Chapter
237
Jason trailed them at a distance, his breath shallow as he crept through the dense underbrush. Elyra and Dain moved with fluid grace, their forms illuminated by slivers of moonlight filtering through the trees. Jason's heart pounded in his chest as he watched Dain leap effortlessly onto a high boulder, his muscles rippling with unnatural strength. Elyra, standing below, tilted her head, her silver hair catching the light like a halo.
"Focus," Dain instructed, his voice low but firm.
Elyra closed her eyes, and Jason squinted, leaning closer to see what she was doing. A faint glow began to emanate from her hands, soft at first, but then growing into a pulsing sphere of light that lit the clearing. Jason's jaw dropped. "Don't push too hard," Dain cautioned. "You'll drain yourself."
"I'm fine," Elyra replied, though her voice betrayed a hint of strain.
Jason's mind raced. What are they? He had always sensed they were different, but seeing their abilities confirmed it. A mixture of horror, fascination, and jealousy churned within him. Elyra was supposed to be the shy, awkward girl he tormented at school. And yet here she was, something otherworldly, far beyond his understanding.
He stumbled back, snapping a twig underfoot. Elyra's glow flickered as both she and Dain whipped around, their senses sharper than any human's.
"Did you hear that?" Elyra whispered, her golden eyes narrowing.
Dain leapt from the boulder, landing with barely a sound. He scanned the shadows, his fiery orange eyes gleaming. Jason held his breath, pressing himself against a tree. For a moment, he thought they would catch him, but then a distant howl echoed through the forest, drawing their attention away.noveldrama
"Let's head back," Dain said, his voice tense. "We've done enough for tonight."
Jason waited until their footsteps faded before bolting from the scene, his mind spinning.
Later that night, Jason found himself in the forest again, this time pacing restlessly. He couldn't stop replaying what he'd seen. Elyra wasn't just beautiful-she was powerful. And that power made her unattainable. "Why are you here?" a voice purred from the darkness.
Jason froze, his heart leaping into his throat. From the shadows stepped the red-eyed substitute teacher. She looked different under the moonlight-more commanding, her crimson gaze piercing. "You're... following me?" Jason stammered.
"Hardly," she replied, her tone dripping with condescension. "You're the one who followed her, didn't you? And now you know their secret."
Jason swallowed hard. "What do you want?"
She smiled, her teeth unnervingly sharp. "The better question is, what do you want?"