Trigger Warning: Light Choking
Finding her dorm room in the Purity Tower felt like stepping into a different world. Hailey opened the door to a room that was a nauseating display of sweetness, with cherubs and idyllic romantic scenes of valiant princes proposing to fainting princesses painted on the walls. The air was thick with the scent of floral potpourri, and every surface seemed to sparkle with a sickeningly saccharine sheen. Sharing the space with three other girls, she noticed each bed was draped with pastel linens and fluffy pillows, creating an almost surreal contrast to the simple and pragmatic architecture of her own kingdom.
Exhausted from the day's events, Hailey moved to her bed, which was positioned under a mural of cherubs playing harps. She tossed her bag onto the floor and collapsed onto the soft mattress, closing her eyes and letting out a deep sigh. The day had been overwhelming—between the ceremonies, her interfering on behalf of a Never kid, and the unexpected enigma that was Lady Lesso that couldn't seem to leave her mind, Hailey felt drained. She hoped for a moment of quiet to collect her thoughts and shake off the uneasy feeling that clung to her like a shadow.
But peace was fleeting. A sudden commotion broke through her thoughts. The sound of fluttering wings and high-pitched voices filled the room as small, mischievous fairies burst in, dragging luggage behind them. Hailey sat up quickly, her heart pounding, as the door slammed open, revealing a girl who radiated arrogance and entitlement—Beatrix. The other girls in the room looked on, confused, as the fairies began to unpack Beatrix's belongings, their small hands moving with an almost frantic energy.
Beatrix waltzed into the room, her presence commanding immediate attention. With a flick of her perfectly manicured hand, she dismissed the other girls as if they were mere annoyances. "Out of the way," she sneered, her voice dripping with condescension. "I'm moving to this room so I need one of you to leave. Now."
"All eyes turned to Hailey, who sat frozen in her bed, trying to process what was happening. Beatrix's gaze locked onto her, a smile spreading across her face. "Well, go on then," she taunted, her voice a sharp, cutting blade.
Hailey swallowed hard, her mouth dry. She had seen girls like Beatrix before—those who believed the world owed them everything, who took what they wanted without a second thought. Hailey had never been one to back down from a challenge, but something about Beatrix's icy confidence made her hesitate.
As the fairies swarmed around her, grabbing her still-packed bags and dragging them out of the room, Hailey forced herself to stand. She knew there was no point in arguing, no one would back her up here, and she didn't want to cause a scene. She followed the fairies out of the room, trying to ignore the sting of humiliation that burned in her chest. Beatrix's triumphant sneer was the last thing she saw before the door closed behind her, locking her out.
Hailey's empty new room was a stark contrast to the lively, bustling quarters she had just left. The door creaked as she pushed it open, and the fairies dumped her bags unceremoniously on the floor before fluttering away, their tiny wings buzzing like angry wasps. One of them lingered for a moment, its small eyes glinting with malice, before it bit her hand sharply as she tried to thank it.
Hailey winced, sucking on her bleeding finger as the door swung shut, trapping her in the lonely silence of her new quarters. She felt a surge of anger and frustration rise within her. It wasn't just the unfairness of the situation that bothered her; it was the feeling of being powerless, of having no control over her own life. The loneliness of her new room pressed in on her, making her feel small and insignificant.
But Hailey wasn't used to being pushed around. She knew she needed to clear her head, to find a way to regain her sense of self in this strange, hostile environment. She couldn't stay cooped up, allowing herself to be swallowed by despair. Ignoring the nagging voice in her head that told her she should be cautious, she decided to sneak out of the castle and explore.
The castle was a maze of corridors and staircases, each more ornate and confusing than the last. Hailey moved carefully, keeping to the shadows as she slipped through a side door and into the castle grounds. The fresh air was a welcome relief from the oppressive atmosphere inside, and she breathed deeply, savouring the scent of pine and earth that reminded her of home.
She made her way through the gardens, avoiding the groups of fairies that dotted the landscape. Her heart raced with the thrill of exploration, and for a moment, she felt a sense of freedom she hadn't known since arriving at the school.
