The cold air bit at Selena's skin as she clutched the black envelope in trembling hands. The blood-red thorn emblem glinted in the moonlight, a silent promise of something unholy.
A thousand voices screamed in her head — her mother's warnings, the betrayal she'd just lived through, the shattered fragments of her pride.
And beneath it all… a slow, dangerous anger that refused to die.
"Who are you?" she asked again, her voice steady now.
The masked figure tilted their head. "A friend. Or an enemy. Depends on you, Selena Wren."
Selena's lips trembled, but she held the stranger's gaze.
"Why me?"
"Because no one hungers for vengeance like a queen stripped of her crown."
For a moment, the world was still. The figure dropped the envelope at her feet and vanished into the shadows, leaving nothing but a lingering scent of smoke and danger.
Selena stared at the letter, heartbeat pounding. She could run. Pretend this night never happened. Beg for mercy.
Or… she could burn them all.
---
The Next Morning
Selena didn't go home.
She spent the night walking through the empty streets of Ravenshade, the envelope clutched against her chest. By dawn, a single truth had settled in her bones.
They had no idea who they messed with.
By the time she returned to campus, news of her "scandal" had spread like wildfire. Whispers followed her through the halls like a plague. Lockers slammed shut. Laughter rose in cruel waves.
"Look, it's the fallen queen."
"Heard she begged Damon for a private session."
"Can you believe she thought she belonged here?"
Selena kept walking, her face unreadable. She didn't flinch. Didn't cry.
She was done breaking.
---
After Classes
Selena sat alone in the abandoned greenhouse behind the west wing — her secret place, where no one ever came. The envelope lay on the table before her.
She opened it.
A single card slid out, black as night.
WELCOME TO THE THORNS
Rule #1: Betray or be betrayed.
Rule #2: Prove your worth with blood.
Rule #3: Loyalty is a lie.
On the back, a single name was scrawled in red ink:
Elijah Voss
Selena's stomach twisted.
Elijah. The quiet, sweet boy who once stood up for her in freshman year when no one else would. The only friend she hadn't lost yet.
A cruel first test.
A small black phone buzzed beside the card.
UNKNOWN NUMBER: Deliver this note to the headmistress's desk before 6 PM. Don't ask why. Or you forfeit your chance.
Selena opened the folded note inside.
It was a forged confession from Elijah… claiming responsibility for hacking the school's security cameras and leaking private student files.
If this reached the headmistress, Elijah would be expelled. His life ruined.
Selena's heart clenched.
He didn't deserve this.
But neither did she.
And no one — no one — was coming to save her.
---
5:59 PM
Selena stood before the headmistress's office, the note in hand. Her palm sweated. Her pulse thundered.
I could walk away. Let them win.
Or I could rise.
She slid the note under the door.
Took a deep, steadying breath.
Then pulled out her phone and sent a single text to the unknown number.
SELENA: Done.
A reply came instantly.
UNKNOWN NUMBER: Welcom
e to the Thorns, Queen.
Selena smiled for the first time in hours — a sharp, wicked smile.
"Your move, Ava."