Gray POV

I paced the floor of the entrance of the school as if that would help anything. Graywick just took Stella, even after we tried to fight him off. He was too smart, too quick. He had her before we even had a chance.

I could barely breathe at the thought that he had her. He knew exactly what he wanted from her. He just came in and took her so easily. "How did this even happen?" I muttered to myself.

Birch puckered her face as she pulled a piece of paper out of her pocket. "I think he wants the Umbra Mortine in her."

I took the piece of paper and read it over. It talked about the Umbra Mortine and how it held a lot of power. Whoever had the Umbra Mortine in their possession maintained a level of power that could bring civilizations to their knees.

"If your father wants to keep control, he wants this."

"How long have you held this information and not told me?" I asked, raising my voice as my frustration got the better of me.

"A day or two."

"So you are saying you knew this and kept it from me?" I asked as my voice rose.

Birch frowned at me. "We were already working to free Stella from the Umbra Mortine. You had a lot on your plate. I just thought keeping it from you would be the best option."

"But now he came and took her. She is gone and I could have at least had an idea that he would do this."

"It wouldn't have made a difference."

"You don't know that," I said as I pointed towards her.

"You're right, I don't, but Stella knew, and she decided not to tell you."

"She did?"

Birch nodded. "I told her as soon as I found out."

"So she knew my father wanted the Umbra Mortine in her."

"Yes. She did."

My face twisted up as if I ate something sour. I couldn't help but think things could have ended differently if I would have known my father would be after her.

"He's going to kill her," I whispered as I realized what my father would do after he got the Umbra Mortine. He didn't care if Stella was my everything. My father would do whatever he wanted to get ahead, even if that meant crushing the only thing that mattered to me.

"I know," Birch replied as she picked up a piece of ripped clothing then stuffed it in her pocket.

"We have to stop him."

"I know. Gosh, Gray, are you just going to state the obvious here?"

I stopped in mid-walk and glared at her. After admitting she kept things from me, I didn't like her attitude. "I don't like your sass."

"Then say something more than facts we already know."

"I'm going to get her."

"Well, that's another obvious fact, but it's better," Birch said as she adjusted her shoes. "If you are storming the castle, count me in."

I looked at her with concern. Birch was my best friend, she was my only friend here, but that didn't mean she needed to do this. I couldn't ask her to do that for me. It was too dangerous. "You don't need to come."

She placed her hand on my shoulder and sighed. "I know. But Stella means a lot to you, and you mean a lot to me. You are my best friend and because of that, I'm on board."

Instantly I forgave her for not telling me the information she knew. Birch was my only friend here, and she committed to sticking with me. I smiled at her and brought her into a hug. "You are amazing, Birch."

"There you go stating the facts again," she chuckled as she held onto me.

"Did he take the girl from Jackson?" the dean's voice rang out.

I let go of Birch to look at her concerned face.

She walked down a staircase with a long night robe trailing behind her. It looked as if we had just woke her from her sleep, but her eyes were wide awake.

I nodded. "He did."

The dean frowned as she reached the bottom of the stairs. She ran her hands through her hair and sighed. "Else mentioned that this girl meant the world to you."

"She does."

She nodded as she looked around to make sure there was no damage done to the hall. "Ok, what can I provide to help you rescue the girl?"

I stared at the dean for a moment in shock. The fact that Else even mentioned Stella to the dean left me speechless. I thought Else hated Stella. Why would she talk about Stella to the dean? There should have been a lot more important of topics discussed than my love interest.

"Else really wanted the best for you and if this girl means everything, then I will help. As Else's best friend, that is the least I can do for you."

"Thank you."

"Of course. Now, why has Graywick taken the girl? That seems like a big move for just a human from Jackson."

As I stared at her crystal eyes, I wondered if I trusted her enough with the information I would share. But if Else trusted her, that should be enough for me. I took a deep breath and let it out slowly, hoping this wouldn't be a mistake. "Stella has an Umbra Mortine within her and because of that, my father took her."

"An Umbra Mortine? That's concerning."

I frowned at her. I knew little about the Umbra Mortine, expect little that I read. But as I mentioned it, it seemed like she knew a lot more than she wanted to admit. This showed that the school chose not to train its people, which was frustrating.

