Raven stared at the crumpled letter in her hand, her fingers clenching it tightly before tossing it carelessly onto the floor. The Black Lotus—what a ridiculous name. What even are they? A secret society? An underground cult? Either way, she wasn't buying into it. Probably just some random student trying to scare her.
She pushed the whole thing from her mind. Whatever it was, it wasn't her problem. She had more pressing matters than deciphering that ridiculous note. Her thoughts turned to what she needed to do next. She made a mental note to attend Aria's classes tomorrow, determined to keep up appearances. After all, this was still Aria's body, and she needed to blend in for as long as she was stuck here. With a sigh, she sat down on the edge of the bed, the silence of the room wrapping around her like an unwelcome blanket.
"What now?" She said to herself. She didn't know what to do now. Raven thought briefly about Lyra—the only person she knew here—but she was probably busy enjoying herself at the ball, surrounded by other students.
She felt bored, and for someone who was usually so restless, it gnawed at her.
Rising to her feet, Raven wandered over to the large window that dominated one side of the room, her gaze drifting across the academy grounds. Her breath caught for a moment as she took in the scene. Under the soft glow of moonlight, the campus looked like something out of a dream—vast and ethereal. The marble towers of the academy rose like giants, their spires reaching toward the sky, while enchanted lampposts dotted the pathways below, casting faint golden hues that flickered like fireflies. Far in the distance, she could make out the sparkling waters of a lake, its surface rippling gently under the light of the stars. The air shimmered faintly, as though the entire place was bathed in magic.
But what truly caught her eye was the garden—off to the side, near the academy's edge, its plants glowing in strange, soft colors. The leaves, flowers, and even the vines seemed to pulse with a bioluminescent light, each movement of the breeze causing them to shimmer in shades of blue, green, and violet. The sight was captivating, almost enchanting.
Intrigued, Raven felt a pull—a need to get closer, to familiarize herself with more of the academy's grounds. After all, if she was going to survive here, she needed to know her surroundings. But as she turned away from the window, her reflection in the nearby mirror stopped her in her tracks.
Her eyes narrowed in annoyance. She was wearing a sheer nightgown, the thin fabric doing nothing to conceal her form. Frowning, she crossed the room to grab a robe from the closet. It was a stunning piece, woven from deep violet silk with delicate golden embroidery swirling along the edges. The robe was long, brushing against the floor as she moved, and as she tied it around her waist, the fabric clung elegantly to her frame, the golden threads catching the light as they shimmered like stars in the night sky.
Satisfied with the robe, Raven tied her long, dark hair into a loose bun at the back of her head, a few rebellious strands falling to frame her face. With one last glance at the mirror, she pulled open the door and made her way downstairs.
The grand staircase of the dormitory was bathed in the soft glow of flickering chandeliers, casting shadows that danced in the stillness. As Raven stepped outside, the chill in the air hit her, and she pulled her robe tighter around herself. A small smile tugged at her lips. The academy at night always had a way of being both enchanting and eerie. The grounds around her were quiet, but in the distance, faint music and laughter from the other side of the academy floated through the air. The only other sound was the soft rustle of leaves as a cool breeze swept across the fields, carrying with it a faint trace of magic that seemed to hum just beneath the surface.
As she walked, her eyes remained fixed on the glowing garden in the distance. Each step brought her closer to it, and with every moment, the strange pull she felt grew stronger. The tall trees loomed overhead as she approached, their branches twisting like ancient hands reaching toward the stars.
She finally reached the garden's entrance, a wrought iron gate standing tall and imposing. It was slightly ajar, the lock rusted and unused. Curiosity surged in Raven as she gently pushed the gate open with a soft creak, stepping into the strange, glowing world beyond.
The garden was like something out of a dream. Flowers of all kinds blossomed under the moonlight, their petals glowing faintly as if they had absorbed the very essence of the stars. The trees themselves seemed alive, their bark glistening with a soft, silver sheen while vines twisted up their trunks, their leaves glowing with soft hues of turquoise and lavender. The air smelled sweet, like jasmine mixed with an unfamiliar, magical fragrance.
Raven was entranced. She wandered deeper into the garden, her eyes wide as she took in the stunning view. It was easy to get lost in it, to feel as though she had stepped into another world. So lost, in fact, that she didn't notice the figure lying in the shadows until it was too late.
Her foot caught on something solid, sending her stumbling forward. She let out a startled gasp as she fell face-first into the grass, her hands barely catching her fall. Pain shot through her nose, and she cursed loudly. "Fuck!"
