**CHAPTER 4** The moment Lea's mouth fell open in shock as she stumbled backward almost made me forget the sting of her cruel words. It was evident she never expected me to react; she assumed the looming threat of expulsion would keep me in line. But she underestimated the sheer force of her own words. Just as I fiercely jerked my arm back, ready to unleash my anger upon her perfectly sculpted nose, something—or someone—intervened. Caleb swooped in like a guardian angel, literally hauling me out of the rec room before I could unleash my wrath. He planted me firmly on the ground, blocking my path like a stubborn boulder, a wild grin dancing across his face as I attempted to sidestep him. "Move, Caleb! I swear to the gods, I’m going to smash her face in!" I seethed, trying to shake free. “Back at it, aren’t we? Just one day back, Alex. Impressive,” he said, amusement sparkling in his eyes. “Shut up!” I shot back, my glare intense enough to wilt plants. “Really? You get into a fight, and what then? You’ll be out on your ear. Servant life, remember? Come on, you know she was just spewing nonsense. Let it go.” I glanced down at my fist, where a few strands of red hair clung stubbornly between my fingers. Sweet. Caleb must have seen the murderous glint in my eyes because he yanked me down the hallway like a fire hose being put back on a reel. “She’s just a stupid girl. It’s all talk. You know that.” “Who knows?” I grumbled, the anger simmering in my chest merging with guilt. “She’s right, though. I have no idea why Mom left. She could’ve at least given Grandma Piperi a call. I don’t know.” “The oracle didn’t say you’d end up costing your mom her life,” Caleb countered, his voice a steady anchor amidst my storm. Still unconvinced and desperate for release, I flung open the front door with enough force to rattle the hinges. Caleb followed doggedly behind me. “Just forget about it, will you? You should be focusing on your training instead of staring daggers at Lea and second-guessing what the oracle said.” “Easier said than done,” I scoffed. "Fine, I'll say it again. You could ask the oracle what she told your mom." I raised an eyebrow at him. “What? You want me to just stroll up and ask? Do you think she has time for a chat?” “She must still be alive. Look, she’s the oracle; she’ll outlive until the next one takes her place.” I rolled my eyes at Caleb’s optimism. "She’s just some crazy old woman. Communes with the gods? The only thing she communes with are trees and her bingo friends.” Caleb shook his head, exasperation creeping into his tone. “It never ceases to amaze me—being what you are and yet still questioning the gods.” “No, I believe they’re there. I just think they’re more like absentee landlords. You know they’re probably out in Vegas, partying with showgirls while we deal with the mess they left behind.” Caleb leaped back, his feet landing awkwardly on the white and tan pebbles lining the path. “Don’t let me be the one standing next to you when they decide to strike you down.” I laughed, the tension breaking momentarily. “Right. They’re really watching over us. That’s why we have daimons roaming free, draining pures and slaughtering mortals.” “That’s why the gods have us,” Caleb replied with a wide grin, as if he’d illuminated the meaning of life. “Sure, whatever.” We halted at the intersection of the stone pathway, staring out over the flooded marsh. It was a messy canvas of woody plants and low shrubs making any crossing a perilous adventure. Beyond lay the forest—a no man’s land ridden with the kind of shadows I had once imagined were filled with monsters in my childhood nightmares. But age had taught me better; those marshes led to the main island, offering an escape route I’d frequently used. I spoke up, breaking the silence. “Does the old hag still live out there?” My curiosity piqued; talking to Piperi could unlock so many secrets. Caleb nodded. “I guess so, but who really knows? She makes appearances on campus now and then.” “Oh.” I squinted against the glaring sun, my thoughts racing. “I was just thinking, Mom never told me why we had to leave. Not once during those three years. If I knew why Mom left, maybe I’d come to terms with it better. God, it would at least make sense of all of this.” “Only the oracle knows the truth. And who knows when she’ll show up again? You can’t just venture out to her; she lives too deep in the marsh for even me to go there. So, put that thought to rest,” Caleb advised, a hint of worry in his voice. I smirked, raising an