Bella barely had time to draw her breath before the first slap landed.
It came without warning.
A sharp crack of skin against skin echoed through the hallway, followed by a gasp, not even from Bella, but from one of the younger girls watching nearby.
She was too stunned to make any sound.
Her head jerked sideways, her cheek stinging with the heat of Jasmine's strike. She staggered, catching herself against the stone wall. The cold seeped through her palm, grounding her, even as her vision blurred with shock.
She blinked. Once. Twice.
"What… the hell?" she muttered, in quick gasping breaths.
Jasmine stood just inches away, her eyes glinting with fury. "You think you can just waltz in here, act like you're mysterious, and suddenly become the muse for the academy golden boy?"
More girls crowded in behind her, Leina and Bianca, two others Bella didn't even know their name. Their expressions were identical, rage pouring off their skin with every breath they took.
"Is that what you do?" Leina hissed, stepping forward. "Bait him with your little confused-girl act?"
Bella's brows drew together, hand still pressed to her cheek. "What are you talking about?"
Jasmine let out a short, mocking laugh. "Oh please. Don't play dumb. The portrait he drew of you. The whole damn school saw it. And everyone knew it was you."
Bella's heart dropped.
She hadn't even asked for it. Even though she loved that he drew a portrait of her.
She'd also heard whispers in the breakfast queue. The girls had not been happy about it. In fact she'd known something like this would happen, but not this intense, never had she imagined being ganged up against by these girls in the dining.
She was yet to recover fully from the energy draining dream she has last night, of a council of 12 plotting her downfall, and a badly wounded wolf dying off on the grass
Now this?
"It's not like I asked him to paint me," she said sharply in her defence.
Bianca scoffed. "You didn't have to. You're all he talks about, aren't you?"
"And don't pretend you don't like it," Jasmine snapped. "Everyone sees the way you look at him."
"It's the way she always acts dumb and oblivious to the havoc she wrecks. That I can't stand." Leina stepped closer, attempting to pull Bella by the collar.
Bella opened her mouth to protest again but another voice cut in before she could.
"Of course she does," said someone behind the group. "Why wouldn't she, is he not Luca?"
Bella's stomach turned.
That voice.
"Elara?" she whispered.
Elara stepped into view, arms crossed, standing beside Jasmine and Leina like she led the fight.
Bella's breath caught.
"Elara," she said again, disbelieving. "What are you.. why are you… with them?"
Her so-called roommate didn't look apologetic. Her face was cold, guarded, and her stance showed she wasn't here to be on her side.
"You know how many people have waited years for Luca to notice them?" Elara said tightly. "You know how many years we, I! have waited for Luca to notice me??
And now he paints you. You, Bella. After knowing you for less than a month? Do you have any idea how that makes the rest of us look? Like ugly gnomes before his eyes."
"I didn't ask for any of this," Bella whispered. "You know that."
Elara laughed, a bitter scorn sound. "I know you pretend not to want it," she continued. "You pretend to be so lost and sweet and confused, but you're not. You knew what you were doing. You led him on. And you can't fool me.
Bella felt the crack inside her grow wider.
"Elara, I trusted you. You showed me around. You—" Her voice broke. "You helped me."
Elara hesitated, but then remembering something, her eyes hardened. "Shut up! That day, you came back to the room by 7pm in the night, after I spent the whole day looking for you, scared to my bones for your safety. And what were you doing? Sleeping in his arms. And I, the fool, was here praying for your safe return.
So yes I helped you but maybe I got tired of watching you pretend to everyone. 'oh poor Bella, scared Bella, kind Bella, pitiful Bella, weak Bella.' I'm done! I've seen through your facade.
You don't need any saving. The only saving that would be happening now is on Luca. He needs it, cause you've wrapped him around your pinky finger, you bitch."
Bella's breath came fast now in rage. "You don't know me."
Elara stepped back with a bitter smile. "None of us really do, do we? Maybe that's the whole problem."
