The immortal's queen

Chapter 8: Chloe confrontation

The hallway was crowded, but somehow, Chloe made it feel empty.

Students milled around us, voices blending into the usual chaos of passing periods, but the space around Chloe seemed to clear on instinct. People stepped aside without thinking. They didn't want to be in her path. They didn't want to be noticed by her.

She stood in the center like she'd been placed there by design—platinum hair catching the light, arms crossed, expression carved from pure arrogance. Her dress probably cost more than my entire wardrobe. Her shoes probably cost more than my rent. She looked like she'd just stepped out of a magazine and decided to ruin someone's day for sport.

A few students lingered nearby, pretending not to watch. Crystal hovered at her shoulder like a shadow with perfect eyebrows and a matching sneer.

I should have kept walking.

Should have kept walking, should have kept walking, should have kept walking.

But my feet stopped. And I knew exactly why.

Because running from her would mean she'd won. And I hadn't even decided to fight yet.

"Celine."

Her voice was sweet. Syrupy. The kind of sweet that made your teeth ache and your instincts scream.

She's using that voice. The one that sounds like honey and tastes like poison. I'd be flattered if she put this much effort into someone she didn't actually hate.

I stopped. Turned. "Chloe."

The name came out flat. Neutral. No anger. No fear. She wanted a reaction. I wasn't going to give her one.

She wants to see you squirm. Don't squirm. Squirming is her favorite sport. She probably has a trophy for it. "Best Squirm 2024."

She smiled. It didn't reach her eyes.

"I wanted to congratulate you," she said, tilting her head slightly. "Word travels fast. One day here and you've already managed to get detention, labor, and suppression drills. That's impressive. In a tragic, sad way."

Wow. First day, and she's already tracking my schedule. That's not obsession. That's devotion. I'm flattered, honestly.

Noemi stiffened beside me. "Chloe, maybe you should—"

"I wasn't talking to you," Chloe cut in, not even glancing at her. Her eyes stayed locked on mine. "I was talking to your friend. The one who can't keep her mouth shut."

The insult landed perfectly. Deliberate. Precise. She knew exactly where to strike.

Oh, she's good. She knows exactly which buttons to push. She's been studying me. Probably has a notebook somewhere. "Celine's Weaknesses: Volume 1."

I forced a smile. "I didn't realize my schedule was so fascinating to you. Should I send you a copy? I can highlight the parts where I'm doing things that aren't your business."

I can highlight the parts where I'm existing. Apparently that's offensive.

A few nearby students laughed. Chloe's smile flickered, just for a second.

"Funny," she said, her voice dropping slightly. "I'm sure that mouth will serve you well when you're scrubbing floors for the rest of the semester."

"Better than serving you," I said smoothly. "I hear the pay is awful and the boss is a nightmare."

Did I just say that? Yes. Yes, I did. That was reckless. But also? Worth it. Totally worth it.

A girl behind me snorted. Chloe's eyes flicked to her, and the girl immediately looked down. The crowd shifted uncomfortably. Someone coughed.

Good job, Celine. You're making friends. Enemies, actually. But enemies are like friends, except they want to destroy you. So... basically the same thing.

Chloe's eyes narrowed. Her thoughts flickered briefly—fragments I caught before they vanished.

*"She's not afraid. Why isn't she afraid? I need to—" *

She caught herself. Stopped thinking. Her expression smoothed.

She's learning. She knows I can read her. So she's stopped planning. Now she's just... reacting. Reacting to me. That makes her more dangerous. That makes her unpredictable.

The realization settled in my stomach like a stone.

Chloe stepped closer. Close enough that I could smell her perfume—something floral and expensive, like roses that had been bred to be aggressive. Her voice dropped to something almost soft.

"Enjoy your victory lap while you can," she said. "But understand something. This school has a queen. It's not you. It will never be you. And if you try to take my place, I'll make sure you regret every single breath you take."

The threat hung in the air between us. Final. Unwavering. There was no anger in her voice. No raised volume. Just cold certainty.

She means it. She's not threatening me for show. She's telling me what's going to happen.

I met her gaze and held it.

"I'm not interested in your throne," I said quietly. "I'm just trying to survive. But if you keep coming after me, I'll start thinking maybe I should be."

Wow. That sounded almost cool. That sounded like something a brave person would say. I am not a brave person. I am a terrified person who got infected by my own mouth. This is how I die. In a hallway. At a magical school. Because I couldn't just nod and walk away.

Chloe's smile returned. Tight. Controlled. Her eyes gleamed with something between amusement and contempt.

"We'll see," she said. And then she walked away, Crystal trailing behind her like a well-dressed puppy.

The crowd parted for them like water around a stone.

I stood there, heart pounding, hands trembling slightly at my sides. The air around me felt thinner. Lighter. Like I'd just survived something I didn't fully understand.

The crowd dispersed. The hallway filled with sound again—conversations, footsteps, laughter.

Noemi grabbed my arm, her grip tight. "Celine, what the hell was that? You just—"

"Told the queen of the school that I might consider taking her throne," I finished. "Yeah. I know."

"Are you insane?"

"Probably." I ran a hand through my hair, my fingers shaking. "But she started it. And I couldn't just let her—"

"I know." Noemi squeezed my arm, her voice softening. "I know. But Celine, you just made an enemy. A powerful one. And she's not going to forget this. She's not going to let this go."

Great. Fantastic. Exactly what I needed. Another target on my back. Another name on the list of people who want me dead. I'm building quite the collection.

"At least I'll die entertaining," I muttered.

Noemi laughed, but it was strained—a sound caught somewhere between amusement and terror. "Come on. Let's get to class before you decide to challenge anyone else. Like a professor. Or a building. Or gravity."

We started walking. The noise of the hallway swelled around us, but I barely heard it. My mind was still in that moment. Still watching Chloe's eyes narrow. Still hearing that soft, silky threat.

I didn't look back.

But I felt Chloe's gaze on me.

All the way down the hall.

Like a blade pressed against my spine.