Chapter 1 Welcome to hell!
The black SUV screeched to a stop in front of the massive iron gates. The atmosphere was heavy, filled with the smell of different perfume.
Twila stepped out of the car, adjusting her plaid skirt. She looked innocent and sweet. Her big doe eyes scanned the enormous castle ahead.
"Here we go," she whispered to herself, a small, shy smile on her lips.
"New student?" a voice called from behind the gates.
Twila jumped slightly, clutching her bag.
"Yes, I'm Twila, the transfer," she said softly.
The gates creaked open without anyone touching them. A girl with bright pink hair skipped forward.
"Hi! I'm Brielle! I'm your guide!" Brielle exclaimed, grabbing Twila's hand.
"Oh, nice to meet you," Twila smiled.
"Come on! Everyone is waiting in the Common Hall, it's Display Night, you came just in time!" Brielle pulled her along.
Twila followed, her head down, staring at the cobblestones.
Perfect, she thought.
Inside her pocket, her hand gripped a small black stone so tightly her knuckles turned white.
THE COMMON HALL★7:15PM
The hall was crowded. Students in expensive outfits lounged on velvet sofas, drinks in hand. The energy in the room was suffocating, magic crackled in the air like static.
"Attention everyone!" Brielle shouted, her voice amplified by an unseen microphone.
The room fell silent.
"We have a freshie! This is Twila!" Brielle announced.
Twila gave a small, awkward wave. "Hi..."
"She's cute," a boy whispered from the back.
"She looks fragile," another girl scoffed.
"Alright, introductions!" Brielle clapped her hands. "Show her what we've got!"
A girl with silver hair stood up first, she looked like a porcelain doll, but her eyes were cold.
"I'm Amorette," she said and blew a kiss into the air.
Pink smoke formed into a heart shape and floated toward a random boy, his eyes instantly glazed over.
"I love you, Amorette!" the boy shouted, falling to his knees.
Amorette snapped her fingers, and the spell broke. The boy blinked, confused.
"Love manipulation," Amorette smirked as she sat back down.
"Show off," another girl hissed. She stood up, vines tattooed on her neck.
"I'm Viella. And this is my twin, Sylqa."
Sylqa stood beside her, they held hands.
"Nature's Wrath," they said in unison.
Suddenly, the floorboards cracked, thick, thorny vines shot up from the ground, twisting into a throne. Viella sat on it like a queen.
"Impressive," Twila whispered, pretending to be amazed.
"Move over, tree huggers," a girl with glowing tattoos walked to the center. "I'm Lunee."
She raised her hands, the lights in the hall flickered and went out, plunging the room into darkness. A ball of pure moonlight formed in her palms, illuminating her face.
"I control the night," Lunee whispered.
"And I control the poison," a soft voice came from the shadows.
Cherine stepped out, she looked like an angel, but when she touched a flower in a vase, it turned black and crumbled to dust.
"Nice to meet you, Twila," Cherine smiled sweetly.
Twila nodded,
"Is that all?" A deep, bored voice echoed from the balcony above.
Everyone froze. Even the air felt colder.
Three boys jumped down from the balcony, landing perfectly on their feet.
"The Kings," Brielle whispered to Twila. "Stay away from them."
The first boy, with messy brown hair, stepped forward.
"I'm Levi," he grinned. He didn't move, but suddenly, every cup of water in the room exploded. The liquid hovered in the air, turning into sharp ice daggers before melting back into the cups.
"Hydro-kinesis," Levi winked.
"Boring," the second boy muttered. He had scars on his knuckles. "I'm Cassian."
Cassian stomped his foot, the entire hall shook. A massive crack appeared in the wall, revealing the stone beneath.
"Super strength and Earth manipulation," Brielle quickly explained.
"And him?" Twila asked, pointing to the last boy.
He leaned against a pillar with his arms crossed. He hadn’t said a word, he looked beautiful in a terrifying way, his eyes were the color of a stormy sea.
"That's Delaney," a boy said. "But he's not the leader."
"Then who is?" Twila asked.
BOOM!
Thunder shook the castle, the windows rattled.
The heavy double doors at the end of the hall blasted open.
A figure walked in. He was tall, wearing a black leather jacket. The aura around him felt dark, sparks of blue electricity danced along his fingertips.
"Raiden," the crowd whispered fearfully.
Raiden didn’t look at anyone, he walked straight to the center of the room, the other students parted like the Red Sea.
He stopped in front of Twila.
He looked down at her. His gaze felt heavy and oppressive, as if he was reading her soul.
Twila looked up, widening her eyes, playing the innocent new girl perfectly.
"You," Raiden said, his voice deep and raspy.
"M-Me?" Twila stuttered.
"You don't smell like the others," Raiden narrowed his eyes. "You smell like trouble."
Twila gulped audibly. "I just got here."
Raiden scoffed. He leaned in close, electricity crackling near her ear.
"Welcome to hell, cupcake, try not to get eaten."
He turned and walked away, the other Kings—Levi, Cassian, and Delaney—following him like soldiers.
The tension in the room broke.
"Wow," Brielle exhaled. "He spoke to you. Raiden never speaks to freshies."
"He's scary," Twila said, clutching her chest.
"He's the heir to the Dark Forces," Amorette said, reapplying her lip gloss. "Totally unhinged and totally hot."
"Alright! Show's over! Everyone to your dorms!" Brielle clapped.
GIRLS DORMITORY★ROOM 303
Twila was finally alone.
The room was nice, with two beds and a large window overlooking the dark forest, her roommate hadn’t arrived yet.
Twila locked the door.
Slowly, the shy, innocent expression melted from her face.
Her lips curled into a cold, psychotic smirk.
She walked to the mirror, her reflection stared back
"They have no idea," she whispered.
She pulled out her phone, a message popped up on the screen.
UNKNOWN: Are you in?
Twila’s fingers flew across the keyboard.
TWILA: I’m in. Raiden Vane is arrogant, breaking him will be fun.
She tossed the phone on the bed.
She raised her hand, black smoke, darker than the night outside, swirled around her fingers. It wasn't simple magic, it was pure dark energy.
The flower in the vase on her nightstand withered and died within seconds.
"Let the games begin," she giggled,
Suddenly, a knock on the door.
"Twila? You awake?" It was Brielle.
Twila instantly fixed her face, the smirk vanished, and her doe eyes returned.
"Coming!" she called out cheerfully.
She opened the door.
"Here's your schedule!" Brielle handed her a paper. "Oh, and be careful..."
"Why?" Twila asked.
"Because Raiden is in your first class, Supernatural Combat."
Twila smiled sweetly.
"I'll be fine, Brielle, what's the worst that can happen?"
Everything, Twila thought. For him.
