Cherreads

Chapter 11 - Chapter 11: Problem Revealed

Luna Vale couldn't sleep. The events in the clock tower replayed in her mind like a nightmare on loop-Professor Grimwood's warnings, the hooded figure's attack, and the terrible moment when the professor had fallen. Dead? Unconscious? Luna wasn't sure, but the memory of Grimwood's final words haunted her: Don't trust her. Protect the heart... save the academy.

Dawn was still hours away, but Luna slipped out of bed, careful not to wake Pixie. Her roommate's wings twitched in her sleep, casting faint rainbow shadows on the wall. Luna dressed quickly, pulling on her uniform and tucking the enchanted key into her pocket. Its warmth against her skin was both comforting and unsettling.

The corridors of Midnight Academy were eerily silent. Moonlight spilled through the windows, creating pools of silver on the stone floor. Luna moved quietly, her footsteps barely audible. She needed answers, and she knew exactly where to start.

 

The library was locked, but Luna had learned a few tricks during her time at the academy. She whispered the unlocking charm Lior had taught her, and the door swung open with a soft creak.

Inside, the library was a cathedral of knowledge, its shelves stretching toward the vaulted ceiling. Luna lit her wand with a whispered Lumos and made her way to the restricted section. If there were answers about the Heart of Midnight and Headmistress Moonshadow's true intentions, they would be there.

She ran her fingers along the spines of ancient tomes, searching for anything related to the academy's founding or the mysterious heart beneath it. A leather-bound volume caught her attention: Midnight Academy: A Secret History. She pulled it from the shelf, her heart racing.

As she opened the book, a voice spoke from the shadows. "I thought I might find you here."

Luna whirled around, wand raised, to find Cassian Drake watching her from the doorway. His eyes gleamed in the darkness, predatory and calculating.

"What do you want?" Luna demanded, not lowering her wand.

Cassian stepped forward, hands raised in a gesture of peace. "The same thing you do. Answers."

Luna hesitated, then lowered her wand slightly. "Why should I trust you?"

"You shouldn't," Cassian replied with a wry smile. "But right now, you need allies. And I know more about the academy's secrets than most."

Luna studied him, weighing her options. Cassian was arrogant and ambitious, but he had proven himself in the trials. And right now, she couldn't afford to turn away potential help.

"What do you know about the Heart of Midnight?" she asked.

Cassian's expression grew serious. "It's not just a source of power. It's a prison. And whatever is locked inside is trying to get out."

 

Luna and Cassian pored over the ancient texts, piecing together the academy's hidden history. According to the records, Midnight Academy had been built over a nexus of magical energy-the Heart of Midnight. But the heart was also a seal, containing a malevolent force that had threatened the supernatural world centuries ago.

"The founders trapped it," Cassian explained, pointing to an illustration of three figures channeling magic into a crystalline structure. "They built the academy as a fortress to protect the seal. The trials were created to test potential guardians-students who would eventually take up the mantle of protecting the heart."

Luna frowned. "But Grimwood said Moonshadow wants to break the seal. To harness the power for herself."

Cassian's eyes narrowed. "That doesn't make sense. Breaking the seal would release chaos. Unless..."

"Unless what?"

"Unless she believes she can control it." Cassian closed the book with a snap. "We need to talk to someone who was there when the academy was founded. Someone who knows the truth."

Luna's mind raced. "The oldest professor at Midnight Academy is-"

"Selene Noir," Cassian finished. "She's been here longer than anyone realizes. Much longer."

Luna stared at him in shock. "Selene? But she's a student."

Cassian laughed, a sound without humor. "Selene is many things, but a student isn't one of them. She's a guardian, Luna. One of the original guardians."

 

Finding Selene proved easier than expected. She was waiting for them in the courtyard, her pale skin luminous in the moonlight. She didn't seem surprised to see them.

"You've been busy," she said, her voice cool and measured.

Luna stepped forward. "We know about the heart. About the seal. And we know you're not who you pretend to be."

Selene's expression remained impassive. "And what do you think you know, Luna Vale?"

"You're one of the original guardians," Luna said. "You've been protecting the heart for centuries. But now something's changed. The seal is weakening, and Moonshadow is involved somehow."

A flicker of emotion crossed Selene's face-surprise, perhaps, or respect. "You're more perceptive than I gave you credit for."

"Is it true?" Luna pressed. "Is Moonshadow trying to break the seal?"

Selene sighed, a sound that carried the weight of centuries. "It's not that simple. Moonshadow believes she's doing what's necessary to protect the academy. The seal is failing, Luna. It has been for decades. The trials were meant to identify potential guardians, but they've become corrupted. The shadow is influencing them, testing the champions for its own purposes."

