DAMIAN

She left. She went away without telling me. She left the school without telling me.

I knew something was up when she was being quiet after she left Father's office. It wasn't like Camille to be speechless, she always has something to say but she didn't do anything, and I thought she was having one of her bad days because of the obvious. Her friends tried to kill her. She wasn't in great terms with them and I figured she needed time to analyze and think about what happened since that's how she operates. I would have went after her to see if she was okay but she was– is angry at me and I didn't think she'd want to see me. So I left her alone, thinking it was the best thing to do.

Two minutes. I was waiting, counting in my head. When two minutes was up, I was going to knock on her door and try to be there for her as well as I could but she was gone. I was too late. At first, I thought she was in the bathroom because Camille wouldn't let me see her vulnerable. I gave her space until I noticed that her favorite backpack was missing.

I've been going out of my mind, thinking where she could have gone. We had no plans on the island and after our–after she almost kissed, we haven't talked to each other. I have no idea of her movement. I can't even begin to think where she might have gone because I have absolutely no idea what's going through her head. She doesn't have anywhere to go.

I barge into her room without knocking. My eyes almost missed her roommate and her mate cuddled up on her bed. She made Camille angry. I should have a talk with her about it but I'm afraid I'm on a schedule.

Stopping in front of her bed, I place both my hands on it, trying to see what I can. The first thing that comes to my mind is that her roommate and her mate already mated on this bed, which is messing up my sense of smell because I can't focus on anything else but the image of them mating.

I never lose focus, which was why El trusted me with her in the first place but ever since she left, I've been feeling somehow. My feelings has changed, and I'm afraid of admit it because it's making me weak and weakness is the only thing that I fear.

Where is she? Why did she leave? Was it because of what I said? Is she in trouble? Is she angry? Did she leave because I didn't kiss her back?

I hate that I can't figure this out. I hate that I care so much. I hate how lost I'm feeling right now because the thought of something happening to her is terrifying.

My fist on the sheet tighten when I can't even focus on the smell of her, but I know she was here because her scent is on the sheet.

Father asked some students to do a location spell but she isn't appearing anywhere, which means she's cloaked. It's clever for someone that doesn't want to be found but why would she cloak herself? It's almost as if she knows I will come after her and cloaking herself is a way of tell me she doesn't want me to. Camille is fighter. A fearless warrior. And that's what makes me feel things for her. She's also smart. She knew we'd come after her. And she doesn't want that.

Two thought comes to mind. First, she wants space. Second, she's looking for something or someone. I know Camille, I know her well but some things about her are still unclear. I understand that we all keep secrets but Camille is keeping something big.

I release my hold on the sheet and turn around, walking out. Just when I'm about to open the door, the friend decides to speak like she didn't see me barge in.

"Where are you going?" She demands.

I hate that tone. First, it's authoritative. Second, she reminds me of Camille.

Ignoring her, I proceed to turn the doorknob, letting myself out. "You're going after her," she says. At least she's smart. I don't like Jessica Cruz-William. Frankly, I don't like anyone but I only tolerate her because of Camille and also because she cares deeply for her. I know she'll die for Camille. She's just like me, bond by our duties.

"I want to come."

This time I do stop and turn around to look at her. The first I notice is guilt, she's guilty and she's still recovering from the spell the witch casted on them. The death spell they were going to use on Camille was strength draining. The Benedict twins are still inside their heads, trying to come term with the death of their brother. And Gemini witches grieve through magical self induced coma.

I almost flinch at the thought of the twin grieving someone that isn't dead. How did they even know he's dead or supposed to be?

"No."

I don't want her coming with me. She will slow me down and Camille is still angry at the both of us. I don't want her stressed out when we see her. I can use the alpha superiority on her, she'll fight me but I can handle her. She can't see me and Jessica together, she'll likely lose it and the last thing I want is angry ravens coming at me since that's her go-to defense system now.

"I want to help," she offers.

"Why?"

I know why, I just want her to say it. I don't like Jessica but she has my respect. Camille will go through hell to help her friends and in a way Jessica will to. I appreciate how she's always been there for Camille especially at the island. But giving what's happened recently, I can't presume how Camille will react.

"Because she's my friend," she replies, putting her hands in her back pocket.

"You're feeling guilty." The feeling is written all over her face. I don't want someone who is on a guilt trip to follow me.

She removes her hands from her pocket and drops it besides her, curling her fingers inward in a tight fist. "Maybe. But she's my friend and I want to find her."

Something that I've learned and studied about Jessica is that she gets angry easily, she is pissed off half of the time but she doesn't let people know it. It's something she keeps from everyone. I'm an expert in studying people especially those that appears too good to be true. I don't doubt her loyalty to Camille. But something about her isn't right. I have so many questions. The first being, why is she here in The Vale? She claims to have known about Camille's powers before Camille even knew herself. Which begs the question. Why did she wait long before she showed up for her?

"Her friends tried to murder her, all at once. You think she wants to see you?"

Camille is strong but her humanity part is stronger. She appears to be fearless even though she is, but deep down she is just a little girl that's scared of fire. She wouldn't want to see them.

