Shattered reflections

The soft hum of whispers filled the corridors, threading through the tension-laden air of the dormitory like a storm waiting to break. Jaffet's disappearance had sparked a wildfire of rumors among the students. Some speculated he'd run away after being caught up in some illicit scheme; others whispered darker theories—murder, revenge, or worse.

For Cora, each whisper was like a blade against her nerves.

She sat in the back corner of the lecture hall, head bent low as if shielding herself from the weight of curious stares that never seemed to leave her. Despite her mask, she felt exposed, her anxiety crawling under her skin like ants.

The professor droned on at the front of the room, his voice blending with the monotonous scratch of pens against paper. Amelia, seated beside her, was furiously scribbling notes as usual, but even her spirited energy seemed dimmed by the tense atmosphere.

Cora tried to focus, but her thoughts swirled relentlessly.

Could Damien have something to do with Jaffet's disappearance? The thought churned uneasily in her mind. Her palms grew clammy as memories of Damien's dark, taunting gaze surfaced.

Suddenly, a paper ball hit her shoulder, yanking her out of her spiraling thoughts. She snapped her head toward the window, but the culprit had disappeared, leaving only a trail of mischief behind.

Frowning, she uncurled the paper cautiously. The scrawled message within was short but unmistakable.

Hello, dear girlfriend. Come outside now.

Your boyfriend.

Cora rolled her eyes. "Boyfriend," her foot. Only Damien would have the audacity to disturb her during class. Her fingers crumpled the note, and she shoved it into her pocket, determined to ignore him.

But Damien, being Damien, wouldn't let her.

Moments later, another paper ball landed squarely on her desk, this time drawing Amelia's attention. The red haired glanced at the note curiously, arching a brow at Cora as she unfolded it.

Come outside, or I'll come in, baby.

Amelia smirked, nudging Cora teasingly. "Looks like someone's persistent."

Cora's fists clenched. Damien's cocky arrogance grated on her nerves, and yet, beneath her frustration was a flicker of something she couldn't name. Despite herself, she couldn't help but picture his smirk, that smug curve of his lips that promised trouble.

The thought of Damien storming into the lecture hall wasn't just mortifying—it was terrifying. She stood abruptly, muttering an apology to the professor as she hurried toward the exit, her heart pounding with a mixture of anger and embarrassment.

The moment she stepped into the hallway, a hand shot out and grabbed her wrist. She barely had time to react before she was dragged into the nearest restroom.

"What the hell—"

Damien leaned casually against the wall, his dark eyes gleaming with mischief and something far more dangerous. His lips curled into that infuriating smirk that made her want to slap him and stare at him in equal measure.

"Miss me, little bird?" His voice was smooth, a lazy drawl that carried a hint of amusement. "You looked like you were about to combust back there."

Cora glared at him, her hands clenched at her sides. "Why did you call me out of class? I don't have time for your games, Damien."

"Games?" He tilted his head mockingly, his black hair falling across his forehead. "You wound me, Cora. Can't a man want some time alone with his girlfriend?"

"You're not my boyfriend."

"That's just semantics." He pushed off the wall and took a step closer, his towering frame forcing her to tilt her head back to meet his gaze. "Anyway, I called you here because I need a favor."

"A favor?" Cora crossed her arms, trying to ignore how his intoxicating cologne clouded her senses. "You dragged me out of class for a favor?"

"My mother," Damien began, his voice dripping with disdain, "is planning to introduce me to some girl tomorrow. A potential fiancée, apparently." He said the word like it was poison on his tongue. "So, here's the plan. You'll cling to me like a lovesick kitten and make her believe I'm utterly unavailable."

Cora stared at him, incredulous. "Are you serious?"

"As a heart attack."

"You're unbelievable."

"I prefer irresistible." He leaned in, his voice dropping to a husky whisper. "And just so we're clear, little bird, you will help me. Unless, of course, you want me to waltz into that lecture hall and announce how much I adore you."

Her glare could have melted steel, but Damien only grinned, clearly reveling in her frustration.

"Fine," she bit out. "But I need to know—" She hesitated, her voice faltering. "Were you involved in Jaffet's disappearance?"

The question hung in the air like a storm cloud.

"Yes." Damien's casual tone sent a shiver down her spine.

Her throat tightened. "Did you… did you kill him?"

"Yes."

The word was spoken with such chilling ease that it left her frozen.

"I silenced him," Damien continued, his tone as nonchalant as if he were discussing the weather. "He knew too much. Keeping him alive wasn't an option."

Cora felt a wave of nausea rise in her stomach. Damien's ruthlessness was something she'd known, but hearing it spoken so plainly was another matter entirely.

"Don't overthink it, little bird," Damien murmured, his voice softer now. "It's better this way. You're safe, and no one else knows your secret."

Cora nodded slowly, though her mind was a whirlwind of conflicting emotions.

Damien reached out, his fingers tipping her chin upward until she met his gaze. "I'll always protect you, Cora. No matter what."

Her breath hitched, her pulse quickening under the weight of his words. There was something unnervingly sincere in his tone, and it left her feeling exposed in a way she couldn't explain.

"Meet me at the clock tower tonight," Damien said abruptly, releasing her.

Her eyes widened. "What? That's after curfew!"

"Rules are meant to be broken, little bird," he said with a wink. "And if you don't come, I'll come get you myself."

Before she could argue, he was gone, leaving her alone in the restroom, her heart pounding and her thoughts in chaos.