They were in Valthoria now.
A small country nestled in Eastern Europe, old and steeped in traditions most humans had long forgotten. It was the kind of place where ancient creatures could still move freely in the shadows, where the supernatural world and the human world existed side by side, separated only by ignorance and carefully maintained barriers.
At blackthorn.
The campus was dark and silent, the Gothic buildings looming like shadows against the night sky.
And standing near the gates, waiting, was Jareth.
He was tall, broad-shouldered, with sliver hair, sharp pale eyes that seemed to miss nothing. He wore a long black coat that moved slightly in the breeze, and his presence was commanding—ancient and powerful.
A car stopped, and the doors opened.
Kaiel stepped out first.
Jareth's gaze went to him immediately, and he bowed his head.
"Master Kaiel."
Kaiel didn't acknowledge him.
He walked past, heading toward the gates.
Jareth straightened and turned his attention to Viktor, who approached with Dante and Felix behind him.
"Viktor," Jareth said, inclining his head slightly.
"Jareth." Viktor returned the gesture. "It's been a while."
"It has."
Jareth gestured toward the gates. "Come."
He raised his hand, and the air shimmered faintly. The invisible barrier parted, allowing them through.
They stepped onto the campus.
Immediately, the atmosphere felt different. Heavier. Charged with old magic.
Kaiel was already ahead of them, walking toward the main building with his hands in his pockets, completely unbothered.
"Felix, Dante," Viktor said quietly. "Check the perimeter. Be discreet. We don't want to alarm the students."
"Understood," Dante said.
The two vampires split off, disappearing into the shadows.
Viktor and Jareth followed Kaiel toward a building .
Jareth's office was large and elegantly furnished—dark wood, leather chairs, floor-to-ceiling bookshelves. A massive desk sat in the center of the room.
Kaiel walked straight to it.
He sat down in Jareth's chair, leaned back, and propped his feet up on the desk,his eyes closed
He looked completely relaxed and Nonchalant.
Jareth moved to stand near the window, his hands clasped behind his back.
Viktor remained near the door, watching both of them.
We have a situation," Viktor said, getting straight to the point. "A rogue. A witch's experiment.Possibly inside the school."
Jareth's expression darkened. "Inside? That's not possible and you know it ." the barrier," Jareth said. "You know I'm the only one who can open it .witches and v's can't .And if anyone had tampered with it ,I'd have been the first to know.
Then how __
Before Viktor could talk , the door opened.
Felix stepped in.
"We found something," he said.
Everyone turned, except kaiel whose eyes were shut closed.
"What?" Viktor asked.
"A crack in the barrier," Felix said. "On the eastern side of the campus.
Jareth went very still.
"That's impossible," he said, his voice low and hard.
"I saw it myself," Felix insisted.
"I don't believe that " Jareth shook his head. "Witches and vampires cannot break that barrier. It was created by a specific family the They're barrier witches .Only I or a member of that family can open or alter it,and even if it was broken I would have been alerted.
Could any one of them had done this?
Jareth's expression darkened. "No."
"Why not?"
"Because they're all dead."
"Dead?" Viktor repeated.
"300 hundred years ago," Jareth said, his voice grim. "King Valdran ordered their extermination. The Ashcroft were involved in black magic. They were disrupting the natural order—experimenting with forbidden rituals, creating monstrosities.
The king gave them a chance to stop. They refused."
"So he had them all killed. Every single member of the family. Men, women, children. No one was spared."
Viktor's eyes narrowed. "You're certain? No survivors?"
"None," Jareth said.
Felix shifted uncomfortably. "Then how the hell is there a crack in the barrier?"
No one had an answer.
Kaiel finally spoke.
"Call Lillian."
His voice was quiet, almost bored. But it cut through the silence like a blade.
Everyone turned to look at him.
He was still leaning back in the chair, feet on the desk, eyes half-lidded.
Viktor pulled out his phone and dialed.
The phone rang three times before a smooth, feminine voice answered.
"Viktor. To what do I owe the pleasure?"
"Lillian," Viktor said. " A little favour ."
"Of course " There was amusement in her tone. "What is it this time?"
"We're looking for someone. Blackthorns barrier is broken—We need to know how it happened. And who did it."
There was a pause.
"That's... tricky," Lillian said slowly. "Barrier magic is complicated. Tracking the one who broke it will take time."
"How much time?"
"Give me an hour."
"Fine."
"I'll call you back."
The line went dead.
Viktor pocketed his phone .
He turned to Felix who was now leaning on the door.
You and Dante should keep searching, that rogue is still here.
An hour passed.
Felix and Dante returned, having found no sign of the rogue. They'd searched the campus thoroughly—every building, every shadow—but came up empty.
Now the four of them were back in Jareth's office.
Kaiel hadn't moved. He was still in the chair, tapping his fingers idly on the desk, his expression flat and bored.
Viktor and Jareth stood near the window, speaking in low tones.
And then Viktor's phone rang.
He answered immediately. "Lillian."
"Viktor." Her voice was strained.
Doing you a favour almost killed me .
"What did you find?"
A little care wouldn't kill you creatures .
"There's a witch in the school
She's the one who broke the barrier.
Only an Ashcroft can break that barrier ,jareth spoke .
Lillian laughed—a bitter, shaky sound. "Well she's Powerful enough that I almost died trying to find her."
I traced the magic," Lillian said, her voice trembling slightly. "I followed the thread back to its source. And the moment I got close—it lashed out at me. I've never felt anything like it, it was old magic and I barely pulled back in time"
"You couldn't identify her?"
"No. I couldn't see her face. Couldn't pinpoint who she is. The magic is too strong.She's hiding herself well."
"But," Lillian continued, "I did get something."
"What?"
"A name. I don't know if it'll help, but it's all I could pull before I had to retreat."
"What name?"
"Moreau."You know my cost I'm doubling it ,this time I almost died.
"" Okay "" Viktor said and ended the call.
Do you have an idea of the name ?
No " but she did say the witch is in the school ,if she's a student then the system will most likely have their information.