Hailey soon found herself in a secluded part of the grounds, a quiet corner near the bridge that connected the School for Good to the School for Evil. The area was overgrown with ivy and shaded by tall, ancient trees that blocked out most of the sunlight. It was the perfect hiding spot, far away from the prying eyes of the other students and faculty in the castle.
She sat down on an old stone bench, letting out a long, exhausted sigh. The School for Evil loomed in the distance, its spires reaching toward the sky like the fingers of a skeletal hand. The bridge was visible from where she sat, its dark, foreboding presence a reminder of the other world that lay just beyond it. But for now, she felt safe, alone in the shadow of the castle where she could finally relax.
As she lay back on the bench, her thoughts began to drift. The events of the day played out in her mind, from the long ride on the Flowertrain and the ceremony in the grand hall, to her encounter with the cyclops boy and Lady Lesso. There was something about the dean of the School for Evil that fascinated her, something dark and alluring that she couldn't quite understand.
The night air was cool, and Hailey felt herself relax further, the tension of the day melting away. The bench's cold stone against her back was a welcome sensation, grounding her as she drifted deeper into her thoughts. The surrounding garden was quiet, the only sound being the distant chirping of crickets. It felt like a safe haven, a bubble of solitude where she could explore the confusing mix of emotions stirring within her.
But then, a sudden change in the air sent a shiver down her spine—a subtle shift in the atmosphere, as if the night itself held its breath. Hailey's eyes snapped open, but before she could fully register what was happening, a weight settled over her. She gasped as a hand wrapped tightly around her throat, sharp nails digging into her skin. Her heart raced, and she tried to sit up, only to find herself pinned down. The sudden, aggressive presence shocked her, a jarring contrast to the tranquillity she had just been enveloped in.
Above her, a shadowed figure loomed, and as the moonlight cast its pale glow, Hailey recognized the face—Lady Lesso, her eyes burning with fury. The dean's leg was aching, a dull, throbbing pain that had worsened with each step, making her temper shorter and her patience thinner than usual. She had spent the day dealing with the endless stream of new students, each more irritating than the last, and had been forced to endure a tiresome meeting with Professor Dovey in the School for Good's library. The cursed heels she wore, designed to intimidate and command respect, were testing her limits, their sharp points digging into her flesh with every step.
"By the time she stormed out of the castle, she was more than ready to retreat to her sanctuary—a secluded spot she had discovered years ago, tucked away in the Ever's gardens near the bridge. It was a place where she could let loose, scream if she needed to, and escape the endless demands of her position when she was just too weary to make the journey back to her School.
But as she approached her sanctuary, she noticed something that made her blood boil. Someone was already there, lying on her bench, completely oblivious to the world around them. Her temper flared, and she quickly approached the bench, her heels clicking sharply against the cobblestones.
"She was close enough now to see that the intruder was a young woman, her form illuminated by the pale light of the moon. The girl's eyes were closed, her breathing slow and even, as if she were simply enjoying a moment of peace. The sight infuriated Lady Lesso, her control slipping as the stress and anger of the day finally caught up to her.
Without a second thought, she moved swiftly, straddling the girl's waist and pinning her down with a hand around her throat. The girl's eyes flew open, wide with shock and terror, as she tried to sit up, but Lady Lesso pressed down harder, forcing her back against the bench.
"Little girls shouldn't be out of bed at this time of night," Lady Lesso chided, her voice low and menacing, an evil glint in her eyes.
Hailey's heart nearly leaped out of her chest as she found herself pinned down by the formidable dean. She clung to Lesso's arm, half trying to pry it away, half trying to understand if this was really happening. The woman's grip was firm, her presence overwhelming, and Hailey felt a cold dread settle in her stomach.
But then, something changed. The initial shock and fear began to fade, replaced by a strange sense of calm. Hailey realized who this was—the woman who had captivated her thoughts, the enigmatic figure who defied the simple labels of Good and Evil. And despite the danger she was in, Hailey couldn't help but be intrigued. Her breaths were shallow, her pulse pounding in her ears as Lady Lesso's shadow loomed over her, the air was thick with tension.
