Chapter 2: The Wrong Place (Elara’s POV)

Kairos Vale stood in the doorway, his tall frame filling the space, dark eyes narrowing on me, dark, void of any feeling or expression. He remained quiet and that was what made it scarier. The storage room suddenly felt too small, too intimate. My safe space. The one place I had been sneaking into for weeks because no one ever used it.

But it wasn’t mine. It was his.

My heart slammed against my ribs as the realization dawned on me. Since we had resumed at the Academy, the only reason I had thought the storage room was empty and desolate was because Kairos was yet to resume alongside the rest of the seven as well.

The electric spark from earlier flared again, hotter this time, mixing with pure terror. I could feel it in my chest, something I could not explain. I backed up instinctively, clutching the note to my chest.

I heard Kairos groan weakly, a slight deep moan as he steadied himself, his hand to his chest.

“W-what are you doing here?” I stammered, voice barely above a whisper.

Kairos’s expression darkened. “This is my private storage. The real question is what a pathetic human maid is doing hiding in my space.”

“I didn’t know,” I whispered, panic rising. “I swear I didn’t—”

He took one step forward. The air between us crackled with that strange pull. His scent, dark pine and raw power, wrapped around me. I couldn’t breathe. What in the world was this feeling? Was it simply because I was some human that could be ripped open by this beast? Or something larger?

Kairos’s jaw tightened, like he felt it too and hated it. “Get out.”

I didn’t need to be told twice. I bolted past him, shoulder brushing his arm. The contact sent another jolt through me, strong enough to make my knees weak. I ran down the corridor without looking back, heart pounding so hard I thought it might burst.

I didn’t get far.

“Elara!” Lila’s voice rang out sharply from the end of the hall. She had clearly been looking for me, Mara and two other girls flanking her. “Where have you been, you worthless—”

She grabbed my arm hard, yanking me to a stop. Before I could explain, her hand flew across my face again. The slap echoed. Fresh pain bloomed across my already stinging cheek.

I crashed to the floor, tears spilling over despite how hard I tried to hold them back. The note slipped from my fingers.

Lila’s eyes flicked to it, but she didn’t pick it up. Instead, she turned with a bright, fake smile as footsteps approached.

Kairos had followed, his presence filling the hallway like a shadow. He watched the scene with cold indifference, arms crossed.

Lila immediately softened, flipping her hair. “Kairos! I was just disciplining my useless servant. She keeps disappearing. So sorry if she disturbed you.”

Kairos’s gaze slid over me on the floor for a brief second—contempt clear—before he looked at Lila. “Handle your pet better. Her clumsiness is becoming an annoyance.”

Lila laughed flirtatiously, stepping closer to him. “Of course. I’ll make sure she stays in line. Maybe you could give me some tips later? Over dinner perhaps?”

Kairos didn’t respond. He simply turned and walked away, ignoring me completely as I pushed myself up, tears streaming down my face. The rejection stung deeper than Lila’s slap.

Lila spun back to me, her smile vanishing. “Clean yourself up. You’re serving at the high-status luncheon tonight. And if you embarrass me again, I’ll make sure Father sends you back to the streets where you belong.”

The luncheon was pure torture.

The grand dining hall buzzed with elite students from the faculty. For now, most of the teachers were still on their siesta and the students were still settling in for the new semester. This was a period filled with events that allowed for introduction among the newbies. This luncheon was one of such.

I moved between tables like a ghost, refilling drinks and clearing plates while wearing the same uniform, stained from constantly cleaning off the girl’s tables alongside that of some of the random students who Lila had commanded me to answer to in a bid to keep pleasing her new friends. Lila sat at the head table with her friends, laughing loudly.

“Elara!” she called suddenly, waving me over. “My drink is empty.”

I hurried over, tray balanced carefully. As I reached to pour, Lila knocked her glass over. Red wine spilled across my chest and lap, soaking me.

“Oh no!” Lila gasped theatrically. “Look what you made me do!”

The entire table erupted in laughter. Other students turned to watch.

“Clumsy human,” someone yelled.

“How is she even allowed here?” another voice shouted. “She’s not one of us!”

I kept my head down, grabbing napkins to clean the mess while the wine stung my earlier burns. I took a peek around the hall and was grateful to see that none of the seven were yet in the hall. Not like I really cared. Everyone seemed to always try to impress when it came to them and I was definitely going to be the prey. The humiliation burned hotter as I continued my cleaning nevertheless.

As I wiped the table, I caught fragments of conversation from the table behind me.

“…Harlan only adopted her because of the debt. The girl was payment…”

“…heard she’s cursed. Bad luck for the whole pack…”

One of the boys stood up suddenly, pointing at me. “She’s cursed! That’s why she’s so weak. The Moon Goddess marked her!”

The words spread like wildfire. Heads turned. Whispers became loud murmurs. Suddenly, I wasn’t invisible anymore. All eyes were on me… the human maid who was apparently cursed.

Lila’s smile turned vicious. “Well? What do you have to say for yourself, Elara?”

I stood frozen, wine dripping from my clothes, tears threatening again as the spotlight pinned me in place.

Then I felt it—that familiar electric spark. Like something was pulling my attention. Telling me exactly where to look. I gasped as I turned immediately to where the feeling was pulling me and there it was… something… a shadow.

Horror gripped my heart as I peered to look deeper.

And then it was gone…

Like it was never there.