The more I learned, the more I understood how deep the Council's roots ran within Nocturne Academy. It wasn't just an institution—it was a prison, a place designed to keep supernatural beings under control. The Council wasn't content with power. They wanted absolute domination, and anyone who stood in their way was crushed beneath their heel.
But I wasn't going to be crushed.
I wasn't a pawn in their game anymore. I was something more.
I had spent weeks gathering information—tracking down leads, reading forbidden texts, and learning about the Council's most secretive members. Every moment I spent in the library, every conversation I overheard, every hidden door I found in the dark corners of this place had been part of a larger plan. A plan to take back what was mine.
Lucien's words still echoed in my mind: "Don't trust anyone."
He wasn't wrong. I couldn't trust anyone, not completely. But I couldn't do this alone either. The more I observed, the more I realized that I needed allies—people who understood the Academy's game and who were willing to break the rules to play it.
That was where things got complicated. Most of the students were scared—too scared to step out of line. The Council's grip on them was tight. But there were others, those who wore masks of loyalty, who whispered about the Council behind closed doors.
That's where I came in.
The plan was simple, at least on paper. I needed to expose the Council's manipulation of the students, their control over the most powerful creatures, their cruel methods. I needed to show everyone that the Council wasn't invincible—that they could be defeated.
And to do that, I needed to strike when they least expected it.
The first step was finding the right person—someone with enough influence to rally others to my side.
I'd heard whispers about Aric, a student from the House of Nightfall. He was a werewolf, but not just any werewolf. He was strong, cunning, and had earned the respect of his House. I had seen him in the hallways, his eyes always watching, as though he knew everything but said nothing. There was power in silence, and I needed to make him my ally.
I caught him alone one evening, just outside the courtyard. The air was thick with the scent of damp earth and the distant howl of wolves in the woods beyond the Academy.
"Aric," I called, my voice low but firm.
He turned slowly, his amber eyes locking onto mine. His expression was unreadable, but I could see the wariness in his posture, the way he tensed at the sound of my voice. He knew who I was. And I knew he wasn't one to make deals lightly.
"What do you want, Eira?" His voice was gruff, almost challenging, but there was something in his eyes that told me he wasn't here to fight.
"I need your help," I said, taking a step forward. "The Council is using us—using all of us. They control everything. The Houses, the students, the faculty. But we can fight back. We can make them regret underestimating us."
Aric studied me for a moment, his gaze sharp as if weighing my every word. "And why should I trust you? You're no different than the others—just another student trying to survive."
I met his gaze, unwavering. "You know as well as I do that the Council isn't about survival. They're about control. They've manipulated everyone in this Academy, and they think we're too weak to fight back. But they're wrong."
He stayed silent, his eyes narrowing as he considered what I'd said. "What do you want from me, then?"
"I want to expose them," I said, my voice steady. "I want to show everyone that the Council doesn't control us. That we can fight back. I need someone with your strength to help lead this."
Aric let out a slow breath, running a hand through his dark hair. "It's not that simple, Eira. The Council doesn't let people like us walk away. They'll destroy you."
"I'm not walking away," I said, my voice firm. "I'm fighting back."
For a long moment, Aric didn't speak. Then, with a nod, he stepped closer. "I don't know if you're crazy or just stupid, but I'm in. You're right about one thing—the Council's been pulling the strings for too long. It's time we cut their thread."
A rush of relief flooded through me, but I didn't let myself show it. This was just the beginning, and I couldn't afford to get comfortable. The path ahead would be dangerous, and the Council wouldn't hesitate to strike back.
But I had Aric's loyalty now. And with that came something powerful: hope.
The next step in my plan was gathering more allies. The House of Nightfall wasn't the only one under the Council's thumb. I knew there were others—those who had seen the truth, who had suffered under the Council's rule. It was only a matter of finding them.
I spent the next few days moving carefully, speaking in whispers, gathering information. I found others who were willing to join the fight—vampires, half-bloods, werewolves, all united by a shared goal: to tear down the Council and take back their freedom.
But even with allies at my back, I knew this wouldn't be easy. The Council's reach was vast, and they would not let me disrupt their control without a fight.
Still, I wasn't afraid. I had something they didn't.
I had power.
The first strike would come soon. It wouldn't be a large one, not yet. I needed to gather more information, find out what the Council's next move was. But the seeds were planted. The stage was set.
And soon, the Council would learn that I was no longer their pawn.
I was their enemy.