Chapter 28

chapter Twenty-Seven

It was Tristan Lucas who greeted Tristan with a wide smile as his friend burst into the room. "Hey, what's up, bro?" he said in a jovial tone. Seeing the concern on Tristan's face, Lucas anticipated his question and reassured him, "Tessa isn't here, but she's safe, don't worry."

Tristan's worry turned to frustration as he entered the room without waiting for a response. "Tessa! Tessa, where are you?" he called out urgently, scanning the room for any sign of her presence. From the kitchen, Tessa's voice floated back, calm and collected, "I'm in the kitchen, Tristan."

Lucas couldn't help but chuckle at Tristan's overly dramatic reaction. "What's wrong with this guy?" he whispered to himself, shaking his head with amusement. He watched as Tristan stormed out of the room, his anger palpable. "Hey, you wolf! What did you do to her? I knew she wasn't safe in your hands. I should have insisted she stayed with me last night!" Tristan accused, his voice filled with a mix of anger and concern.

Lucas couldn't resist teasing his vampire friend, fully aware of Tristan's protective nature. "Bro, take a chill pill," he retorted with a playful grin. "What if I told you I devoured her for supper? What would you do?" He raised an eyebrow, his eyes glinting mischievously.

Tristan's vampire instincts took over, his fangs bared and his eyes turning a fiery shade of red. He lunged at Lucas, his body transforming into his menacing vampire state. "Dude, tell me you're joking!" he growled, his voice seething with anger.

Caught off guard by Tristan's sudden aggression, Lucas found himself pinned to the floor, struggling against his friend's strength. Realizing that the situation had escalated too quickly, Lucas chuckled playfully. "Alright, bro, I give up," he conceded, his tone lightening. "But I promise you, Tessa is safe."

Tristan held his grip firmly, his eyes fixed on Lucas, demanding the truth. "Where is Tessa, for the last time?" he asked sternly, his worry and protectiveness evident in his voice.

In that tense moment, the door creaked open, and Tessa stepped into the room, her presence diffusing the escalating tension. Both Tristan and Lucas looked at her in surprise, momentarily forgetting their confrontation.

"Here I am," Tessa replied calmly, her gaze shifting between the two of them. She had been silently observing the entire dramatic exchange, her expression a mix of amusement and concern.

The room fell into an awkward silence as the weight of the moment settled upon them. Tristan's anger subsided as he realized that Tessa was unharmed and standing right in front of him. He released his grip on Lucas, his vampire features gradually fading away, and he let out a relieved sigh. "Tessa, thank goodness you're okay," he said, his voice filled with genuine concern.

Lucas, now back in his human form, shook himself off and stood up, a sheepish smile on his face. He looked at Tristan and spoke with a touch of embarrassment, "Sorry for the confusion, Tristan. It was just a little friendly banter. I didn't mean to alarm you."

Tessa stepped forward, placing a comforting hand on Tristan's arm. "It's all right, Tristan. Lucas and I were just having some playful banter. There's no need to worry," she explained, her voice calm and reassuring.

Tristan nodded, the relief evident on his face. "I'm glad you're safe, Tessa," he said sincerely,

Tristan's tension melted away as he listened to Tessa's soothing words. He realized that his concern had momentarily blinded him to the playful nature of their interaction. He turned to Lucas, extending a hand in a gesture of reconciliation. "Appreciate the banter, my friend. I suppose we got carried away in the moment," he admitted, a sheepish smile spreading across his face.

Lucas accepted Tristan's hand and shook it firmly, a sense of camaraderie returning between them. "No hard feelings, Tristan," he replied with a genuine smile. "We're all on the same team here."

Tessa stepped forward, her presence radiating calm and determination. "Let's shift our focus to what's important," she suggested, her voice filled with resolve. "We need to figure out the meaning behind these shared nightmares and seek guidance from Mr. Athan at the academy."

Tristan nodded, his earlier concern resurfacing. "You're right, Tessa. We can't ignore this. Mr. Athan may have the answers we seek," he agreed, grateful for Tessa's level-headedness.

Lucas, his playful demeanor fading into seriousness, nodded in agreement. "That's our priority now. Let's head to the academy, talk to Mr. Athan, and find a solution together," he suggested, his voice resolute.

As the tension dissipated, a renewed sense of purpose filled the room. The trio quickly gathered their belongings and prepared themselves for the day ahead. Outside, the morning sun greeted them, casting a warm golden glow on their determined faces.

Walking side by side, Tessa, Lucas, and Tristan embarked on their journey to the academy, united by their shared experiences and the mystery that lay ahead. They navigated the bustling streets, the sounds of the city enveloping them, yet their thoughts were focused on the impending meeting with Mr. Athan.