PATRICIA'S POV

The school is horrifying at night, especially when trying to catch some ancient demon.

I was particularly glad that all 14 of us are involved. I don't enjoy putting their lives at risk, but now I'm not alone. If Madame is targeting Eddie, I want backup.

The dark, dank corridors of the school combined with the frigid air rushing in from the vents make for an unpleasant, frightening experience. My hand is locked with Eddie's. I'm terrified that if I let go, I'll never hold it again. I need him by my side.

I listened to Joy's plea to not bring a sleeping bag. I still do not understand her reasoning behind it until we break into groups.

"Ok," Fabian begins, taking control. "We'll need groups of three to four in different areas of the school. I've been considering areas to hide in, and I've decided that the French classroom, the corner hallway behind the teacher's lounge, and the room next to Sweet's office are our best bets. If we have more people, we can have a group in the drama studio backstage."

"What are the groups?" KT asks.

"Well, Eddie and Patricia need to stay together for safety, and we'll make that a group of four for extra backup if needed. Joy, you and Jerome go with them."

"I need to go with Eddie," Cassidy interjects.

"Um, why?" Fabian asks.

"I know I mentioned I know about Eddie's past, and it's true. I want to take this opportunity to talk to him in private."

I'm puzzled as to why this girl so desperately needs to talk to my boyfriend. She's new, strange, and unfamiliar, yet she claims she knows everything about Eddie. Why shouldn't I be suspicious?

"Ok. Fine. I guess… Anyway, I want the newbies to all be with experienced Sibunas. Esmay, Liam, Beck, and Callan, you guys will be grouped with the long-time students. Is that ok? It's just for your protection," Fabian requests.

They all nod their assent, and Fabian divides the groups accordingly. The final decision is KT, Fabian, Liam and Esmay as the group in the hallway behind the teacher's lounge, Eddie, me, Cassidy, Joy, and Jerome as the group in the French classroom, and Amber, Beck, Callan, and Mara as the group next to Sweet's office. No groups are stationed in the drama studio, so rotations will be held to guard individually for 15 minute periods.

I'm hesitant to be in the school overnight when Madame could be lurking over my shoulder at any moment, but I'm slightly comforted to have the largest group. I feel safer with more protection for Eddie.

I finally understand what Joy meant. As we begin to set up our sleeping bags, I realize her scheme. Joy tricked me into not bringing a sleeping bag even though Eddie did.

Joy was trying to get me to sleep with Eddie.

I can't believe myself when I think that, but when I cast a ferocious glare at her in realization, I know that was her plan. She smiles at me innocently; this was her plan all along.

The other four turn off the lights and climb into their sleeping bags. Eddie notices I do not have one. He raises an eyebrow, and I mouth "Joy." He nods, understanding exactly what I mean. We stand there, awkwardly, wondering what to do. Eddie takes me by the hand and kneels, pulling me down beside him onto the floor. I laugh as I fall right onto him, and he kisses me gently.

Eddie unzips the sleeping bag and climbs in. He motions for me to follow. I hesitate, the situation quite uncomfortable, but I relent, a slight smile spread across my lips. I climb in the bag and lay next to him. Heat radiates off his person and I am content in his warmth. He sits up to remove his shirt, revealing his toned abs. I try so incredibly hard to keep my cool, to keep a serious expression, but I can't stop gawking at my boyfriend's stomach.

I see Joy across the room, staring in disbelief as well, but I don't say anything. I don't blame her for drooling. I am drooling too.

Eddie climbs in to the bag and cuddles me tightly. His smooth chest emanates a sense of warmth and aegis as I drift slowly to sleep. Eddie's fingers graze my hair placidly. His head is rested close enough to mine that our cheeks are brushing against the other's. The sleeping bag is tight, so we're forced to press together.

"Are you ok?" he asks.

"Why wouldn't I be?"

