Eryx ᯓᡣ𐭩
I leaned against the cold stone wall of the hallway, thinking about her. She had changed. The confident, almost defiant look in her eyes was a far cry from the girl I used to know, the one who used to laugh with me, challenge me, push my buttons just because she could. But there was something else there now-a coldness, a detachment that hadn't been there before.
Seeing Evelia again after all these years was like a punch to the gut. The way she looked at me-cold, distant, full of hate-it twisted something deep inside me. I had thought about this moment for so long, replaying it over and over in my head, imagining what I'd say, how I'd act. But none of it prepared me for the reality of standing there, facing her, with all that history hanging between us like a noose.
She had disappeared without a trace, leaving me in the wreckage of what our lives had become. We were just kids back then, but it didn't feel any less real. I had been angry, confused, and more hurt than I'd ever admit to anyone,she hates me for what happened, for how things ended between us. And maybe she has a right to after what I did.
But damn it, I was a kid, too. I was just trying to help her, to save her.
I hate her for what her father did to mine. That betrayal, the way it destroyed my family, it's something I can't forgive. Not now, not ever. And as much as I hate to admit it, part of me feels guilty for how things ended between us. I was too young to understand it then, but now... now I know that guilt doesn't change anything. It doesn't make up for what was lost.
I was lost in these thoughts, the anger simmering just beneath the surface, when I heard footsteps approaching. I didn't need to look up to know who it was. Cassian always had a way of finding me when I was brooding, as if he had a sixth sense for when I needed to be dragged out of my own head.
"Eryx" Cass's voice cut through my thoughts, casual but with that underlying concern I knew too well. "You're doing that thing again."
I glanced up, meeting his gaze. "What thing?"
"That thing where you look like you're about to kill someone," he said, raising an eyebrow. "Not a great look, by the way. Might scare off all your admirers."
I scoffed, pushing off the wall and shoving my hands into my pockets. "Not in the mood, Cass."
"Clearly," he said, stepping closer. "What's going on? You've been off since- Evelia"
I tensed at the mention of her name, but I didn't bother denying it. Cass knew me too well for that. "She's back," I muttered, more to myself than to him.
"Just waltzes back into my life like nothing happened."
Cass leaned against the wall beside me, crossing his arms. "And that's bothering you because...?"
I shot him a look, annoyed at how he could be so casual about this. "Because she left, Cass. Without a word, without anything. Just disappeared, like none of it mattered."
He was silent for a moment, studying me with that thoughtful look he always got when he was trying to figure out what was really going on in my head. "And you hate her for that."
It wasn't a question. Cass knew how to cut to the heart of things, even when I didn't want him to. I clenched my jaw, the words coming out harsher than I intended. "Yeah, I do. I hate her for leaving, for abandoning me. And I hate her for what her father did."
Cass nodded slowly, his expression serious. "But do you really hate her, Eryx? Or is it just easier than admitting you still care? She hates you. Can't say I blame her, but still..."
I looked away, the question hitting too close to home. Cassian had a way of seeing through the walls I built up around myself, but this time, I wasn't in the mood to let him break them down. "It doesn't matter. What matters is that she's back, and I'm not going to let her walk away again without facing the consequences."
Cass sighed, running a hand through his hair. "Revenge isn't going to fix what happened, Eryx. It won't change the past."
"I know that," I snapped, more harshly than I meant to. I took a breath, trying to rein in the anger that was threatening to spill over. "But it's all I have left. I can't just let her think she can come back after the shit her father did and everything will be fine. It's not fine, and it never will be."
Cass studied me for a long moment, his expression unreadable. "So what are you going to do?"
The question lingered in the air between us, heavy with the weight of everything that had been left unsaid. I didn't have a clear answer, not yet. But I knew one thing for sure: I wasn't going to let Evelia just slip back into my life without paying the price for what she and her family had done.
"I'm going to make sure she knows what it feels like," I said finally, my voice cold. "To lose everything. Just like I did."
Cass didn't say anything for a moment, then he sighed again, shaking his head slightly. "Just... be careful, Eryx. Don't lose yourself in this. She's not the same person she was back then. And neither are you."
I nodded, but his words didn't fully register.
Evelia Allis, now that you're back. You're not leaving. Ever. Again. I won't let you. You'll stay and face the consequences. You'll see what it feels like to lose everything.
Hades, your most beloved father. You are the one he cherishes above all else in this world, the sole beacon of hope he clings to. But let's see how far the two of you can flee from my grasp, for even the strongest bonds are tested when pursued by forces beyond their control.
꒷꒦︶꒷꒦︶ ๋ ࣭ ⭑꒷꒦
Evelia ᯓᡣ𐭩
The next morning, I walked into the classroom, the familiar coldness settling over me like a shield. It was easier that way, keeping people at a distance. The classroom was buzzing with chatter, but it all felt like background noise as I made my way to my spot.
As I approached, I noticed someone already sitting at my table-a girl I hadn't seen before. She was draped over the seat with the kind of careless confidence that screamed privilege. Her designer bag was sprawled across the desk, and she was scrolling through her phone, completely oblivious to the world around her.
I stopped in front of the table, placing my bag and books down with more force than necessary. She finally looked up, her gaze traveling slowly from my face to the items I had placed in front of her. A flicker of annoyance crossed her expression, but she didn't move.
"You're in my seat," I said, my voice steady and cold.
She arched an eyebrow, her lips curling into a smirk. "I didn't see your name on it."
I stared at her, unblinking, letting the silence stretch between us. She held my gaze for a moment longer, clearly trying to assert herself, but there was a slight hesitation in her eyes that told me she wasn't as unaffected as she wanted to seem.
"This is where I sit," I said, my tone leaving no room for argument. "Move."