"What's your name, girl?" Lady Lesso's voice cut through the silence, sharp and commanding.
"Hailey of Oakwood, ma'am," Hailey stammered, her voice barely above a whisper.
A flicker of recognition passed through Lady Lesso's eyes, and her grip on Hailey's neck tightened briefly. "It's you," she murmured, almost to herself. The name had reached her ears earlier, carried by the wolves she had interrogated.
For a moment, silence hung between them, heavy and charged. Hailey's heart raced as she searched Lady Lesso's face, trying to decipher the thoughts behind her cold gaze. The dean's eyes narrowed, studying the girl before her with a newfound intensity.
"Why did you help that cyclops boy?" Lady Lesso finally asked, her voice low and dangerous, as she leaned in closer. "What did you hope to gain?"
Hailey struggled to find her voice, her mind racing. "I didn't do it for any reward," she managed to say, her voice trembling slightly. "It wasn't fair, what happened to him. I just wanted to help."
Lesso's eyes gleamed with a mix of curiosity and disdain as she released some of the pressure on Hailey's throat, allowing her to breathe more easily. "Fair?" she scoffed, her tone dripping with sarcasm. "Life isn't fair, especially not for those in the School for Evil. You should get used to it."
Hailey's eyes flickered with a spark of defiance, and she forced herself to meet Lesso's gaze. "I know life isn't fair," she replied, her voice steadier now.
Lady Lesso's lips curled into a predatory smile as she listened to Hailey's response. The girl's defiance, even in the face of such intimidation, was unexpected and intriguing. Hailey, despite her status as an Ever, showed a level of courage that few others had when confronted by someone from the School for Evil. The dean could feel the girl's pulse racing under her hand, yet there was a steadiness in her voice that suggested she was no stranger to adversity.
"Oh, do you?" Lesso drawled, her voice laced with mockery. "A sheltered princess from a forgotten kingdom knows all about the unfairness of life, does she?"
She watched Hailey's reaction closely, expecting the girl to flinch or back down, but instead, Hailey's expression grew more resolute.
"Yes," Hailey said firmly. "I know more about it than you think."
Lesso raised an eyebrow, clearly amused by the girl's stubbornness. "Is that so? Then perhaps you've learned that no good deed goes unpunished."
Hailey remained silent, her eyes locked on Lesso's. The weight of the dean's words hung between them, and for a moment, neither spoke. The moonlight filtered through the trees, casting eerie shadows across the garden, making the scene all the more surreal.
Lesso tilted her head slightly, her expression shifting to one of calculated interest. "Tell me, little princess, why are you here? Alone, at night, far from the safety of your room? Do you have a death wish, or are you simply naïve?"
Hailey hesitated, the weight of Lesso's presence pressing down on her. She knew she should be afraid—any other student would have been trembling under the dean's scrutiny—but something about the situation, about Lesso herself, made fear take a backseat to something else.
"I needed to get away," Hailey admitted finally, her voice quieter but no less determined. "Everything here is so overwhelming. The rules, the expectations, the way everyone just accepts things as they are. I needed to breathe, to think."
Lesso studied her for a moment, the sharpness in her gaze softening just a fraction. "And did you find your answers out here in the dark?" she asked, her tone no longer mocking but almost... curious.
Hailey shook her head slightly. "No, but I found some peace. Until you showed up."
Lesso's grin widened, revealing a flash of teeth. "Peace is a rare commodity here, princess. You'd do well to cherish it whenever you can find it."
She released her grip on Hailey's throat, though she didn't move from her position straddling the girl. Her hands now rested lightly on Hailey's shoulders, a gesture that could have been almost comforting if not for the underlying tension in the air.
"Why did you really help him? Did you expect some kind of reward?" Lesso asked again, her voice softer now, almost coaxing.
Hailey frowned, her mind racing to understand what the dean wanted from her. "Because it was the right thing to do. No one should be treated like that, not even someone from the School for Evil."
