THE DARK HEIR OF BLACKTHORN

Ariana Rose woke up before her alarm. For a few seconds she just stared at the ceiling of her room — the same pale blue walls, the same window overlooking the quiet street, the only home she could actually remember. Then she remembered what day it was. Today was her first day at Blackthorn Academy. A huge smile spread across her face and she jumped out of bed. "Finally!" she shouted. For the past two weeks, Ariana had been counting down to this day. Blackthorn Academy. She had heard so much about the school. Even though Adrian never acted like he wanted her around, he had told her plenty about it — the enormous library, the beautiful courtyard, the science laboratories, the sports field, the competitions, the different classes. He'd even told her about the mysterious Power Studies. Whenever Ariana asked him questions, Adrian would pretend to be annoyed. "Why do you care so much?" he'd ask, rolling his eyes. "Because I'm going there," she replied, smiling. "I really love the school. I don't know why, even though Adrian didn't want me to come." "Then you'll see for yourself," he replied, frowning. But he always answered anyway. That was the strange thing about Adrian — he hated having Ariana around, but sometimes he still helped her, and Ariana secretly appreciated it. She hurried into the bathroom. "Mom!" she shouted. "What?" Mom's voice came from downstairs. "I'm awake!" Ariana called back. "I know!" Ariana laughed and rushed downstairs. Mom was already waiting for her in the kitchen. "Sit down," Mom said. "Why?" "Your hair." Ariana smiled and sat in front of her. Mom carefully began styling her hair. "You're excited." "Very." "You've been talking about Blackthorn for weeks." "Because it sounds amazing." Mom smiled. "You know it's still school, right?" "I know," Ariana said. "And you'll have homework." "I know." "And teachers." "I know." "And exams." Ariana groaned. "Mom!" Mom laughed. Ariana looked at herself in the mirror. Her hair was beautifully styled, her uniform was neat, and her backpack was ready beside her. When she smiled, a small dimple appeared in her left cheek — the same one Mom had. Mom noticed it too. She always did. For a moment her eyes lingered there, something unreadable passing behind them before she blinked it away. "There," she said, finishing and gently touching Ariana's shoulder. Ariana smiled. "Thank you." "Ready?" Ariana stood up and grabbed her bag. "More than ready." Ariana had been living with Mara for three years. Three years ago, everything about her life had changed. She'd been in an accident, and when she woke up in the hospital, she couldn't remember anything — not her home, not her friends, not her school, not even her biological mother. The doctors said the accident had affected her memory. Mara was the woman who found her and saved her. When nobody came looking for Ariana, Mara took her home, and eventually she adopted her. Since then, Mara had been the only mother Ariana knew, and Ariana loved her deeply. She didn't remember the woman who had given birth to her. She didn't remember the family she had lost. But sometimes she dreamed of them — a woman's voice, rain falling heavily, a pair of arms holding her, then darkness. Whenever she woke up, everything was gone. She had stopped trying to force herself to remember. Maybe one day her memories would return. For now, she was happy. And today, she was especially happy, because she was going to Blackthorn. Mom drove while Ariana sat beside her, looking out the window. "You're awfully quiet," Mom said. Ariana smiled. "I'm imagining what the school will be like." "You've heard enough from Adrian," Mom teased. "Exactly!" Mom laughed. Ariana turned toward her. "Did he tell you he showed me pictures of the library?" Ariana asked. "Yes." "And the science lab?" "Yes." "And the competition hall?" Mom smiled. "Yes, Ariana." Ariana laughed. "Then you understand why I'm excited." "I do." Ariana leaned back. "Even though he hates me, Adrian actually knows a lot about the school." Mom's smile faded slightly. "He doesn't hate you." Ariana gave her a look. "Mom." Mom sighed. "Fine. He has trouble accepting you." "He definitely hates me," Ariana said. "He'll change," Mom offered. "I hope so." Ariana looked out the window again. She wasn't angry with Adrian, not really. She understood that he hadn't asked for a new sister, and she hadn't asked to lose her memories or become part of another family either. They were both simply trying to adjust. Then Blackthorn Academy appeared ahead. Ariana's eyes widened. "Wow." The school was even more beautiful than the pictures Adrian had shown her — but there was something else, too, something the pictures hadn't shown. Tall black gates rose against the sky, twisted iron reaching up like thorns. Behind them stood