Welcome

Angela’s POV

I stepped out of the shuttle and smoothed the wrinkles from my uniform skirt before lifting my eyes to the enormous building towering over me. Massive didn’t even begin to describe it.

The academy looked like someone had taken an ancient castle, polished away centuries of dust, filled it with glass and steel, then handed it unlimited funding. Elegant stone towers reached toward the sky while huge arched windows reflected the afternoon sun. Ivy climbed sections of the walls without making the place look old. Instead, it somehow made it feel alive. Wide marble staircases led to oversized oak doors carved with symbols that shimmered whenever the sunlight caught them.

It was beautiful. It was intimidating. And I absolutely did not want to be here.

The orphanage had made the decision for me. Either accept the scholarship to Eclipse Academy or pack my bags the day I turned eighteen. Three months. That was all I had left before I aged out of the system and was completely on my own. Lucky me.

Most kids from the orphanage never received an opportunity like this. My grades had earned me a full academic scholarship. Straight A’s from freshman year through graduation had finally paid off.

Studying had never been about being the smartest kid in class. It had been survival. I couldn’t count on family money or connections. I needed a future, and every test score felt like another brick in the foundation of a life I was desperately trying to build. I’d spent months applying for part-time jobs, hoping to save enough to rent a tiny apartment before my birthday arrived.

Nothing. No interviews. No callbacks. Apparently employers weren’t lining up to hire eighteen-year-olds with no experience and no permanent address. So… Here I was.

I climbed the marble steps, each footfall echoing softly until I reached the towering entrance. Before I could even reach for the handle, the doors swung inward on their own.

A distinguished older gentleman stood waiting just inside. His silver hair was neatly combed, his dark suit looked expensive enough to pay my tuition twice over, and his posture was so perfect I suddenly became aware that I was slouching.

“Hello, Miss Angela. Welcome to Eclipse Academy.” He gave a respectful bow before extending one arm. “The orientation hall is straight ahead.”

“Thank you.” I said in a soft low voice. I stepped farther inside, and my mouth nearly fell open.

The entrance hall stretched several stories high. Crystal chandeliers floated beneath a painted glass ceiling depicting an eclipse surrounded by constellations. Grand staircases curved toward balconies overlooking the lobby, while fountains flowed with water that sparkled silver instead of blue. Students wandered through the enormous room carrying books, chatting with friends, or casually doing things that should have been impossible.

A pair of fairies zipped through the air arguing over what looked suspiciously like a cupcake.

Someone walked past with glowing antlers.

Another student disappeared into a swirl of shadows before reappearing twenty feet away.

Nobody even looked twice.

Meanwhile I was still trying to convince myself I wasn’t hallucinating.

See, Eclipse Academy was famous. It wasn’t famous because of sports or academics. It was famous because almost every supernatural race in existence attended this school. Wolves. Witches. Vampires. Fae. Dragons. Demons. Angels. Species I’d probably never even heard of.

Humans could attend… Technically. If they had enough money. Or exceptional grades.

Since my bank account currently contained enough money to buy maybe two sandwiches, grades had been my only ticket through the front gate.

Movement caught my eye. A bright green frog came hopping across the floor at surprising speed.

“Huh?”

The frog bounced around several students before abruptly changing direction. A second later a young woman sprinted after it, her long braid flying behind her.

“Get back here!” The frog somehow accelerated. “So help me, Mortimer, if you make me late on the first day…”

Students laughed as the tiny escape artist zigzagged between their legs. The girl chased after it with all the determination of someone who’d apparently had this argument before.

“Mortimer!” The frog launched beneath a bench. She dove after it. “You are impossible!” Both disappeared around the corner. “… Come back!” Her voice echoed through the hallway long after she vanished.

I blinked my eyes rapidly. “… Did…” I rubbed my forehead. “Did I really just watch a witch chase her pet frog through a castle?”

I caught sight of the crest stitched beneath the academy emblem on her blazer before she disappeared. A pointed witch’s hat. Well… That answered that. I shook my head and couldn’t help smiling. This place was definitely going to be interesting.

Following the signs, I found the orientation hall and quietly stepped inside. The room was already filling with students.

Rows of wooden seats faced a raised stage where a large Eclipse Academy banner hung against the back wall. Conversations buzzed around the room as newcomers found places to sit.

Instinctively, I looked at everyone’s uniform. Each blazer carried the same academy emblem over the left breast. Directly beneath it… A crest.

A wolf. Dragon wrapped around a crown. A vampire bat. Fairy wings. A crescent moon. A trident.

Every race proudly displayed exactly what they were.

My stomach tightened. I glanced down at mine. A large embroidered H. Human. Nothing screamed outsider quite like wearing a giant letter announcing it to everyone. Fantastic. Trying to make myself as invisible as possible, I lowered my head, pulled the front of my blazer together, and slipped toward the back of the room. The very last row. Far corner. Perfect. Nobody would notice me back here.

I settled into the chair and quietly observed the room while pretending not to exist. More students continued filing inside. Some laughed loudly. Others compared schedules.

A vampire politely offered someone a mint after another student joked about garlic. At least they had a sense of humor.

The room gradually quieted. Someone had entered. I looked up. Well… That explained the sudden silence. He had to be at least six feet tall, maybe taller. Shoulder-length black hair framed a face that looked unfairly perfect, while piercing emerald-green eyes casually swept across the room. Broad shoulders filled out the academy blazer, and every confident step suggested he knew exactly who he was.

He wasn’t showing off. He didn’t have to. Confidence rolled off him effortlessly. Girls openly stared. A few boys straightened in their seats as if preparing for some unspoken competition.

I found myself staring too. Then his eyes landed on me. Without hesitation, he started walking. Right towards me. Surely not. There were dozens of empty seats. But he kept coming.

Please pick literally any other chair. I thought to myself. Nope. Straight toward me. Wonderful.

He stopped directly in front of me. For a heartbeat neither of us spoke. Then one dark eyebrow lifted. “You’re sitting in my chair.”

I looked around the nearly empty back row before looking back at him. “There’s plenty of empty seats?” I waved my hand towards the rest of the back row.

“No,” he shook his head and crossed his arms over his chest. “This isn’t your chair.”

I glanced at the dozens of identical seats surrounding us. “Excuse me,” I said as I glanced at the crest on his sleeve. Fuck. “Alright Mr lizard boy. This is the thing. I sat here first therefore it’s my chair.” I rolled my eyes.

A few nearby students suddenly became very interested in listening. The corner of his mouth twitched. “I admire your confidence. But this is my chair so get your ass up,” he went to grab the back of my chair and I looked at him like he was full of shit.

“I wouldn’t call it confidence. I just don’t feel like moving,” I stared into his eyes. His eyes shimmered for a moment then went back to normal.

A surprised chuckle escaped someone two rows ahead.

His green eyes narrowed with unmistakable amusement. “So the human has jokes.”

I folded my arms across my chest. “The human also has functioning legs, but she’s already sitting down.”

For the first time, he actually smiled. It was brief. Dangerously attractive. And somehow far more unsettling than if he’d been angry.

“I don’t think anyone has ever told me no,” he chuckled. “Let alone give me a pet name.”

I shrugged my shoulders. “Congratulations.”

He leaned down just enough for only me to hear. “I have a feeling this year is going to be… entertaining.”

Before I could answer, someone cleared their throat from the front of the room. “Ladies and gentlemen,” an authoritative voice announced, “welcome to Eclipse Academy.”

The orientation had officially begun.

For some reason, I couldn’t shake the feeling that trouble had just walked through the door.