All Chapters of Shadows of Heart : The Awakening: Chapter 51 - Chapter 56

“Cassius. Speak.” Her tone was clipped, efficient, betraying no sign of surprise or hesitation, as if she had already anticipated he would come to her with something important.Cassius hesitated for just a second before continuing, his gaze lingering on the students in the distance, each lost in their own focus or competition. “I’ve been watching the movements of certain students,” he began, his voice low, barely above a murmur, yet carrying weight. “The Fea, specifically Caelum, and some of the Ironclaw members - they’re working together.”Ellara’s expression shifted imperceptibly, but her eyes darkened, a flicker of concern briefly crossing her features. She knew full well that the Fea were cunning, unpredictable, and with their ties to darker magic, always capable of making dangerous alliances.“Go on,” she urged, though her face remained as impassive as ever. Her gaze now seemed to sharpen, the air around her thick with attention.Cassius took a breath. He had learned over the yea

The sky over the tournament grounds darkened with unnatural speed, shifting from a mild afternoon to an eerie twilight. Cassius felt the change immediately, the air thickening with the scent of damp earth and the iron tang of magic gone wrong. He scanned the horizon as purplish clouds churned overhead, and a gust of cold wind swept across the grounds, carrying whispers that chilled him to his core.In the stands, students’ families murmured, some pointing to the sky in confusion, others instinctively drawing their loved ones closer. The crowds shifted nervously, the energy in the air vibrating with tension. Before anyone could react, the first crack of violet lightning split the sky, and the sound was followed by a wave of darkness rolling over the tournament field, blotting out the sunlight and plunging everyone into a chilling twilight.Cassius turned sharply, his gaze sweeping through the crowd. “Where’s Caelum?” he muttered, a pulse of fear jolting through him as he scanned the fa

The battlefield was silent now, save for the soft murmurs of those slowly regaining their bearings. Cassius stood among the wreckage, his sharp senses overwhelmed by the cacophony of pain and the sharp, metallic tang of blood that lingered in the air. It was everywhere - human, werewolf, fae and other creatures - mixing into an intoxicating, maddening swirl.His fists clenched at his sides as he tried to center himself. The vampire’s centuries of stoic discipline were straining under the weight of the carnage around him. He prided himself on his control, the iron will that allowed him to walk among others without succumbing to the primal urges that haunted all vampires. But now, with the chaos, the fear, and the acrid taste of dark magic still lingering on his tongue, his composure was faltering.He took a step back, away from the thickest concentration of wounded. His breathing was steady, but his jaw clenched tight.This is too much. I need to leave. Now.The taste of blood in the a