The Devil Behind My Smile

Chapter 2 — The Invitation

I woke with a splitting headache and the uncomfortable feeling that someone was watching me. For several seconds, I couldn't remember where I was. The ceiling above me was made of dark wooden beams, and the room smelled faintly of smoke and something sweet I couldn't identify. I pushed myself upright, and the memories of the previous night came rushing back at once: my mother's frightened face, the creatures in the garden, the mysterious boy with black hair and glowing red eyes, and the moment the floor had collapsed beneath my feet. I remembered falling, but I couldn't remember hitting the ground. I looked around the unfamiliar room, expecting to see my mother sitting beside the bed, but there was no sign of her. Panic immediately took over. I searched the wardrobe, looked beneath the bed, checked the small bathroom attached to the room, and finally rushed to the door. I grabbed the handle and pulled, but it wouldn't move. “Open this door!” I shouted, kicking it when nobody answered. “Let me out!” Footsteps approached from the other side, and I quickly grabbed a heavy wooden chair and held it in front of me. The door opened, and Lucien stood there. His eyes dropped to the chair before returning to my face. The faintest smile appeared on his lips. “Are you planning to hit me with that?” he asked. “If you come any closer, I will.” He glanced at the chair again. “I believe you.” “Where is my mother?” His amusement disappeared immediately. “I don't know.” I lowered the chair slightly but kept my grip on it. “You were with me when she disappeared.” “I know.” “You told me those creatures took her.” “They did.” “Then where did they take her?” He stared at me for a moment. “I don't know.” I hated how calm he sounded. He knew something; I was certain of it. “Take me back,” I demanded. “I can't.” “You keep saying that.” I pushed past him, but he caught my arm before I could get far. I immediately pulled away. “Don't touch me.” He released me. “If you go back, they'll find you.” I looked down at my wrist, and my anger briefly disappeared when I saw the mark. The black symbol that had appeared the night before had spread into thin, twisting lines around my wrist, forming what looked like a small crown. “What is this?” I asked. Lucien's eyes settled on it. “It's called the Hollow Crest.” “And what exactly is the Hollow Crest?” “Something you were born with.” My stomach tightened. “You said you didn't know what I was.” “I said I wasn't sure.” “Then stop giving me half-answers.” Before he could respond, someone knocked on the door. A woman with silver-gray hair entered, wearing a long black coat decorated with silver symbols. She looked at me for several seconds before saying, “You're awake.” “Who are you?” I asked. “Professor Evelyn Graves.” “Where am I?” “Blackthorn Academy.” I frowned. “I've never heard of it.” “Most humans haven't.” The word made me pause. “Humans?” I repeated. Professor Graves reached into her coat and handed me a black envelope. My name was written across it in silver ink. I recognized the handwriting immediately. “Where did you get this?” I asked, my voice suddenly quieter. “Your mother left it here seventeen years ago.” My fingers trembled as I opened it. There was only one page inside, and the first line nearly broke me. My dearest Ellie, if you're reading this, then the life I tried to give you is already over. I'm sorry I couldn't tell you the truth. Blackthorn is the only place where you can learn what you are. Professor Graves will help you, but don't trust everyone here. Most importantly, don't trust Lucien. There are things he remembers that you don't. Ask him what happened seventeen years ago. I read the last sentence twice before looking at Lucien. “You knew about this?” He shook his head. “No.” “Then why does my mother warn me about you?” He didn't answer. I folded the letter and slipped it into my pocket. “Fine. I'll find out myself.” Professor Graves watched me carefully. “Before you do that, you need to understand where you are.” She led me out of the room, and the moment I entered the hallway, I realized Blackthorn Academy was nothing like any school I'd ever seen. The walls were made of dark stone, strange symbols glowed above the doors, and students moved through the corridors in groups. Some looked completely normal, but others clearly weren't. A girl with golden eyes walked past us, a boy had faint scales along his neck, and another student casually floated a few inches above the floor while arguing with his friend. I stopped walking. “What is this place?” Professor Graves looked at me. “A school for supernatural beings.” I stared at her. “You're serious?” “Very.” “So vampires and witches actually exist?” “Yes.” “Demons?” “Yes.” “Werewolves?” “Some of them prefer the term shifters.” I looked at Lucien. “And you?” He gave me a sideways glance. “You'll find out eventually.” “I hate that answer.” “I'm beginning to notice.” Despite everything, I almost smiled. Then the hallway went silent. Students had stopped talking, and one by one, they turned to look at me. Whispers followed us. “That's her.” “It can't be.” “She looks exactly like—” The rest of the sentence disappeared beneath the sudden ringing of a bell. Professor Graves stopped. Her expression changed. “What's happening?” I asked. “Nothing you need to worry about.” “That usually means I should worry.” Lucien looked toward the eastern corridor. “The wards have been disturbed.” Before I could ask what that meant, a violent crash shook the building. Windows shattered somewhere nearby, followed by screams. Students began running through the halls. Professor Graves immediately ordered everyone to return to their rooms, but I stood where I was. “What's attacking the school?” She didn't answer. “Professor?” Another crash shook the walls. “Elara, you need to stay with us.” “My mother is missing. I'm not hiding in a room while something attacks this place.” Lucien stepped in front of me. “This isn't your fight.” “Neither was what happened at my house, but somehow I ended up in the middle of it.” Before he could argue, a creature appeared at the end of the corridor. It was tall and twisted, with dark skin, long claws, and pale eyes that immediately locked onto me. It took one step forward, then stopped. Its body began trembling. Lucien's expression hardened. “Don't move.” I ignored him and stepped forward. The creature lowered its head. “Queen,” it whispered. The students around us gasped. I looked at Professor Graves. She had gone pale. “Why did it call me that?” She didn't answer. The creature slowly lowered itself to its knees. “We have been waiting for you.” I felt the Hollow Crest burning beneath my skin. “Waiting for me to do what?” The creature raised its head, but before it could answer, black veins suddenly spread across its body. It screamed and collapsed into ash. I stared at the remains, horrified. “I didn't do that.” Lucien moved closer. “I know.” I looked at him. “Then what did?” Before he could answer, the ashes on the floor began moving, gathering into three words. SHE MUST RETURN. My heart pounded. “Return where?” Nobody answered. Then a cold whisper drifted through the corridor. “Home.” I froze. It was my mother's voice. “Mom?” I took a step forward, but Lucien caught my wrist. “Don't.” I turned on him. “That's my mother.” “No, it isn't.” “How do you know?” His eyes darkened. “Because your mother never called you Elara.” My breath caught. He was right. She had always called me Ellie. The voice whispered again, but this time it sounded different. Older. Colder. “Come home, Hollow Queen.” The lights throughout the corridor went out. Darkness swallowed us, and somewhere beneath the academy, something enormous began moving. Lucien tightened his grip around my wrist. “We need to leave.” I looked toward the darkness instead. “No.” He stared at me. “Elara.” I pulled my hand free. “My mother left me a warning, someone just called me a queen, and whatever is beneath this school knows my name. I'm not running anymore.” A deep rumble shook the floor beneath our feet. I looked at Lucien. “You said my mother wanted me here.” He remained silent. “Then I'm going to find out why.” I turned toward the staircase leading to the lower levels of Blackthorn, but before I could take another step, Lucien said something that made me stop. “Because seventeen years ago, your mother didn't bring you here to study.” I slowly turned around. His eyes met mine. “She brought you here because she was hiding you from the King.” My blood ran cold. “What King?” Lucien looked toward the darkness below. “The one who has been waiting for you to wake up.”