The smirk if a female demon

Emery's point of view 

The way Xavier looked at me after I asked why he hated me made my stomach turn colder than fear ever could.

His grip loosened abruptly, like he suddenly regretted touching me at all.“Get out,” he said flatly.

I stared at him.“You dragged me against a wall just to say that?”

Gray fury flashed through his eyes instantly. “Don’t push your luck, Emery.”

I yanked my wrist free angrily. “You know what? Fine. Keep your weird psychological issues to yourself.”

His jaw tightened.“And stay away from my side of the house,” he warned coldly. “I mean it.”

I scoffed. “Trust me, being near you isn’t exactly on my wishlist.”

Then I walked out before my heartbeat betrayed how shaken I actually felt.

The second I entered my room, my phone started ringing. My chest tightened painfully at the sight of Jenna's name.

I tossed the phone aside, but Jenna was determined to blow off my phone with her incessant calls. 

With a frustrated sighI answered.

“Emery!” Her voice sounded panicked, like she was crying.

“I need your help.”

I froze immediately.“What happened?”

“I’m trapped inside the school storage room,” she sobbed. “Someone locked me in after practice and my phone is dying. Please, Emery.”

Confusion flickered through me. “Where’s Allen?”

“He’s not answering!” The irony almost made me laugh.

“Please,” she begged again. “I’m scared.”

I closed my eyes tightly, ignored her, who cares if she died in there, she isn't my problem, let Allen handle his girlfriend, a voice said inside my head.

But two seconds later, some stupid broken part.of me cared enough to say;“Fine,” I’m coming.”

Forty minutes later, I stepped into Blackridge Academy’s back hallway with growing unease crawling beneath my skin. The school was nearly empty, only a few lights remained on.

The deeper I walked toward the storage area near the old rink equipment rooms, the quieter everything became, “Jenna?” I called cautiously.

But no response came, the storage room door stood slightly open ahead.My stomach twisted, something felt wrong, every instinct told me to run the other way, but I pushed the door open slowly.

Darkness was all I saw first, then suddenly…hands grabbed me violently from behind.

I screamed as the door slammed shut. Lights flickered on instantly, laughter exploded around me, my blood turned ice cold.

Ophelia Hart sat casually on top of a table surrounded by half the elite girls in school, and standing right beside her..was a smiling Jenna.

“Oh,” Ophelia mocked dramatically. “The little rat actually came.”

Rage and betrayal crashed through me so violently I almost couldn’t breathe.

“You set me up.”

Jenna crossed her arms carelessly. “You so stupid , can't believe you actually came…what a big fool you are, Emery.” The cruelty in her voice stunned me.

Two girls suddenly grabbed my arms before I could react.

“Let me go!” I struggled.

Ophelia hopped off the table slowly, her split lip from our fight still faintly visible. “You embarrassed me in front of the whole school,” she said softly. “Did you really think I’d let that go?”

Fear started crawling through me.“What are you doing?”

Ophelia smiled. “Balancing things.”

Then chaos exploded, as hands shoved me violently against shelves while girls laughed around me. I fought hard, kicking and screaming, but there were too many of them.

Someone ripped my hoodie, another yanked my shirt upward, panic slammed into me instantly.

“STOP!” My scream echoed through the room.

Within seconds, my clothes were stripped away while humiliation burned so violently through me I thought I might actually die from it. I tried covering myself desperately while tears blurred my vision.

Phones appeared, camera flashes, laughter filled my brain.

“Oh my God, look at her!” Jenna stood there watching everything happen. Ophelia stepped closer slowly, holding up her phone proudly.

“Now,” she said softly, “everyone gets to see exactly what happens when people disrespect me.”

I felt physically sick.“Please…” The word escaped before I could stop it.

Ophelia’s smile widened instantly, enjoying every moment, “I’m posting every single photo if you ever touch me again.”

Then she leaned close enough for me to smell her expensive perfume.

“You should’ve stayed beneath us where you belong.”

They finally left laughing, the storage room door slammed shut behind them and silence crashed over me.

I stood there shaking violently while trying to pull my torn clothes back together with trembling fingers. My chest hurt so badly I could barely breathe.

Hot, humiliating tears spilled down my face, I wiped them away angrily, then I did the one thing I swore I’d never do. I went to Xavier.

***********

He looked irritated the second he opened his bedroom door. “What now?”

“I need your help.”

His expression instantly turned mocking. “Wow. Scholarship girl asking rich people for favors. Shocking.”

I clenched my jaw tightly. “Ophelia took photos of me…naked.” That wiped the amusement off his face immediately.

“What?”

I looked away, humiliation crawling up my throat. “She stripped me in the storage room with her friends.”