eyebrow. “After all these years, and you still know me far too well.” He chuckled. “Maybe we could throw her a party and lure her out. I heard she showed up for the spring equinox.” “Really?” The thought ignited a flicker of hope. Perhaps speaking to the oracle would grant me some answers—maybe even insights into my future. “Can’t say for sure, but speaking of festivities, there’s one coming up on the main island this weekend. Zarak is hosting it. You in?” I stifled a yawn, fatigue settling in. “Zarak? It’s been forever since I’ve seen him, but I doubt I’ll be partying anytime soon. Grounded for life here.” “Whoa! No way!” Caleb's jaw dropped in disbelief. “You can sneak out. You were practically a pro at it.” “Yeah, that was before Uncle became the dean and I was one step away from being expelled.” Caleb scoffed, “Alex, you've almost been expelled like three times already! Since when has that ever stopped you? C’mon, it’ll be like a welcome back bash for you.” Despite knowing it was a terrible idea, I felt the familiar excitement rising in my stomach. “Well, I won’t be training at night.” “Exactly,” Caleb nodded, enthusiasm echoing in his voice. A grin crept upon my lips. “And sneaking out has never killed anyone.” “Or gotten them expelled.” We shared a bright smile, just like the old days, a spark of normalcy amidst the chaos that defined my life. *** Later that evening, Caleb and I embarked on a little adventure in the supply room of the main school building. We hoarded every piece of clothing that would fit me, and Caleb vowed once again to fetch another half-blood girl to help me shop the next day. With our arms loaded down, we made our way back to my dorm only to find Aiden’s formidable form standing tall against the thick marble columns of the wide porch. The shock was palpable; Caleb’s eyes went round as saucers. “Oh great,” I muttered, deflating like a popped balloon. My pace slowed as we approached him, unable to decipher the stoic mask he wore or the respectful nod he gave to Caleb, who suddenly appeared mute—granted an unexpected reprieve from his usual chatter. Aiden stepped forward, eliminating the space between us, and took the load of clothing from Caleb’s arms without a word. “Need I remind you that boys aren’t allowed in the girls’ dormitory, Nicolo?” he stated, raising an eyebrow at Caleb, who hung his head in defeat. As Aiden turned his attention to me, I couldn’t shake the foreboding sensation creeping up my spine. “We need to talk.” I glanced at Caleb, desperation clawing at my chest, but his apologetic half-smile urged me to stay put. “What do we need to talk about?” I asked, trying to keep my voice steady. With a curt nod, he motioned for me to follow him. “You haven’t rested at all today, have you?” I adjusted my burden to my other arm, feigning nonchalance. “Nope. Just catching up with friends.” He seemed to ponder that as we made our way down the hall. Thank the gods I was on the bottom floor; I despised stairs, and for all the wealth of the Covenant, there wasn’t a single elevator on campus. “You should’ve been resting. Tomorrow won’t be easy for you.” “Well, you could always make it easy for me,” I offered, injecting a playful tone, hoping for a chuckle. Aiden’s laugh was deep and rich—the kind that would’ve warmed my heart if it hadn’t been aimed at my tiredness. I frowned, pushing the door to my room open. “Why are you allowed in here if Caleb isn’t?” “I’m not a student,” Aiden replied simply. “Still a guy.” I marched into the room, unburdening myself of the clothes on the floor. “You’re not even an Instructor or a Guide. If you’re permitted, Caleb should be too.” He scrutinized me, arms crossed, his gaze unwavering. “I’ve been told you once entertained the idea of becoming a Sentinel instead of a Guard.” I dropped onto my bed, a grin breaking through my irritation. “You’ve been snooping on me.” “Thought it best to be prepared.” “I’m sure you heard only glowing reviews.” His eyes rolled as he spoke, “Dean Andros mentioned you were quite the topic among the Instructors. Your talent and ambition? Impressive. But the other stuff… well, that’s just how kids are.” “Not a kid.” Aiden’s lips twitched, as if containing a smile. “You’re still a kid.” Heat rushed to my cheeks. Being called a kid by a stranger was one thing; from this super-hot guy? It sent me into a spiral of embarrassment. “I’m not a kid,” I reiterated, folding my arms defensively. “Oh really? Then by definition, you must be an adult?” “Absolutely!” I flashed my most charming smile, the