Chapter 2

My fingertips had just brushed the edge of the warding charm when the door to my room suddenly swung open.

"Ella, what are you doing?" Lilith leaned against the doorframe, tilting her head with a smile on her lips, though her eyes were icy cold.

My heart skipped a beat, but I kept my expression neutral. "Just clearing out some old things."

She strolled in slowly, her gaze wandering over my face. "Ella, I heard you've been able to smell ghosts and supernatural beings since you were little. Is that true?"

I clutched the charm in my palm and jumped down from the chair, brushing the dust off my hands to hide my nerves. "How could I possibly have that kind of ability? They're just joking about it. By the way, why aren't you downstairs with Mom and Dad?"

Lilith suddenly stepped closer, and that stench of decay washed over me as she asked, "Then, Ella, why do you seem… so afraid of me?"

I forced back my disgust and stepped away. "Why would I be?"

"Well, then why do you keep avoiding me?" she asked, her eyes instantly welling up with tears. "Do you look down on me because I grew up in an orphanage?"

Here we go again. Alarm bells went off in my head right away. In my past life, every time she played the victim, I would end up in serious trouble.

"You're overthinking it," I said, carefully circling around her to grab my suitcase.

But she suddenly seized my wrist. Her hand was ice cold, unlike a living person's, and it felt like there was something writhing beneath her skin.

I yanked my hand free reflexively. "Let go of me!"

"Ah!" Lilith let out a shriek and fell backward, the back of her head hitting the wardrobe with a thud. But before anyone could see it, she flashed me a triumphant grin.

The next very second, the door burst open. "Lily!"

Tristan rushed in, and when he saw Lilith on the floor, his face turned ashen. "Elara! What did you do?"

He shoved me aside and gathered Lilith into his arms. The others hurried in at the commotion, and their expressions darkened at the sight.

Lilith leaned weakly against Tristan's chest as tears streamed down her face. "Tris, this isn't Ella's fault... I just lost my balance."

My mother rushed over to embrace her. "Lily, don't be scared. Mommy's here."

My father glared at me furiously. "I am very disappointed in you, Elara Ashbourne!"

I looked around the room at all these people, and the corners of my mouth curled into a mocking smile. More than a decade of family affection had turned out to be nothing but an illusion. I was probably the only fool who had taken it seriously.

Not wanting to waste my breath, I grabbed my suitcase and headed for the door.

"Stop right there!" Tristan barked. "Apologize to Lily!"

I turned back to look at the childhood friend I had grown up with. All I saw in his eyes now was unfamiliar contempt.

"Apologize?" I scoffed. "What for?"

Then, a loud crack was heard as my father stormed over and delivered a hard slap across my face. The force of it was so strong that blood immediately seeped from the corner of my lips. "What kind of attitude is that, Elara?"

He trembled with rage as he demanded, "Lily is our real daughter! You're just an adopted child. How dare you speak to her like that?"

My mother quickly stepped in to hold my father back. "Let's talk this through calmly. Ella just needs some time to come to terms with things…"

She turned to me, her tone softening a little. "Ella, Lily has just come home. Can't you be a bit more understanding? She's been through so much all these years—"

Looking at her feigned expression of concern, I felt my heart turning cold. In my past life, this was exactly the kind of gentleness she showed me while hurting me terribly.

"Mom," I interrupted her. "Are you saying that I'm the one to blame for all her suffering out there?"

My mother faltered, and her eyes darted away. "That's not what I meant..."

"Elara, you are vile!" Tristan shouted. "Lily already said she doesn't blame you, and here you are still being so aggressive!"

All my other childhood friends chimed in one after another.

"Exactly! She usually acts so gentle, but it turns out that was all fake."

"See how kind Lily is? She even spoke up for Elara."

Amidst their combined condemnation, Lilith shot me a smug look.