Lesso chuckled darkly. "Such noble sentiments. But you're in the wrong place if you think fairness and kindness will get you far here."
Hailey met her gaze, something in her eyes challenging Lesso's cynicism. "Maybe. But it's who I am. I'm not after any kind of reward."
Lesso raised an eyebrow, a smirk tugging at her lips. "And yet, you'll no doubt get it," she said, her tone dripping with certainty, knowing how the world had always bent to praise and reward the good. There was an amusement in her eyes, dark and calculating.
For a moment, they just looked at each other, the tension between them palpable. Then, without warning, Lesso leaned down, her lips brushing Hailey's ear as she whispered, "You're either very brave or very foolish, little princess. Perhaps both."
The sensation sent a shiver down Hailey's spine, her breath catching in her throat. There was something dangerous about Lesso, something that both frightened and fascinated her in equal measure.
Lesso pulled back slightly, her dark eyes gleaming with mischief. "You remind me of someone I once knew," she said, her voice almost too soft for Hailey to hear. "Someone who thought they could change the world with their kindness."
Hailey's heart was pounding in her chest, but she forced herself to speak. "What happened to them?"
Lesso's smile faded, replaced by a shadow of something darker. "They learned the hard way that this world doesn't care for such ideals. But they never stopped trying, even when it cost them everything."
The weight of Lesso's words hung heavily between them, and for the first time, Hailey saw something in the dean's eyes that she hadn't expected—vulnerability, buried deep beneath layers of coldness and control.
"Is that why you're trying to scare me?" Hailey asked, her voice barely above a whisper. "To teach me that lesson?"
Lesso's eyes flickered with something unreadable, and for a moment, Hailey thought she might have pushed too far. But then the dean's expression shifted, her smile returning, though it was tinged with something more genuine than before.
"Perhaps," Lesso murmured, her gaze never leaving Hailey's. "Or perhaps I just enjoy playing with you, seeing how far you'll go before you break."
Hailey swallowed hard, the intensity of Lesso's gaze making her feel exposed, as if the dean could see straight through her. But she didn't look away, even as her heart pounded in her chest.
"Either way," Lesso continued, her tone taking on a more playful edge, "I think I'll enjoy our little game."
With that, she finally released Hailey, standing up and stepping back with a grace that belied the sharpness of her movements. Hailey sat up slowly, her mind still reeling from the encounter.
Lesso watched her for a moment, her expression unreadable. Then, without another word, she turned and began to walk away, her heels clicking softly against the stone pathway.
But before she disappeared into the shadows, she glanced back at Hailey, her eyes gleaming with dark promise. "Until next time, princess."
And then she was gone, leaving Hailey alone in the silent garden, her heart still racing and her mind spinning with questions.
Hailey sat on the bench for a long time after Lesso left, her thoughts a tangled mess of confusion, fear, and curiosity. She couldn't shake the image of the dean from her mind—the way she had looked at her, the way she had spoken, as if she knew things that Hailey couldn't even begin to understand.
The encounter had left her shaken, but it had also sparked something within her—a determination to prove herself, to show that she wasn't just some naïve princess from a forgotten kingdom. She wanted to understand this place, to navigate its complexities and challenges, and to find her own path through it all.
As she finally stood up and began to make her way back to the castle, Hailey felt a strange sense of resolve settle over her. She didn't know what the future held, but she knew that she wouldn't let fear hold her back. Not here, not now.
When she reached her new room, she noticed that one of the beds was already occupied, with dark brown hair spilling out in messy tangles from beneath the covers. It seemed she wouldn't be alone here after all. Moving quietly to avoid waking the room's other resident, who was sleeping peacefully, she carefully unpacked her belongings, arranging them in a way that made the space feel a bit more like home.
By the time she crawled into bed, her body was heavy with exhaustion, but her mind was still buzzing with the events of the day. She lay awake for a long time, staring at the ceiling and replaying her encounter with Lesso over and over in her mind.
Finally, sleep claimed her, pulling her into a restless slumber filled with strange dreams of dark forests, looming castles, and the piercing gaze of a woman who seemed to see straight into her soul.
