Violet barely had time to register Chelsea's grip on her wrist before she was tugged away from Lucien's side. She stumbled forward, her thoughts still lingering on their conversation, but Chelsea's determined pace left no room for hesitation. With an effortless smile plastered on her face, Chelsea led Violet straight to the lunch queue, where Tara and Mia were already waiting.
"I told you I'd get her," Chelsea said, smugness dripping from her words as she cast a triumphant glance at Tara.
Violet attempted a polite smile, but it faltered when she caught sight of Mia. The girl stood beside Tara, arms crossed, her gaze unreadable yet piercing. There was something about the way Mia looked at her—like she was waiting for Violet to wake up from whatever haze she had fallen into. It made Violet's stomach twist uncomfortably, and her fingers twitched as if itching to fidget.
Chelsea and Tara immediately launched into casual conversation, exchanging gossip and shallow pleasantries, their words flowing freely between them. Violet, however, remained silent, feeling like an intruder in a conversation she had no place in. Instead, she focused on the growing tension settling around her as Mia continued to observe her with thinly veiled concern.
She knows. Mia knows I read her note.
Yet, here Violet stood, still letting Chelsea parade her around like a prized possession.
The sharp screech of a chair dragging against the floor cut through the chatter of the canteen. Every head turned as Arleigh abruptly stood from her seat. Without a word, she shoved her tray of food toward Lucien, the plates clattering noisily as they slid in his direction. Her expression remained cold—unreadable, yet unmistakably brimming with disdain. Then, without so much as a glance back, she strode out of the canteen, her posture rigid yet eerily composed.
A murmur rippled through the students as they whispered amongst themselves, exchanging curious glances. Violet's gaze flickered to Lucien, his face impassive as he regarded the mess Arleigh left behind. What had just happened?
Before she could dwell on it further, a hand settled on her shoulder. The sudden proximity sent a shiver down her spine. Chelsea leaned in, her voice low but filled with an unmistakable edge.
"You shouldn't associate with Lucien any further."
Violet blinked in confusion, turning her head slightly to meet Chelsea's gaze. "What?"
Chelsea's lips curled into something that almost resembled a smirk, though it held no real amusement. "Just trust me. Stay away from him."
Violet knitted her brows, struggling to comprehend the unexpected warning, but Chelsea had already moved on, advancing in line as it was her turn to be served. Unwilling to drop the matter, Violet pressed on with her questions when she finally arrived at the counter.
"Why?" she asked, her voice quieter but firm.
Chelsea let out a dramatic sigh, barely sparing her a glance. "Lucien's a shady guy."
At this, Tara turned her head slightly, her interest piqued. "Most people in Year 11 think so too," she added. "I mean, come on, he transferred in barely half a year ago, and suddenly he's on the student council? And that bandage on his neck? Suspicious right? I mean the only other person who does that is Ivy."
Chelsea hummed in agreement. "It's kind of obvious, isn't it? He's a Semi-Immortal. Or at least, that's what people are saying. What else would he be hiding?"
Violet stiffened.
They suspect him.
The realization sent a ripple of unease through her. She already knew the truth about Lucien—he was a Semi-Immortal, just like her. Just like Ivy. But hearing Chelsea and Tara openly speculate about it made her feel as though a target had been painted on his back.
Their conversation continued as they took their seats, the topic shifting seamlessly to Ivy. Chelsea and Tara's voices were laced with condescension as they mused over why Ivy still bothered to hide her marking.
"I mean, at least Lucien still has people wondering," Tara said, propping her chin on her hand. "Ivy just looks pathetic, covering it up when everyone already knows."
Chelsea laughed. "Right? What's even the point?"
Tara nodded. "Yeah, but the weird part is we don't even know what kind of Semi-Immortal she is. Low-Ranks heal fast, sure, but Ivy's got insane strength too."
"She's gotta be a High-Rank then," Chelsea reasoned. "But still… she's different, isn't she?"
Violet picked at her food, struggling to suppress a sigh. The chatter surrounding her was irritating, but what bothered her even more was the disconcerting realization that she, too, lacked clarity on the questions being raised. Why did Ivy still cover her marking? If everyone already knew, why go through the trouble? Also, what exactly was Ivy?
A light tap against her hand startled her. She turned to find Mia watching her carefully, her expression softer than before but still lined with something unreadable.
"Did you read my note?" Mia asked quietly.
Violet hesitated before nodding.
