✨ Chapter 9 – Breach
Ariana's wolf had risen inside her—awake, curious, ready to face the hooded presence approaching.
But just as she took a step forward…
The forest shook.
A deep *gong* thundered across the academy grounds.
Then another.
And another.
A cold voice boomed magically across the air:
**"BORDER BREACH. ALL STUDENTS RETURN INSIDE IMMEDIATELY."**
Ariana froze.
Kai cursed under his breath.
"That's the academy alarm. Someone broke through the wards."
Zane's eyes widened—his mind-sense flaring desperately.
"It's not one person," he whispered. "It's—multiple."
Rylan's flame aura roared to life.
"How many?"
Zane swallowed.
"Too many."
Ariana's wolf snapped backward suddenly—
retreating deep inside her chest.
Afraid.
Not of the alarm.
Of what was coming.
Kai immediately stepped in front of Ariana, protective aura rising like a shield.
"Ariana. Behind me."
She didn't fight him this time.
---
## **The Breach Opens**
A violent tearing sound ripped through the air.
*RRRIIIIIIPPP!*
The trees bent.
The ground vibrated.
Magic crackled like broken glass.
Ahead of them—the enchanted barrier surrounding Elmwood shimmered red, then cracked like a mirror hit with a hammer.
A massive, jagged hole tore open.
Through it—
**figures slipped in.**
Tall. Pale. Moving too smoothly to be human.
Rylan hissed.
"Vampires."
Ariana's breath stuttered.
"In daylight?!"
"They're using shadow cloaks," Calen growled, frost swirling around his fists. "Someone helped them. Someone powerful."
The vampires—dozens of them—began pushing through the breach.
Zane's mind-sense flared painfully.
"They're coming fast—academy guards won't reach us in time."
Ariana felt panic clawing up her throat.
But Kai stayed calm.
"Rylan, Calen—protect Ariana. Zane, with me."
Rylan's flames erupted.
"Already on it."
Calen's ice crackled under his boots.
"Let's make this quick."
Zane's eyes glowed.
"The Headmaster wants the breach closed."
Kai's gaze snapped toward the barrier.
"Zane—close it."
Zane's face tightened.
"I can't do it alone. My telepathic shield isn't strong enough."
Kai cursed.
"Then who can you link with?"
Zane turned slowly.
His eyes landed on Ariana.
"…Her."
Ariana jerked backward.
"ME?! Why me?!"
"Your earth affinity," Zane said urgently, "from your Mystic side. You can move ground. You moved stones on your first day here. You can push them back."
"I've never done anything that big!"
"It doesn't matter!" Zane shouted. "We need you!"
Kai grabbed her shoulders, forcing her to look at him.
"Ariana. Listen."
His voice was steady, grounding, powerful.
"You can do this."
"I—Kai, I haven't even shifted!"
"You don't need to shift," he said fiercely.
"You just need to trust your magic. The wolf can rest. You use the power you DO control."
Ariana swallowed.
She was terrified.
But she nodded.
"Okay," she whispered. "What do I do?"
Zane grabbed her arm.
"Stand with me by the breach. I'll stabilize your mind. You move the earth."
Rylan shouted from behind them—flames roaring.
"Hurry up! They're getting through!"
Kai pulled Ariana close for one last moment.
"I'm right behind you."
Her heart thudded.
Then she turned and followed Zane toward the crashing wave of vampires.
---
## **Closing the Breach**
The hole in the barrier crackled violently—magic sparking like hot wires.
Vampires snarled and clawed their way through.
Zane closed his eyes, placing two fingers on Ariana's temple.
"Breathe. I'm linking your focus with mine."
Ariana inhaled shakily.
Her aura flared—golden light swirling around her.
Zane's telepathic energy intertwined with hers, guiding it.
"Now," he whispered.
"Reach for the earth."
Ariana opened her hands.
She felt the ground beneath her—alive, heavy, powerful.
The soil trembled.
The rocks shifted.
The trees leaned back.
Her magic responded instantly.
The earth *listened*.
"Good," Zane murmured. "Now push."
Ariana thrust her hands forward—
And the ground beneath the vampires *exploded* upward.
*CRRRRKKK!*
A wave of soil and stone surged like a rising tide, lifting the vampires off their feet, throwing them backward.
Ariana's eyes glowed.
She shoved her palms outward—
The ground heaved again, shoving the entire group *out of the barrier*.
Vampires snarled, clawing, screeching—
but Ariana's earth magic was stronger.
Stronger than she had ever felt it.
Strong enough to move an entire section of land.
Zane staggered, eyes wide.
"Holy—Ariana—!"
She pushed again, sweat beading her forehead.
The vampires tumbled backward through the breach—
and the moment they were all through—
Zane yelled, "NOW!"
Ariana slammed her palms down.
The ground rose like a wall of stone and slammed into the barrier—
*sealing* the breach with earth and magic.
A blinding flash filled the forest—
And the barrier repaired itself with a shimmering ripple of light.
The vampires screeched outside, trapped behind the wards.
Ariana dropped to her knees, gasping.
Zane knelt beside her, stunned.
"Ariana… that was—unbelievable."
Kai rushed to her, falling to one knee and grabbing her shoulders.
"Ariana. Ariana—look at me."
She lifted her shaking head.
"I… did it," she whispered.
Kai pulled her into his arms without thinking—
tight, relieved, fierce.
"You saved the entire academy," he breathed.
Ariana's wolf stirred softly inside her—
not from fear.
From pride.
A/n: Ariana saved the entire school