Year Two: Rebels - Cara Wylde Page 0,55

breathe over there. He tapped into my connection with its world, and somehow… gained control over me. But I am better now. Definitely no thanks to the doctors at the Karmic Asylum. That place is horrible and should be shut down, or straight up burned to the ground. I am ready to try again. I need to get as much Akkadia Aeterna as I can before I banish the Great Old Ones forever and seal the portals. I believe that after I succeed, I will not be able to dream travel to their universe again. I believe it will be out of reach for all dream jumpers.”

“This is too much,” Seth whispered.

“I wanted you to know the truth.” I placed my hand on his, then did the same with Davien. “I wanted you both to know because you saved me. You went into that cave and saved my life.”

“Actually, we didn’t,” Davien said. “We saw you go into the caves, and we decided to wait on the beach. I have no idea why. It makes no sense now.”

“Only those who know about Yig can enter,” I explained. “There’s a sort of… energetic barrier. Like glamour, but not quite. Humans and supernaturals alike can feel that there’s something unholy and terrifying inside the caves, and they’re instinctively repulsed by it.”

“Professor Wyvern made us go in,” Seth said thoughtfully. “Of course, because he knew…” He looked at Adrian, a hint of pure hate flickering in his blue eyes. “Should we call you Professor Akkad from now on?”

Adrian didn’t deem that worthy of a response. He held Seth’s gaze until Seth gave in and averted his eyes.

“I’m here thanks to you,” I said. “The three of you. And now I have a second chance. While in Heaven, I learned how I might banish the Great Old Ones. Well, not me. I won’t be able to do anything. But I have to find the descendants of the five original mages who opened the portals so many thousands of years ago. It’s all in motion already. Lorna Chiaramonte promised she’d find them for me. I’m waiting for word from her. And once the five descendants agree to help, the stars will be aligned just right on Christmas Night next year. That’s when the ritual has to be performed.”

“Yolanda,” Headmaster Colin started in a grave voice. “They will never let you.”

I straightened my back.

“Who will never let her?” Davien asked.

“The Supernatural Council.”

“I don’t care,” I said through gritted teeth. “I will do it anyway. I will do what I think is right. The blood sacrifices need to stop. Not just at Grim Reaper Academy, but all over the world. I witnessed one last year. It was…” I shook my head. I should’ve asked Lorna to erase that memory, too. “Mila will retire next year. Her immunity from death will be taken away, and she’ll be a revenant again. Francis will be a revenant again. If they want to keep their youth and health, they will have to start bringing Yig sacrifices again. I won’t allow that. I will not let my own cousin become a murderer.” Well, not any more than she already was.

“Holy shit!” Davien jumped out of his chair. He threaded his fingers through his red, disheveled hair. “Holy shit, revenants and blood sacrifices! This is real. All this is real, and it has been happening right here? At the Academy?” He pointed at the floor. “Right under our… feet?”

“Take it easy,” Adrian said. “Keep your voice down. There’s no reason to alert the staff.”

“Don’t you tell me to take it easy, pal!”

I sighed. Okay, the guys didn’t seem willing to keep the peace for much longer.

“Calm down. Both of you.” I stood up and motioned for Corri to get on my shoulder. I looked at Headmaster Colin and Professor Lovecraft. “I wanted you to know what I intend to do. Mr. Lovecraft, you wrote about the Great Old Ones, and I thought it was time for you to know the truth. Headmaster Colin, this is your school.”

He shook his head gently. “Yolanda, they will not let you. Yig, the well, the caves… they were all here before the Academy was built. And you know who donated the money to build it, right? The Saint-Germains. From father to son, they are all revenants who’ve sworn loyalty to the Father of Serpents.”

I grinned. “And I don’t care. I don’t need the approval of the Saint-Germains. They’re not on the Council, anyway.”

“But they’re close to the