Chapter 30

The mirror doesn’t recognize me.

I tilt my head, studying the reflection staring back. The sleek bun makes my face look sharper, more refined.

My cheekbones are more prominent, my eyes—once hidden behind thick glasses—are piercing.

I've also noticed that they've taken an icy look. It was subtle at first during the early stages of my transformation, but now, they're completely icy. Blue...almost like glass and lined with dark kohl and mascara, they hold an intensity that wasn’t there before.

The black dress hugs my body perfectly, flowing down to my calves in an elegant, almost regal way.

Paired with knee-high leather boots and the jacket Achilles forced onto me, the entire ensemble screams old money and quiet dominance.

I run a hand down my sleeve, feeling the buttery smoothness of the leather. My fingers tremble slightly, but not with nerves.

With something else. Something… powerful.

For the first time, I don’t feel like the turtle girl who hid in my mother's oversized sweaters and sneakers. I feel untouchable.

The thought makes me smirk.

Stepping out of my room, I make my way downstairs, the heels of my boots clicking against the marble floors of the mansion.

The sound is sharp, controlled—like a countdown to something inevitable.

Achilles is lounging at the breakfast table, feet kicked up on a chair, flipping through his phone when he hears me.

He looks up, eyes scanning me from head to toe. For once, he’s speechless.

Then he lets out a long, slow whistle, setting his phone down. “Holy hell.”

I arch a brow. “Good morning to you too.”

He grins, leaning back in his chair. “I take back everything I said. This is the best you’ve ever looked. Hands down.”

A flicker of amusement tugs at my lips. “Everything you've said? You've never said anything.”

“I should have gone to fashion school. Just look at you! Cleaning up nice, Northie.” He gestures to me, eyes gleaming with pride. “See? Being a vampire isn’t so bad after all.”

The warmth in my chest dims a little, and I cross my arms. “Right. Except I’m a daylight vampire with a target on my head.”

He shrugs like it’s a minor inconvenience. “A daylight vampire with a target on her head who looks damn good. That’s a win.”

I shake my head, exhaling a laugh. “Everything is a win to you.”

“Because it is.” He smirks, grabbing a croissant and taking a bite. “Now, hurry up. I’m not about to be late just because my protégé decided to have a fashion awakening.”

Rolling my eyes, I grab a cup of coffee, taking a quick sip before we head to the car.

The drive to school is quiet, save for the low hum of the radio and the occasional glance Achilles throws my way.

He’s enjoying this. My transformation. The shift in how I carry myself.

And honestly? So am I.

The moment I step onto campus, I feel it.

Everything is heightened—my senses, my awareness, my presence. The usual murmur of students, the hum of their heartbeats, the scent of morning coffee and cheap perfume—it all floods me at once, but instead of overwhelming me, it sharpens me.

Grounds me.

"I'll go check around for any... inconveniences. We'll recoup at the library," Achilles says as he begins to walk off.

"Sure."

As soon as he leaves, I feel a smirk bloom on my lips.

I hold my head high, shoulders back. The girl who used to keep her gaze trained on the floor, who would rush to class with her books clutched to her chest, is gone.

And everyone notices.

The conversations falter as I pass. Eyes follow me, lingering. Some filled with confusion, others with admiration, and some—like Dorothy’s—brimming with disbelief.

She stands by her usual spot near the railings, her minions flanking her like obedient pets.

She blinks, mouth slightly open, as if trying to reconcile the girl she used to taunt with the one walking toward her now.

I don’t slow down.

She recovers quickly, flipping her hair and plastering on a smirk. “Well, well. Look who decided to ditch the thrift store aesthetic.”

I don’t even glance at her as I walk past.

Her face twitches. She hates being ignored. “Wow. Someone’s gotten a little full of themselves.”

Still, I don’t stop.

Just before I step into the library, I let my voice carry back to her—soft, indifferent, but sharp as glass. “You have no idea how insignificant you are.”

I hear the sharp intake of breath, the shift in their stance, but I don’t turn.

They don’t matter.

Not anymore.

The library is quieter than the rest of the school, but I can still hear the noises that comes with it.

I smell Ellie before I see her. She's usually not around at school in the mornings, so I'm guessing she's quit her job and changed her timetable like she said she will.

I round the corner to the shelf where she's picking a book from.

The moment she sees me, she freezes. Her books nearly slip from her hands, her brown eyes wide with shock.

“N-North?” Her voice is barely above a whisper.

I tilt my head, giving her a small smile. “Hey, Ellie.”

She takes a step closer, then another. Her hands tremble, fingers curling into fists.

“You’re alive.” Her breath hitches. “You’re alive and—you—” She shakes her head, her emotions cracking through her usual calm demeanor. “You look…”

“Different?” I offer.

She swallows hard, nodding. “Yeah. Different.”

Her gaze roves over me, taking in the sleek bun, the fitted dress, the sharp boots.

But it’s more than that. It’s in the way I hold myself. The way my eyes don’t waver.

Her nostrils flare. “You disappeared for almost two months. You left the apartment a mess. No calls. No texts. Nothing. Do you have any idea what that did to me? I called the police and they deemed it a kidnapping until they suddenly dropped the case a week ago. I was torn...I thought you were dead!”

Guilt twists in my stomach, but I push it down. “Ellie, I—”

She moves fast. Faster than I expect.

Her palm swings toward my face.

I catch her wrist before it lands, fingers closing around her skin like steel. The motion is effortless. Too fast. Too precise.

She stares at her trapped wrist, her lips parting in shock. “What the hell?”

I gently let go, stepping back. “We need to talk.”

Her chest rises and falls, fury written in every line of her face. “Damn right, we do.”

I glance around the library, then gesture toward a table in the corner. “Let’s sit.”

She hesitates, then storms ahead, dropping into a chair with a huff. I follow, folding my hands on the table.

Her eyes narrow. “Go on. Tell me why you vanished. Why you left everything wrecked. Why you look like this.”

I hold her gaze.

I probably shouldn't tell her, but she's the only person I know. What's the worst that could possibly happen?

“I’m a vampire.”