"After all that's happened, you seem… hurt. Even though you never leave my side, you seem distant. I want to know that you're alright. And I want you to know that I'm going to get us out of this."

"I'm fine," I lie. I can't put the weight of my fear and distress on his shoulders. He has enough to worry about. But the truth is, I'm terrified. I fear that Eddie is weaker than I thought as the Osirian, and that whatever is possessing Madame Kahn is too powerful. Eddie needs to be strong, and I can't have him looking over me every second. Defeating whatever is haunting us is more important than me.

"I know you aren't," he says. "I know you're saying that so I don't have to worry. But that's so far fetched. I worry about you every second. My life revolves around you. Without you, I'm nothing. I need you, Patricia. Don't think that this battle is more important than you. You're the most important thing in my life. Nothing or no one will ever change that."

"Eddie," I begin, recalling the events of earlier today. "I remember waking up on the kitchen floor and wasn't sure as to why. What happened?"

Eddie sighs, as if he was dreading me questioning this. "I-I don't feel comfortable talking about it. It wasn't horrible, but it really got to me."

"Tell me," I plead.

Eddie relents and tells me how I fainted and my heart stopped, how a foreign voice escaped and told Eddie he was never going to win. I feel my heart sink when I hear that Madame is affecting Eddie. I feel like killing Madame. How dare she hurt my Eddie.

"I'm sorry," is all I can muster. The words barely make it out.

Eddie puts his hand under my chin and pulls me in for a kiss. "I'm sorrier that you have to be involved in this." His lip quivers slightly.

Why is Eddie trying so hard to look brave in front of me? If there's anyone who's shoulder he can cry on, it's me.

"You don't have to act like this," I say. "You don't have to pretend to be brave and strong and thick as a wall. You have emotions, you know."

"This coming from the girl who never cries and couldn't even say she liked me," Eddie teases.

I slap him across the shoulder, but I know he's right.

"That's the Patricia I know," he jokes. "I missed that you know, the violence, the pranking, the jokes. I never realized how much maturing sucks. No more freedom."

"I know. Even though we've been through some rough patches in our high school years, saved the world a few times, it all felt so innocent, like child's play. This… we don't even know the true threat, yet it's hurt us more than anything we've ever done. Why is that?"

"I don't know, Yacker. I just want it to end. To focus on normal 18-year-old things, like our graduation and partying. I just wish this would end. I want to focus on you, on us, and nothing else."

Yacker. Hearing him say that just lifts my spirits. "I want that too, Weasel, but face it, we'll never have a normal life as long as I'm dating the most powerful guy in England… or you know, the world." It feels good to say this. It's not our usual teasing, but it still brightens me.

"Well, you know, I don't know anyone else who can shoot purple lights out of their hands," he says, making a muscle with his arm. I laugh so loudly that I have to cover my mouth when I remember everyone else is sleeping.

"Very manly," I joke.

"One day, when this is all over," he begins. "Let's make a deal to just settle down close to here together. I feel like I need to be near Anubis. Maybe we can buy some nice, small, desolate English cottage and just be together. Our kids could even go to Anubis. Maybe there'd be a new Osirian to save the world."

"Our kids?" I ask, surprised, yet excitedly. Eddie is talking about marrying me, having a life together after school ends. I don't even know what to think. "You've got this all planned out don't you?"

"I may have thought about it a number of times… every day," he admits. "But can you blame me? It's the only thing that takes my mind off of everything that's happened."

"I guess I can't lie and say I've never thought about our future."

"Our future. That's the best phrase I've ever heard," he says. His thoughts are up ahead, off in the distance.

We smile at each other, wondering how our lives will play out. I gaze deeply at him, curious if I'll ever see him this way again for this long a time.

"C'mere," he whispers, wrapping his arms around my waist. I nuzzle my head into the crevasse between his neck and shoulder and let myself relax, falling asleep in his arm. I feel myself slumber with ease, for I know I'm safe, nestled between his arms.