"And what purpose is that?" Cassian asked.

Selene's gaze was piercing. "To find a vessel. A host powerful enough to contain its essence when the seal breaks. And it's chosen you, Luna Vale."

Luna felt a chill run down her spine. "Me? But I'm human. I have no magic."

"That's precisely why it wants you," Selene explained. "Your humanity makes you adaptable. Your lack of innate magic means there's space for something else to take root. And your role as mascot has put you at the center of the academy's magic."

Luna's mind reeled. The shadow wasn't just trying to escape-it was trying to possess her.

 

"What can we do?" Luna asked, her voice steady despite the fear coursing through her.

Selene's expression softened. "We strengthen the seal. The Heart of Midnight responds to unity and balance. The shadow feeds on discord and fear. If we can unite the houses, channel their combined magic into the heart, we might be able to reinforce the seal before it breaks completely."

"And Moonshadow?" Cassian asked.

"She believes the only way to save the academy is to control the shadow," Selene said. "She's wrong. No one can control it. But she won't listen to reason. She's been influenced by the shadow for too long."

Luna took a deep breath. "Then we do this without her. We gather our allies, strengthen the seal, and save the academy."

Selene nodded. "It won't be easy. The shadow has agents throughout the academy. And the next trial is designed to divide you, to isolate the chosen vessel."

"When is the next trial?" Luna asked.

"Tomorrow," Selene replied. "The Trial of Shadows. It's meant to test your courage by forcing you to face your darkest fears. But it's also a trap. The shadow will try to break you, to make you vulnerable to possession."

Luna's resolve hardened. "Then I won't break. And I won't face it alone."

 

As dawn broke over Midnight Academy, Luna, Cassian, and Selene parted ways, each with a task. Luna would gather her closest allies-Lior, Rafe, and Pixie. Cassian would reach out to potential supporters among the vampires and werewolves. Selene would search for a way to access the Heart of Midnight directly.

Luna found her friends in the great hall, their faces drawn with worry. They had been searching for her all night.

"Luna!" Pixie cried, flinging herself into Luna's arms. "Where were you? We were so worried!"

Rafe's expression was a mixture of relief and anger. "You can't just disappear like that. Not after what happened in the clock tower."

Lior studied her face. "You know something. Something important."

Luna nodded, her expression grave. "I know what's happening at Midnight Academy. And I know what we need to do to stop it."

She told them everything-the Heart of Midnight, the failing seal, the shadow's plan to possess her, and their desperate plan to strengthen the seal before it was too late.

When she finished, silence fell over the group. Then, one by one, they nodded.

"We're with you," Lior said, his eyes bright with determination. "Whatever it takes."

Rafe grinned, a flash of fang. "Fighting an ancient evil to save the academy? Just another day at Midnight Academy."

Pixie's wings fluttered nervously, but her voice was steady. "We won't let the shadow take you, Luna. We're a team."

Luna felt a surge of gratitude and love for her friends. With them by her side, she could face anything-even her own darkest fears.

 

That evening, as the academy prepared for the Trial of Shadows, Luna and her allies gathered in the library. Cassian had brought several trusted vampires, and Rafe had convinced a group of werewolves to join their cause. Lior had reached out to the fae, and Pixie had rallied the sprites and pixies.

Selene stood before them, her presence commanding respect. "The Trial of Shadows will begin at midnight. It's designed to isolate you, to force you to face your fears alone. But you won't be alone. We'll be there, fighting alongside you in spirit if not in body."

She handed each of them a small crystal. "These are soul stones. They'll allow us to maintain a connection even when we're physically separated. Focus on the stone, and you'll feel the presence of your allies."

Luna clutched her stone, feeling it warm in her palm. "And after the trial? How do we reach the Heart of Midnight?"

Selene unrolled a map of the academy. "There are three entrances to the chamber beneath the academy. The main entrance is through the headmistress's office. The second is through the catacombs beneath the east wing. The third is hidden in the observatory."

"We'll need to split up," Cassian said. "Three teams, three entrances. We meet at the heart."

Luna nodded. "Lior, Rafe, and Pixie will come with me through the observatory. Cassian, you lead the vampires through the catacombs. Selene, can you access the headmistress's office?"

Selene's smile was cold. "I've been doing it for centuries."

As they finalized their plans, Luna felt a strange mix of fear and hope. Tomorrow would change everything. Either they would save Midnight Academy, or they would lose it-and possibly themselves-to the shadow.

But as she looked around at her allies, at the determination in their eyes and the unity in their purpose, she knew they had a chance. A small one, perhaps, but a chance nonetheless.

The mascot of Midnight Academy was no longer just a symbol. She was a leader. A protector. And she would not let the darkness win.

 

 

More Chapters