Page 17

"Tell me you’re excited about today!" Lila popped up out of nowhere, scaring the life out of Violet, who screamed and promptly dropped to the floor.

Poor Violet had been balancing on one foot, struggling to get her sock on when Lila startled her.

"The moon weeps, I’m so sorry," Lila squeaked, reaching out to help her up. But one sharp scowl from Violet made her freeze and tucked her hands behind her, swallowing nervously. Violet could be terrifying.

Seeing the fear on Lila’s face, Violet let out a sigh and softened her expression. Lila reminded her annoyingly of a stray cat she’d once taken in.

The cat had been so scrawny it looked like it would drop dead any moment. Violet didn’t have much herself, but she’d managed to feed it, even going without food sometimes so the poor thing could eat. Because of that, the cat had grown attached, and they’d ended up forming a bond.

Violet had named it "Stray," fitting for the little wanderer it was. Their bond had grown over time, and they met daily at their usual spot. But one day, Stray didn’t show up.

She remembered the sick feeling that had gnawed at her for days as she searched, fearing something terrible had happened to the little creature, maybe even because of her.

Regret weighed heavily on her. She should have taken Stray in when she had the chance, even if Nancy would’ve blown a fuse.

Their trailer was cramped enough already, and adding an animal to the mix would have been pure chaos.

Not to mention, Nancy hated animals. Not even the most adorable puppy could thaw her stone-cold heart.

Violet understood that life’s hardships had drained any warmth out of Nancy. There wasn’t room for love, not even for harmless little creatures.

Two weeks later, Violet learned the truth: Stray wasn’t actually a stray. It turned out the cat had a family and had only wandered a bit too far from home.

That was the last time Violet could remember crying. She had fought so hard to keep Stray, but she couldn’t win against the cat’s original family.

The man of the house had even tried to pay her for "taking care" of their pet, a payment she refused but that Nancy had gladly pocketed. In Nancy’s words, at least her foolishness had brought something useful.

She could still remember watching the man’s daughter, smug and satisfied, as she stroked Stray just like she had done only weeks before.

If looks could kill, Violet would have riddled the girl with holes then and there.

Rage bubbled up inside Violet, and for a brief moment, she seriously considered murder.

Thankfully, Nancy dragged her away before she did anything reckless.

What hurt most was that Stray didn’t seem to mind at all. The cat had leaned into the girl’s touch without the slightest protest, as if everything Violet had done, all their time together, had meant nothing.

Violet remembered crying herself to sleep for days, nearly making herself sick with grief. It wasn’t until Nancy slapped her across the face and lectured her that she finally snapped out of it.

Her need for love and a real family had led her to bond so deeply with that cat. She’d thought it would be her and Stray against the world, but in the end, the cat taught her a harsh lesson that even family could walk away without a second thought — the same way her real family had abandoned her.

It may have sounded melodramatic, but for a ten-year-old starved of affection, it sure left a lasting mark.

It had shaped her view of life and how she related to people.

Yes, Violet had friends, but she kept them all at arm’s length, close enough for good times but never close enough to hurt her if things went wrong.

That’s why Violet wasn’t about to let this seemingly friendly new roommate get too close. In a school like Lunaris, no doubt everyone was waiting for a moment of weakness to stab her in the back. And she was not giving anyone that chance.

With a sigh, she reined in her intensity and asked, "What do you want?" while pulling awkwardly at her tie.

As much as Violet wasn’t used to the idea of a uniform, she had to admit the Lunaris uniform was regal and, on her, fit like a glove, hugging her curves. It was just the tie that irked her. She hated ties.

"I was hoping we could go to breakfast together," Lila replied brightly, watching Violet struggle with the tie. When she finally ripped it from her neck and moved to toss it aside, Lila’s eyes went wide with shock.

"Oh no, you don’t!" Lila scolded, scooping up the tie from where Violet had tossed it onto the bed.

"Principal Jameson would roast you alive if you showed up with an incomplete uniform. Not to mention, deduct your points."

Violet growled, "Those cardinal Alphas and those rich female brats don’t seem to care about that."

"They don’t because they have thousands of points at their disposal.

You, on the other hand, just made it into the top twenty.

If you want to stay there, or climb higher, you’ll need every point you can get.

It’s paradise if you can reach the top ten.

They’re the elite of the elite and practically are untouchable. "

"I don’t care about their stupid ranking!" Violet snapped.

"Well, I do," Lila said shamelessly, deftly looping the tie around Violet’s neck. "If you make it to the top, then I’ll be your lackey, scraping up the crumbs that fall from your table."

"Lila, I already told you, I—" Violet’s words cut off as Lila yanked the tie tighter, making her choke.

"Oops, sorry," Lila said with a silly smile, though the apology felt hollow. "You were saying?"

Violet dared not answer, not when Lila still had control over the tie and could choke her out for real if she said the wrong thing. Apparently, the cardinal Alphas weren’t the only psychopaths this school harbored—not that she was naming names.

Once satisfied with her work, Lila brushed her hands over the perfectly knotted tie, and asked in a deceptively calm tone, "Tell me, Violet, do you want to study here in peace?"

The words were on the tip of Violet’s tongue, but the shock from earlier left her silent. She only managed a stiff nod.

"Then you need this school’s currency, power. With enough of it, you’ll be left alone to do whatever you want."

Or maybe I’ll just lie low at the bottom and be left alone, Violet thought dryly.

"Do you understand?" Lila’s voice was sweet but with a subtle edge.

"Yes," Violet managed to squeak.

"Good!" Lila clapped her hands, her demeanor flipping back to cheerful so fast it nearly gave Violet whiplash.

"Come on, then," Lila looped her arm through Violet’s. "Let’s get breakfast!" And without waiting for a reply, she tugged Violet along.

Violet could only follow, heart pounding in her chest. It was clear now she’d have to keep an eye open every night if she wanted to survive in that room. One bad day, and someone might very well use a tie to finish her off in her sleep.