CHAPTER TWO: Something Isn’t Right

The first thing Aria realized about Blackwood Academy was that no one smiled.

Not really.

They talked, they laughed—but it never reached their eyes. It felt… controlled. Like everyone was pretending to be normal.

And failing.

Aria tightened her grip on the strap of her bag as she moved through the courtyard, trying her best to ignore the way people kept glancing at her.

Not just glancing.

Studying.

“Okay,” she whispered under her breath. “Definitely not imagining that.”

“Imagining what?”

Aria flinched.

She turned quickly to find a girl standing beside her, close enough that she hadn’t even noticed her approach.

The girl smiled brightly.

Too brightly.

“I—uh—nothing,” Aria said quickly.

The girl tilted her head, her long, dark hair sliding over her shoulder like silk. Her eyes were striking—an unusual shade, almost… sea-green.

“You’re new,” she said.

It wasn’t a question.

“Is it that obvious?” Aria asked.

“A little,” the girl replied with a soft laugh. “You look like you still expect this place to make sense.”

That… wasn’t reassuring.

“I’m Aria,” she said, shifting awkwardly.

The girl’s smile widened.

“Lyra,” she said. “Lyra Marelle.”

Her voice had a strange quality to it—smooth, almost musical. It lingered in the air longer than it should have.

Aria blinked.

“That’s a pretty name.”

“I know,” Lyra said lightly.

There was something oddly confident about the way she said it. Not arrogant—just certain.

“So,” Lyra continued, looping her arm casually through Aria’s, “what are you?”

Aria froze.

“…What?”

Lyra stopped walking.

For the first time, her smile faded—just a little.

“What species?” she clarified.

Aria stared at her.

“Species?” she repeated.

Lyra studied her face carefully.

Then something shifted in her expression.

Recognition.

“Oh,” she said softly. “You’re serious.”

“I—yes?” Aria said, her voice rising slightly. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

Lyra let go of her arm slowly.

“That’s…” she hesitated, glancing around as if making sure no one was too close. “…not good.”

A cold knot formed in Aria’s stomach.

“What do you mean ‘not good’?”

Before Lyra could answer, a loud voice cut through the air.

“Lyra! You’re already recruiting the new ones?”

A boy approached them, hands tucked into his pockets, a lazy grin on his face. His hair was messy, his eyes sharp—too sharp.

He looked at Aria.

And then he sniffed the air.

Actually sniffed.

Aria blinked.

“Uh… did you just—”

“She’s human,” he said, cutting her off.

His tone wasn’t surprised.

It was certain.

Aria’s chest tightened.

“Why does everyone keep saying that like it’s weird?” she snapped.

The boy raised an eyebrow.

“Because it is,” he said.

Lyra shot him a look. “Riven, don’t start.”

Too late.

Riven stepped closer, circling Aria slightly like he was inspecting her.

It was uncomfortable.

Very uncomfortable.

“You shouldn’t be here,” he said, echoing the same words Aria had heard earlier.

Her stomach dropped.

“Okay, that’s the second time someone’s said that,” she replied, crossing her arms. “Care to explain?”

Riven smirked.

“Sure,” he said casually. “This school isn’t for humans.”

Silence.

Aria stared at him.

“…That’s not funny.”

“I’m not joking.”

Her pulse started to race.

Lyra sighed softly. “Riven…”

“No, she deserves to know,” he said, his gaze still fixed on Aria. “This place? It’s for us.”

“Us?” Aria whispered.

Riven’s smile sharpened.

“Werewolves,” he said, tapping his chest lightly. “Like me.”

He tilted his head toward Lyra.

“Sirens.”

Lyra gave a small, almost apologetic smile.

“And others,” he added. “Vampires. Things you’ve probably only read about.”

Aria let out a small, disbelieving laugh.

“Right,” she said. “And what, you’re going to tell me next that this is all real?”

No one laughed.

Not even a little.

The air grew heavier.

And that was when Aria realized—

They meant it.

Her throat went dry.

“This isn’t funny,” she said again, but her voice was quieter now.

“It’s not supposed to be,” Riven replied.

Aria shook her head, backing up slightly.

“This is insane. I—I think I should just go—”

“You can’t.”

The voice came from behind her.

Low.

Familiar.

Aria turned.

Kael Rowan stood a few feet away, his expression unreadable.

Her heart skipped.

“You,” she said, more sharply than she intended.

He ignored the tone, his gaze flicking briefly toward Riven and Lyra before settling back on her.

“She’s with you?” Riven asked.

Kael didn’t answer.

Instead, he looked directly at Aria.

“You got the letter,” he said.

It wasn’t a question.

Aria hesitated.

“…Yes.”

“Then you were invited,” he said.

Riven frowned. “That doesn’t make sense. Humans don’t get invited.”

“I know,” Kael replied.

The tension in his voice was subtle—but there.

Lyra’s eyes narrowed slightly. “Unless…”

She stopped.

Aria looked between them, frustration bubbling up.

“Unless what?” she demanded.

No one answered immediately.

And that silence?

That was worse than anything they had said so far.

Kael stepped closer.

Aria felt it again—that strange, overwhelming awareness of him.

“You don’t feel it?” he asked quietly.

“Feel what?” she shot back.

He studied her face for a long moment.

Then, slowly, he said—

“That you don’t belong with them.”

The words hit harder than she expected.

“I am human,” Aria insisted.

Kael’s jaw tightened.

“Maybe,” he said.

The way he said it made her chest tighten.

“Or maybe,” Lyra added softly, “you just don’t know what you are yet.”

Silence fell again.

Heavy.

Unavoidable.

Aria’s thoughts spiraled.

This couldn’t be real.

It didn’t make sense.

And yet—

Everything about this place felt wrong in a way she couldn’t explain.

The letter.

The stares.

Kael.

All of it.

Her heart pounded as one terrifying possibility pushed its way to the surface.

“What if…” she whispered, her voice barely audible, “…you’re right?”

No one looked surprised.

And that—

That was the worst part.

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