The school library was eerily quiet, save for the occasional rustle of pages or the faint hum of the air conditioner. I walked in with a stack of books in my arms, my eyes set straight ahead. I didn't even glance in Lucian's direction, though I knew he was already there, waiting for me.

As I reached our table, he leaned back in his chair, his arms crossed and an amused smirk playing on his lips. "You know," he said, his voice smooth, "this would go faster if you didn't treat me like I'm about to bite you."

I slammed the books on the table, the sound echoing in the quiet space. "Maybe because you are," I shot back, narrowing my eyes at him. "I've seen what you are, Lucian. You're not fooling me."

His smirk faded, replaced by something more serious. "If I wanted to hurt you, Elena," he said softly, his voice firm, "I already would have. I'm here for your scholarship. That's it."

I didn't respond immediately, my hands busy unpacking the books. His words hung in the air, a quiet challenge I wasn't sure how to answer.

We worked in silence for a while, each of us flipping through pages and jotting down notes. The tension between us was thick, but it wasn't unbearable. It was strange, being this close to him-this... thing I didn't fully understand-but knowing he wasn't trying to hurt me.

As the evening wore on, Lucian leaned back in his chair again, stretching his arms. "So, tell me, do you always glare at your project partners, or am I just special?"

I rolled my eyes, finally looking at him. "You're insufferable, you know that?"

"And yet," he replied, his grin returning, "you're still here."

I sighed, leaning back in my chair. "I'm here for the scholarship. Don't flatter yourself."

He chuckled, his gaze steady on mine. "You said you trust me earlier."

I hesitated before answering. "I do... but what about your tendencies?"

He raised an eyebrow, clearly amused. "Tendencies?"

"You know, the whole lurking in the shadows, red eyes thing. That's not exactly trust-inspiring behavior."

Lucian laughed, the sound deep and genuine. "I'll try to tone down the dramatics for you. Happy?"

I couldn't help but smile, shaking my head. "Not even close."

The hours passed as we pieced together parts of the project, our earlier tension easing into something lighter. We were working on a project about ancient folklore-ironically, vampires.

Lucian ran his fingers through his hair, glancing at one of the books. "You know, they got a lot of this wrong. Vampires don't actually..." He paused, catching himself, and quickly changed the subject. "Never mind. Just a lot of inaccuracies."

I looked up from my notes, narrowing my eyes. "What were you about to say?"

"Nothing," he said, smirking. "Just focus on your notes."

"Sure, because you don't know anything about vampires," I said sarcastically.

Lucian's grin widened. "Exactly. I'm just a regular guy trying to pass this class."

I shook my head, but for the first time in weeks, I didn't feel the weight of my fears pressing down on me. For now, at least, we could work together-whether I trusted him or not. After work we left for home.

The evening was calm, the fading sunlight casting a soft glow over my room. I reached to close the window, the cool breeze brushing against my skin. Just as I turned back, I froze.

She was there.

A woman stood in the corner of my room, her figure shrouded in shadows. Her dark hair cascaded over her shoulders, and her sharp eyes glinted like a predator's. Her presence was suffocating, her beauty terrifyingly perfect. She radiated danger, the kind you couldn't escape from even if you ran.

"Hello, Elena," she said, her voice smooth as silk but laced with venom.

I stepped back instinctively, my heart racing. "Who are you? How did you get in here?"

She took a slow step forward, her lips curling into a sinister smile. "Pearl," she said, tilting her head slightly. "Lucian's sister. Surprised, aren't you?"

I couldn't find my voice, but she didn't seem to need a response.

"Let me make this simple for you." She closed the distance between us in an instant, her hand gripping my elbow tightly. Her touch was cold, her strength inhuman.

"You need to kill yourself, Elena," she whispered, her tone eerily calm. "Do it before I have to. Because if you don't, I'll take great pleasure in ending you myself."

My breath hitched, and I tried to pull away, but her grip tightened. Her nails dug into my skin just enough to make her point.

"And stay away from my brother," she added, her voice dropping lower. "He's not your savior. He's your executioner. When the time comes, he'll kill you without hesitation."

I shook my head, my voice trembling. "He wouldn't-"

She cut me off with a laugh, cold and mocking. "Oh, sweetheart, you don't know him like I do. You're just another distraction. A fleeting amusement."

Her eyes flickered down to my locket, and her expression shifted. She reached out, brushing her fingers against it.

"Amazing," she murmured, her tone softer but still dangerous. "You're more than I thought."

I frowned, confused. "What are you talking about?"

She didn't answer immediately, her gaze fixed on the locket as its shine seemed to shift from silver to a soft celestial glow. Her smile returned, sharper this time.

"That's interesting," she said, releasing my arm. "You're full of surprises, Elena. But it doesn't matter. I'll kill your aunt, your friends, everyone you've ever loved, just to make sure you stay out of our lives."

Tears pricked my eyes, but I held them back. "Why are you doing this?"

She leaned in, her face Inches from mine "because you dont belong in this world, you never did."

And just like that, she was gone, leaving me trembling in fading light.

POV LUCIAN

Lucian stood in the dimly lit grand hall of the castle, his hands clenched at his sides. The air was thick with tension as Pearl emerged from the shadows, her signature smirk plastered across her face. She wore a fitted leather jacket, her dark eyes glinting with mischief and menace.

"Well, well," she drawled, circling him like a predator. "I saw your little bird today. And I threatened her?" Her voice was syrupy sweet, but her words dripped with venom. "Such a fragile thing... a shame if something happened to her."

Lucian's jaw tightened, his eyes narrowing. "Don't you dare touch her, again. Pearl." His voice was low, dangerous.

Pearl tilted her head, feigning innocence as she let out a laugh. "Oh, Lucian, still playing the protector, are we? You've always been so predictable." She stepped closer, her heels clicking on the stone floor. "You're ruining everything. She's not meant to live. You should've ended this the moment she returned, did you told her about what is beneath our castle?."

"I won't. And I wont let you near her," Lucian said, his tone steady but seething with fury.

Pearl's smirk widened, and she leaned in, her voice dropping to a whisper. "You have ten days, brother. Ten days to decide. Either you kill her, or I will." She straightened, her expression hardening. "And trust me, I'll make it slow. I'll hunt her every moment, make her life hell, until she begs me to finish it, or if you didn't killed her I'll released the monster beneath us. You better know the results."

Lucian's fists trembled as he stepped forward. "You're sick, Pearl. This isn't survival-it's obsession."

She raised an eyebrow, amusement flickering in her eyes. "Call it what you want. But remember, I'm Pearl-the survivor. And if it means protecting what's left of our family, I'll do whatever it takes."

Turning sharply, she strode toward the door, her voice echoing behind her. "Tick-tock, dear brother. The clock's ticking for your little bird." With a flick of her hair and that same maddening smirk, she disappeared into the night, leaving Lucian standing alone, his mind racing and heart heavy with dread.