Back in their room, Beatrix sat on the edge of her bed, staring at her hands.
There was a small scar on her left palm she never noticed before. A pale crescent, like a healed burn.
She touched it. It pulsed once.
Cassia lit a candle and placed it on the desk. "Don't worry. The first week is the worst. After that, it becomes… less surprising."
Beatrix looked up. "What's really going on here?"
Cassia smirked "You're not just a student, Trixie, none of us are. We're pieces of something older or maybe broken."
She frowned. "Broken how?"
Cassia looked at the flame. "That's what we're here to find out."
Outside, the sky darkened, though it was barely noon. Clouds rolled in fast, swallowing the sun, thunder rumbled behind the cliffs.
"But why didn't the acceptance letter come with a warning?" Beatrix asked, feeling frustrated.
"It had a lot of warnings, you just didn't notice. Even if you did, you would have still be here...there's a connection somewhere."
"Fuck it." She dropped on her bed. "Thank goodness, the boy who Professor Thorne let watch over me happens to be nice."
Cassia giggled. " And who is that?"
"I don't even remember, just a cute blonde haired guy….can't remember the name." Beatrix replied.
"Just be careful, it's ok to fall in love but don't lose yourself to it, the school standards are very high…. You can't afford to be kicked out."
"Eww." Beatrix gave a disgusting look. "How can I fall in love with those creepy humans?"
"Funny." They both laughed.
Cassia stretched, then flopped backward on her bed. "Anyway, you survived your first class. That's already better than some."
Beatrix sat up a little. "Wait, are you being serious?"
Cassia looked over. "One kid last year tried to run after the second day. He made it all the way to the gates before he vanished. No one's sure if he got out… or just disappeared."
"Jeez," Beatrix muttered. "Why does this place even exist?"
Cassia pulled her blanket over her legs. "Like I said before, it's because some things don't stay buried. The Academy keeps us from becoming… dangerous. Or worse, from being found by people who don't understand us."
"But I was doing just fine before I came to this place."
"It would have acted up sooner or later, you should be grateful you're here." Cassia replied.
Beatrix was quiet.
Her eyes drifted back to the scar on her palm.
It pulsed again, faintly.
"Did you ever… see something? In a mirror?" she asked.
Cassia's smile faded. "Once."
"What did you see?"
"A version of myself that was once here. She was angry, like she blamed me for being stubborn, she had a lot of advice for me."
The room was quiet again
Beatrix lay back down, staring at the ceiling. "I don't want to be special. I just wanted a scholarship and a quiet school far from home."
Cassia laughed softly. "And you got this circus instead."
"I swear, if I get the slightest opportunity, I'm going back to regular college."
"You'd miss the haunted staircases and your cute guardian angel."
Cassia raised an eyebrow.
Beatrix rolled her eyes. "Not like that. He's just… there."
"That's funny," Cassia said. "Don't take it for granted."
Outside, thunder cracked again, closer this time. The candle on the desk flickered low.
Then suddenly, a sharp knock came thrice.
They both sat up.
Beatrix looked at the door. "You expecting anyone?"
Cassia shook her head. "Nope."
The knock came again, it was slower this time.
Cassia stood, She opened the door just a little and peeked out.
Then she shut it fast.
"Who was it?" Beatrix whispered.
Cassia locked the door. "No one was there."
They stared at the door, half expecting it to fly open on its own, but it stayed still
Then something slid under it.
A piece of parchment, slightly curled, the edges blackened like it has been held too close to fire.
Cassia stepped forward. "What is that?"
Beatrix picked it up slowly, the paper was warm, she turned it and read the message out loud, frowning.
"Stay away from my man."
She blinked. "What the hell?"
Cassia raised an eyebrow. "Seriously?"
Beatrix turned the paper over again . Nothing else, no name, no signature.
"Oh my God," Cassia said, already laughing. "You have a school stalker girlfriend situation already, that was fast."
"I don't even know this guy's name," Beatrix groaned, crumpling the paper. "Who sends threats like this in burnt calligraphy?"
"Girls at this school are… a little dramatic," Cassia smirked. "Especially when it comes to the third and second years."
Beatrix dropped onto her bed again. "It's not even like that with me and this guy, we've talked once."
Cassia gave her a look.
"Okay, once but for long," she corrected. "But that doesn't count."
"Does your face light up when you see him?"
Beatrix pulled her blanket over her head. "Go away."
Cassia laughed. "You're blushing."
"I hate it here."
They both laughed so hard like old times friends finally catching up.
The next morning, Beatrix woke up with the aim of going to class very early, hoping to avoid any weird stares from whoever. Cassia was still sleeping, one arm thrown over her face like she'd fought a war in her dreams.
She buttoned her vest, tied the ribbon the best she could, and slipped into the hallway, the halls were mostly empty, except for a few older students in their long coats and expressionless faces. Beatrix kept her head down.
"Thank goodness, no one here looks weird or even stares at me." She murmured to herself.
When she was halfway to the West Wing stairs, three girls blocked the corridor.
"Look who we have here." The tallest amongst them said, with a mocking smile.
Beatrix raised an eyebrow. "Excuse me? Do I know you?"
The one in the middle stepped forward, her uniform was perfect, not even a wrinkle on it. Her dark hair was pinned back with silver clips shaped like blades.
"You're the new girl, right?" she said.
Beatrix paused. "Yeah…Trixie. Why?"
"Such a nice name huh? I'm Talia, these are my friends, we're noticing your movement." Her smile didn't reach her eyes.
Beatrix swallowed. "Okay…"
"You're a little too cozy with someone you shouldn't be."
Beatrix blinked. "Excuse me?"
"Lucian," said one of the girls behind Talia, crossing her arms.
Beatrix laughed once. "Seriously? We've talked just once, I didn't even remember his name is Lucian."
"Oh, so you're calling him your friend now?" Talia tilted her head. "Cute."
"I'm not….look, I don't even know what this is about. I have class, so…."
She moved to walk past, but one of the girls stuck her foot out and she tripped hard.
She hit the floor, her hands scraping against cold stone, and her books slid out of her bag.
Talia crouched beside her and stock her head out.
"Consider this a warning," she said softly. "Not everyone gets to walk around here like they belong….Stay clear from my man."
"What the fuck." Trixie muttered.