Chapter 2

~ Aria’s POV ~

As my mom drove closer and closer to Velmora, I could feel a familiarity fluttering in my chest. The air felt familiar, and the sky looked darker than usual, like the town itself had been waiting for me to get here.

“Are you okay, Aria?” my mom asked when she noticed how uneasy I felt.

“I don't like it here, Mom. Let's go back to Greystone Falls. That’s where I’ve been my whole life,” I said.

I didn't like the weirdness I was feeling. The moment my mom drove into Velmora, it felt like a part of me had changed—replaced by something I couldn't understand.

“We've gone too far to go back, Aria. It’s a good school for you. I already spent half of my savings enrolling you in Eclipse Academy. You wouldn’t want my money to go to waste, right?” she asked and gave me a smile that left me speechless on anything I intended to say.

All my life, it has always been just me and my mom. She always works hard to provide for me and loves me so dearly. I love her just the same way she loves me.

“You're going to love Eclipse Academy.” This would be the hundred and one time she'd said that since the drive started. “I'm your mom, and I'll never take you to a place meant for your destruction, okay?” she smiled warmly at me.

Feeling defeated, I let out a sigh and rolled down the window. I stuck out my head, and the wind blew, making my hair feel sticky.

Slowly, I began to enjoy the view of Velmora. It looked like a normal town, despite the name being so strange to me. Suddenly, I saw a man. He was standing beneath a huge tree. The colours of his eyes didn't seem normal—they looked like that of a wolf.

The strange look he gave me sent fearful shivers down my spine, and I quickly looked away from him to my mom.

“Mom, did you see that?” I asked, my tone shaky with panic.

“See what?” my mom asked as she drove.

“I just saw a strange man staring at me. It felt like he wanted my blood,” I trembled, which made my mom stop the car.

We got out of the car, but strangely, I didn’t see the man who had stared at me like he was ready to devour me.

“What strange man was staring at you?” my mom asked.

“I saw him, Mom. He was standing right there, staring at me,” I replied, pointing to the exact spot where I had seen him. It was confusing how he had disappeared in just a few seconds.

“Pulling stunts like this won’t make me take you back to Greystone Falls,” she said. It was obvious she didn’t believe me—and she had every reason not to—because the strange man was nowhere to be found.

“I really saw him,” I whispered to myself, but my mom patted me gently.

“We’re almost at Eclipse Academy. Get into the car,” she said firmly.

She normally used a cold tone when she wanted me to do something, because I’m the kind of girl who never listens.

I got into the car with my mom, and in no time, we arrived at the so-called Eclipse Academy. It was a huge school with a very tall building. It was painted black and gold, signaling it wasn’t an ordinary school.

My mom pulled me out of the car and, in the next minute, I found myself seated across from a lady whose glasses were on her nose rather than her eyes.

I furrowed my brows, secretly wondering how she could even see when her glasses weren’t in the proper place.

“You're Aria Nightshade?” she asked.

Isn’t that obvious? What’s with the stupid question? Nevertheless, I nodded my head and tried my best to smile.

“Why is your hair silver-white? Did you dye it?” she asked.

I opened my mouth to say something, but my mom held my hand under the table, smiling warmly at the woman. If you ask me, she looked like a cartoon straight out of a TV because of the placement of her glasses.

“Yes. She dyed her hair,” my mom answered, and my eyes darted to her immediately. Why would she lie? Ever since I was born, my hair color has always been silver-white.

“Really?” the cartoon-like lady asked.

“Yes. My daughter is a good kid. You’re really going to enjoy having her here,” my mom beamed at her.

I nodded with a fake smile. Deep down, I knew I would burn down this school if the students weren’t properly trained.

Everything necessary that needed to be done was done. I got my room key and other important things.

“Be a good kid, Aria. This is my last hope for you. If you get kicked out of this school, I wouldn’t know what to do anymore,” my mom said as we walked back to her car.

“You're really comfortable leaving me here? Everything feels strange, Mom. It’s not like a normal school,” I frowned.

“I never said it’s a normal school,” she smiled, touching my hair. She’s always fond of touching my hair because she admires the color. “Promise me you’ll behave,” she said.

“I can’t guarantee you that,” I replied, because I always know there’s trouble lurking around wherever I go.

“I’m being serious, Aria. This is a very big opportunity for you. So promise me you won’t do anything that will get you kicked out of this school,” she pleaded with her eyes.

I reluctantly nodded my head, and she smiled at me.

“Why did you lie? You and I know I’ve never dyed my hair,” I asked.

“I have to go now. But make sure you keep in touch, okay? I’m always ready to answer the phone whenever you call,” she said, kissing my cheek. “See you around, sweetheart.”

Before I could stop her from leaving, she had already gotten into her car and driven off. If not for the fact that I spent nineteen years of my life with her, I would’ve doubted if she ever loved me.

I sighed, trying my best to embrace the fact that I was now in a school I knew nothing about.

“You got this, Aria. There’s nowhere you can’t fit in,” I assured myself with a smile.

I turned around to go back inside the building of the school, and that’s when I saw two guys staring at me.

One was seated on the window frame on the left side of the tall building, his skin pale as if he was a vampire. The other sat on the right, almost exuding the scent of a wolf—his presence unmistakably wild.

I gulped hard as my eyes locked with theirs. It felt like I was connected to them in a way I couldn’t explain.

My little backpack slipped from my hand. I bent down to pick it up, and when I raised my head again, the two strangers were gone.

It was like they had disappeared into thin air—just like the strange man from earlier.

Whatever this school is, I’m going to find out. And I’ll uncover the real reason why my mom brought me here.