Natasha POV

Aries was asleep, her breathing deep and even, a small smile playing on her lips. I held her close, my own heart slowing as I watched her relax into the rest she so desperately needed. It was a small victory, but a victory nonetheless. As I lay there, the quiet of the room wrapping around us, my mind began to wander over the events of the day. The prophecy, the ancient texts, Professor Devereux's cryptic insights—they all swirled in my thoughts, forming a kaleidoscope of worry and determination.

But sleep did not come easily for me either. My thoughts kept circling back to the prophecy of the shadow-kissed. There was something we were missing, something crucial that I couldn't quite put my finger on. The sense of impending doom was suffocating, and I knew our time was running out.

Reluctantly, I extricated myself from Aries' embrace and slipped out of bed, careful not to wake her. I needed to clear my head. Padding softly to the window, I gazed out at the Academy grounds, bathed in the ray of sunlight. The campus seemed peaceful, but I knew better. Darkness lurked just beneath the surface, waiting for the right moment to strike.

Suddenly, a sharp knock on the door shattered the silence. My heart leaped into my throat, and I cast a quick glance back at Aries, who thankfully remained undisturbed. I approached the door cautiously, my hand hovering over the hilt of my dagger that Aries insisted that I carried at all times

“Who is it?” I whispered, my voice barely audible.

“It's Professor Devereux,” came the reply, his voice tense and urgent.

I opened the door a crack, enough to see his face. His usual calm demeanor was replaced by a look of grave concern.

“We need to talk, Natasha. Now,” he said, pushing the door open further and stepping inside. His eyes flicked to Aries' sleeping form, then back to me. “There’s something you need to see. Something I didn’t mention earlier.”

“What is it?” I asked, my anxiety spiking.

“Follow me,” he said, his voice leaving no room for argument.

I hesitated for a moment, then nodded. I grabbed a cloak and followed him out into the dimly lit corridor, casting one last glance at Aries. She needed her rest, and whatever this was, I could handle it on my own.

Devereux led me to the library, its vast shelves casting long shadows in the moonlight. He hurried to a corner, pulling out an ancient tome I hadn't noticed before.

“This book,” he said, placing it on the table, “holds a secret about the prophecy. Something I hoped wasn’t true.”

He flipped through the pages until he reached a passage filled with symbols and cryptic text. “This,” he pointed, “speaks of a traitor among us. Someone who will betray the shadow-kissed.”

My blood ran cold. “A traitor? Who?”

He shook his head. “I don’t know. But I fear...”

Before he could finish, the lights in the library flickered and went out, plunging us into darkness. The air grew thick with tension. A moment later, a cold, menacing voice echoed through the room.

“You should have stayed in bed, Natasha.”

I spun around, heart pounding, trying to locate the source of the voice. Professor Devereux moved to my side, his expression grim.

“We need to get out of here,” he whispered urgently.

But it was too late. Shadows coalesced around us, taking on sinister forms. One of them stepped forward, a dark figure with eyes gleaming like obsidian.

“The prophecy was clear,” it said, its voice dripping with malice. “The shadow-kissed will fall, and with her, the world.”

Before I could react, the figure lunged at Devereux, who barely managed to block the attack with a burst of light magic. The room exploded into chaos as we fought against the shadowy assailants, my mind racing with fear and confusion.

Who was the traitor? Could we trust anyone?

As the battle raged on, I realized with growing horror that we might not make it out alive. And even if we did, the revelation of a traitor among us meant that nowhere was safe—not even our own hearts.

The last thing I saw before darkness claimed me was Aries, standing at the entrance, eyes wide with shock and determination. The bond between us pulsed with urgency, but the truth remained: the shadows had come, and our time was running out.