Mia frowned. "Then why are you still giving Chelsea exactly what she wants?"
Violet hesitated, then forced a small, sheepish smile. "I'm giving her the benefit of the doubt."
Mia's expression darkened. "That's stupid."
Violet blinked at the bluntness of the response, startled by the sharp edge in Mia's tone. She had expected disapproval, maybe even mild annoyance—but there was something else in Mia's voice. Something colder.
"Then why are you still friends with her?" Violet countered, lowering her voice.
Mia's fingers curled slightly against the table. Her expression remained blank, but her eyes told another story. "If I could get rid of her, I would."
A chill ran through Violet's spine. There was no hesitation in Mia's words, no doubt. Before she could say anything more, a sudden, bright voice cut through the tension.
"Hey, what are you two talking about?" Chelsea asked, leaning forward with a wide, almost too-perfect smile.
Mia immediately shut down, her lips pressing into a thin line.
Violet hesitated, then forced a casual shrug. "Nothing much."
Chelsea beamed. "Good! You looked way too serious for a second there. Anyway, did you hear about—"
And just like that, the moment was gone. But Violet couldn't shake the feeling that the veil over everything—the smiles, the friendships, the whispers—was thinner than she had ever realized.
⋯
The kitchen was silent save for the faint hum of the refrigerator and the distant murmur of traffic outside. Diane leaned against the counter with her arms crossed, watching Ivy with a wary expression. Meanwhile, Ivy stood rigid by the table, her body tense and fists tightly clenched as she processed Diane's words.
"This is just ridiculous," Ivy muttered, voice flat but carrying an undercurrent of frustration. "You're accusing me of doing...something? But I haven't a clue what this 'something' even is."
Diane sighed, a heavy, weary sound, and rubbed her forehead like this whole thing was giving her a headache. "I'm telling you, I felt it! You did something to me, Ivy. I know it."
Ivy's eyes narrowed, and her voice turned a touch sharper. "Okay, so what exactly did you feel? Was it, like... you couldn't move a muscle? Were you still thinking straight?"
Diane's brow furrowed, clearly thrown by Ivy's oddly specific questions. "I—" she hesitated. "It wasn't like I was frozen or anything. It was...It was more like..." She trailed off, waving her hand in the air, hunting for the right way to describe it. "It was like you were draining me, little by little. Like I was being slowly hollowed out."
Ivy stiffened. This didn't align with her suspicions, or at least with her limited understanding. The power she had used against Jake and the unknown man in the alley was meant to leave Diane paralyzed, ensnared in a waking nightmare. Yet, based on Diane's account... that wasn't the case at all.
"So, what? You just… blacked out?" Ivy pressed, trying to make sense of this.
Diane hugged herself tightly, a chill running down her back. "Not exactly. I was still, you know, there. But it felt like... someone else was in control. My emotions seemed off, distant, almost like I was slipping into static. It was as if I was fading away, and when I finally snapped back to reality, I felt totally drained, like I had just run a marathon in my sleep. Honestly, I figured I had just crashed hard and was momentarily stuck in a really weird dream. But then I saw the mess you left behind and realized it was all real."
Ivy's brow furrowed, her mind racing. This sounded different. Too different. If Diane wasn't exaggerating, then that meant this definitely wasn't the same ability. Which means—
"I have two," Ivy murmured, the realization hitting her like a ton of bricks. "Shit... I actually have two abilities..."
Diane's expression mirrored Ivy's realization, but unlike Ivy's startled confusion, Diane's face darkened with growing unease. "Wait, back up. Two? You're telling me... you didn't even know!? Okay, okay, new question – how'd you even figure out the first one then? You had to suspect something, right?"
Ivy shot her a look that could curdle milk. "Does it look like I knew, oh brilliant one? I'm barely wrapping my head around the first ability as it is, and this second one? News to me!"
The air suddenly felt thick and heavy. Diane hugged herself, her eyes fixed on Ivy with an expression that was hard to decipher. The usual "I'm in charge here" vibe was still there, but underneath it was something else – a hesitant caution. This wasn't good. She really didn't like where this was going.
"Okay, but... why didn't you say anything?" Diane asked, her stomach twisting. "If you knew you had one, were you planning on...using it against us?"
Ivy just sighed, the frustration practically rolling off her in waves. "Seriously, Diane? Why ask a question you already know the answer to? No, I'm not about to turn evil and go after you or my deadbeat uncle. Christ..."
