018

~CAT~

Days passed, and we all tried to resume our lives as if the battle with Sharella had never happened. 

Rook and Keeley went about their coven duties, while I threw myself into my training, pushing my powers to their limits. Yet, the tension remained thick in the air, a constant reminder of the secrets we were keeping.

Mornings found us pretending that everything was normal, sipping coffee and exchanging pleasantries over breakfast. Reif had somehow managed to charm his way into the coven's good graces, and even though his presence was unnerving, he became a welcome distraction. His stories of his travels and adventures in the mortal world were fascinating, and his easy-going nature helped to ease the tension between Rook and me.

But as the nights grew longer and the moon waxed, the whispers grew louder. The coven members spoke in hushed tones, sharing looks that I couldn’t quite interpret. It was as if a storm was brewing just beyond the horizon, and we were all just trying to ignore the dark clouds gathering.

Then one evening, as I sat in my room, the door swung open and Reif stepped inside, his eyes dancing with mischief. "Hey, Cat," he said, a knowing smile playing on his lips. "I've got a surprise for you."

"What is it?" I asked, my curiosity piqued.

He held up a leather-bound book. "I found this in the library. It's about necromancy."

I stared at the book, feeling a mix of excitement and dread. "Is that... safe?"

"Depends on how you define safe," Reif replied with a wink. "But I thought you might want to learn more about your... 'hobby.'"

"Very funny," I muttered, taking the book from him. "But seriously, how do we keep this hidden from the coven?"

"Leave that to me," he said, his grin turning into a full-blown smile. "I've got a few tricks up my sleeve."

The days turned into weeks, and our little group grew closer. Reif proved to be a surprisingly adept teacher, guiding me through the intricacies of my dark heritage while keeping the coven's suspicion at bay with his charm. For a teenager, he seemed surprisingly old.

But the whispers grew louder, and the looks more pointed. It was only a matter of time before the storm we had been ignoring broke over us.

One night, as we sat in the library, poring over ancient texts, the air grew thick with a power that was unmistakable. "Someone's coming," I whispered, my heart racing.

Rook looked up from the book he'd been studying, his eyes narrowing. "Hide," he said urgently, his voice a harsh whisper. "And don’t use your magic unless you have to."

Keeley and I shared a look of understanding, and we slipped into the shadows as the door swung open to reveal a group of coven members, led by none other than the coven's High Priestess herself.

"What are you two doing here?" she asked, her gaze sweeping over the room.

Rook stepped forward, his face a mask of innocence. "Just studying," he said, holding up the book he'd been reading.

But the High Priestess wasn't fooled. Her eyes searched the room, and I knew she could sense the dark energy that clung to us. "You've been keeping secrets from us," she accused, her voice cold and hard.

Rook's eyes met mine for a brief moment, and I knew the time had come. The secrets we had been carrying were about to be laid bare before the coven, and there would be no turning back.

The tension grew, the air thick with unspoken words and the weight of our secrets. But we had to face it, together. So, with a deep breath, I stepped out of the shadows, the leather-bound book of necromancy in my hand.

"It's true," I said, my voice firm. "I am a hybrid. And I need your help to control my powers."

The High Priestess's eyes widened, and the room was silent for a heartbeat before the storm of questions and accusations broke. But as the chaos grew, I knew one thing for certain: the time for hiding was over. It was time to face our destinies, no matter how dark they might be.

Reif stepped forward, his hand on my shoulder. "Let me explain," he said calmly. "I am what you might call a 'Guide of the Skywatch Path.'"

The coven members exchanged confused glances, but I felt a sudden chill. Daniel had mentioned something like this before—that he too was a guide for hybrids. The revelation hit me like a bolt of lightning.

"My father was the same," Reif continued. "We're a lineage that has existed for centuries, helping those who walk the line between worlds, like Cat."

The room grew tense, the coven's whispers turning into a cacophony. The High Priestess's gaze was sharp, her expression unreadable. "How do we know we can trust you?" she asked.

Reif's smile was serene. "You don't," he said simply. "But I've been watching over Cat for a while now, and I know she's not the one you should fear."

The tension grew, and I could feel the bond between Rook and me stretching to its limits. His eyes searched mine, a silent question in them.

Days passed, and the coven's mood remained taut as a bowstring. I was shocked when Daniel appeared at the academy, later learning he was drawn by Reif's summons. His presence was a constant reminder of the secrets we'd been keeping, and the tension between Rook and me grew thicker by the hour.

One evening, as the three of us sat in the library, Daniel finally spoke. "Your great, great, great ancestor is Sharella," he said, his eyes on me.

My heart stuttered. Sharella, the woman who had tried to kill us? I couldn't believe it. "But...I don’t understand..."

Holding up his hand, he continued, "Madeleine was not your foster grandmother, Cat, she was *your* real grandmother, unlike Rook and Keeley. However, she didn't carry the hybrid gene," Daniel continued, his gaze flicking to Rook. "It skipped ten generations. But it was always meant to come to you, Cat. The power was passed down through your lineage, waiting for the right moment to manifest."

Rook's fists clenched, his jaw tightening. "What are you saying?" he demanded.

"I'm saying," Daniel said, his voice steady, "that the darkness you fear in her is a part of her heritage. And if you can't accept it, you can't truly be by her side."