A deep groan came from behind her, and before she could gather herself, a pair of strong hands gently lifted her. "Hold still," a voice said, low and serious.
Raven blinked through the pain, her vision still blurred. She pressed a hand to her nose, feeling blood trickling down her lip. "I think my nose is broken," she muttered angrily, wincing at the throb of pain.
"Let me see," the voice said again, and this time Raven glanced up, her breath catching. It was him. The man from the night before—the one she had seen, but she couldn't quite remember his name. His face was serious, his dark eyes intense as he examined her nose with a surprising amount of care. He looked really familiar, yet she was certain she had never met him before.
"I'm sorry," he said, his deep voice tinged with concern.
Raven swallowed, the pain in her nose momentarily forgotten as she focused on his face. His features were sharp, angular, and handsome in a brooding, distant way. "It's fine," she managed to say, though the throbbing pain was anything but. "I've had worse."
He placed a hand gently on her nose, his palm warm as magic began to flow from him. Raven winced, but the pain slowly faded, replaced by a strange tingling sensation. She watched him work, mesmerized by the way his brow furrowed in concentration, his dark hair falling into his eyes.
For a moment, their eyes met, and Raven felt a strange, unspoken tension pass between them. His gaze was intense, searching, as if he was trying to read her, to understand something she couldn't yet comprehend. Then, just as quickly, he broke the moment, focusing again on her nose.
"There," he said, stepping back. "That should do it."
Raven touched her nose gingerly, finding that the pain was completely gone. "Thanks, I guess." Her voice was quieter now, unsure of how to react to his unexpected kindness. But before she could say anything else, the man's expression darkened.
"You shouldn't have been wandering around," he said, his tone sharp now. "Especially here. It's dangerous."
Raven blinked, taken aback by his sudden change in attitude. "Excuse me? I tripped over your foot and broke my nose. Maybe you shouldn't be lying in bushes."
He glared at her, his arms crossing over his chest. "Well, I fixed it, didn't I? Maybe you should watch where you're going. That's what eyes are for."
Raven scoffed, barely believing the nerve. If he hadn't been able to fix it with magic, she'd still be in pain—and somehow, he'd still find a way to blame her. She was the one hurt, the one with the broken nose, and here he was, acting like she was the problem. I should be the one upset, not him!
Un-freaking-believable.
"Well, maybe I wouldn't have fallen if someone wasn't napping in the middle of the garden like some kind of weirdo."
His eyes flashed with annoyance, but before he could respond, Raven turned on her heel, muttering to herself as she walked deeper into the garden. "Who does he think he is, giving me that attitude?" she grumbled, still fuming. "Rude, arrogant—"
Her rant was cut short when she noticed two figures standing at the far end of the garden, their voices low but urgent. Raven frowned, her curiosity piqued. She was about to step closer when she felt a warm hand wrap around her wrist, pulling her back.
"Don't," the man's deep voice whispered near her ear. His grip was firm, but not harsh—almost protective.
Raven turned sharply, about to snap at him again, but he quickly shushed her, his hand pressing lightly against her back as he crouched, pulling her down behind a nearby bush.
"What the hell are you doing?" she hissed, her heart racing from the sudden proximity.
He didn't answer, his expression deadly serious as his eyes flicked toward the two people in the distance. "You shouldn't be here," he whispered. "This isn't something you want to get involved in."
Raven glared at him, her irritation rising again. "You don't get to tell me what to do." she snapped, trying to stand, but he pulled her down again, the rustling of the bush causing a faint noise. The two figures turned in their direction, their conversation halting as they scanned the area.
Raven's breath hitched as she froze, her eyes locking with the man's. He met her gaze, his expression so serious, so intent, that for a moment, she forgot why she was even mad at him. There was something about the way he looked at her—something protective, almost fierce—that made her pause.
They stayed like that, silent and unmoving, until finally, the two figures resumed their conversation and walked away. Raven exhaled softly, still feeling the warmth of the man's hand on her wrist.
"You need to go back to your room," he said quietly, standing and offering her a hand. "Now."
For once, Raven didn't argue. There was something in his tone, in the way he looked at her, that made her believe him. This was serious—whatever was happening here, it wasn't something she wanted to get caught up in.
She cleared her throat, brushing off the dirt from her robe as she stood. "Fine," she muttered, turning to leave.
The man didn't respond, but as she walked away, she could feel his gaze on her, watching her until she disappeared into the night.