With nothing else to do, we all tuck ourselves into our sleeping bags. Piers, Owen, and Bennett all angle theirs so that their heads are resting on me instead of their pillows, but Sawyer stays in his own space, and I respect that.
I’m just happy that he stays beside me.
After the lights go out, though, I hear rustling nearby in the dark, and then a hand reaches out. I take it and look to see whose it is.
Sawyer is fast asleep, his hand reaching out of his sleeping bag to clutch mine.
Chapter Twenty-One
I jerk awake. I could’ve sworn I heard the huge double doors to the entrance hall opening.
I glance down at my chest before I sit up, and there’s the alp, already bouncing away.
I have barely enough time to whisper a single word invitation, “Coffee!” before its tiny little red cap disappears beneath someone else’s sleeping bag. I have no idea if he heard me.
I sit up on my elbow and look through the huge window to the entrance hall. I did hear the door open, because there they are—tired and bedraggled, strewn with cuts and bruises—the hunters returned. Headmaster Novac leads a group of our teachers along with Mason Dagher and a few people I don’t recognize. Skinner is there, too, but he doesn’t look like he fought at all. I briefly wonder what use he possibly could have been before I reach over and shake Erin awake.
“Avery?” she mumbles, but I point towards them and she seems to wake up immediately.
Piers sits up too, rubbing his eyes. He catches sight of his father and starts fighting to get out of his own sleeping bag.
The hunters trickle in. I clutch at Erin’s arm. I don’t see Helsing. She bites her lip and hugs me, burying her face in my shoulder. I feel tears starting to gather in my eyes. How could he not survive? Did the hunters have to kill him?
And then, limping several steps behind everyone else and being supported by two hugely tall hunters, Helsing appears.
“Erin!” I cry out, startling several other students awake.
She laughs and jumps up, leaping over people to get to the door. I shake my sleeping bag off of me and rush after her. Behind me, I hear the boys following suit.
Erin and I burst into the entrance hall.
The hunters all turn to us in surprise and alarm, but Helsing cries out, “Erin! Avery!”
Erin rushes to her father and practically tackles him, but the two huge monster hunters keep a solid grip on him, preventing him from falling.
“What happened?” I ask as I run up to them. “We were so worried.”
“We exorcised the demon,” one of the tall hunters says. I look up at him. There’s something familiar about his face. He’s got dark brown eyes and a kind smile. His hair is shaved close, and he’s as wide as a refrigerator, with huge biceps and a burly beard.
“Helsing is very strong,” says the other tall hunter in an accent I can’t quite place. I’m surprised to hear a woman’s voice. She’s practically an Amazon, every bit as tall as the man, with long dark hair pulled back into a ponytail.
Somewhere behind me, I hear Piers call out, and I turn to see him running up to Mason. His father is frowning and clutching his forehead, but he straightens up as his son approaches.
I move to step closer to them, but I hesitate. Piers is worriedly wringing his hands, and Mason is gazing at his son almost as though he’s never seen him before. I feel a little like an intruder.
“Son,” Mason sighs. “You’re safe.”
“You’re safe,” Piers breathes. He reaches for his father, and Mason pulls him into a one-armed hug, his other hand firmly clasped to his forehead. “I was worried.”
“Can’t believe it,” Mason says gruffly. “After all I’ve said to you.”
Piers shrugs, but Mason shakes his head. He glances around, and I quickly pretend like I’m not looking. He seems satisfied that no one is listening in.
“I’ve been an ass to you, Piers,” Mason says quietly. “I fought for my life in that cabin … and I thought I would never see you again.”
“Dad.”
“No, let me—I just want—listen. I’ve said some awful things to you, son.” He winces and blood leaks out from under his hand. “I told you that you’d never make it as a monster hunter. And you proved me wrong. You hunted that agropelter like a proper man.”