Chapter 3

As I unpacked my bags, I felt a sense of excitement and apprehension building within me. I was ready to embrace my true identity as a Descendant of Azrael, but I knew it wouldn't be an easy journey.

It was sometime in the afternoon when we made our way to the dining hall to get something to eat. I was so nervous that I didn't know if I could eat.

The dining hall was beyond magnificent. The ceiling had to be at least fifty feet high, with a skylight that let in the bright light. The hall was a cavernous space made up of a giant dining table adorned with candelabras in the center. The walls were encased with intricate white moldings, and the floor was made of hard stone, which looked almost dangerous.

The roof of the hall was made of large glass panels that let natural sunlight stream in and illuminate the vast, lush forest that stretched out behind the dining hall. Hundreds of large windows and small wooden doors covered the hall on its sides. The hall was decorated with large vases of flowers, trees, shrubs, and small tables and chairs.

The dining table was made of solid mahogany and polished to a shine. A small crystal vase was placed in the center of the table, and inside was a bouquet of long-stemmed lilacs; while the seats were spaced far enough to leave enough room for students to walk by without touching the person seated beside them.

The smell of freshly baked bread and roasted meat wafted through the hall, making my stomach growl.

I inhaled a scent that reminded me of a mixture of honeysuckle, lavender, and freshly cut hay. I smiled, remembering how much I loved the smell.

The hall smelled of a mixture of lavender, honey, and freshly baked bread.

Looking down the table, I saw platters of roasted chicken and succulent pork, trays of fresh fruits and vegetables, and towering intricate glass decanters of milk and water next to baskets of warm bread.

I opened my mouth to taste the treats Lavender mentioned. I tasted a faint hint of honeyed water as water slid down my throat.

The flowers and trees outside swayed gently in the wind as we found a table outside to eat while the weather was nice.

I was happily cutting into a delicious plate of chicken with mushrooms and Colby-jack cheese when the hottest boy I have ever seen walked out and sat beside Judith.

The boy must have been at least six-foot-three and was built like an Olympic swimmer with short blonde hair, bright green eyes, and light golden skin.

He quirked an eyebrow when he spotted me, then leaned forward on the table with an arrogant smirk as he acknowledged me.

"Now, who is this beauty? I have never seen you here before," he purred with a wink.

With a roll of her eyes, Judith introduced us, "Justice, this is my new roommate, Hollow Azrael, and Hollow, this is my not-so-lovely twin brother Justice Michaels."

Justice seemed to flinch when he heard the name Azrael, but he quickly composed himself and offered me his hand.

"It's nice to meet you, Hollow," he said, his voice low and smooth. "I hope you're settling in okay."

I took his hand, feeling a strange sensation wash over me. It was like a jolt of electricity that made my heart race.

"I'm doing alright," I managed to say, pulling my hand away from his. "Just trying to get used to everything."

Justice leaned back in his chair, his eyes scanning me from head to toe. "You're a Descendant of Azrael, right? The Angel of Death?"

I nodded, feeling a sense of unease settle over me. I had a feeling that Justice wasn't just making small talk.

"Well, that's quite impressive," he said, a hint of a smile playing on his lips. "I'm a Descendant of Michael, the Archangel, who is considered a champion of justice, a healer of the sick, and a war hero."

I raised an eyebrow, intrigued. "That's interesting. What kind of powers do you have?"

Justice leaned forward, his eyes intense. "I have the power of great strength and battle strategy; my fists could break through walls, and my mind can calculate the most efficient way to win any fight."

I couldn't help but feel a twinge of jealousy. I had yet to discover my own powers, and here was Justice, with a rare and powerful ability.

But before I could dwell on it any further, Lavender spoke up. "So, Justice, any news from the Council?"

Justice's expression turned serious, and he leaned forward even further. "Actually, yes. They've been discussing the recent demon attacks in the human world; they're growing more frequent and more violent."

My heart skipped a beat at the mention of demons. I had only heard stories about them but knew they were dangerous and terrifying creatures.

"What are they going to do about it?" I asked, my voice barely above a whisper.

Justice sighed, running a hand through his short blond hair.

"They're trying to devise a plan, but it's difficult. The demon population has been growing exponentially, and they're getting stronger by the day. We need to be prepared for anything."

I couldn't help but be impressed. Justice was everything I wasn't: confident, powerful, and charismatic. But there was something in his eyes that made me uneasy. It was like he was hiding something, and I couldn't quite put my finger on it.

As we finished our meal, Justice stood up, offering his hand to Judith. "Well, I have to go. Duty calls."

Judith rolled her eyes. "Don't do anything stupid, J."

Justice just grinned, winking at me before he walked away.

I watched him go, feeling a sense of longing and danger wash over me. There was something about him that drew me in, but I knew I had to be careful. The world of Descendants was full of secrets and hidden agendas, and I couldn't afford to let my guard down.

As we made our way back to our dorm, I felt a sense of dread wash over me, but I knew that I couldn't let fear control me. I had to be strong, like Azrael.

"Well, whatever it takes, we'll be ready," I said, my voice firm.

Lavender smiled at me, a glint of admiration in her eyes. "That's the spirit, Hollow. We'll face whatever comes our way together."

And with that, we finished our meal and headed back to our dorm, ready to face whatever challenges lay ahead.

As we walked down the winding pathways that led to the dormitories, I couldn't shake off the feeling that someone was watching us. It was a feeling that I had experienced before, back in the human world, whenever danger lurked in the shadows.

I glanced over my shoulder, but there was no one there. The forest was peaceful and still, the only sound coming from the leaves rustling in the gentle breeze.

"Hollow, are you alright?" Lavender asked, noticing my unease.

I nodded, trying to convince myself that it was just my imagination. "Yeah, I'm fine. Just a little on edge after hearing about the demon attacks."

Lavender put a reassuring hand on my shoulder. "I know it's scary, but we can't let fear control us. We have to stay focused and prepared."

Lavender was right; all I could do was grow more vigorous to help defeat whatever was heading our way.