"How about you? She left you too, didn't she? And that's why you're going after her."

She has a point but I will not let her manipulate me. She's a sage and a mage, but she's human first and humans are the most dangerous predators even without powers.

"You are not coming with me Cruz-William and neither are you," My eyes meets Nate, pinning him to the spot, where he's standing in the doorway.

"But I want to help," she whines, pouting like a kid. Oh, El.

"Yeah, you can help by staying in the school and keeping guard," I tell her. I have reasons to believe that the person that spelled them is still around here somewhere. And it's only a matter of time before they try something else.

"I'm her sage."

"You are a sage but make no mistake"–I stand tall to intimidate her–"you are not hers and never will be." I reply harshly than I intend to. I should apologize but I have nothing to apologize for.

Jessica scoffs, crossing her arms above her chest. "Are you trying to convince me or yourself?" She eyes me. I don't even know what that means.

"What does that mean?"

"It means I'm coming with you." This girl, she never learns or give up. Something I know she picked up from Camille because Camille is the only person I know is this persistent.

"No."

"Yes."

"No."

"Come on!"

"No!"

"Damian, please." Now she's begging. Oh boy, what is this?

"I. Said. NO!" I release my powers in frustration, causing Jessica to go flying, her back hit the ground.

I've never lashes out. Ever. Yes, I've been on edge since Camille started ignoring me, and I'll admit I do not like that feeling at all.

"What the hell man?!" Nate growls while trying to help Jessica up. She's a mage, she'll heal.

"You're not coming and that's final." I tell her and turn my heels, walking away.

"You're not even going to apologize to her. What a fucking dick?!"

"Fine, I'm not going." She agrees.

I smirk. "Good girl."

"I'm not a dog." I hear her mutter behind me. At least she isn't coming with me.

"Goodbye."

I stop by Father's office to tell him my next move. He wants Camille here as much as I do but his reasons are completely selfish. He hasn't found out who enter Di Hipsodat but we know the same person also stabbed Camille in the library. It appears that the person wants to kill her and the only way to know who the person is, is by using Camille as bait. Father cares for Camille but his job is more important than anything else and right now his job is to find out who that person is and he's willing to do anything to find him or her.

The gate opens and I step outside the school. I don't know which way she went because I lost her smell right after I left her room, which means she flew. I just have to find her using the old fashioned way. Camille has money and since she doesn't know where she's going and she isn't really good with flight, she'd probably take the bus and their only one bus station that leads here. I'll start there.

"Going somewhere?" I stop, closing my eyes. Doing everything to stop myself from snapping her neck.

"What are you doing here?" I ask without turning around. I thought Camille is the only person that can anger me, apparently I was wrong. Her friend comes pretty close to how annoying Camille is.

I hear the rustling sound as her shoes stomp on the dry leaves on the floor. She stops in front of me, looking completely different. She looks more kempt than she looks minutes ago. And she's carrying a backpack. Nice.

"You look like you're going somewhere." I cock my eyebrows at her.

"I'm coming with you." She declares not asking if she can come.

"We've already talked about this, you're not coming." I remind her.

"Please," she blinks her eyes, giving me some kind of funny look that I only see on babies.

"Fine!"

On second thought, she can come. I might need her power.

"Really?" She asks, hope glittery in her eyes, it actually looks pathetic.

"Yes." I answer, walking away from her.

"Thanks." I hear her say as she tries to keep up. She hates exercising, which she needs unless she won't be able to keep up on the battle field.

"So..." I hear her speaking, minutes after walk in silence. I actually liked her when she wasn't talking. "What happened between you two?" She asks curiously. And she asks that out of all the questions in this world.

"Stop talking."

"Come on, I'm curious." She whines. "Why was she so mad when she came back?"

She didn't just ask me that.

"You were mating on her bed, she has ever right to be angry." I give her the obvious answer.

"It was a mistake but she was really angry. I have never seen her that angry." Well, I have. Camille is always anger and she needs a timeout.

"Why are you asking me?"

"Because you were the one with her, which mean you made her angry." Two points to the sage but she's out of her mind if she thinks I'm going to tell her anything.

"Nothing happened."

"Come on, tell me," I can feel her pouting from her tone. This girl is something else.

"Nothing."

"Did you guys break up?"

I want to laugh but then I realized that there nothing funny about her question."Break up? We were not even together."

"What?"

"We weren't." I tell her, hoping she'd leave it like that.

"Why?" She goes on.

"Why what?"

"Why aren't you together?" She asks.

Countless reasons that I cannot share with you. "What do you mean?"

She moves in front of me, pointing her hand out to stop. "I saw you together, kissing under the mistletoe last semester," I tense because I know where this conversation is going and I don't want it to go there. "You were really into each other and on the island, you looked at her like you'll die for her, and I know you will but you also looked at her like she was your everything. And we all know Camille has had feelings for you since she met you. So what happened? Why aren't you together?"

I sigh, closing my eyes for a second. "I can't be with her." I give her the easy answer.

"At least you admit you like her," She says with a mischievous smile plastered on her face.

"I didn't, and please stop talking." I walk past her.

This is going to be a long day.