Aurora’s P.O.V
When Alice called to tell me that Riley was finally awake, I nearly dropped everything I was doing. My heart slammed in my chest, and I don’t think I’ve ever run through the halls so fast in my life.
Caleb was right beside me, his face just as pale and anxious as mine, neither of us daring to say a word because we were both too afraid of what state Riley would be in. When we got to the infirmary, Alice was standing at the door, and for a moment, I thought I would cry just from the look of relief she gave me.
Inside, Riley was sitting up, looking around with that dazed confusion, his lips parting like he wanted to say something but couldn’t find the words. “Riley,” I whispered, my voice breaking as I took a step forward. He turned his head toward me, and I froze…just completely froze.
My knees buckled, and I would have hit the floor if Caleb hadn’t grabbed me by the shoulders and held me steady. Because when Riley looked at me, his eyes were still that familiar ocean blue, but there was something else, something unnatural. A perfect ring of green encircling the iris.
“Oh my gods…” I gasped, my hand clapping over my mouth. “No. No, no, this can’t be happening.”
Caleb tightened his grip on me, whispering harshly, “Aurora, breathe. Don’t lose it now.”
I turned desperately toward Alice, my eyes wild. “What’s wrong with him? Alice, what’s happening to Riley? Why are his eyes like that?!”
Alice’s face was unreadable for a moment, but then she stepped forward, her voice gentle, calm, like she was trying to soothe a child. “Aurora, listen to me. It’s alright. Riley’s awake, and he’s here. That’s what matters right now.”
“Doesn't that mean he’s in danger?” I nearly choked on the words. “Alice, what does that even mean? That’s not his eyes. That’s not normal.”
“Aurora…” Riley croaked out, his voice hoarse, his eyes still unfocused. “Why… Why are you crying? Did… did something happen?”
I couldn’t hold myself back anymore. I pulled free from Caleb’s hands and rushed to Riley’s side, wrapping my arms around him, holding him so tight he let out a little grunt. “You scared me,” I whispered into his hair, my tears wetting his hospital gown.
“You scared me so much, Riley. You can’t ever do that to me again, do you hear me?”
His hand came up weakly, patting my back. “I… I don’t remember. What happened to me? Why am I here?”
“Nothing,” I said quickly, pulling back just enough to see his face. “You were just sick, that’s all. You had a fever, and you’ve been resting for a few days, but you’re okay now. You’re fine.”
Alice nodded approvingly from where she stood. “She’s right. You’ve just been ill, Riley. But now that you’re awake, we can send you back to your room. Luna Maya will look after you until you’re strong again.”
Caleb forced a small smile, though his eyes betrayed how shaken he was. “Yeah, kid. Don’t worry about anything. Just focus on getting back on your feet.”
Riley blinked at us, still confused, but too weak to argue. He leaned into me a little, like he needed the support, and I felt my chest tighten at how fragile he seemed. Eventually, with Maya helping, we got him out of the infirmary and into his room, tucked under blankets while she promised she’d watch over him. I didn’t want to leave, not even for a second, but Alice’s firm tone told me that Caleb and I needed to stay behind.
When the door closed and Riley was out of earshot, I turned sharply to Alice, my voice shaking.
“Tell me the truth now. What’s wrong with him? That ring, what is it?”
Alice exhaled slowly, her hands clasped in front of her. “It isn’t just Riley,” she said quietly, her eyes flicking between me and Caleb. “Jade has it too.”
I felt my stomach drop. “Jade?” I echoed, my throat tight. “You mean… he has the same ring in his eyes?”
“Yes.” Alice’s tone was grave, her expression finally hardening. “It showed up as soon as they opened their eyes. I didn’t want to tell you until I was sure, but now I can’t hide it anymore. Aurora, Caleb—this isn’t just illness. It’s a sign.”
“A sign of what?” Caleb asked, his voice low and suspicious, his arms crossed over his chest.
