Moonveil Academy

I woke up to the sound of people arguing.

The words blurred at first, low and muffled, like voices underwater. My body felt heavy, like I'd been dragged under by invisible chains. Something soft and warm cradled me, a bed.

Clean white sheets brushed my fingertips, the faint scent of disinfectant stinging my nose. The air smelled like a nurse's station, sterile and sharp, with a hint of lavender trying, and failing, to mask the sting of chemicals.

"…don't play dumb with me!"That voice was sharper now, closer. Male. Angry.

Rowan?

"What did you do?" he snapped, each word sharp enough to cut glass.

"I didn't do anything!" Alicia shot back, her tone cool but with an edge I hadn't heard before. "Don't look at me like that. I just happened to be there when she collapsed!"

"Enough," Rowan bit out, his tone low and dangerous. "I swear Alicia, if this has anything to do with what happened on Saturday, I—"

Suddenly, there was silence. 

Then, softer, like a growl forced through clenched teeth:"She's awake."

My eyes fluttered open, lashes sticking as the light above me swam in dizzy patterns. I blinked until the room sharpened into focus.

Rowan stood at the foot of the bed like a storm barely held together. His green eyes pinned me where I lay, unreadable but full of heat.

His blond hair was a mess, falling across his forehead like he hadn't cared enough to fix it. The sharp angles of his face made him look more dangerous than handsome, though the line between the two blurred when he frowned like that.

Alicia stood nearby, emerald hair gleaming like metallic threads under the fluorescent light. She glanced at Rowan, then back at me, and something about her expression softened, like the fight in her had vanished.

"Where am I? What… happened?" My voice sounded like gravel scraped across concrete.

"You passed out," Alicia said, crouching slightly so I didn't have to crane my neck. "In the bathroom."

"I…" I tried to sit up, but a sharp, stabbing pain tore through my stomach, making me suck in a breath.

Rowan's eyes narrowed. "Are you hurt?"

"No," I said quickly, clutching at the sheet, but even as I said it, another wave of pain slammed behind my eyes like someone was hitting a drum with too much force.

Rowan's gaze sharpened. "Well, you don't look fine."

"Mind your business. I'm fine," I lied, but my voice cracked. The burning pressure behind my eyes threatened to turn into tears, and I hated that he was standing there, watching me unravel.

"Fine?" His tone turned bitter. He ran a hand through his hair, pacing a single step closer. "Do you even hear yourself? You look like you're about to fall apart. I…" He broke off, jaw tightening. "I can't deal with this again."

"Again?" I asked, my voice shaking with confusion.

He didn't answer. His expression twisted like he'd said too much, then he turned on his heel and stalked out, the door clicking shut behind him harder than necessary.

Alicia sighed, sitting on the edge of the bed. "Ignore that one. They're all complicated."

Yeah, no kidding.

I blinked at her, still trying to process everything. "Why are you helping me?"

Her lips curled into something between a smile and a smirk. "I'm not a demon, and I don't actually hate you, Maeve. Granted I hate your guts and think you bite more than you can chew. But I'm not going to use that as an excuse to not help. Also I have a quota to fill, so consider this my good deed for the week."

Something in my chest tightened at her words. "Thanks," I murmured.

"Don't thank me," she said, brushing a strand of green hair behind her ear. "Just be careful next time."

I opened my mouth to reply, but the door swung open, and a woman in pale pink scrubs stepped in.She looked to be in her late thirties, maybe early forties, with chestnut-brown hair pulled into a low bun at the nape of her neck. A few loose strands framed her face, softening her sharp cheekbones. She wasn't tall, maybe just a little over five foot three.

Her thin-rimmed glasses perched low on her nose, catching the light as she flipped through the clipboard in her hand. 

"Miss Sinclair," she said with a warm but professional tone. "I'm glad you're awake now. I'm Miss Peach. You gave us quite a fright."

I swallowed. "I'm… okay now. I think."

Miss Peach glanced at her notes, frowning slightly. "We couldn't pinpoint what caused the fainting spell. Your vitals are fine, but… there's something unusual in your bloodwork. Nothing dangerous, but we'll be monitoring you closely."

Alicia reached for the water glass on the nightstand and pressed it into my hands. "Drink. You're sweating like crazy."

I hadn't even realized it until her words made me notice the dampness at my temples, the heat rolling off my skin.

I sipped the water with shaking hands, the coolness soothing my dry throat. Alicia's fingers brushed my wrist briefly, steadying the glass when I almost dropped it.

Miss Peach offered a reassuring smile. "Try to rest. No stress. I'll come back with updates soon."

As she left, the room fell into silence again. Alicia tilted her head at me.

"You'll be fine," she said softly.

Before I could answer, a soft knock came at the door.

"Maeve?" Freya's voice floated in, a mix of worry and barely contained panic. The door creaked open, and her coppery-red hair peeked through first, then her entire face, wide-eyed, her gaze landing on Alicia like a cat spotting an intruder.

Alicia stood gracefully, smoothing her forest-green sweater like she wasn't the least bit fazed. "She's all yours," she said, her voice airy, almost teasing. "Don't melt."

Freya blinked. "Uh, thanks?" She stepped inside, giving Alicia one of those polite-but-not-polite smiles.

"Take care of her," Alicia added before gliding toward the door. 

"Girl," Freya said, rushing to my side once the door clicked shut. "You're hot and sweating! What happened? You seemed fine this morning." Her cool hand pressed against my forehead, and I almost flinched at the contrast.

"I don't know," I muttered, sinking a little into the pillow. "I was fine and then… I wasn't."

Freya's eyes narrowed slightly. "Wait. Are you now… friends with Alicia?"

I gave her a look. "Not really. But she helped me out. And—" I hesitated, remembering. "Rowan was here, too."

Freya froze like I'd just dropped a live grenade in her lap. "Rowan? As in heir Rowan?"

I nodded weakly.

She swallowed hard. "Oh wow. He was serious about being friends uhn." Her voice dropped to a whisper. She brushed damp strands of hair off my face, her thumb skimming my temple. "It's fine, Maeve. Everything will be fine."

Except, it didn't feel fine. Not at all. My chest was tight, my stomach churned like it was still plotting betrayal, and there was this dull throb in my skull that just wouldn't let go.

Freya murmured. "You need to rest. Whatever this is… we'll figure it out. Even if I have to strangle Rowan for answers."

That made me laugh, or at least a pathetic version of one. "Thanks," I whispered.

Freya squeezed my hand. "Always."