1. A new stepfather

Chapter 1

Raven's Pov

I came back from school feeling pissed and exhausted. My uniform was stuck to my skin with sweat and my backpack felt heavier than usual, all I wanted to do was throw myself on my bed and sleep but the second I stepped into the house, I knew something was wrong.

My mother was packing and panic licked her entire face and I've never felt so confused because I left her in a good condition where she complained about not eating enough breakfast.

Now she wasn't just packing, she was in a frenzy, stuffing clothes into suitcases as if we were being chased out.

My stomach dropped in dread as my heart rammed in my ribcage. “Mom? What the hell is going on?”

She didn’t stop nor did she even look at me. “We’re leaving.” She blurted out rasping and avoided my gaze like a plaque.

My heart pounded as the first thought hit me like a freight train. “Is it Dad? Is he out of jail?”

Her hands froze for a second before she shook her head. “No, Raven. This isn’t about him. We just have to leave baby, get your things now!”

I felt a little relief, but not much. My father was the worst thing that had ever happened to us. He used to beat my mom senselessly and locked her in the closet while I sat outside and listened to her cries. He was finally arrested for drugs, and the day the cops took him away, he had looked me dead in the eyes and said, I’ll be back for you. I had nightmares about that moment for years.

“So why are we leaving?” I asked her, watching her throw my clothes into a suitcase now.

Mom took a deep breath and faced me. “I got married, baby.”

Silence.

It was too quiet except for the beat of my heart before I blinked at her because maybe I had misheard or misunderstood her. “What?”

“I got married, Raven. My husband, your new stepfather, is waiting for us in Velmora and we can't waste a second.”

My stomach twisted and I laughed. “You’re joking.”

“I’m not.” She zipped up a bag. “And we don’t have much time. The chauffeur will be here soon.”

Rage bubbled up inside me. “You’re seriously making me leave my life here? My friends? My boyfriend? And for what? Some guy you barely know?” I yelled at her walking around the room like a maniac to stop her from going anywhere but to talk to me.

Mom sighed and rubbed her temples. “I do know him and this is the best decision for us.”

“For you, maybe.” I scoffed hard. “What about me mum? Did you even ask if I wanted this!”I yelled in anger, biting back the salty taste in my tongue and the burning tears at the corner of my eyes.

She looked at me there and I knew there was something tired in her eyes, something desperate. “I need you to trust me honey, please.”

I clenched my fists as my whole body trembled with frustration. But before I could yell back, the sound of tires screeching outside made me pause.

A sleek black car—no, not just a car. A beast of a vehicle, probably more expensive than our entire house, sat in our driveway. A man who was dressed in a black suit stepped out, opened the trunk, and without a word, started loading our luggage.

Mom grabbed my hand. “Come on Raven, we don't have to.”

I felt like I was in a nightmare. A horrible, twisted nightmare as my feet moved but my mind screamed at me to stop. I was leaving my home, my city and my life.

The second I sat inside the car, silent tears slid down my cheeks and I cried the whole way to the airport.

--

Velmora wasn’t just another country. It was another world entirely that looked strange.

The moment we arrived, I felt like I had stepped into a medieval fantasy. Castles rose into the sky, surrounded by mountains and forests that looked untouched by animals and the air smelled fresh and crisp, almost too clean compared to the city I grew up in.

But before we even made it to the mansion, Mom had another surprise waiting for me.

“Your new school, common, let's get you registered before we go to the Palace.” she said as we stopped in front of the grandest building I had ever seen.

I stared up at it, my mouth slightly open. “This… is a school?” She smiled and nodded at me.

It looked more like a palace, The gates were made of ancient golden designs, and the massive campus stretched farther than I could see. The buildings were sleek yet elegant and blended classic castle architecture with the latest modern technology.

The students walking around weren’t any less impressive. They were beautiful as every single one of them looked like they had walked out of a high-fashion magazine. Their uniforms were perfectly fitted with a deep purple shirt paired with a lilac pleated skirt for girls and sharp black pants for the boys. The accessories they wore, rings, necklaces, even their bags, screamed money.

I suddenly felt small and Insignificant, Poor and useless as if I didn't belong here.

Mom nudged me. “You’ll start here tomorrow.”

I tore my eyes away from the intimidatingly perfect students and glared at her. “Tomorrow?”

“Yes. But first, we need to go home and meet your stepfather.”

I swallowed hard at “Home”. The word felt foreign on my tongue but the mansion was beyond anything I could have imagined.

The driveway alone could fit a hundred cars and the structure itself was a blend of gothic and modern with towering stone walls, massive windows, and vines creeping up parts of the exterior to give an eerie yet breathtaking feel.

The air smelled of something rich and intoxicating like cinnamon and wine.

And then he appeared, King Devereux of Velmora from what mum told me.

He was Tall, Regal and Dressed in a black velvet suit that fit his broad shoulders perfectly. His long silver hair was tied back, revealing his sharp, chiseled features. His eyes, which were strikingly golden were locked onto me immediately.

“So this is Raven.” His voice was deep, smooth. “Welcome to your new home.”

I couldn’t speak nor even breathe as my eyes were staring at something different, why the fuck does he looks so young?

Mom stepped forward, smiling nervously. “Lucian, this is my daughter. Raven, greet your stepfather.”

My throat felt tight as I said the first word that sounded so blank and stupid. “Hi.”

He studied me with a piercing gaze and smiled. “You look just like your mother.”

I wasn’t sure if that was a compliment or not but before I could figure out how to respond, I sensed a movement from the grand staircase which caught my eye. Three figures stood there, watching. Three men.