The moment Evadne stepped out of Hades's car, a wave of hostile stares cut through the early morning air.
The girls, friends of both Hades and Cieryl, had been watching, and their eyes were already flashing with judgment.
She didn't bother waiting for Hades to open the door for her. The parking lot was too far from the main gate anyway, and they were long past the line of sight of Jupiter's ever-watchful men.
Still, when she neared the group, the same girls who had been glaring seconds earlier suddenly lit up with fake smiles.
"Really?" Evadne thought, inwardly scoffing. "Do they think I'm blind? That I didn't see how their faces switched the second I got close?"
She had no intention of pretending with them.
After all, she and Hades had already agreed on the rules of their little charade.
Civility? Fine.
Friendship? Never.
"Hi Vee, good morning," Nika greeted with a voice dipped in honey.
But her thoughts?
"This bitch really has the nerve to show up with him? First thing in the damn morning?"
"Didn't Cieryl come with you?" Nika asked sweetly, though her tone didn't match the venom behind her eyes.
Evadne could hear the rest of them now, like a chorus of knives behind velvet curtains.
They were trying to frame her as the pathetic new girl.
The clingy, insecure one.
The girl forcing herself on a boy who clearly wanted someone else.
As if, she thought.
"You can ask Hades about it," Evadne said flatly, immediately throwing him under the bus without a second thought.
Before the tension could thicken, two other girls approached from behind.
"Vee!" Amanda and Bea called out in unison, brushing right past Nika with zero shame. The two slid smoothly into position, flanking her like personal guards.
"Welcome to NYE Academy," Amanda grinned. "We're in the same section!"
"Delvin and Flynn went to pick up Casadin," Bea added with a smirk, "but of course, he already gave strict instructions to look after you. So, let's go!"
Evadne let herself smile, genuine this time.
Amanda and Bea were clearly rebels, even in uniform.
Their style stood out even within NYE's elite walls.
Amanda looked like a high school version of Morticia Addams, long jet-black hair, dramatic eyeliner, and an energy that screamed do not fuck with me.
Bea, on the other hand, was the darkly cutesy type, goth with a touch of pink, her accessories always balanced between adorable and dangerous.
NYE Academy had a strict uniform code, chic black mini-skirt suits for girls and slack pants for boys with tailored blazers, but they allowed fashion flair as long as the core uniform remained intact. So students expressed themselves through everything else, accessories, makeup, shoes, hair.
It was a subtle competition in style, reputation, and status.
And the moment Evadne joined Amanda and Bea, she knew the social battlefield was shifting.
"I think I need to stop by the Student Guidance Office first," she said, already walking away from Hades's group without a single backward glance. She didn't even say goodbye.
"Oh, let's swing by the classroom first so you can drop your bag," Bea offered. "We'll take you to Guidance after. But I swear, it's probably just a basic welcome speech. Nothing important."
NYE Academy wasn't just a school.
It was an empire.
Built for the children of high society, its reputation was legendary. The campus spanned five massive buildings that looked more like miniature White House replicas than actual educational institutions.
One building each for middle and high school academics.
Another for administrative offices.
One for extracurricular activities and club rooms.
And a standalone five-star Michelin-level cafeteria that spanned four floors.
The fourth floor of that building was a grand ballroom, used for school dances, exclusive galas, and elite student-hosted events.
The open grounds were dotted with pristine tables and designer benches, perfect for lounging in luxury between classes.
Even at a glance, you could tell this school wasn't just about academics or extracurriculars. It was a breeding ground for the next generation of elite power players.
Future CEOs. Heirs. Politicians. Stars.
And beneath all the glittering prestige… was a hidden system.
A silent hierarchy built on voluntary monetary contributions.
Voluntary in name only.
The student who donated the most?
Crowned the unofficial King or Queen.
Those who gave more ruled more.
Those who didn't? Bowed.
It was ruthless. Quiet. Deadly in its precision.
The three girls made their way to the fourth floor of the High School Academics building, heading straight for the room labeled Special A, as if adding the word "special" to the top section of each year level would truly make its students feel superior.
The rest of the classes were simply named 3-B, 3-C and so on.
But here?
Here, the elite were given their own crown.
"Our group usually stays in the back of the room. That okay with you?" Bea asked, a hint of concern in her voice, unsure if Evadne preferred sitting closer to the front.
"I'm good anywhere as long as I'm by the window," Evadne answered with a smile.
She had always liked the view. Being able to see the outside world gave her something to focus on when the classroom got too loud, too fake, too stifling. The sky didn't lie. The view didn't whisper behind your back.
"Perfect. We know exactly the best seat for you," Amanda replied with a grin.
There were already a few students inside when they entered.
And just as Evadne expected, she could hear their thoughts, loud and unfiltered, cutting through the shallow smiles and plastic nods.
"That's her."
"The girl who's trying to steal Hades."
"She doesn't look guilty at all."
"What a bitch."
Evadne didn't flinch.
If anything, it amused her.
The way they looked at her, like she was some exotic insect trapped under glass. Curious. Threatening. Easy to study, impossible to understand.
"So this is what it feels like to be the new girl," she thought, not particularly impressed.
"Here, Vee," Amanda said, pausing behind a seat at the far back corner, right beside the wide, sunlit window. "This one's perfect for you."
Evadne raised an eyebrow. "No one sits here?"
"It's Casadin's seat," Bea replied, casually dropping her bag into the desk beside Amanda's. "Don't worry. He sits here alone, anyway. Now he won't."
She gestured at the row. "That's me and Amanda in front of you, and beside you are Delvin and Flynn. So yeah, you're with us."
Evadne nodded, satisfied.
It was the best spot in the room, tucked away but with a clear view of everything. Strategic. Safe. Commanding.
After dropping off her bag, Amanda and Bea insisted on walking her to the Student Guidance Office.
Luckily, the Academics and Admin buildings were right beside each other, though it still took about ten minutes, partly because of the size, and partly because of the way people kept slowing down to stare.
Once inside, the two girls left her with a wave and a wink. "We'll catch you later, Vee. Just don't let them brainwash you too much," Bea joked.
As expected, her meeting with the Student Guidance Officer was nothing but a formal introduction, a polished, rehearsed monologue masked as a warm welcome.
Rules. Regulations. Academic expectations. Social structures. The who, what, where, and why of New York Elite Academy.
"So, you've been placed in Junior Special A," the woman said with a professional smile as they walked back toward the classroom. "Special A is the most exclusive section in the school. Only the most talented and influential students make it. Congratulations."
She continued, heels clicking against the glossy floor.
"Here at NYE, we follow block sectioning. That means you'll attend all core subjects with the same group, like an academic family. Your classes this semester will be Advanced Math, History of Global Power, Business Strategy, Applied Chemistry, and French as your foreign language."
She smiled knowingly. "Collaboration is intense. So is competition."
"Math will cover real-world applications, financial modeling, predictive analytics, advanced calculus. History isn't just about memorizing events, it's dissecting why nations rise and fall. Business will have you pitching mock startups and solving international case studies."
She gestured with pride. "Chemistry includes hands-on lab work, and French, well, it's a staple. Trust me, being in Special A isn't just about studying. It's about leading."
When they reached the classroom door, the woman turned to her with a final nod.
"Welcome to NYE, Miss Monteverde. You belong here."
Then, just like that, she was gone.
Evadne stood alone at the threshold of a room filled with whispers, envy, power, and predators.
She pushed the door open with the quiet confidence of someone who had already mapped out the battlefield, and every player on it.