She let out a soft, derisive laugh, leaning back in the chair as if to test how far she could push me. "Do you know who I am?"
I didn't even bother to answer that. Her name didn't matter to me, and it wouldn't change the outcome. Instead, I simply picked up her bag and placed it on the empty chair, making it clear that I wasn't going to entertain her attitude.
Her smirk faltered, the overconfidence slipping just a bit. "Excuse me?" she said, her voice a little sharper now. "You can't just-"
"I just did," I interrupted, my gaze still locked on hers. "Now, if you don't mind, I'd like to start my day without further interruption."
She stared at me, the silence heavy with the unspoken challenge. For a moment, I wondered if she would actually try to stand her ground, but then she huffed, clearly deciding it wasn't worth the effort. She grabbed her bag, rising from the chair with a haughty air, trying to salvage whatever dignity she could.
"You'll regret this," she muttered as she stepped aside, her voice dripping with disdain.
I didn't reply. I didn't need to. I had dealt with people like her before-people who thought their money and status gave them power over everyone else. But I had learned a long time ago that the real power was in not letting them get to you. I'm way more ahead of you.
As she walked away, I sat down, arranging my books and notes with practiced precision. The classroom continued to buzz around me, but it felt distant, muted. I had no interest in making friends, enemies? Well I already have a lot of them. I just wanted to get through the day without any more unnecessary distractions.
And if she wanted to make good on her little threat? Well, she'd learn soon enough that I wasn't someone to be easily intimidated.
As I settled into my seat, a familiar sense of detachment washed over me. The noise of the classroom was just a dull hum in the background, and I focused on organizing my books, trying to keep my mind clear. I didn't have time for distractions or pointless confrontations. Not today.
But then, out of the corner of my eye, I saw her-the girl from yesterday. She walked into the classroom, looking around uncertainly, as if trying to find a safe place to land. Before I could react, she stumbled and nearly fell but before that someone held her.
I looked up just in time to see who she had bumped into-Cassian.
The air around me seemed to freeze for a moment. Cassian was standing there, towering over her, the same guy who had bullied her yesterday. His eyes flickered with something I couldn't quite place-amusement, perhaps, or maybe just mild irritation. The girl's face went pale as she realized who she had bumped into, her fear evident in the way she shrank back slightly.
But it wasn't just Cassian who caught my attention. Standing just behind him, his presence impossible to ignore, was Eryx.
Eryx's gaze met mine, and for a split second, the classroom seemed to disappear, leaving just the two of us locked in an unspoken battle of wills. His eyes were dark, calculating, with a hint of something deeper-anger, perhaps, or regret? It was hard to tell. All I knew was that the look he gave me wasn't one of indifference.
I could feel the tension in the room rising, the air growing heavier with each passing second. Eryx didn't break eye contact, and neither did I. It was as if we were both waiting for the other to make the first move, to acknowledge the past that we'd both been running from.
Cassian, oblivious to the charged atmosphere between Eryx and me, looked down at the girl with a smirk. "Watch where you're going," he said, his tone condescending, as if she were nothing more than an inconvenience.
The girl immediately detached herself from him. She mumbled an apology, her eyes darting nervously between Cassian and Eryx.
As the girl quickly made her way past Cassian, she glanced nervously in his direction, then back toward me. It was clear that she didn't want to be near him for another second. Her steps were hurried, almost frantic, as she walked straight up to my table, her face flushed with anxiety.
She hesitated for a brief moment when she reached me, her eyes darting around as if she was expecting someone to stop her or that Cassian might say something else. But when she saw that I was watching her calmly, she seemed to take a deep breath, steadying herself.
"Hi," she said, her voice slightly breathless. She glanced over her shoulder quickly, then back at me, her eyes wide with something like desperation. "Can I-can I sit here with you?"
The request was unexpected, and I could tell she was struggling to maintain her composure. I took a moment to assess the situation, still aware of Eryx's gaze on me from across the room. Cassian's taunting grin was gone, replaced with something more calculating as he watched the girl's every move.
I looked back at the girl, who was now nervously biting her lip, waiting for my response. Despite the coldness I usually held onto, something softened inside me. She was scared, and while I preferred to keep to myself, I wasn't about to let her face them alone.
I nodded slowly. "Sure. Sit down."
She let out a sigh of relief and quickly slid into the seat next to mine, clutching her books like a shield. For a moment, she just sat there, breathing deeply, as if trying to regain her composure. The tension in her shoulders slowly began to ease, though her hands were still trembling slightly.
"Thank you," she murmured, barely loud enough for me to hear. She was staring down at the desk, avoiding eye contact with anyone, but her gratitude was unmistakable.
I didn't say anything immediately, just gave her a brief nod. It wasn't in my nature to offer comfort in words, but I could at least provide her with some semblance of safety. And right now, that seemed to be enough.
As the class began to settle down and the chatter dimmed, I could feel the eyes of others in the room on us, some curious, others judgmental. But I kept my focus on the front, ignoring the murmurs and side glances. If Cassian or Eryx wanted to make this a thing, they would have to do it without me playing into it.
The girl beside me shifted slightly in her seat, trying to get comfortable. She still looked a bit uneasy, but there was also a sense of resolve in her now. She didn't say anything more, and neither did I. There wasn't any need to. Just having someone beside her, someone who wouldn't let her be an easy target, seemed to be enough for now.
The silence between us wasn't uncomfortable, and eventually, the tension in the room began to dissipate as the professor walked in. I kept my focus straight ahead, even as I could feel Eryx's gaze still lingering on us. This wasn't over-far from it. But for now, the girl was safe, and I was ready for whatever might come next.
Breaking the silence she said "Do you wanna grab lunch together? I don't have any friends here, I'd like if you wanna spend some time with me."
I didn't want to but reluctantly I agreed.