Chapter 4 Confession party

The room was chaotic with silk, perfume, and a sense of magic.

Twila stood still while Brielle zipped up her dress. This wasn’t the innocent pink frock from earlier. It was black velvet, fitting tightly like a second skin, with a slit that rose dangerously high.

"You look like a dark goddess," Brielle exclaimed, her pink hair bouncing.

"Too much?" Twila asked, pretending to be unsure.

"Not enough," came a cool voice from the doorway.

Amorette entered, followed by Lunee and Cherine.

Amorette flicked her wrist, and a cloud of red mist settled onto Twila’s cheeks, giving her a natural blush. "There, now you look alive."

Lunee, the girl who commanded the night, waved her hand over Twila's hair. Shadows wove into her strands, making them darker and glossier. "Raiden likes the dark. If you want to survive the Kings, you need to look like you belong to the shadows."

"I don’t want to belong to anyone," Twila whispered, glancing at her reflection. She looked dangerous.

"We’re coming with you," Cherine said softly, touching a wilting rose on the desk. "The Clock Tower is neutral ground, but there are sharks in the water tonight."

"Sharks?" Twila asked.

"Island," Viella said, appearing with her twin Sylqa. They wore matching emerald green slip dresses. "Island is coming."

The room fell silent. The atmosphere turned cold.

"Who is Island?" Twila asked, sensing the real fear in the room.

"She's the worst of us," Brielle murmured. "She’s rich, wicked, and she’s dating Cassian."

"One of the Kings?"

"The strongest one," Sylqa corrected. "Physically, at least. Cassian destroys mountains and Island holds his leash."

Twila smirked internally. A girl holding a monster's leash? I might need to take notes.

"Let's go," Amorette said, checking her reflection one last time. "Don't let them smell fear."

THE CLOCK TOWER★9:45 PM

The abandoned Clock Tower towered over the campus, a skeletal structure of iron and glass. Inside, the gears had stopped moving centuries ago, but tonight, the place was alive.

Heavy bass music vibrated through the floorboards. Colored magical lights floated in the air—purple, blood red, neon green.

Students filled the space. They drank, danced, and used magic to float or conjure illusions.

Twila entered with her group—Brielle, Amorette, Lunee, Cherine, Viella, and Sylqa. They moved together like a phalanx of beauty and power. Heads turned.

"Fresh meat!" someone shouted.

Twila ignored them and scanned the room for the throne.

She spotted them.

On the upper platform, lounging on velvet sofas salvaged from the castle, sat the Kings.

Levi spun a ball of water on his finger, looking bored. Delaney read a book, ignoring the chaos.

And Raiden.

He sat in the center, a glass of amber liquid in hand. He looked like a bored emperor watching his subjects. He was dressed in all black, his shirt unbuttoned halfway down his chest, revealing ink on his skin.

But near the Kings was a spectacle that made Twila pause.

On a loveseat to the right, a girl with platinum blonde hair and a dress made of actual diamonds was straddling a massive boy.

"That's Cassian," Brielle whispered. "And that... is Island."

Cassian, the Earth manipulator, held the girl's waist possessively. He was kissing her neck—no, devouring it—right in front of everyone.

Island appeared bored. She checked her nails while Cassian worshipped her body. She sipped her drink, completely ignoring that her boyfriend was practically undressing her in public.

"Gross," Amorette muttered. "They have no shame."

Suddenly, Island’s eyes snapped up. They were grey, cold, and lifeless.

She spotted Twila.

Island pushed Cassian off her. He growled and tried to pull her back, but she slapped his chest.

"Down, dog," Island commanded.

Cassian immediately stopped, panting and looking at her with pathetic devotion.

Island stood up and smoothed her diamond dress. Beside her, another girl rose—short, with choppy black hair and swirling, hypno-spiral eyes.

"That's Ellie," Brielle warned, grabbing Twila's arm. "Don't look into her eyes, she has Confession Magic, she can force your darkest secrets out."

Island and Ellie descended the stairs, parting the crowd. They stopped right in front of Twila.

Island looked Twila up and down. She sneered.

"So, this is the charity case," Island drawled. Her voice was scratchy and mean. "Nice dress. Did you find it in the lost and found?"

Twila blinked, keeping her expression neutral. "It's vintage."

"It's trash," Island laughed. "Just like you."

Ellie giggled. "She smells like secrets, Island. I can taste them on her tongue."

Twila’s heart raced. She needed to be careful.

"Leave her alone, Island," Amorette said, stepping forward, pink mist swirling around her hands.

"Shut up, Cupid," Island snapped. "I'm not talking to you."

She turned back to Twila. "My boyfriend, Cassian? He says you have a nice right hook. He says Raiden is... interested."

Island stepped closer, poking her sharp nail into Twila's chest.

"Let me make this clear, New Girl. Raiden Vane doesn’t do 'girlfriends.' He does victims. If you think you can climb the social ladder by sleeping with him, I will cut the rungs out from under you."

Twila glanced at Island’s finger on her chest.

Break it, the voice in her head whispered. Snap it like a twig.

Instead, Twila stepped back, pretending to be frightened.

"I... I don't want any trouble," Twila stammered.

"Boring," Island yawned. "Ellie, make her say something interesting."

Ellie moved closer. Her spiral eyes began to glow.

"Twila," Ellie whispered, her voice echoing in Twila's mind. "Tell us... why are you really here? What are you hiding?"