ancient stone walls, dark with age, and towers that seemed to lean slightly toward each other, as if they were watching whoever approached. The clock tower above the main building was beautiful in the late morning light, and yet the shadow it cast stretched far longer than it should have. Even the courtyard, full of laughing students, felt colder than the air around it. Ariana pressed her hand against the window. "It's beautiful." Mom smiled, though it didn't quite reach her eyes. "You like it?" "I love it." Mom parked the car. Ariana immediately reached for her backpack. "Wait." Mom laughed. "You're not running inside." "I wasn't," Ariana said. "You were." Ariana smiled innocently. "Maybe a little." They stepped out of the car, and immediately Ariana noticed the stares. Girls turned. Boys glanced at her. Whispers began. "Who's that?" "She must be new." "She's so pretty." "How old is she?" "I heard she's fourteen." "Fourteen?" Ariana's smile slowly faded. She looked at Mom. "Why are they staring?" Mom smiled. "Because you're new." Ariana looked around. Some girls were smiling at her. Others were whispering. One girl looked at her with obvious jealousy. Ariana frowned. "I haven't even done anything." "You don't need to," Mom said. "What does that mean?" Mom only laughed softly. "Come on." Ariana followed her toward the entrance, trying not to think about the stares. She was too excited to let them ruin her first day. Inside, Blackthorn looked even bigger. Students filled the hallways, and everyone looked completely normal — no strange faces, no glowing eyes, nothing to suggest that some of them possessed supernatural abilities. Ariana almost forgot Blackthorn wasn't an ordinary school. "This is amazing," she said, looking around excitedly. Mom smiled. "You're happy?" "Very." Then a familiar voice came from behind them. "Mom." Ariana turned. Adrian stood near the staircase. His eyes landed on her immediately, his expression turning serious. "You actually came." Ariana smiled. "You told me I would like it." Adrian rolled his eyes. "I said you'd survive." "Same thing," Ariana said. "No, it isn't," Adrian shot back. Mom laughed. Adrian looked at Ariana's hair. "You let Mom do that?" he asked. Ariana touched her hair. "Yes. What's wrong with it?" "Nothing." "Then why did you ask?" "Just asking." Ariana smiled. For a second, Adrian looked almost like an actual brother. Then his expression hardened again. "You know where your classes are?" Ariana nodded. "Mom has my timetable." "Don't get lost," Adrian said. "I won't." "And don't wander into places you're not supposed to be." Ariana raised an eyebrow. "Are you worried about me?" "No." She laughed. "You are." "I said no." Mom smiled quietly. Ariana liked moments like this. Even if Adrian pretended not to care, he had still given her advice — which buildings to avoid, which teachers were strict, where the cafeteria was, and which students she should stay away from. Especially one name. Kael Veyron. Ariana hadn't met him yet, but she'd already heard enough. Adrian had warned her. "Whatever you do, stay away from Kael," Adrian had told her. Ariana had asked why. Adrian had only said, "You'll understand when you meet him." Now she was curious. Very curious. Mom took Ariana to the administration office. A woman checked her documents. "Ariana Rose?" "Yes." "Fourteen years old?" "Yes." The woman smiled. "You're very young for Blackthorn." Ariana laughed. "I know." She received her timetable — Mathematics, English, Biology, Chemistry, Literature. Ariana smiled, then noticed another subject. Power Studies. She pointed at it. "What is this?" Mom glanced at her. "You'll learn soon." Ariana sighed. "Why does everyone keep saying that?" The administrator smiled. "Because Blackthorn isn't exactly an ordinary school." She opened a drawer and brought out a small black box. Inside was a black wristwatch. "This is yours." Ariana picked it up. "What does it do?" "It monitors supernatural energy during training and competitions," the administrator explained. Ariana looked curious. "So students really have powers?" "Some do." "Everyone?" "No." That made Ariana relax. "So there are normal students too?" "Yes." "Good." The administrator explained that students with abilities received special training and were divided into six power classes after assessment — Class One, Class Two, Class Three, Class Four, Class Five, Class Six. Ariana looked at the watch. "What class am I?" Ariana asked. "You haven't been assessed yet," the administrator said. "Oh." She put the watch on. The screen displayed only her name — ARIANA ROSE — nothing else. No strange lights, no unusual reaction. Ariana smiled. "Perfect." She had no idea that the simple watch would one day become very important. For now, she was just another new student. Or so she thought.