Diane fell silent, lowering her head as she bit the corner of her lip.
Ivy let out a frustrated huff, the air practically vibrating with her annoyance. "Oh, this is just perfect. Not only am I clueless about how my first freakin' ability is supposed to work, but now I've got a second one popping up? And, surprise, surprise, I'm totally in the dark about that one too!" She threw her hands up in the air, a gesture that screamed 'give me a break'. "Seriously, fantastic."
Diane watched Ivy's mini-meltdown with a sceptical frown. "Look," she finally sighed, impatience tinging her voice, "I don't have the instruction manual for your superpowers, okay? I just know what I felt back there. And whatever weirdness you pulled? It definitely happened."
Ivy's jaw tightened. Her thoughts were a tangled mess, but one name surfaced above the chaos. There was only one person—if you could even call her that—who might actually have some answers.
"Amritkala," Ivy mumbled, almost to herself. "She'd know."
Diane's brow furrowed. "Who now?"
"The deity," Ivy said, like it should have been glaringly obvious. "You know, the one who apparently decided to gift me with these lovely little powers and curse me with Semi-Immortality."
Diane scoffed, pinching the bridge of her nose. "Right. Of course. Let's just add deities to the list of things we have to deal with."
Ivy clearly wasn't fazed by Diane's sarcasm, too preoccupied to even roll her eyes. "Look, all I know is I can only chat with her in my dreams," she explained, rubbing her temple wearily. "Which means I need to be asleep. Like, now."
And with that, Ivy was already making a beeline for the medicine cabinet, hand outstretched for the handle.
Diane stiffened. "Hold up. What in the world do you think you're doing?"
Ivy barely spared her a glance. "Duh, grabbing some sleeping pills. What else would I be doing?"
"Nope. Absolutely not. We are not going down this road again."
Ivy just rolled her eyes, a gesture that never failed to annoy Diane. "Relax, drama queen. I'm not planning a repeat performance of last time."
But Diane wasn't buying it. The last time Ivy raided the medicine cabinet, she had tried to overdose. The memory of encountering her that day surged into Diane's thoughts, unleashing a chilling tide of rage and fear within her. Without even thinking, she shoved past Ivy and snatched the pills, clutching them tight in her fist.
"Nuh huh," Diane shot back, her voice sharp. "You're not calling the shots here, not after what happened last time!"
Ivy huffed, clearly annoyed. "I told you, I just need sleep."
Diane's knuckles went white as she gripped the bottle tighter. "Oh yeah? And I'm just supposed to take your word for it this time?"
Arms crossed, Ivy's glare could have withered plants. "Look, are we doing this, or are we gonna stand here arguing until dawn? Because I'm pretty sure we have more important stuff to deal with."
Diane's face twisted in a scowl, but she didn't back down an inch. "Fine. But you're taking the dose it says on the label, and I'm watching you do it. No funny business." She held out the bottle.
Ivy's lip curled, but she snatched the bottle like it was tainted. She popped one single pill, swallowing it without water. Then, with an overly dramatic flourish, she turned the bottle for Diane to inspect the remaining contents, before tossing it back onto the counter with a clatter.
"There," Ivy said, her voice dripping with sarcasm. "Happy now?"
Diane blew out a frustrated breath, mirroring Ivy's stance with crossed arms. "Thrilled," she deadpanned.
Ivy turned to leave but paused in the doorway. She glanced over her shoulder, her gaze dark. "Just...don't mention any of this to Clive, okay?"
Diane's face tightened, a flash of something sharp and defensive in her eyes. "I didn't tell him before, did I? I'm not telling him now."
A heavy silence hung in the air before Ivy finally gave a slow nod, like she was weighing Diane's words. Then, with a quiet click of the door, she was gone.
Back in her room, Ivy practically peeled off her blazer and tossed it onto the bed. The day's tension finally caught up with her, making her limbs ache. She flopped onto the mattress, the cheap springs groaning in protest, and curled up, waiting for the sleeping pill to kick in.
She needed answers. And she needed them fast.
The pill wasted no time, pulling her under with surprising speed. Maybe it was her Semi-Immortal metabolism? Another mystery for another time. Right now, all that mattered was figuring out what the hell was going on with her new ability. Or, at the very least, finding someone who knew more about it. The edges of her vision blurred, fading into an almost blinding white as she felt that familiar tug, dragging her into the Unbound Realm.