Chapter One: The Night Everything Changed
Zaria Vale didn't like rules. Or dresses. Or the way her twin brother always thought he was smarter just because he read faster.
She was fire—unapologetic, loud when she wanted to be, and way too curious for her own good.
Sixteen, with eyes that glowed amber in the right light and a scar behind her left ear from a fall she didn't remember.
Her twin brother, Zane, was everything she wasn't: calm, smooth-talking, always three steps ahead.
He never raised his voice but still managed to get the last word. Girls liked him. Teachers trusted him. He was smart—and annoyingly smug about it.
And yet, he never let her fall. Ever.
No matter how hard they argued, when trouble showed up, Zane Vale was at her side.
---
It was a rainy Thursday, and the twins were home alone again.
Their mom had been working late, as usual. The storm outside clapped like war drums, but inside, the Vale twins were doing what they always did:
Fighting over the remote.
"I'm not watching your lame zombie show," Zaria snapped, snatching the remote from Zane's hand.
Zane leaned back, unbothered. "You scared of getting nightmares again?"
"Please. The only nightmare here is your face."
He grinned. "You say that like you didn't steal my skincare stuff last week."
Before she could throw a pillow at his head—
The lights flickered.
Then came the sound. A low, pulsing hum. Like something… waking up.
Zane sat straighter. "You hear that?"
Zaria's heart pounded. "What the hell is that?"
Then it happened.
The windows exploded.
A wave of red energy slammed through the living room, knocking them both off their feet. The air grew heavy—charged—like lightning was inside the walls.
Zaria screamed as her body lifted from the floor, her arms glowing. No, burning.
Her skin shimmered like fire was crawling beneath it.
Zane's body pulsed with silver-blue light. His veins lit up like neon.
Their eyes met midair.
Both terrified.
Both glowing.
And then—
Blackout.
---
Hours Later...
Zaria blinked awake. Everything hurt. The couch was overturned, curtains scorched, glass shattered across the floor.
Zane was beside her, breathing. Barely.
"Zane," she croaked.
"I'm okay," he murmured.
Then they heard it.
Their mother's voice.
"I knew this day would come…"
She stood in the doorway—not surprised. Just tired.
She didn't ask what happened. She didn't scream or cry.
She only said, "We're leaving. Tonight."
---
One Week Later: Coldspring
The Vale family vanished from their old life like smoke. New apartment. New city. And tomorrow? A new school.
Zaria sat on her bed, staring at half-open boxes.
Nothing felt real.
A knock on the door.
Zane walked in. "She's calling us."
Together, they went to the living room.
Their mother waited with two black boxes in her hands.
"It's time you knew," she said.
Zane narrowed his eyes. "Knew what?"
"The truth," she replied. "About who you are. What you are."
She handed them each a box.
Inside Zaria's: a black wristband engraved with glowing red runes.
Zane's: a silver-blue one that shimmered with the same color he glowed that night.
"These are spellbands," she said. "They'll help control what's inside you."
"What is inside us?" Zaria asked.
Their mother looked at them, her eyes heavy with secrets.
"You're twins born of a bloodline long erased. Fire and shadow. Time and mind. You were never normal."
Zane's jaw tightened. "Why now?"
"Because you're developing faster than expected," she said. "If you don't learn control—"
"—we'll hurt people," Zaria whispered.
Her mother nodded.
"Or each other."
---
The Next Morning: Nightbloom Academy
Nightbloom Academy looked like something out of a dark fairytale.
Built into the side of a cliff, with towers that scraped the clouds and iron gates that whispered when the wind passed.
"Monsters go here?" Zane muttered.
"Monsters," their mother said softly, "and people like you."
Zaria stayed quiet. She could feel heat curling under her skin. The magic inside her was awake—and watching.
Their mother turned to them one last time.
"If anyone finds out what you are… lie."
She
paused.
"And if that doesn't work?"
Zane raised a brow. "Run?"
She nodded.
"Run."
---
End of Chapter One
> Next: First Day, First Enemy 👀