Chapter 25 — Shadows, Sparks, and Interruptions
The chill of the underground tunnel still clung to Hope's skin, her breath puffing visibly in the darkness as the small group emerged back into the moonlight. Trees rustled above them like whispered warnings. Her boots crunched against the dried leaves on the forest floor, but she barely noticed. Her mind was reeling — from the chase, from the fight, from him.
London.
She turned to him now as they walked just behind the others. His face was dimly lit by the moon, but his eyes held a glow — not supernatural, not magical — but something quieter. A kind of light only humans, or those who seemed like them, could carry.
"You okay?" she asked softly, brushing dirt off her jacket.
London nodded, rubbing the back of his neck. "Yeah. Just... I didn't expect to be running from hellhounds tonight. Again."
Hope smirked. "Welcome to Blackthorn Academy."
Their eyes met. Something unspoken sparked between them, brief but bright. The tunnel had brought them close — literally and emotionally. Hope could still feel the pressure of his hand gripping hers when they'd barely escaped the collapsing corridor. There was something grounding about London, something... different.
"I really thought we were gonna die down there," he said, his voice dropping slightly, more serious now.
"You didn't scream once," Hope teased.
"I was too terrified to remember how."
She laughed — genuinely. It had been a while since she laughed like that. "Still. You held your ground. That was brave."
London looked away for a moment, then back at her. "You make it easier to be brave."
Hope's smile faded, but not out of sadness. She felt warmth bloom in her chest — slow, unfamiliar, but unmistakable.
Their footsteps slowed. The others were a few yards ahead now, unaware of the two lingering behind. The forest was quiet. Only the sound of crickets filled the space between them.
And then... Hope leaned in, just a little. London did too.
Their faces were inches apart. Her golden eyes glowed faintly in the dark, mesmerizing. His lips parted slightly. One more second...
"Oi! Lovebirds!"
Stephen's voice shattered the moment like glass. He jogged up behind them, grinning like a lunatic, followed closely by his ever-frowning brother, Daemon.
Hope snapped back, face flushing, and London straightened instantly like he'd been caught stealing.
"Didn't mean to interrupt your twilight moment," Stephen said, nudging London with a wicked grin. "But we've got company back at school."
"Company?" Hope asked, blinking her composure back into place.
Daemon answered, his voice low. "Headmistress wants to debrief. Raphael found a new sigil carved near the west wall. Something ancient. Something... wrong."
That erased any remaining warmth.
Hope and London exchanged a glance — the kind only people who've almost kissed can share — and followed the vampires back through the woods.
---
Back at Blackthorn Academy, the atmosphere was tense. Torches lit the courtyard, students whispering in uneasy clusters. Some stared at Hope and the others as they entered, like they expected them to have all the answers.
Jessa stood near the fountain, arguing with her sister — again. The blonde was flushed, eyes wet with frustration. "Why is it always her? Why does Raphael care so much about her safety?"
Hope paused at the edge of the courtyard, her ears catching the words. Jessa hadn't seen her yet.
"Maybe because she doesn't spend her time sulking like a teenage soap opera," Raphael replied coolly as he approached from behind, his shirt still ripped from the tunnel fight. "Besides, we all know what you're really mad about."
Jessa's sister blinked. "Excuse me?"
"You don't hate Hope. You're just jealous she's not afraid to do something. To risk herself. To act."
The girl's mouth opened, then closed.
Hope's eyes flicked away. She didn't want to hear more.
---
Later that night, in the War Room, Richard stood hunched over a map spread across the table. His hands were trembling. Around him, a small group had gathered — Hope, London, Stephen, Daemon, Raphael, and Jessa.
"The sigil," Richard began, "is older than anything I've seen. Older than the Academy. Someone's not just trying to breach the walls... they're trying to wake something."
"Something?" Hope asked, leaning over the edge of the table.
Stephen's grin faded. "That's never a good word in our line of work."
Daemon added, "It means we need to prepare. Intensify patrols. Strengthen barriers. No one moves alone at night."
Richard sighed, wiping sweat from his brow. "We need to figure out who's behind this. Fast. We can't afford another incident like the tunnel."
Hope nodded, determination flaring in her eyes. "Then we'll find them."
---
Later, under the pale moonlight, Hope sat on the rooftop, legs dangling off the edge. London joined her, handing her a warm cup of tea he'd stolen from the kitchen.
She took it gratefully.
"Thanks."
They sat in silence for a while, the wind tugging at their clothes, the stars blinking above them like lazy fireflies.
"I meant what I said earlier," London said quietly. "You make it easier to be brave."
Hope looked over at him. Her yellow eyes glowed just a bit in the dark. "And you make it easier to not feel alone."
They didn't kiss.
But for now, the silence between them was enough.