The halls of Kingston Academy moved around me, but I was never part of the crowd I was the storm at its center. Heads turned when I passed. Students whispered my name, half in admiration, half in fear. And I let them. Let them watch. Let them know. That was the nature of power.
I didn't usually notice new students. Most were forgettable, flinching under the weight of this school's hierarchy. But today…
He was new. The golden-haired boy with glasses, moving carefully through the hall. Tall, cautious, completely unaware of the attention he had drawn. And that made him interesting.
I stood leaning against the locker row, taller than most, broad-shouldered, my tan skin glowing slightly under the sunlight streaming through the windows. My dark hair fell naturally over my forehead, just long enough to frame a face that was sharp, symmetrical, and easy for people to admire. A thin scar traced just under my right eyebrow a detail I rather liked. My brown eyes were cold, calculating, but when I looked at him, there was a spark of curiosity that surprised me.
I let my hand brush idly over the edge of my leather bracelet, noting the slight gleam of the silver ear piercings I wore along the curve of my ears. They caught light, subtle and stylish, just enough to make people notice but they also hinted at danger. Students saw my face and my build and wanted to look, but instinctively, they feared me more. That fear was a power I carried like armor, and it made observing the new boy all the more fun.
He glanced up briefly, and I saw it a flicker of recognition, a micro-awake moment in his otherwise cautious composure. Most would shrink under my gaze. Not him. That made me smirk.
I noted the way he adjusted his bag strap, the soft tension in his shoulders, the careful way he navigated the hall. Everything about him screamed controlled calm, but I could feel the undercurrent of nervous energy, the thrill of someone walking into a world he didn't yet understand.
I straightened slightly, letting the casual lean become more deliberate. My presence alone was enough to make people step aside, give space, acknowledge dominance. And yet, he didn't flinch. Not entirely. That tiny defiance it intrigued me, even as I measured him like a predator sizing up prey.
I could feel the pull, subtle but undeniable. This wasn't just curiosity. I wanted to test him, challenge him, see how far I could push. And maybe, just maybe, I wanted him to notice me completely.
The bell rang, a dull echo, but I didn't move. My eyes followed him as he walked on, noting every flicker of attention, every gesture, every small detail. The golden-haired boy didn't know it yet, but he had stepped directly into my path and I intended to make sure he would never forget it.