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TWENTY-THREE

FREYA

We walked a lot in our story, but we rarely talked. Yet, in his silence, I found my answers. And deep down, I knew our story wasn’t meant to have a happy ending. Just another heartbreak waiting to happen.

Maybe I was just a foolish girl lost in a dream world. A stupid girl who believed that even villains deserved a happy ending. And I fell for one. The one who taught me that even the worst things could turn into beautiful memories. He was the worst thing in the best memory I had.

My professor. A man meant to teach me life’s lessons instead made me his lesson. I was nothing more than a lesson to him.

I was furious. At him. At myself. At the entire damn world. And I let it crumble. I let him take over my body, let myself fall for the illusion of love wrapped in nothingness, and still, I expected him to choose me above all else. He called me his, but not once did he ever consider being mine. Was he? Or was I just one of many occupying his mind?

God, I hate him. So fucking much.

I hate that I don’t hate him.

I hate his stupid brown eyes that made me feel like I was staring into burning stars.

I hate the way his hair fell over his face, hiding that scar I wanted to trace with my fingers.

I hated his body. It showed me that scars could be beautiful, could be perfect.

I hate his tattoos, each one whispering pieces of a life I’ll never truly know.

I hate how he made me fall and was there to catch me.

I hate that I ever thought the man who stalked me would one day be the man who loved me.

I hate that, out of everyone in my life, I believed he would be the one to be him.

I hate that he still thinks I’m his.

I hate that he’s right.

Love is stupid, and it hurts.

I wiped the tears from my face. Ava watched me, eyes searching, trying to understand why I was even crying. But how could I explain this to her? To anyone?

My phone vibrated in my pocket. I knew it was him. Another apology. Another excuse. Another lie. I ignored it. My heart pounded in my chest, racing, desperate, but I said nothing. I wanted to scream, to shatter into pieces, but no sound came. I was falling apart in silence.

“I know I’m probably the last person you want to talk to,” Ava said, hesitating. “But if you need to…” she sighed, “I’m here.”

I didn’t respond. I just walked inside the dorm, sinking into a chair. She followed, settling into the seat across from me. Her hands trembled. Slowly, she pushed up her sleeve, revealing a small scar on her wrist.

For the first time, she didn’t need words either.

“I’ve been where you are,” she said, her voice breaking. She pulled a gold necklace from beneath her shirt, revealing a small golden safety pin dangling at the bottom. “When you think there’s no way out, there is. You just haven’t found it yet.”

“I...” I tried to speak. “I didn’t...”

“But you did,” she interrupted gently. “Sometimes, the reason why is so small that you don’t even notice it. But behind it, there’s always a bigger picture.”

“I started when I was twelve,” I swallowed hard. “It just happened. I knew it was wrong. I knew it would happen again. And I’m afraid I might lose control over it, but...”

“I wanted to punish myself because I caught my mom with my teacher,” she chuckled dryly. “Not even Stella knows.”

“And I wanted to punish myself just for being me …“ I smiled weakly, my eyes brimming with tears as I wiped them away nervously.

“You can’t change who you are,” she whispered, brushing away her tears. “Just your decisions.”

I exhaled shakily. “Do you think…” I hesitated, looking up. “Like...” I swallowed. “That someone can heal you?”

She laughed softly. “100%.”

“And make you worse?” My voice cracked as the tears welled even more.

“If you’re referring to Professor Lockwood,” she said, “I don’t think he’s the one making you worse.”

“How did you…?” I asked, confused.

“I’m pretty, not dumb, Freya,” she chuckled, rolling her eyes.

“Whatever we had is over now,” I said firmly, meeting her gaze.

Her lips parted, about to say something else, but before she could, the door swung open. Blue burst in, her arms outstretched, holding a pile of fliers that scattered through the air as she entered.

“I’m hosting a party, bitches!” she grinned. “You guys have to come.”

Ava rolled her eyes. “I’m not going.” She stood up, disappearing into her room with a slam of the door.

“What’s her problem?” Blue muttered, rolling her eyes before turning to me, laughing. “Anyway… you have to come.”

“Fine,” I sighed. “I could use a distraction.”

Blue lent me her red dress, a super tight one, along with a denim jacket, since all my clothes were completely ruined. I tied my hair into a high ponytail and took a deep breath. I was ready to go.

Another message from Lucius buzzed on my phone. This time, it read:

“STAY.”

“Please say something.”

It joined the one from before—just one word, “STAY.”

And all I wanted was to make him pay for playing with me.

Now that he knew I knew, the whole game had changed. And this time, I would be the one to win.

I moved toward the front door, where Blue was already waiting, slipping her arm through mine and dragging me down to the House of Serpents, where she was hosting the party. As we stepped into the square, the dorms were eerily quiet. But the moment we reached the House of Serpents, the atmosphere shifted entirely.