And then, like a signal had been given, Jasmine lunged forward again, shoving Bella back against the wall. Leina grabbed her other arm.
"You're not any match on us" Bianca hissed. "And it's time someone reminded you."
Bella fought back, her arms blocking a slap from Leina, twisting free from Jasmine's grip, but there were too many. Two girls grabbed her wrists, pinning her. Another tried to kick her legs out from under her.
And still—Elara stood to the side.
Watching. Doing nothing.
No. Worse.
Letting it happen.
Bella could feel something stirring within her. It made strange sounds as it fought desperately to retaliate.
It pressed forward, tasting blood in the air.
Suddenly, a scream tore through Bella's throat, nothing like a woman's, nothing like a human's.
Raw and bold.
She ducked low, breaking her right hand free. Her fingers sparked, just faintly. A silver glow lit under her skin.
She broke free from the grip on her left hand.
The room gasped.
"What the—"
Then the door slammed open.
The tension shattered.
"Get your hands off her."
Everyone froze.
Corrine.
She strode into the room dressed in boots and leather over her school uniform, her silver rings glinting on her fingers.
Leina backed off instinctively. Jasmine turned toward her, opening her mouth to protest but Corrine was faster.
With a swing of her hand, a surge of force knocked Jasmine's feet out from under her. She hit the floor with a grunt.
"Six against one? You girls must be so pathetic." Corrine snapped, stepping over Jasmine like she was nothing.
"We didn't touch her—" Bianca started.
Corrine grabbed her collar and shoved her back into the wall with one hand.
"No? Want me to replay the last thirty seconds?" she snarled. "I have no problem showing Principal Maren exactly what this breakfast period looks like."
Bianca's mouth clamped shut.
Corrine let go of her and turned to Bella, who was crouched against the wall, breathing hard, hair wild around her face, eyes shining with unshed tears and fury.
Corrine's voice softened. "You good?"
Bella nodded slowly, breathing heavily. She couldn't respond.
Corrine of all people coming to my rescue? Cold hearted, standoffish Corrine. While Elara, the supposed friend is viciously seeking for my blood.
Corrine extended a hand and she took it.
The girls filed out of the room, defeated. Even Elara. Watching Corrine stand up for Bella left her shamefaced.
With her eyes downcast, she left the room too, not looking back.
Only when they were gone did Corrine speak again.
"I got here too late," she said, still holding Bella's arm gently. "I should've known they'd turn on you."
Looking into her eyes, Bella said quietly, "Thank You for standing up for me, I never would have believed Elara would turn against me like that. I shouldn't have trusted her."
Corrine sighed. "Not just Elara. Do not trust anyone here. I thought I made that clear the first day?"
Together they walked slowly back toward their dorm room, the silence between them heavy.
When they got inside, Corrine pulled open a drawer and tossed Bella a damp cloth.
"Use that on your cheek," she muttered. "Before it begins to swell."
Bella gave a weak smile. "The swelling on my cheek is nothing compared to my wounded pride."
Corrine looked at her sadly. "Those junior girls were there. I can only imagine."
Bella sat, finally letting the emotions hit her. The shame. The betrayal. The hurt that Elara, sweet, gentle Elara, had turned so quickly.
"I really thought she was my friend," Bella whispered.
Corrine crouched beside her. "Bella. You're too trusting, that is your problem. You shouldn't be. Even Luca, Killian, do not trust anyone at all. Even me. Every single person is a suspect. And if you must draw anyone into your space, follow them wisely."
"I get it. Trust no one, be careful," she responded.
Corrine nodded once. "Good. Because this school isn't going to get any easier. You're going to have to fight. Not even just them."
She paused for some seconds, then cautioned again. "Your past is coming back for you. And not everyone is going to like the new you. You have more enemies than you realise."
Bella looked at her wrist.
The mark had stopped glowing, but the skin around her wrist still tingled.
She straightened.
Then said quietly, "Let them come. I'll be very ready for them."