Chapter 2

I collapsed onto my bed in agony, my muscles didn't want to work anymore and even protested when I turned around to lay on my back. When I met with James and Lexi after my session with Micah, they took one look at me and decided that it be better we talk in mine and Lexi's dorm room. They'd been looking at me questioningly the whole walk over and James' brow was starting to furrow, waiting for me to tell them what had happened. When I didn't answer after I'd shifted to my back, staring up at the ceiling I could feel them growing impatient. "I can't believe your grandmother worked you so hard, is there a battle coming that I'm unaware of?" James questioned and I could hear Lexi snicker at the question. Micah admitted he was at fault for the slip up in the schedule, saying that he was supposed to cancel all private classes until next week, but he'd been so busy inspecting the wards that he'd completely forgotten to make the announcement. He knew there was only one class, but he didn't know it was mine. Apparently my grandmother had to make an unexpected trip to the royal court and she'd been so pressed for time that she couldn't come find me to tell me herself. "Oh I wish it was my grandmother." I replied, testing my aching muscles before sitting up. "Guardian Tanner made me do suicide sprints for the entire hour. I don't even think my dad has ever worked us this hard, like ever." I saw a knowing look flash across James' face, but I couldn't quite fathom how he'd even know. I'd told Lexi about it, but she was supposed to keep it to herself. "Don't pretend you didn't enjoy every second of it." Lexi teased and this time James' was the one who laughed. I shot Lexi a death stare before turning it on James, but the response wasn't at all what I expected. "Oh come on Lily, she didn't need to say anything, it's kind of obvious whenever you guys are around each other. At least it is to me." I looked at James, mortified that everyone in school probably knows, but he knew me so he instantly shook his head. "Don't worry Lils, it's just because I know you so well. I doubt anyone knows since you're still on all the girls' kill list because they believe we're dating." I couldn't argue with his logic and rolled my eyes as I smiled brightly. We made it inside the dorms just before curfew and at the highly likely chance we'd be caught we decided that it be best if James just crashed with us for the night (or day, since we sleep with the moon) Lexi said she was going to shower first before they share their epic escape plan with me and I conceded, too tired to argue. When Lexi was out of the room James wasted to time, "So you and Tanner?" I groaned inwardly as I didn't particularly wanted to have this conversation, but I didn't let him see that. "I thought you said you knew?" I questioned immediately. "Well I suspected, but I didn't think I would feel quite like this once it was confirmed." I turned my head towards James, brow furrowed. He was lying on his back next to me, our elbows touching as we both had our hands behind our heads. "I'm actually quite…" he trailed off and I could only guess at the words he was trying to conjure up. "Disappointed? Repulsed?" I finished for him, no longer able to endure the silence. "No, not at all." James said immediately and patted his chest as invitation for me to cuddle up. "I could never be disappointed in you sis." James added sweetly as he pressed a kiss to the crown of my head. "I was thinking more along the lines of, proud." He finally admitted.

I was so close to sleep that I could see my dream materializing when the bedroom door flew open. James was just as close to sleep, because our training instantly kicked in and we were both standing at opposite sides of my bed in battle stance. "Woah, it's just me." Lexi said, her hands in the air. Both James and I sighed in unison, relaxing instantly. Lexi had a goofy grin on her face and shook her head at us as we fell back onto the bed simultaneously. "You should be glad it was me, if any other girl would have seen you two now rumors would be spreading like wildfire." I sighed, but seconds later the three of us were laughing like it was the most absurd idea in the world – which we all knew it was.

I couldn't shake the icy feeling that embraced my spine that night. I kept tossing and turning, unable to fall asleep despite being exhausted. I'd told Lexi and James that it might not be so difficult to actually sneak out since my grandmother was gone for the weekend, but the plan that they devised was sound even if my grandmother hadn't left. The plan wasn't what I had expected, especially after the stories we'd heard, that's exactly why I couldn't shake this foreboding feeling. Maybe Uncle Adrian's spirit induced rants had some merit after all and as that thought crossed my mind, another shiver ran up my spine. The idea was to escape through the caves, 5 miles beyond the wards at the back of campus. The same caves, where more than twenty years ago, my parents along with other guardians and fire wielding Moroi had lead a rescue mission after Strigoi who attacked the school had fled there with twelve hostages. Among the hostages was one of my mom's best friends Guardian Castille – who now teaches us basic defense at the academy. The same caves my dad was turned into a Strigoi. I shuddered at the though and couldn't help remembering the stories I'd heard about what my dad was like during that time and the hell my mother had to endure. They never spoke about it directly to me and I knew better than to ask, but what little I knew haunted me and I'm sure it haunted them too. I'd voiced my concerns after I silently listened to their plan and while I do admit it's a brilliant plan, I couldn't help but wonder if we were foolhardy even considering it. James assured me that guardians walked the caves twice a day to ensure something like that never happened again and I knew it was true. So why couldn't I shake the feeling that we were making some huge mistake and why wouldn't my mind stop racing and allow me to sleep? I stared at the ceiling for what seemed like hours, just focusing on one specific spot. Tossing and turning proved difficult as my muscles still protested. I knew it wouldn't be easy getting up in the morning, so I just kept staring at that one spot until the shadows grew longer and I fell asleep. At the time I didn't realize that something was amiss, although I knew I should have. There shouldn't have been shadows at all, the Moroi dorms didn't have windows. In my mind I did make a mental note of them, but that was deeply buried in my subconscious, until I needed to remember.