For the first time since meeting Xavier Vaughn, he looked genuinely stunned, then his face hardened dangerously. “She’s threatening to post them.”

I forced the words out painfully…..“Please.”The word tasted disgusting, but I said it anyway. 

Xavier stared at me for several long seconds, then he shrugged coldly. “And what exactly do you expect me to do?”

Anger exploded through my humiliation instantly. “You’re seriously okay with this?”

“Don’t see why I should get involved.”

I laughed bitterly. “You really are a monster.”His eyes darkened.

“And you’re naïve,” he shot back. “Did you seriously think girls like Ophelia would ever accept you?”

Rage burned through me.“I came here because I thought maybe for once you’d act human!”

He scoffed. “That was your first mistake.”

I stared at him in disgust before storming out.

But later that evening, while heading downstairs for water, I heard yelling from the study.

“You’re pathetic, Ophelia!”

I froze near the hallway, listening.

“I’m telling you to delete every photo you took of her!”

Ophelia sounded furious. “Why do you suddenly care?!”

“Because revenge p**n is cheap,” Xavier snapped viciously. “And I won’t repeat myself again. Delete them.”

Shock rooted me in place..He defended me? No….that couldn’t be right.

Then Ophelia laughed bitterly. “You hate her more than anyone.”

A dangerous silence followed, then Xavier spoke quietly. “That doesn’t mean you get to disobey me.”

**********

The next morning, I almost convinced myself everything would be okay, then I walked into school, and saw my naked body displayed across the giant digital billboard near the academy courtyard.

The world stopped, students crowded everywhere, laughing, recording with their phones. My lungs stopped working.

Every ounce of blood drained from my face as humiliation hit me violently. 

“Oh my God, that’s Emery!” My chest caved inward, then rage exploded. I shoved through the crowd violently until I spotted Ophelia standing proudly near the billboard surrounded by her crew, including Jenna.

“You bitch!” My scream silenced the courtyard instantly. Ophelia turned lazily, completely unashamed.

“Don’t you look cute in those photos?”

I slapped her so hard her head snapped sideways. Gasps erupted everywhere.

Ophelia lunged at me furiously. “You psycho…” But someone suddenly caught her wrist midair and the entire courtyard froze.

“Enough.”Xavier yelled, wearing all black, gray eyes colder than death itself.

Ophelia looked stunned. “Xavier?”He released her wrist slowly before turning toward the billboard.

His expression darkened murderously.“I told you to delete every photo.”

Ophelia laughed nervously. “Come on, it’s just a joke.”

“Does this look funny to you?”

For the first time ever, fear flickered across Ophelia’s face.

“You’re defending her?”

Xavier looked at her like she disgusted him.

“You distributed explicit images without consent. Congratulations. You just committed multiple crimes before first period.”

The courtyard exploded into whispers. Ophelia scoffed loudly. “Please. Nobody can prove I posted them.”

Xavier smirked slowly.“You really underestimate how much money my family has.”

My pulse raced violently, then Ophelia snapped the question everyone was thinking.

“Since when do you care about the stinky little nerd?”

Xavier glanced toward me briefly, then his lips curved cruelly. “Since she became my stepsister.”

Silence crashed across the courtyard.My eyes widened instantly.

“What?!” Every student started shouting at once.

Ophelia looked horrified, I turned toward Xavier furiously. “I’m not your stepsister.”

His smirk deepened slightly. “Legally? You are.”

Shock slammed into me, he folded his arms calmly. “Our parents registered the marriage yesterday morning.”

I stared at him in disbelief, then anger replaced it immediately. “Well, I don’t accept it.”

“Trust me,” he drawled coldly, “I hate admitting it too.”

The crowd watched us like a live drama. Xavier stepped closer slightly.

“But don’t misunderstand this.” His voice lowered dangerously. “I’m not protecting you because I care, I just hate being disobeyed.”

Ophelia rolled her eyes dramatically. “You still can’t sue me. You have no proof.”

Xavier pulled his phone from his pocket calmly, then smiled.“Watch me.”

A strange unease crossed Ophelia’s face, then sirens echoed outside the academy gates.

My heartbeat stopped.No way….. he didn't…Students rushed toward the windows as two police cars pulled into the school courtyard. Ophelia’s confidence shattered.

“Xavier…”.He looked almost amused now.“I warned you.”

The officers entered the courtyard moments later. “Ophelia Hart?” Fear finally hit her face completely, as they placed her in handcuffs.

Then she stepped forward, with handcuffs in her hand, her blazing eyes sending lasers to mine, then her lips curved into something resembling the smirk of a demon.

“Congratulations, you just dug your own grave, loser….”  

She locked eyes with her elite friends who didn't even flinch, and her cold laughter made my bones rattle.

At that moment, something in my head told me I'av just fucked up big time!