Chapter I: Arrival
Cold air pressed against Laura’s lungs as she stood at the gates of Garrim’s Academy. Loose waves of dark brown hair framed her face, her blue eyes fixed ahead, calm and unreadable.
Her parents were diplomats, rarely staying in one place for long, and she had spent most of her life moving from country to country with them. They’d given her two years after finishing high school before she had to settle into college—and now that time was over.
She lingered by the gate as the wind picked up around her. The thin layer under her shirt did little against the cold—she hadn’t brought a blouse, expecting better weather.
After a moment, she felt the chill settle in, her nipples hardening under the fabric, the sensation impossible to ignore.
Why does it always feel so good when the wind brushes against my breasts… ugh.
She ran her hand over her chest, closing her eyes for a second. Then she scolded herself.
Yeah, I should just undress and lie here naked. That would be less embarrassing than touching my tits randomly in public.
Jesus, I’m so stupid.
She took a deep breath, adjusting the strap of her bag.
When she looked up, she paused.
Someone passed right next to Laura, but it felt like the air around her got cold.
A woman—tall, still, untouched by the wind that tugged at everything else. Her presence felt… off. Not obvious, not something Laura could point to, but enough to make her hesitate.
Their eyes almost met.
But before Laura could focus on her, before she could even fully register what she was seeing, the woman was gone.
This place is giving me the creeps.
Her gaze drifted across the entrance again, unable to shake the feeling that something here wasn’t quite right.
She squeezed the handle of her bag a little tighter, the strap digging into her palm as she stepped forward and passed through the gates, leaving the wind behind her.
The shift was immediate—quieter, warmer—but it didn’t calm her down.
Inside, an older man sat at the reception desk, barely looking up at first.
Laura slowed down slightly.
Of course I have to talk to someone.
Her grip tightened again as she walked closer, already running through what she was supposed to say, overthinking every word before she’d even opened her mouth.
She approached the reception, slowing just slightly as she reached the desk. The man didn’t look up from the papers he was so occupied with, his attention fixed as if she wasn’t even there.
“Hi… I’m a new student here. I wanted to know where—”
“Name?” he cut in, flat, still not lifting his gaze.
“Accalia, Laura.”
That made him pause.
For the first time, he looked up, his eyes settling on her with a flicker of something she couldn’t quite read. Then, just as quickly, it was gone—replaced by a faint, almost knowing smile.
He reached beneath the desk, pulling out a key and placing it in front of her.
“Second floor,” he said, sliding it a little closer. “End of the hall. Room 27.”
“Thank you, sir.”
He gave a small nod, already lowering his gaze back to the papers.
“Polite… just like her mother,” he muttered under his breath, too quiet for Laura to hear.
The corridor stretched out ahead of her, quiet except for the soft echo of her steps against the floor. Doors lined both sides, identical, closed—until one caught her attention.
It stood slightly open.
As she passed, she glanced inside without meaning to. Clothes were scattered around—some clearly didn't belong to a women.
She slowed down just a little.
Wait… are the rooms co-ed?
Her grip tightened on the key again as she kept walking, her mind already spiraling ahead of her.
She kept walking, but the thought stuck.
Shared? Seriously?
Her eyes flicked to the doors as she passed them, suddenly more aware of every sound—muffled voices, a laugh somewhere behind one of them, the faint movement of someone inside.
Great. That’s… great.
She adjusted her grip on the key, turning it slightly between her fingers, like that might somehow help her think clearer.
The corridor seemed longer now. Or maybe she was just walking slower.
What if it’s some loud idiot? Or worse… someone who actually wants to talk.
She exhaled quietly, already bracing herself.
Finally, she stopped.
Room 27.
Wait, if I share a room with a guy, how the hell am I even gonna finger—
The thought cut off as the door suddenly opened.
A guy stood there.
Shirtless.
He looked at her, brows slightly furrowed, clearly caught off guard.
Laura froze.
Of course. Of course this is happening right now.
“Hh… hi, I’m Laura. Your new roommate?”
He blinked once, looking at her for a second longer than necessary, then leaned casually against the doorframe like this wasn’t unusual at all.
Up close, she could see it clearly—dark hair, slightly messy, and sharp green eyes that didn’t seem in a hurry to look away.
A faint smirk pulled at the corner of his mouth.
“Yeah,” he said, voice easy, almost amused. “Guess you are.”
He stepped aside, giving her space to come in, one hand still resting against the frame.
“Didn’t think they’d pair me with someone this…” his gaze flicked over her briefly, not subtle at all, “…quiet-looking.”
A small pause, then—
“Cassian.”
Laura’s eyes moved around the room, taking everything in—she didn’t seem to be listening to him at all.
“Sorry, what did you say?”
He let out a quiet laugh, shaking his head slightly.
“My name is Cassian.”
“Nice to meet you, my name is Laura.”
He laughed again, and as she caught the amused look on his face, her cheeks flushed red.
“Why are you laughing?!”
“I know your name’s Laura,” he said, still grinning. “You told me a minute ago, remember?”
“Ugh, not my fault I’m shy all the time.”
…and horny.
“You do know I can read your thoughts, right?” he said casually. “You did check what race I am… right?”
Laura blinked.
Once.
Twice.
“…what?”
Her brows pulled together as she stared at him, the embarrassment from a second ago gone, replaced entirely by confusion.