The dorms here formed another square, centered around a small garden. A DJ blasted music from the middle of the courtyard, and people danced all around, lost in the beat and the night.

A song played, Lady in Red by Chris de Burgh , like the whole universe is playing with me along with Lucius Lockwood.

“What do you want to drink?” Blue asked, nudging my upper arm.

“Anything,” I said, winking.

“Damn, girl, be careful what you wish for,” she teased before heading to the table lined with barrels of drinks.

I bit my lip nervously, scanning the crowd, searching for a familiar face. But I recognized no one. Until I turned toward the hallway—and there he was. Lucius Lockwood.

He stood in the shadow, hoodie up, watching me. Just like he always did, just this time he didn’t have a mask on.

His black jeans fit snugly, hands tucked into his pockets as he spoke to the man beside him. And for a brief second, I wished I could march up to him and slap him across the face. But no—I didn’t want to see him at all.

Blue returned with our drinks, handing me a cup. I downed it in a few hard swallows.

“You need to slow down,” she chuckled. “We just got here.”

The alcohol burned through me, warming my skin, dulling my thoughts. “I need to kiss someone tonight.”

She blinked twice, snatching the empty glass from my hand. “I think you’ll get more than a kiss if you keep drinking like this.”

“Yeah,” I scoffed. “I don’t give a shit.”

A guy slid up behind me, his body pressing against mine. Even without turning, I could feel Lucius’s eyes locked on us.

If one gaze could kill, this guy would already be dead.

I finally turned. He wasn’t bad-looking. No shirt. A sideways baseball cap. Tight jeans that did nothing to hide how turned on he was just from rubbing against me.

Disgusting. A pig.

But still, if it made Lucius jealous, it was worth it.

So, I placed my palm against the guy’s face and pulled him in, my lips crashing onto his.

“Baby girl, we can take this party somewhere else,” he murmured, eyes roaming over me.

“Yes,” a familiar voice growled behind me, “to the coroner’s office.”

I turned just as Lucius stepped up.

“Oh, hi, professor,” the guy stammered, grabbing my hand. “We were just leaving.”

But Lucius gripped his wrist too. “Yes, we are.”

“Oh no, I meant me and this girl right here,” the guy wiggled his eyebrows, clueless.

Lucius let out a sharp laugh before turning to me, his eyes dark and unreadable. “You really know how to pick them.”

“Unfortunately, they pick me,” I shot back, peeling their hands apart.

Before either of them could say another word, Blue appeared beside me. “You have to meet someone,” she giggled before throwing Lucius a smirk. “Oh, hi, professor.”

She nudged him aside just enough to pull me away. “His name is Theo. He’s in my class.”

She led me toward a tree where two boys stood. She pointed at one. “This is Freya. She’s in House of Scorpio.”

“Theo,” he introduced himself with a grin. “Enjoying the party?”

As he spoke, I caught Blue and the other guy sneaking away.

“I like it,” I chuckled. “I’m Freya, by the way.”

Lucius still hadn’t left. He stood exactly where I’d last seen him, watching me.

“What’s your major?” I asked Theo, eyeing his white T-shirt, which read, I’m a Math Geek.

He laughed, tugging at the shirt. “Mathematics. Guess the shirt gives it away.”

I turned slightly, glancing over my shoulder.

Lucius is still watching.

So, I turned back to Theo. “Look, you seem like a great guy, but all I want is to kiss someone tonight.”

Theo hesitated for half a second before stepping closer, brushing a strand of hair from my face. Then, he cupped my cheek and leaned in, pressing his lips to mine, his tongue slipping inside.

Okay. Not bad.

When he pulled away, I glanced toward where Lucius had stood previously, but he was gone. Scanning the whole place, finally I found him standing with Cassius near the dorms, watching. Blue suddenly reappeared, grabbing my arm, her face flushed with irritation.

“I think the professor just made a move on me.”

“Who?” I asked.

She gestured toward Lucius and Cassius. Both of them were still looking in our direction. I stared at her.

“Which one?” I asked again.

She waved a dismissive hand. “Like he’ll get some.” She scoffed. “He can dream on.”

The alcohol had fully settled in now. My legs felt heavier. As Blue walked away, Theo stepped closer again, his fingers grazing my arm. “Can I have your number?”

“Sure,” I said, reaching for my phone.

But on the screen was another message from an unknown number.

“Stop doing it before you regret it.”

Lucius.

I swiped the notification aside and typed my number into Theo’s phone. A moment later, a text popped up on my screen.

“Hi.”

I smiled, leaning in to kiss his cheek. “Bye,” I whispered before turning away.

Theo was nice. Fun, even. But I had only used him to make Lucius jealous. Nothing more.

The plan was simple: teach Lucius a lesson he would never forget.

He watched as I walked away, his eyes scanning every inch of me.

But I didn’t even look back.