**Chapter 2: The Rules of Survival**
**Rule number one: Never show weakness.**
That was the first thing Sienna told herself as she stepped into the grand hall of Blackwood Academy.
The morning light filtered through massive stained-glass windows, casting colorful patterns across polished marble floors. Chandeliers gleamed above. The scent of old books, expensive perfume, and privilege clung to the air.
It was a palace. And she was the intruder.
Students moved through the hallways in designer uniforms, their conversations dripping with money and status. Some walked in clusters, their last names alone enough to shake industries.
And then there were the elites.
Perched like gods on their golden thrones. Celeste and her girls. Damien and his circle. Untouchable. Unshaken. The rulers of Blackwood.
Sienna knew their type.
She had spent years watching them from the outside.
Now, she was in their world.
And they would do anything to break her.
---
*"You're the New Girl, Right?"
A voice pulled Sienna from her thoughts.
She turned—only to come face to face with a girl in oversized glasses, a mischievous smile, and a uniform that looked like she had been in a hurry to throw it on.**
"Hey, I'm Naomi Sinclair," the girl said, grinning like they were old friends.
Sienna hesitated. "Sienna Morone."
Naomi linked arms with her like it was the most natural thing in the world.
"Welcome to hell," she whispered dramatically.
Sienna raised a brow. "I thought this was Blackwood Academy."
"Same thing." Naomi smirked. "And let me guess—you already met Celeste?"
Sienna glanced across the hall.
Celeste sat at her usual spot, surrounded by her clique, perfectly poised, sipping her morning espresso like she ran the school.
She didn't even look at Sienna.
But Sienna knew better.
"Yeah," Sienna muttered. "We met."
Naomi whistled. "Damn. You're already on her radar?"
Sienna didn't respond.
Naomi *leaned in, lowering her voice. "If Celeste doesn't like you, she won't just ignore you. She'll play the long game. She'll ruin you."
Sienna already knew that.
What she didn't know was *how far Celeste was willing to go.
---
**First Period: Dangerous Encounters**
The moment Sienna walked into the classroom, **she felt it.**
**A presence.**
Dark. Cold. Commanding.
She didn't have to look.
She already knew.
Damien Sterling was there.
He sat at the back of the room, one leg stretched lazily, his arm draped over the desk like he owned the world.
A gold watch glinted on his wrist. He was wearing his tie loose again, just enough to break the rules—but not enough to get punished.
The other students kept their distance. Because that's what you did when a king walked among you.**
And yet—
His eyes were on her.
Sienna refused to react.
She made her way to an empty seat without looking at him.
She wouldn't play this game.
But as she lowered herself into her chair—
A voice, low and smooth, slid across the air like silk.
"You're in my seat."
Sienna's fingers **tightened on the desk.**
Slowly, she looked up.
Damien's gray eyes locked onto hers.
Unreadable. Unshaken.
A challenge.
Sienna exhaled. **Calm. Steady. Don't let him get to you.**
"No name on it," she said coolly.
A slow smirk **tugged at the corner of his lips.**
Dangerous.
"You really don't know how things work here, do you?"
Sienna lifted a brow. "Should I be taking notes?"
A slow **chuckle** came from his throat.
And then, without another word, **he sat in the seat beside her.**
The classroom **felt smaller.**
The air heavier.
Sienna forced herself to focus on **anything but him.**
And then—
**The door opened.**
And the room **went silent.**
---
**The Forbidden Professor Callum Hayes**
The man who entered was **not what Sienna expected.**
He was **young, sharp-jawed, with an air of quiet authority.** Dressed in a crisp black suit, his sleeves rolled up just slightly, revealing **strong forearms and a watch that wasn't for show.**
His presence was **effortless. Commanding.**
And when he spoke, his voice was **deep, smooth, and made for dark secrets.**
"Good morning, class."
The students straightened.
"This semester, I will be your history professor," he continued, **eyes sweeping over the room.**
**And then his gaze landed on Sienna.**
And **lingered.**
Sienna felt something **unnerving stir in her chest.**
It wasn't attraction.
It was **recognition.**
Like they had met before.
But that was **impossible.**
And yet, for a split second—
His eyes **darkened.**
And then, just as quickly, he turned away.
Sienna exhaled.
**Why did it feel like he knew something about her secret?**
---
**Lunchtime: The Trap**
The cafeteria was **a battlefield.**
There were **unspoken rules** at Blackwood. **Where you sat determined your worth.**
The **elites sat at their own table**, a place reserved for **the untouchable, the ruthless, and the feared.**
Celeste was at the center, **smirking, watching, waiting.**
Naomi and Sienna grabbed their trays and **headed to a safe corner.**
But they didn't make it far.
A voice **cut through the noise.**
"Sienna! Over here!"
Sienna **froze.**
Because the voice belonged to **Juliet Hale.**
One of **Celeste's girls.**
Naomi's fork stopped mid-air. "Oh, hell no."
Sienna turned.
Juliet was **smiling sweetly, waving her over.**
And **Celeste was watching.**
It was a trap.
A **public test.**
If Sienna **sat with them, she was submitting.**
If she **refused, she was declaring war.**
Naomi leaned in, whispering, "Don't go. They'll rip you apart."
Sienna's pulse pounded.
But **this was about more than lunch.**
It was about **power. Survival. The rules of Blackwood.**
So, she squared her shoulders—
And **walked straight to Celeste's table.**
Naomi **gasped.**
The cafeteria **fell silent.**
And Celeste's smirk **deepened.**
"Well," she said, **crossing her legs elegantly.** "You might be smarter than I thought."
Sienna **met her gaze.**
And smiled.
Because she was **ready for war.**
---