The morning sun bathed the streets in a golden glow as Celia and Justin walked side by side toward school. Celia’s voice bubbled with excitement as she shared a funny story about her dog, while Justin listened, a faint smirk playing on his lips.

"Can you believe that? He actually tried to eat my homework!" Celia laughed, clutching her books tightly.

Justin shrugged, his tone dry but amused. "Smart dog. Maybe he was saving you from a bad grade."

Celia nudged him playfully. "Oh, please. You’re not the only smart one around here, Mr. Bookworm."

As they approached the school gates, I spotted them and hurried over, a teasing grin lighting up her face.

“Well, well, look at you two. Morning walks already? Is there something you’re not telling me? Yesterday you both were bloodthirsty and now looking like a couple?” I wiggled eyebrows dramatically.

Celia rolled her eyes, though her cheeks flushed slightly. “Relax, Elena. He’s just my new neighbor.!”

I crossed my arms, wanna say something but without looking at me she left!”

I was halfway through a dull history lecture when a knock interrupted the teacher. The door opened, revealing Celia’s mother, her face pale and streaked with tears.

“Celia,” she said, her voice trembling. “Daughter, come with me.”

The room fell silent as Celia stood, her confusion quickly replaced by alarm. “Mom? What’s wrong?”

Her mother didn’t answer, only took her hand and led her out of the room. Celia’s shoulders shook as tears began to fall, her sobs echoing faintly in the hallway.

After school I  found Ash leaning against a tree in the school yard, his usual aloof expression replaced with a rare trace of concern.

“Did you hear what happened?” I asked cautiously.

Ash nodded, pushing off the tree. “Not much. Just that her mom came crying. She hasn’t come back to class. I'm missing her i wanna challenge someone.”

I frowned. “You are insane. Let’s check on her. She’ll need us.”

We walked to Celia’s house together, their usual banter replaced by heavy silence.

When we arrived, the scene before us made my breath catch. The yard was filled with people, somber faces and hushed whispers. A black ribbon hung on the gate, and Celia stood by the porch, clutching a photo frame as if it were her lifeline.

I approached slowly, my heart sinking. “Celia?”

Celia looked up, her face streaked with tears. “Jason... he’s gone,” she whispered, her voice breaking.

“What happened?” Ash asked gently, stepping closer.

Her mother, standing nearby, answered in a trembling voice. “He was... attacked. Some animal bit him during his morning jog. He didn’t make it.”

Celia crumpled into sobs, and Ash caught her before she fell, holding her tightly. She said "she did it, pearl." I heard it and my body goosebumps. Celia didn't gimme attaintion like it's all happened because of me.

POV Author

As Celia cried in his arms, Ash’s mind was a storm of conflicting emotions. He had never cared about anyone beyond what they could offer him, but seeing her like this—so vulnerable, so broken—stirred something he couldn’t ignore.

At first, he had thought she would be easy to manipulate, a bright distraction in his otherwise calculated world. But now, as he stroked her hair and whispered calming words, he felt an unfamiliar ache in his chest. He whispers "this isnt part of the plan!"

Elena stayed by Celia’s side, offering quiet support while Ash handled the practicalities—making sure Celia ate something, keeping people from overwhelming her, and simply being there when she needed to cry again. Lucian standing there, I got near him and told him about pearl was never gone. Celia without talking to me left to her room me and Lucian followed her.

POV Elena

Jason’s funeral was still fresh in everyone’s minds. The quiet whispers of grief in the town were replaced by the heavy storm inside Celia’s heart. I knocked.

She opened the door, my stomach twisting when I saw her standing there, clutching Jason’s old jacket. Her face was blotchy, her fists clenched, and her entire body trembled. Lucian stood beside me, quiet but tense.

“Celia—” I began, but she cut me off.

“Don’t,” she snapped, her voice like broken glass. “Just… don’t.”

Before I could say another word, she grabbed both mine and Lucian’s wrists and dragged us outside of her house. The cool night air did little to soothe the fire in her gaze.

“You!” she cried, pointing at Lucian. “You’re the reason Jason’s gone. You and your… kind!”

Lucian’s face darkened, his jaw tightening, but he didn’t respond.

“And you,” Celia turned to me, her voice cracking with raw emotion. “I regret every moment we were friends, Elena. I regret trusting you. I regret caring about you!”

Her words cut deeper than any wound Pearl had ever inflicted on me. “Celia, I—”

“No!” she shouted, tears streaming down her face. “You brought all of this into my life! Jason would still be here if it wasn’t for you!”

I stepped back, my knees weak. Her accusations hit me like a tidal wave, and I could barely breathe.

“Celia, I never wanted—”

“Stop!” she interrupted, her voice shaking. “Don’t you dare try to justify this! It’s all because of you. And you,” she said, glaring at Lucian, “you’re just a monster. If I ever see you again, I’ll make sure everyone knows what you really are.”

Lucian’s eyes flickered with pain, but he nodded. “If that’s what you need to do.”

Celia scoffed, her voice dripping with venom. “Get out. Both of you. I don’t ever want to see either of you again.”

Her words echoed in the silence as she stormed back inside, slamming the door behind her.

I stood frozen, tears blurring my vision. Lucian gently touched my arm. “Elena, let’s go.”

We walked to my bike, and I handed him the keys without a word. My hands were shaking too much to drive. He didn’t say anything as we got on, but I could feel his tension, his unspoken anger at the situation.

The ride back to his castle was quiet except for the sound of the wind and my quiet sobs. I couldn’t hold it in any longer. “It’s all my fault,” I whispered, my voice barely audible over the wind.

“Elena,” Lucian said firmly, his voice steady as he navigated the winding road. “It’s not your fault.”

“Yes, it is!” I cried, my voice breaking. “Pearl was right. I should’ve just let her kill me. None of this would’ve happened if I weren’t here.”

He pulled the bike over to the side of the road, cutting the engine. The sudden silence was deafening. He turned to me, his eyes intense. “Don’t you dare say that again.”

I shook my head, tears streaming down my face. “Jason is dead because of me. Celia hates me because of me. My aunt is missing because of me. Everything—everything—is because of me, Lucian!”

His expression softened, and for the first time, I saw something in his eyes I hadn’t seen before—vulnerability. “Elena, listen to me. This isn’t your fault. Pearl is the one to blame, not you.”

I buried my face in my hands, sobbing. “I’ve lost everything, Lucian. My best friend. My family. My sense of who I even am anymore. Celia will never forgive me. Never.”

He didn’t say anything at first, and then, to my surprise, he pulled me into a hug. It was awkward at first—neither of us really knew how to navigate it—but then his arms tightened around me.

“I’m so sorry,” he murmured, his voice barely above a whisper.

His words broke me even further, but somehow, his embrace held the pieces together. For the first time in what felt like forever, I let myself collapse into someone’s arms, letting go of the weight I had been carrying.

When we reached his castle, I refused to go home. The thought of walking into that empty house, knowing my aunt was hurted by me and Celia hated me, was too much. Lucian didn’t argue. He just showed me to a guest room and left me to my thoughts.

As I lay in bed that night, staring at the ceiling, I couldn’t stop replaying Celia’s words in my mind. The anger in her voice, the betrayal in her eyes—it haunted me.

Would she ever forgive me? Could she?