolt of electricity makes my skin tingle. As he studies the image, his brow furrows.

"Those are demonic runes."

"Demonic runes? I didn't realise that was a thing." I've come across many ancient languages, some unknown to most humans, in my research, but this is the first I've heard of demons having one.

"They're ancient and rarely seen on earth."

A chill runs through me as he hands the phone back. "So, what are they doing here? What do they mean? Can you read them?"

"No." He shakes his head. "Not well, at least. But whatever they say, I'm sure it's nothing good."

I feel a flicker of fear, but push it down, refusing to give into it. "There's something else. I overheard some people talking in the library. Apparently, two students have gone missing in the past month. Do you think it could be related?"

Raze's jaw clenches, his eyes hardening. "Meg, listen to me. Stay out of this. It's probably nothing."

"But what if it's not?"

"You said you want a normal life while at uni. So ignore it. Those students probably decided they didn't want to go to school after all and went home."

Maybe that's all it is. They changed their mind and left. And he's right. I wanted a normal life at university, so I shouldn't go searching for mysteries to solve.

"What about the runes?"

"Some kid somehow came across them and thought they'd be fun."

I nod slowly. It's probably nothing. And yet...I struggle to dismiss the feeling that I've stumbled across something real.

Something evil.