The next morning, Seraphina woke with a jolt. Her body had barely touched the bed, yet her mind was already on edge. It was the kind of feeling she'd gotten used to over the years the sensation of being the odd one out in a room full of predators. And right now, Eryndale felt like a den full of them.
She'd barely unpacked when a knock came at the door.
"Miss Caldwell?" A deep, controlled voice called through the door. "I'm here to escort you to the Headmaster's Office."
Seraphina sighed, rolling out of bed and smoothing down her leather jacket. The Headmaster a man with as many secrets as the academy itself was the last person she wanted to meet right now. The last thing she needed was a lecture from some old, power-hungry fool about how to act. She wasn't here to play by anyone's rules.
She swung open the door, expecting a stiff, uptight faculty member. Instead, she came face to face with Caden Voss, the academy guard from last night who had showed her around. His signature smirk tugged at the corner of his lips, his eyes glinting with a mixture of mischief and something far more dangerous.
"Didn't expect you," she said, arching a brow.
"Didn't think you'd be so easy to find," he replied, the playful glint in his eyes making her stomach tighten in an unfamiliar way. There was something about the way he looked at her like he was both evaluating and appreciating her.
"Lead the way," she muttered, stepping past him without another word. Caden's presence was like a shadow following her down the grand halls of Eryndale.
The academy was alive with whispers, most of them about her. The new girl, the one who didn't belong. It wasn't a pleasant feeling, but it was familiar. She had grown used to the feeling of being watched, judged, and dismissed. And soon, they'd all learn just how badly they'd underestimated her.
Caden led her through the maze of halls until they arrived at a large, imposing door. The brass nameplate on it gleamed in the morning light: Headmaster Malachi Lyonne.
"You're not the first to be summoned," Caden said, his tone suddenly turning serious. "But you might be the last one to walk out with your head still on your shoulders."
Seraphina turned to face him, narrowing her eyes. "What's that supposed to mean?"
"Let's just say... Malachi has a way of bending people to his will. If you don't play his games, he'll make sure you want to."
She smirked. "Good thing I don't play by anyone's rules, then."
Caden's eyes darkened slightly, but he didn't respond. He knocked once, then opened the door without waiting for a response. The Headmaster's office was as imposing as the man himself. Dark wood, towering bookshelves, and a massive desk covered in neatly stacked papers.
And behind that desk sat Headmaster Malachi Lyonne. He was older than Caden, but his presence was no less commanding. Tall, with salt-and-pepper hair and piercing blue eyes that seemed to see straight through her. The look he gave her wasn't one of welcome it was a challenge.
"Miss Caldwell," he began, his voice smooth, like molasses. "I trust your arrival has been... satisfactory?"
"More than I expected," Seraphina replied, crossing her arms. "You don't look like someone who wastes time on pleasantries."
He raised an eyebrow, his lips curling into a faint smile. "And you, Miss Caldwell, don't seem like someone who'll last long in my academy. But I've been wrong before."
She leaned forward, matching his intensity. "I'm not here to prove anything to you. I'll either fit in, or I won't. Either way, you'll have to deal with me."
He studied her for a moment, and she could see a flicker of something respect, maybe? Or was it amusement? He didn't seem surprised by her boldness. If anything, he was intrigued.
"I like you, Miss Caldwell," he said slowly. "It's rare to find someone who doesn't care about the rules. We'll see how long that lasts."
He made a gesture toward the door. "Go. You'll start your official classes tomorrow. Today, you're free to explore... just don't make a spectacle of yourself."
Seraphina gave him a sharp nod before turning to leave. But she paused just at the door, her hand on the handle. "One more thing, Headmaster," she added, glancing over her shoulder. "If you think you can break me, you're in for a rude awakening."
His smile didn't waver, but the tension in the room thickened. "We'll see, Miss Caldwell."
Outside, Caden was waiting, his smirk still in place. "That went well."
"Yeah," Seraphina said, rolling her eyes. "But I'm not worried about him. He's just another game I'll play and win."
Caden chuckled. "Confidence suits you. But don't get too cocky. There are more dangerous things here than you realize."
Before she could respond, the bell rang, signaling the start of classes. Caden gestured to the large courtyard ahead. "You should probably head to the student gathering area. People will be watching. And trust me, in this place, you want to know who you're dealing with."
"I'm not afraid of people," Seraphina muttered, her eyes scanning the students who were already gathering. Some were laughing, others talking in hushed tones, but the moment they saw her, they went quiet. She didn't need to hear their whispers to know what they were thinking.
The new girl. The weak human. The outsider.
She walked through the courtyard with the kind of confidence that came from knowing she was about to turn their world upside down. And she had the perfect audience.
Seraphina didn't bother looking back when she heard footsteps following her. There was only one person who would dare to follow her so openly.
Damian Blackwood.
He didn't call out to her. Didn't try to get her attention. He simply walked behind her, his cold gaze never leaving her. The tension between them was what would she call it?She could feel it in her bones an electricity she couldn't ignore.
As they reached the courtyard, Damian stopped just behind her, his voice low. "You should keep your distance, Caldwell. You're already attracting the wrong kind of attention."
She turned, shooting him a cocky smile. "Like I care about your opinion."
His eyes darkened. "That's the problem with you. You never care. But soon, you'll learn that in a place like this, not caring is the most dangerous game of all."
Seraphina met his gaze, her heart racing. There was something about his icy demeanor that made her want to push him even further to see just how far she could take him.
Before she could respond, the sound of a loud laugh broke the tension. A tall, blonde student was striding toward them, his eyes locked on Seraphina with a look of obvious interest.
"Well, well, well... If it isn't the troublemaker herself." Jasper Hale, the infamous rogue who had a reputation for stirring up chaos wherever he went. His smile was nothing short of devilish, and his eyes gleamed with a mixture of curiosity and desire. "Didn't expect you to be so... disarming, Miss Caldwell."
Seraphina didn't miss the undertone of his words. He was sizing her up, like a predator, but it wasn't her strength he was after. No, it was something else something much more dangerous.
"I'm not here to be charming," she said coldly. "But I'll make sure not to disappoint."