The magic hit Twila like a blow. It clawed at her throat, trying to extract the truth.

I'm here to kill the Vanes. I'm here to burn this school.

The words bubbled up. Her mouth opened.

Brielle gasped. "Ellie, stop! That's illegal!"

Twila bit her tongue so hard she tasted blood. She fought the magic with her own chaotic energy, pushing it down, twisting it.

"I..." Twila choked out.

"Say it!" Ellie commanded.

"I..." Twila’s eyes watered. "I'm just here... because I want to learn!"

The lie slipped out, smooth as silk.

Ellie frowned. The magic faded, she looked confused. "That... that felt like the truth but it was... slippery."

Island rolled her eyes. "Ugh. She's a boring goody-two-shoes. Let's go, Ellie. I need a refill."

Island shoved past Twila, deliberately bumping her shoulder. She walked back up the stairs, snapping her fingers at Cassian, who immediately rushed to get her a drink like a trained servant.

Twila exhaled, not realizing she had been holding her breath. She had resisted the Confession but just barely.

"That was close," Lunee whispered.

"Vane," a deep voice boomed from the upper platform.

Raiden stood at the railing looking at Twila.

"Get up here," he commanded.

The music didn’t stop, but everyone watched.

Twila smoothed her dress, she walked up the stairs alone.

THE VIP PLATFORM

Raiden sat back down on the sofa as Twila approached. Up close, he was even more striking. His arrogance radiated off him.

"You came," he said flatly.

"You threatened to drag me," Twila responded, standing before him.

"Sit," he pointed to the floor at his feet.

Twila froze.

He wanted her to sit on the floor? Like a dog?

"I prefer to stand," she said, her voice quiet but firm.

Raiden raised an eyebrow. He leaned forward, resting his elbows on his knees.

"I didn't ask what you prefer, Twila. I gave you an order, In this school, there is a hierarchy. I am at the top, you are at the bottom."

He swirled his drink.

"Sit. Or leave and never come back into my sight."

Twila looked at him and looked at the floor.

If she left, she lost her access to him. If she sat, she lost her dignity.

Play the game, Twila, lose the battle to win the war.

Slowly, gracefully, Twila lowered herself to the floor. She sat by his feet, arranging her black dress around her legs. She looked up at him through her lashes, playing the submissive doll.

"Good girl," Raiden murmured.

He let her sit there while he ignored her, talking to Levi about combat strategy.

It was humiliating.

And it made Twila want to kill him more than ever.

Minutes passed. Twila sat there, unseen.

Island walked back up, holding a cocktail. She saw Twila on the floor and laughed, a cruel, mocking sound.

"Look at that," Island smirked, draping herself over Cassian’s lap again. "The fool knows her place."

Island kicked her foot, "accidentally" knocking over a glass of red wine on the table.

The wine splashed down.

Right onto Twila’s head.

The red liquid soaked her hair, dripped down her face, and ruined her black velvet dress.

The music stopped, the entire party fell silent.

Twila sat there, red wine dripping from her nose.

Island gasped, mocking and fake. "Oops. My hand slipped."

Cassian chuckled, burying his face in Island’s neck. "You're clumsy, babe."

"Clean it up, Twila," Island sneered.

Twila stayed still, she couldn’t breathe. The rage inside her felt like a nuclear bomb. The urge to unleash the rot, to melt the flesh off Island's bones, was overwhelming.

She glanced at Raiden.

He was watching her, he hadn’t moved to stop it. He wasn’t laughing, but he wasn’t helping either. His face was a mask of cold indifference. He was waiting to see her reaction.

Twila wiped the wine from her eyes.

She stood up.

She didn’t scream.

She reached into her bag.

Everyone flinched, expecting a weapon.

Twila pulled out a napkin. She cleaned her face.

Then, she turned to Island.

"It's okay," Twila said, her voice shaking with false 'sadness'. "Accidents happen."

She walked over to the table where a bucket of ice and champagne sat.

"Let me help clean up," Twila said.

She picked up the champagne bottle.

And then, in a blur, she swung it.

SMASH!

She didn’t hit Island.

She smashed the bottle against the iron railing right next to Island's head. Glass exploded. Champagne sprayed everywhere. Shards flew and nicked Island’s cheek.

Island screamed, falling back into Cassian’s arms.

"Oops," Twila whispered, her face expressionless, wine still dripping from her chin. "My hand slipped."

Silence.

Dead silence.

Nobody moved. Twila had just threatened the most popular girl in school and nearly blinded her.

Twila turned to Raiden.

She expected him to be angry.

Raiden looked at the shattered glass. He looked at the cut on Island's cheek.

And then, he looked at Twila.

The corner of his mouth twitched.

He stood up, looming over her. He reached out, wiping a streak of wine from her cheek with his thumb. He licked it.

"Vintage," Raiden said, his voice dark and amused. "Go get cleaned up, Twila, you made a mess."

He wasn’t mad.

He was impressed.

Twila dropped the broken bottle neck on the floor.

"Goodnight, Raiden," she said.

She turned and walked down the stairs, head held high, looking like a queen covered in blood.

As she left the tower, she heard Island screaming at Cassian to kill her.

But Cassian didn’t move. He obeyed Raiden, whose hand signaled for silence.

Twila stepped into the night, the cold air hitting her wet skin.

Rule #1, she thought, trembling with adrenaline.If they treat you like a dog, show them your teeth.