The news arrived early the next day that the Harandalf squad were disqualified from the tournament. The Vixen had also pulled out of the contest and just like that, the semi finals were over. The Misfits who were now in second place were set to face Tantalus in the finals.

Tristan sat by Luna’s bed in the hospital wing until she finally opened her eyes.

She looked up at him and smiled weakly.

“You look the way I feel,” she said.

He laughed.

“Are you hungry?” he asked.

“Water,” she said.

Tristan stood up and returned a few seconds later with a glass of water.

Luna took a big sip and the water split onto her shirt.

“Slowly,” he said. “You’ve been asleep for two days.”

She groaned. “That's why my stomach feels hollow.”

“They left you some bread,” he said. “There was also a bowl of soup but I ate that.”

She laughed and then winced in pain.

“Let me get you something to eat,” he said as he left the room.

***

Tristan returned later with a bowl of steaming mushroom soup, two thick slices of buttered bread and a cup of spiced tea for himself.

“I made sure it’s vegetarian,” he said as he handed the tray to Luna.

She grunted a thanks and began to eat hungrily.

“I'm sorry,” he said after she’d finished eating.

“For the bruised ribs?” she asked. “Or the long cut along my thigh?”

“It won't leave a scar,” said Tristan.

“How do you know?” she asked.

“I had a look while you were sleeping.”

“You were checking out my thighs while I was unconscious,” she said with mock horror.

“What? No, it's not like that. I was just worried…”

She laughed and held her chest as she winced in pain again.

“I'm sorry about everything,” he said. “I’ve been an ass.”

Tristan left the hospital wing with a lightness in his step. Luna was feeling better and the Misfits had made it into the finals. It seemed like everything was going his way. He took a long shower and let the hot water soak into his aching muscles. After he couldn't stand the heat any longer he got out and went back to his dorm. He opened his bedroom window and called Buzzbeak. He waited a few moments then closed the windows again. The stormcrow came and went as it pleased and was often away for days at a time.

He wanted to return to Luna but he didn't want to come across too clingy. So he killed some time wandering around the academy grounds. He found his way down to the Beast Mastery enclosure and he picked some wild berries and fed the oxbeasts. Tristan patted the smallest oxbeast and scratched it between the ears. The animal snorted loudly and rubbed its head against Tristan’s hand. The pair had grown over the winter, their shaggy coats had grown thick and had changed color from a dark red to a lighter orange color.

Tristan couldn't stand waiting anymore. He returned to the castle and climbed the stairs to the hospital wing and bumped into Jayce in the hallway.

“How’s she doing?” Tristan asked.

“Who?” asked Jayce.

“The girl you’ve spent every minute with since she was brought here.”

Jayce smiled sheepishly. “Cora’s recovering. Madam Myrtle says that bones take longer to heal than muscle damage. She said Cora’s going to make a full recovery. Should be on her feet in a few weeks.”

“That's great,” said Tristan. “I was feeling kinda bad about making it to the finals on a technicality but if Cora’s doing better than it's not that bad.”

Jayce nodded. “I'm not really thinking about the fight.”

“Of course,” said Tristan. “I'm going in to see Luna now, do you want to come with me?”

Jayce shook his head. “You go ahead. I'll meet up with you guys later. Need to run an errand for Cora quickly.”

“She's got you well trained already,” said Tristan.

Jayce’s face reddened. He punched Tristan on the arm then laughed.

***

Luna was sitting up in bed when Tristan arrived.

“Some mail arrived for you when you were out,” she said and she gestured at a small box on the side table. “Looks like you have a secret admirer.”

Tristan smiled and picked up the box and shook it. There was a note on it. He opened the envelope and read it to himself.

A little treat for little Timmy, hope he’s recovering well.

Tristan crumpled the note and shot Luna a smile.

“You’re right,” he said, “My first secret admirer.”

She frowned then laughed as if she wasn't sure what to make of his words.

Tristan opened the box of chocolates. “Let me taste one to check for poison,” he said as he popped one on his mouth.

“They're good,” he said with a mouth full of chocolate.

He offered the box to Luna.

“Chocolate’s my one weakness,” she said with a smile. She looked around the box then selected a square block of chocolate with a red line across it. She took a bite and her face split in a grin.

Tristan nodded and smiled, at least his scam had paid off in some way he thought.

“There's a salty smoky flavor in it,” he said. The flavor reminded him of something. He popped another chocolate into his mouth and rolled it around his mouth. “That's it,” he said. “There's bits of bacon in here.” He laughed. He thought it was strange that the bacon in sweets trend had worked in Umbra as well as it had on Earth. “It's good, a bit weird but good,” he said. “Oh, did I mention that we are in the finals.”

He looked up and saw that Luna’s face had turned white

“What's wrong?” he asked,

“Bacon,” she mumbled the word like her tongue was swollen.

“Sorry,” said Tristan. “I forgot, you don't like eating meat. The saltiness of the pork brings out the sweetness of the chocolate.”

Luna coughed and banged on her chest. Her hands began to tremble. It looked like she was having a panic attack.

“Just breathe,” he said, trying to keep the fear out of his voice.

Luna's eyes rolled back and she began to foam from the mouth.

“Luna!” he shouted. “Somebody help.”

He tried to pry open her mouth and force his fingers down her throat so she could throw up the chocolate.

The lights in the room dimmed and long tendril like shadows started rising up all around Luna like the arms of a giant squid. The tendrils wrapped around Tristan raising him off the ground.

He shouted for help again and he heard footsteps pounding on the ground drawing nearer.

Headmaster Aurelian burst into the room. The chain of bells around his neck clattered and rang as he raised his hands. The room turned white as the most brilliant light Tristan had ever seen filled every inch of the room. Shadow’s released Tristan and fled. Luna collapsed forward, her eyes were black and lifeless.

“Is she going to be ok?” Tristan asked breathlessly.

Lady Kizemere arrived breathing heavily followed by Madam Myrtle. The potions master uncorked a bottle. She pushed Luna back onto the pillow and poured a purple liquid into her mouth.

The Headmaster rang a single bell that he wore around his wrist, Sphinx the winged cat appeared.

“Let the monks of Belladeon know that another victim is on their way to the temple,” said the Headmaster.

Sphinx nodded its head and the cat disappeared.