If the Umbra Mortine was so concerning, then why did we not learn about it? Honestly, there were so many things that we should have learned but hadn't. This school hid so much from us, but there were things I wanted to know. I think most students wanted to know.

"The Umbra Mortine is something I haven't heard of since grade school."

So at one point, they taught it in school. But what changed? "What do you know about it?" I asked, although it sounded more like begging.

"I met one once. I was much younger than. It was before the Umbra Mortine took full control over..." she said as her voice trailed off. "Do you know how long she has?"

I shook my head. "No. I don't know. There is so little I know about the beast. But can you tell me about them?"

"They are bringers of death and darkness. It is said that they are the rulers of the Darklings. They consume all light, feeding on it. And whatever host it takes, it will consume that too. Before long, the host is nothing more than a shell and the Umbra Mortine takes over."

Her words weighed heavily on my mind. This was something I should have been aware of long ago. The fact that Stella delt with this for who knows how long made me feel ashamed. I should have reached out to her sooner. I shouldn't have just believed she was safe. There was so much I should have done.

"I don't think she has much time. She was sleep walking with it," Birch voiced, speaking up for the first time since the dean came to us. "I think Graywick is going to take the Umbra Mortine's power for his own."

"Ah, I see. No, then there isn't much time," she said as she handed me a dagger. "Whatever Graywick will want with her, you have to stop it no matter what. I know the girl means the world to you, but this is your world and if Graywick takes the Umbra Mortine for himself, it will be the death of what we know."

I didn't want to have this conversation. Stella was more of a home than Churchwell was. I would protect her at all costs, even if it meant Graywick took the Umbra Mortine. However, I wouldn't let the dean know of this.

"If there isn't much time, then you should leave. Is there anything else you will need?"

I shook my head as I looked at Birch. "We will go on our own. It is better in a small team."

"Very well. Come with me. I'll get you some supplies," she said, then turned on her heels.

We were in her office all too quickly as she walked around the space, handing us things that she thought would be useful. To be honest, I think she just felt guilty she wasn't joining us, so she threw anything our way to comfort herself.

"I think that's enough," I told her as I slipped on a protective vest.

The dean stopped, then nodded. "Well, if that's enough, I'll let you two go on your way. I'll be ready upon your return," she said, then left the room, leaving us to handle the things she gave us.

"So the plan Gray. What is it?" Birch asked as she looked around the dean's office, taking it in. I don't think she had ever been here before. She looked around the place in awe, but I felt the complete opposite about this room. I didn't want to be here any longer than I had to. 

She stuffed a knife in her pocket, although I was pretty sure she did not know how to use one. I wasn't sure how much of a fighter she was, but she held her head high and confident as if she knew what she was doing. 

I had never seen Birch fight anything really, so now that we were here, I was worried for her sake. Maybe she shouldn't come. Maybe I was better off if I went alone. At least then she wouldn't be in harm's way, especially if she didn't know how to fight.

"Do you really want to come with me?"

"That is such a stupid question. Of course I am coming. You can't do this on your own."

"But do you even know how to hold a knife?"

"I do. Gray, I was in the war at the school. I know how to hold my own. You need help and I want to give that to you. You don't always have to be alone."

Her words actually gave me some comfort. Maybe she had a point. Maybe she could handle herself especially if she fought against the Darklings. I handed Birch a protective vest. 

"Ok then. After we get Stella to safety, I want you to go back to school with her. While I am on my own, I will find my father and stop him. I am going to do what we all sought after for too long."

"But- " she protested.

"Birch, I really don't want to fight about this. My mind is already made up."

She looked at the ground and muttered, "fine. If that's what you want. So be it."

I nodded as I looked at the time. Stella had already been gone for three hours and that was long enough. It was time to get her back and free her from the Umbra Mortine.

With a deep breath, I opened a gate in front of me. My father would expect us. But we would just have to be prepared for that. He should have known that taking her would not end well for him.

"Let's get her back," Birch said as she stepped through the gate.

"Let's get her back," I echoed as stepped through the gate and closed the door behind me.