Chapter 9 – The Death Lake

  After waking from the terrifying dream, Daniel sat up with a sharp gasp, his body covered in sweat. Tom, who was still half-asleep, jumped in shock.

  “Daniel! What happened?” Tom asked, rushing to his bedside.

  Daniel’s voice trembled slightly. “I saw something… horrible. A dark forest… a lake… and someone got dragged into it by black hands. It felt so real, Tom. Like I was there.”

  Tom frowned, concerned. “That sounds serious, Daniel. You should tell the Headmaster. Maybe he’ll understand what this dream means.”

  Daniel nodded weakly. “Yes, I will. But first, let’s meet Scarlett after breakfast. She deserves to know too.”

  Morning in the Great Hall

  After a few minutes, the boys were dressed and ready. The castle corridors were alive with chatter and floating candles as students hurried to their classes. They finally spotted Scarlett near the Great Hall entrance.

  Scarlett noticed Daniel’s tired face and immediately asked, “Daniel, are you okay? What happened last night? Everyone’s been whispering about your curse mark.”

  Tom sighed and explained, “He had another nightmare. Said he saw a lake and someone being pulled into it.”

  Scarlett’s expression turned serious. “That’s not just a dream, Tom. Something is calling him. We need to talk to Headmaster Christ immediately after breakfast.”

  Daniel gave a small nod. “Agreed. I can still feel that place… like it’s waiting for me.”

  The Corridor Confrontation

  After breakfast, when most students had gone to their classes, Daniel, Tom, and Scarlett walked through the long marble corridor toward the Headmaster’s office. Suddenly, a deep voice called from behind them.

  “Where do you think you’re going?”

  They turned to see Mr. Savris Lee, the stern Transformation professor and head of Aurivex House, standing with his arms crossed. His dark eyes studied Daniel sharply.

  “Ah, you must be Daniel Cruse,” Mr. Lee said slowly. “The boy cursed by Lord Umbragon himself.”

  Daniel straightened his back. “Yes, sir. That’s me.”

  Mr. Lee narrowed his eyes. “And where are you heading now, Mr. Cruse? Shouldn’t you be in Herbology?”

  “I’m going to help with something important,” Daniel replied cautiously.

  “More important than your class?” Mr. Lee asked, his tone tightening.

  Before Daniel could answer, Scarlett stepped forward. “Yes, sir. This matter is more important than Herbology.”

  Mr. Lee glared at her. “Who asked you to speak, Miss Watson? You’d better remember your place. Fine—if it’s so important, you can go after class. Now move along.”

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  He turned sharply and walked away, his robes sweeping the floor behind him.

  Through the Portrait Passage

  As soon as Mr. Lee disappeared around the corner, Tom whispered, “We need to keep an eye on him. Something’s off. Let’s take the portrait passageway to avoid him.”

  Scarlett nodded, and Daniel agreed. They slipped into the Portrait Room and climbed through a painting that led to a hidden corridor near the Headmaster’s office.

  But as soon as they stepped out of the portrait, a voice echoed in the hall.

  “I knew you’d try that, Mr. Cruse.”

  It was Mr. Lee again, standing with a cold smile. “You’ve just lost house points—two from Dracorus and one from Nihilara. Now, go to your class immediately.”

  The three exchanged hopeless glances. Their plan had failed.

  Nightfall and the Dream Returns

  That night, Daniel lay awake in bed, staring at the ceiling. His thoughts swirled with confusion and fear. When he finally drifted into sleep, the same nightmare returned—but this time, it felt worse.

  He stood again in the moonlit forest. The same lake shimmered ahead, black and motionless. Mist drifted above its surface like ghosts.

  Suddenly, he saw the same man near the edge of the water. The air turned cold, and Daniel’s heartbeat quickened.

  The man looked terrified, whispering something Daniel couldn’t understand. Then, two shadowy hands emerged from the lake and dragged him beneath the water with a violent splash.

  Daniel tried to run forward, shouting, “Wait! Stop!” But his legs felt heavy, like the ground itself was pulling him back.

  Just as he tried to do something—the dream shattered.

  The Headmaster’s Revelation

  Daniel woke up screaming. Tom rushed to his bed again, followed by Scarlett, who had come running from her dorm after hearing the noise.

  “This isn’t just a dream anymore,” Daniel said, breathing heavily. “It’s real. I can feel it.”

  Without hesitation, Scarlett said, “Then we go to the Headmaster. Now.”

  Minutes later, they were standing before Headmaster Albus Christ’s door. A deep, commanding voice came from inside:

  “Enter.”

  The three stepped in. The office glowed with candlelight and ancient books floated quietly in the background.

  Headmaster Christ looked up from his desk. “I expected you sooner, Mr. Cruse. Tell me everything.”

  Scarlett spoke first, explaining everything that had happened—Daniel’s curse awakening, the fight with Light, and both dreams about the lake.

  When she finished, Headmaster Christ stood and approached Daniel slowly. His expression was grave.

  “Daniel,” he said softly, “I need to show you something.”

  He waved his wand and whispered an incantation. The world around them began to blur, and the floor seemed to vanish beneath their feet.

  Daniel blinked—and when he opened his eyes again, he was standing in the same forest from his dream. The lake shimmered before him under a silver moon.

  Daniel’s face went pale as the dreamlike fog began to thicken around them. The forest was eerily silent—only the faint whisper of the wind stirred the leaves.

  Headmaster Albus Christ turned to them, his voice calm but commanding. “Follow me. Stay close. Do not wander.”

  They walked for several minutes through the shadowed trees. The ground was soft, almost breathing beneath their feet. Then, as they stepped into a small clearing, Daniel froze in disbelief.

  His eyes widened. “That’s… that’s the lake from my dream!” he shouted, pointing toward the glimmering water ahead.

  The lake was vast and unnaturally still, glowing faintly under a misty silver haze. The air around it felt heavy, as though soaked in unseen energy.

  Headmaster Christ didn’t look surprised. His expression was solemn. “It wasn’t just a dream, Daniel,” he said quietly. “What you saw was a side effect of the curse.”

  Scarlett frowned, her voice shaking slightly. “Curse? You mean this lake… and Daniel’s dream… they’re connected?”

  The Headmaster nodded slowly. “Yes, Miss Watson. Deeply connected. What Daniel saw is part of something much older and darker than you can imagine.”

  Tom took a hesitant step forward. “Sir… what exactly is this place?”

  Headmaster Christ turned to face the lake. His reflection shimmered strangely on the water’s surface. “This,” he said softly, “is known as the Death Lake—though in ancient texts, it was called the Moonlit Lake. Thirty years ago, the last full moon was reflected upon this water… and since then, no proper full moon has graced our sky.”

  Daniel’s brows furrowed. “Why? What happened thirty years ago?”

  The Headmaster sighed. “When the curse of Lord Umbragon was sealed, it bound not only him—but the very cycle of the moon itself. The lake became his mirror. When a perfect full moon appears, its light reflects the image of a chosen person… a marked soul. Within days, that person is drawn here—no one can stop it—and they vanish into the water, claimed by the curse.”