A thousand years ago, the balance between the mortal and spirit realms was destroyed by a love so forbidden it changed the course of history. Luna, queen of the mermaids, fell in love with Kael, a demon whose hunger for power eclipsed even his devotion to her.
To prove his love—and to seize ultimate strength—Kael opened the Baal Gates, a forbidden portal to the spirit lands. But his actions brought ruin instead of unity. The gates unleashed chaos, and the other creatures—vampires, werewolves, witches, and Amazons—rose in wrath. Believing the mermaids to be complicit, they declared war, hunting the species to extinction.
Only Luna survived the slaughter, frozen in a magical slumber to protect her unborn child. That child, Alice, was saved by Morna, a powerful witch who whisked her away to the Northerncrooks. Raised in secrecy, Alice grew up believing she was a witch herself, her true nature concealed by a charm: a simple silver bracelet. But fate has a way of unraveling the best-kept lies.
The Northerncrooks was a world of shadows and frost, where trees loomed like silent sentinels and the air carried the bite of endless winter. Alice didn't mind the gloom. It suited her. She had long since accepted that she didn't fit in—not in the nearby village with its judgmental stares, and certainly not among the vibrant, happy children she'd seen in stories.
Her reflection in the cracked mirror said it all: her black clothes hung loosely on her wiry frame, her silver hair was pulled into an untidy braid, and her sea-green eyes gleamed with a sharpness that unsettled people. She was, in every sense, an oddity.
"Are you going to stare at yourself all day, or are you going to eat?" Grandmother Morna's voice snapped her from her thoughts.
Alice sighed and left the mirror. The tiny kitchen smelled of herbs and something faintly burnt, as always. Morna stood at the stove, her black cloak brushing the floor as she stirred a pot.
"Grandma, do you think I'm strange?" Alice asked, sitting at the worn wooden table.
Morna turned, her sharp features softening. "You're not strange, child. You're special. There's a difference."
Alice snorted. "Special doesn't stop people from staring at me like I'm cursed."
Morna placed a bowl of soup in front of her and sat down. "People fear what they don't understand. That's why you have to be careful, especially at Blackthorn Academy."
The mention of Blackthorn made Alice groan. "Do I really have to go? It's full of vampires and werewolves. And Amazons. Don't even get me started on them."
"You'll be fine," Morna said firmly. "You're a witch, and witches are rare. They'll respect you if you stand your ground."
Alice poked at her soup. "I don't feel like a witch. My spells barely work, and half the time, the potions I make turn out wrong."
"That's because you doubt yourself," Morna said. Then her expression turned serious. "There's something you need to wear, though. Always."
From the folds of her cloak, she pulled out a delicate silver bracelet. It gleamed faintly, etched with swirling patterns Alice didn't recognize.
"This bracelet is enchanted," Morna said. "It will protect you. Don't take it off, not for any reason."
Alice frowned. "Why do I need protection? Is something going to happen?"
Morna hesitated, her dark eyes flickering with unease. "It's just a precaution. Trust me, Alice."
Reluctantly, Alice slipped the bracelet onto her wrist. The moment it clasped shut, she felt a strange warmth spread through her arm, but it faded quickly.
---
Blackthorn Academy was as intimidating as Alice had imagined. The massive castle loomed against the gray sky, its dark spires disappearing into the clouds. Students crowded the entrance, their varied appearances more unsettling than she'd expected. Vampires with pale, flawless skin; werewolves with sharp, predatory eyes; Amazons standing taller than anyone else—all of them radiated confidence and power.
Alice, in her baggy black clothes and clunky boots, felt like a shadow in their midst.
"Keep your head down," she muttered to herself as she walked through the grand entrance hall.
But keeping her head down wasn't enough to avoid trouble.
"Hey, witch girl!"
Alice turned to see a group of girls blocking her path. They were Amazons—tall, muscular, and intimidating. Their leader, a red-haired girl with piercing golden eyes, smirked as she looked Alice up and down.
"Nice outfit," the Amazon sneered. "Are you trying to blend in with the floor?"
Alice felt her cheeks burn, but she refused to let them see her embarrassment. "What do you want?"
The Amazon's smirk widened. "Just a little fun. We like to test the new kids. See if they're worth keeping around."
"I'm not interested," Alice said, trying to push past them.
The Amazon stepped in front of her, her smile turning cruel. "I wasn't asking."
The hallway went silent as students stopped to watch. Alice felt the weight of their stares, but something inside her refused to back down.
"Fine," she said, dropping her bag to the floor. "Let's see what you've got."
The Amazon laughed. "Oh, you're feisty. I like that."
The fight was over in moments. The Amazon lunged, but Alice moved faster than she thought possible, ducking under the swing and landing a solid punch to the girl's stomach. The Amazon staggered back, stunned, and Alice pressed her advantage, sweeping her legs out from under her.
When it was over, the Amazon lay groaning on the floor, and her friends stared at Alice in shock.
"Anyone else want to test me?" Alice asked, her voice cold.
The Amazons shook their heads and dragged their leader away, muttering under their breath.
The crowd dispersed, but Alice felt someone watching her. She turned and caught a pair of crimson eyes staring at her from the shadows. The boy stepped forward, his dark hair falling into his face, and smirked.
"Interesting," he said, his voice smooth and mocking. "You're not like the others, are you?"
Alice didn't reply. She grabbed her bag and walked away, her heart pounding.
Behind her, the boy's smirk widened.
"Very interesting," he murmured.