Alice hesitated, and that hesitation made my heart race even faster. “Possession,” she said at last, the word so heavy it felt like the air itself thickened. “That green ring… it’s a mark that those wraiths had touched them.”
I shook my head violently, tears blurring my vision. “No. No, Alice, don’t say that. Riley isn’t possessed. He’s still him. I saw it in his eyes, I heard it in his voice…he’s still my brother.”
“Aurora,” Alice said softly but firmly, “I didn’t say he’s possessed. I said it’s a sign that he was possessed and survived. That means that they are survivors.”
But I shook my head, tugging at my memories and trying to connect the dots.
“Alice… it wasn’t just Riley and Jade. Avery and I…” I paused, my voice breaking just a little, “...we were possessed too. And yet… we don’t have those rings around our iris. Nothing that marks us like it did him.”
Alice leaned back, her lips parting as if she hadn’t expected me to say it out loud. She let out a long sigh, her hands folded neatly on the table in front of her.
“Aurora, that’s because you and Avery share something Riley doesn’t. You both have Lucas’s blood running through you. That blood may be the determining factor that shields you, keeps the signs from showing up. For now, everyone is safe.”
Her words should have been enough, but they weren’t. I shook my head, frowning as my chest tightened.
“Safe? Alice, how can you even say that? Just because we don’t have visible signs doesn’t mean there isn’t something lurking beneath. What if Harmona or Lucas left… pieces of themselves inside us? Or worse, what if they’ve left something hidden inside Riley, maybe even Jade, something we can’t see yet?”
Alice’s eyes softened, but her tone was steady, as if she’d already rehearsed this argument a hundred times.
“I’ve already drawn their blood, Aurora. Riley’s, Jade’s, all of it. I’ve tested them with every spell I know. I even went further, I’ve done runic examinations, binding incantations, even aura extractions. Everything has come back negative. There is nothing inside them. Nothing.”
I slammed my palm on the table, the sound startling even me. “That’s exactly what you said about Ashton, remember? When you tested him? And what happened, Alice? Every single test came back clean. You swore there was nothing wrong with him, and then…then we learned he was the purest dark witch of them all. Every test failed us!”
Alice exhaled sharply, pressing her lips together before answering. “That’s because the tests I used back then weren’t meant to detect someone like Ashton. They were designed for witches…ordinary witches, Aurora not dark witches. And Ashton wasn’t just tainted, he was pure darkness. Nothing I had in my arsenal back then could have revealed what he really was.”
I shook my head again, the fear clawing at me. “Then how do I trust the tests now? How do I know they’re not failing us again? What if this darkness is just lying dormant? What if they’re carrying something that hasn’t awakened yet?”
Alice leaned forward this time, her eyes locking on mine with a fierce determination. “Because I didn’t make the same mistake twice. I adjusted, Aurora. I’ve studied dark magic more than I ever wanted to. I’ve created new parameters, new spells, new filters specifically meant to expose corruption like Ashton’s. I wouldn’t let history repeat itself. If Riley or Jade had any trace of that darkness inside them, it would have shown by now.”
I wanted to believe her. I wanted her confidence to be mine. But fear lingered and I felt Caleb’s hand squeeze mine in a reassuring way that did little to ease the tension.
Her expression softened again, this time filled with sympathy rather than certainty. “I know you’re scared. I know the thought eats at you. But listen to me, your bloodline is a shield, not a curse. You have the blood of the priestess of the Moon Goddess. It’s why you’re standing here, worried, instead of being consumed. You’re safe, Aurora. Riley’s safe. And Jade has no magic in his veins. For now, everyone is safe.”
I stared at her, my throat tight, my heart refusing to be soothed. “You keep saying ‘for now.’ That doesn’t sound like safety, Alice. That sounds like a countdown.”
She fell silent at that, her eyes flickering just briefly, and for the first time, I realized that even Alice didn’t have all the answers.