Chapter 5 The Academy's Obsession
The shrill ringing of the academy bell tore through the dormitory, dragging Selene from a restless sleep.
Her eyes opened slowly. For several seconds, she stared at the ceiling without moving. Then the memories returned: Lila's frightened face.
Selene pushed herself upright, her fingers tightening around the blanket as her gaze drifted toward the bed across the room. It was empty. The blankets hadn't moved since yesterday.
“Lila…” Selene closed her eyes and exhaled slowly. She already knew something was wrong.
She forced herself out of bed and changed into her Ravenwood uniform. She buttoned her white shirt, pulled on her navy blazer, and straightened the silver-striped tie beneath her collar before grabbing her bag and leaving the dormitory.
The corridors were already crowded with students heading toward their morning classes. Shoes clicked against polished floors, voices overlapped, and laughter echoed beneath the high ceilings.
Then Selene stepped into the corridor, and the laughter thinned.
One conversation stopped completely.
A student elbowed another. “That's her.”
“The human?”
“The one who took down Lucien Draven.”
“I heard the council couldn't even control her.”
“She doesn't look dangerous.”
“That's what makes it worse.”
Selene kept walking as her fingers tightened around her bag strap. She stared straight ahead.
Another whisper followed her. “Maybe she's a witch.”
“No. I heard she's something else.”
Selene's jaw tightened.
She tried to ignore them until four students stepped directly into her path, forcing her to stop.
One of the boys folded his arms. “You're Selene Vale, right?”
“Ye..s…” Selene stammered.
A few students nearby slowed down to watch.
The boy grinned. “What are you? Witch? Demon? Secret vampire?”
“Maybe she doesn't even know,” one of the boys said.
Selene glanced between them. “I'm human.”
The tallest boy stepped closer. “Humans don't overpower Lucien Draven.”
“I didn't overpower anyone.”
He reached for her wrist. Selene immediately pulled back, but his fingers closed around her. “Then prove it.”
Her expression hardened. “Please, I need to go.”
His grip tightened. Before Selene could pull away, a calm voice came from behind them.
“Is there a reason you're surrounding her?”
The boy's smile disappeared, and everyone turned.
Cassian Thorn stood several feet away, one hand tucked casually into his pocket. His dark hair fell loosely across his forehead, and his warm brown eyes moved from Selene's wrist to the boy's hand.
“Let her go.”
The boy released Selene immediately. “Cassian, we were just…”
“Leave her now.”
The boy swallowed. “Okay.”
The four students disappeared into the crowd.
Selene rubbed her wrist.
Cassian approached but stopped a respectful distance away. “I heard you were released yesterday.”
Selene nodded. “Apparently.”
A faint smile touched his lips. “I'm glad you're alive.”
Cassian glanced toward the crowd that had begun moving again. “Don't mistake being released for being free.”
Selene's smile faded. “I don't.” She looked down.
Cassian studied her for a moment. “You're handling it better than most people would.”
“I'm not handling anything, everything is crushing in me.”
His expression softened. “I totally understand.”
A reluctant smile appeared on Selene's face, and the bell rang. She glanced toward the academic building. “I should go.”
She took a step, then heard, “Selene.”
She turned, and her eyes met Cassian's.
Cassian hesitated before reaching into his pocket. He pulled out a small black card and held it toward her. “I'm having a few friends over tonight.”
Selene stared at the card. “A party?”
“Nothing big.”
She shook her head. “I am not going.”
“I expected that.” A quiet laugh escaped him. “No politics. No council members. No questions about your blood.”
Selene raised an eyebrow.
“Just a few people I trust.”
“I am sorry, I don't want to go.”
“No.” Cassian smiled. “I think you should trust yourself enough to leave if you don't feel safe.”
Selene studied him as the answer caught her off guard.
He extended the card again. “If you change your mind.”
She hesitated before taking it. “Okay.”
“Our academy numbers are linked. Send me a message if you decide to come.”
Selene slipped the card into her pocket. “I'll think about it.”
“I'll take that as a maybe.” Cassian stepped aside.
Then Selene continued toward class.
She reached the classroom just before the third bell.
The moment she stepped inside, the room quieted. Dozens of eyes followed her.
Selene lowered her gaze and walked toward an empty seat near the back.
A few students whispered behind their hands.
“That's her.”
“She doesn't even look scared.”
Selene placed her bag beside her chair, and the classroom door opened.
A middle-aged professor entered with several books tucked beneath her arm. “Good morning.”
“Good morning, Professor.”
The professor placed the books on her desk as her eyes moved across the classroom. Then they stopped on Selene.
For a second, she said nothing.
Selene shifted in her chair, and the professor looked away. “Open your textbooks to page thirty-two.”
The lesson began.
Selene tried to listen, but every few minutes, she caught someone staring.
A boy in the front row turned around.
A girl whispered behind her hand.
Even the professor's gaze returned to her several times.
Selene's eyes remained fixed on the textbook as the words blurred. Her mind kept returning to Lila.
The bell rang, making Selene flinch. She shoved her books into her bag and hurried toward the door. She made it three steps into the hallway.
“Selene!”
She stopped as a student approached.
“Is it true you defeated Lucien?”
Another appeared behind him. “What kind of power do you have?”
“Can you really resist compulsion?”
“Are you a vampire?”
“Can you show us?”
More students gathered as Selene backed away. “Please, I don't know what y'all are talking about.”
Someone reached for her sleeve.
She pulled away. “Don't touch me.”
The crowd pressed closer, and Selene’s breathing grew shallow.
“Selene, wait!”
She turned and ran. Her shoes struck the polished floor as voices followed behind her.
“Selene!”
She ran until the crowd disappeared behind her.
By the time she reached the dormitory, her chest was heaving. She unlocked the door, slipped inside, and immediately locked it.
Her back pressed against the wood as she closed her eyes.
She reached into her pocket. The black card rested against her palm. She stared at it.
“No way,” she whispered.
A knock sounded, and Selene froze.
Her fingers tightened around the card as another knock echoed through the room.
Slowly, she stepped away from the door, her hand hovering over the handle.
She drew in a slow breath, steadied herself, and finally unlocked the door.
The door opened, and Selene froze at the sight waiting on the other side.
Lucien Draven stood alone on the other side, his silver-gray eyes locking with hers.
Neither of them spoke.
For several seconds, the corridor seemed to disappear.
Then Lucien turned away. “Follow me.”
Selene didn't move.
He took several steps before stopping. Without looking back, he spoke again. “Now.”
Selene's heart pounded against her ribs. She glanced down at the black card in her hand before slipping it into her pocket.
Then she stepped into the hallway. The door clicked shut behind her as she followed Lucien into the silent corridor.