“What do you mean read my thoughts?”
She let out a short, awkward laugh, like he had to be joking.
“Is that supposed to be funny, or…?”
“Yeah, Laura, no… it’s not funny,” he said, watching her a bit more closely now.
The way he said it—calm, certain—made something in her stomach tighten.
“Okay… you’re being weird now,” she muttered, shifting her weight slightly, her grip tightening on the strap of her bag again.
“Seriously, what are you talking about?”
He tilted his head just a little, studying her face, like he was trying to figure something out.
“…you actually don’t know.”
Laura frowned.
“Know what?”
A brief silence settled between them.
Cassian let out a quiet breath, running a hand through his hair, the amusement from earlier fading into something else.
“What you are,” he said finally.
He pushed himself off the doorframe and stepped inside, reaching back to close the door behind her with a quiet click.
Laura’s pulse had already started to pick up, a thin edge of panic creeping in before she could stop it.
Cassian didn’t rush. He moved like this was nothing, crossing the room and opening one of the cupboards.
He pulled out a pack of cigarettes and a lighter, tapping one loose with practiced ease.
“What the hell did you mean by all that?”
Her voice came out sharper than she intended.
“Are you a psycho or something?”
Cassian didn’t answer right away.
He walked over to the window and pushed it open, letting the cold air slip into the room. For a moment, he just stood there, like he wasn’t in any hurry at all.
Then he brought the cigarette to his lips, flicked the lighter, and lit it with an easy, practiced motion.
He took a slow drag before finally speaking.
“No.”
He exhaled slowly toward the open window.
“Just… sit down.”
She hesitated for a second, her eyes lingering on him, like she was trying to decide whether this was a really bad idea.
Then, slowly, she sat down.
Cassian didn’t look at her right away, taking another drag before speaking.
“Think about something,” he said, calm, like it was nothing.
A small pause.
“Something only you know.”
There’s a fucking weirdo telling me he can read my mind.
Also… my cat was named Lily.
Cassian didn’t even look at her.
“Lily.”
Laura froze.
Her breath caught somewhere in her chest, her body going still as the word settled in.
“…what?”
“Your cat’s name was Lily.”
Laura stared at him, her mind going blank for a second.
How the fuck did you know that?
“Every hellhound can read minds,” he said casually.
A small pause, like he was correcting himself mid-thought.
“I mean… kind of. Only the powerful ones, really.”
Laura’s stomach dropped.
Her fingers tightened against her legs, nails pressing into the fabric as her breathing started to pick up without her realizing it.
What…?
The room suddenly felt smaller. Louder.
“You’re joking,” she said, but there was no conviction in it.
Cassian watched her for a moment, like he was measuring something.
“If you’re really that clueless, just tell me your surname,” he said. “I’ll probably know it… if you’re anyone worth knowing.”
Laura took a slow breath, forcing herself to steady, even if her pulse was still racing.
Fine. If this was a game, she’d play it.
“…Accalia.”
The word left her mouth quieter than she expected.
“Yeah… you’re joking.”
He looked at her—serious.
Laura’s expression didn’t change. Just confusion, plain and unfiltered.
Cassian let out a quiet breath, dragging a hand over his face.
“Fuck…”
He looked at her again, more carefully this time.
“You really have no idea who you are, huh?”
“I should probably do it anyway…”
He looked at her for a second, like he was making up his mind.
Then, without warning, he stepped forward—
and dropped to one knee.
Laura froze.
Cassian bowed his head slightly, the movement controlled, deliberate—nothing like the laid-back attitude he had a second ago.
“What kind of sick joke is this?”
She looked around the room, like she expected a camera to be hidden somewhere, like someone would jump out and laugh at any second.
“Seriously, is this some kind of initiation or—”
“Laura.”
His voice cut through it.
Calm. Firm.
She stopped.
Slowly, she looked back at him.
Cassian lifted his head just enough to meet her eyes, his expression completely different now—no smirk, no teasing.
“You don’t understand what that name means,” he said quietly.
A pause.
“But everyone else here will.”
I have no idea what is happening right now.
She sat down on the edge of the bed, still watching him like he might suddenly explain everything.
“What’s your mother’s name?” he asked out of nowhere.
“…Amelia.”
Cassian let out a quiet laugh, shaking his head slightly.
“Yeah…”
His eyes lifted back to her, something more certain in them now.
“I’ve heard rumors about you.”
“Rumors?”
Her voice wavered slightly now, the earlier sharpness gone.
“Just tell me what’s going on… you’re scaring me.”
Cassian watched her for a moment, the faintest hint of a smile returning—but it wasn’t the same as before.
He took another slow drag, then crushed the cigarette out against the edge of the window, like he’d made up his mind.
“Laura…”
A brief pause.
“Have you ever thought about it?”
“What if…”
He held her gaze, not looking away.
“What if creatures from fairy tales were real?”
Laura didn’t answer.
For a second, she just stared at him—like her mind had stopped trying to process anything at all.
The room felt distant.
Too quiet.
Her fingers loosened around the edge of the bed.
“That’s not…” she started, her voice barely there. “That’s not possible.”
But even as she said it, something in her chest tightened—like a part of her already knew she was wrong.
The pressure built too fast.
Her vision blurred.
“I…”
The last thing she saw was Cassian stepping toward her—
—and then everything went black.