one that usually got me out of trouble. Aiden remained unfazed, gaze steady. “Interesting. An adult would recognize when to walk away from a fight, especially after being warned about the consequences of questionable behavior.” I felt the weight of guilt crash down on me. “I don’t know what you mean, but I agree.” His head tilted slightly. “You don’t?” My mouth opened to speak, but the words got caught in my throat. I stared at him, caught by the way his intense gaze held mine. “Are you trying to tell me the rumors about me were wrong?” A small smile crept onto his lips. “Then I should be relieved to know that the report I received merely an hour ago was erroneous. It wasn’t you who yanked a girl out by her hair in the common area.” My voice clanged shut, standing on the precipice of denial. Damn it. There was always someone waiting to spill secrets. “Do you comprehend the delicate situation you're in?” His piercing gaze never wavered. “How unwise it is to let mere words provoke such violence?” Dragging Lea out had been reckless, no doubt, but she had enraged me. “She was talking about my mother.” I clenched my fists, the walls closing in around my emotions. “And does it really matter? What’s done is done. Words hold no weight unless met with action. You can’t engage in combat every time someone hurls an insult your way. If that's your plan, you should start packing your bags now.” I opened my mouth to protest, but the words slumped back down. “There will be rumors—ridiculous, baseless allegations about why your mother left, why you stayed away for so long. You can't fight every person who offends you.” I tilted my head. “But I could certainly try.” “Alex, you need to concentrate on getting back into the Covenant. Right now, you’re here out of courtesy; you want revenge against the daimons, correct?” “Yes!” My voice surged with fierce determination, fists tightening as the fire within me blazed hotter. “You want to step out there and confront them? Then redirect your energy—train instead of retaliating at those who insult you.” “But she said I caused it! I was the reason Mom died!” The crack in my voice caught me off guard, and I averted my gaze, vulnerability cutting deeper than I wanted to admit. “Alex, look at me.” Hesitating only a moment, I finally met his steadfast gaze. In that moment, the hardness melted, and compassion glimmered back at me. Somehow, he seemed to understand the tumult within me, even if he didn’t condone my actions. “There was nothing you could have done to prevent the tragedy that befell your mother.” His intense silver gaze bore into mine, searching for acceptance. “You know that, don’t you?” “I should’ve acted. I had all that time, and I failed to reach out. Maybe if I had…” I faltered, my breath hitching. “Maybe then none of this would’ve happened.” “Alex, you couldn’t have known this outcome,” Aiden said softly, his words wrapping around the fragility of my guilt. “But I did know!” I snapped, a whirlwind of anger and sorrow swirling in my tone. “We all do. It’s the danger that lurks beyond our community. I knew it could happen, but I was terrified they wouldn’t accept her back. I—” The weight of my longing slammed into me once again. “I couldn’t leave her out there, alone.” Silence engulfed us, stretching on, until I felt Aiden’s hand settle gently on my shoulder. My heart raced as I glanced down at his delicate fingers, now tinged with a strange tenderness as if he had the ability to understand my deepest struggles. Just as abruptly, he let go, frustration tugging at his brows. “Listen, get some rest. Eight o’clock comes swiftly.” As he turned to leave, I stopped him with a thought. “Wait! Don’t think I’m leaving this room tonight. I don’t want to wake up to find you’ve torched a village while I’m sleeping.” Retorts whirled in my mind—clever, cheeky comebacks danced on the tip of my tongue, but they faded away as I pulled myself off the bed instead. Aiden paused at the door, peering down the empty hallway. “Alex, remember, what happened to your mother is not your fault. Carrying that burden will only weigh you down. You need to let it go if you ever hope to move forward.” “Yeah,” I lied, the weight of his words lodging painfully within me. While I longed to grasp his wisdom, my heart thrummed with a different truth. If I had reached out to the Covenant, if I had taken action, maybe she would still be here. In a way, Lea’s accusation felt less like a lie and more like an uncomfortable truth. I was the one accountable for my mother’s death.