Venecia
Being the only child of a powerful family requires a lot, but people rarely see past the luxury and lifestyle we live. My name is Venecia Eryndor, and today marks the start of my final year at Regent Crest Academy-a place where reputations shine as bright as diamonds but are just as fragile.
At 5'4", with dark skin the color of deep chocolate, hazel eyes, and a mass of 4C hair I rarely let loose, I guess I fit the image of the "perfect" daughter. But the truth is far less glamorous. High school-a place most people hate-has always been a refuge for me, a touch of normalcy in my otherwise monotonous life. Not to brag, but I'm one of the top students here. Carrying the Eryndor name means there's no room for failure, especially when your parents see academic perfection as the bare minimum.
My parents-wonderful yet exhausting. They provide for me, love me fiercely, and ensure I experience the finest things in life. But their expectations? Suffocating. I'm judged for slouching, for the words I use, for the events I don't attend, and, more than anything, for our so-called "rival family"-the Draekhavens. From the time I could comprehend words, I was warned never to cross paths with the Draekhaven boy, Romeo. Never speak to him.
Never get close. Not that it's hard. I've seen enough of Romeo to know he wouldn't want to be near me either. Everyone knows our families are at odds, locked in a bitter feud that feels older than time itself. Why do we hate them? I've never been told the truth-only to obey. Sometimes, I catch glimpses of my parents' tense conversations, the words "betrayal" floating in the air, but they always fall silent when I approach.
"Miss Venecia, breakfast is ready," the maid called, interrupting my thoughts. "I'll be down in five!" I replied, brushing imaginary wrinkles from my pristine uniform. I spared a final glance in the mirror. Despite my calm appearance, my mind lingered on something else-last night. The air crackled with the scent of burning wood, and the screams of a crowd echoed in my ears. Shadows twisted into strange shapes-a castle ablaze, a scarlet-clad girl holding hands with a knight whose face was hidden.
A shimmering light shone between their joined palms, fighting off the encroaching darkness, a light that pulsed with a rhythm that felt disturbingly familiar. Then the voice echoed through it all. "You shall love, and in love, find death..." The dreams always ended the same way, with me waking drenched in cold sweat and a faint ache in my left shoulder.
As I sat down for breakfast, I greeted my parents warmly, masking the restlessness under my smile. "Good morning, Mama. Good morning, Papa." My mom beamed, handing me a plate. "Good morning, sweetheart. I hope you slept well?" "Of course," I lied. "Final year, Venecia," my father said after kissing my mom's cheek. "Make us proud, as always." "And don't forget..." Mom added, her tone soft but firm.
"...to avoid the Draekhaven boy," Dad finished, his voice carrying more warning than usual.
"Yes, yes," I muttered, focusing on my meal to avoid another lecture.
***********************************
Regent Crest Academy's halls buzzed with energy, polished shoes clicking against marble floors as students hurried to and fro. For most, this was a normal day. For me, it was another arena to uphold my family's name. Whispers followed me as I walked past the lockers.
"There goes the Princess of Regent Crest," someone murmured.
"She's flawless-beautiful, intelligent, untouchable," another added.
"Must be exhausting, though. All that perfection hiding so much weight..."
I ignored the comments as I reached my locker. My fingers brushed the metal, but a faint itch on my shoulder distracted me. This again. Lately, the star-shaped mark on my left shoulder had been flaring up, coinciding with those strange dreams. The warmth radiated from the mark, a subtle thrumming that made my skin tingle, as if a hidden energy was stirring beneath the surface.
"Necia!" a familiar voice rang down the hallway.
I sighed, exasperated but amused. "Liana, for the hundredth time, stop shouting my name."
Liana, my best friend, wove through the crowd, her curly hair bouncing as she grinned. "If I don't yell, how else will people know I'm the one privileged enough to call you that?"
Liana and I had been friends since the beginning, our bond forged through years of mutual support, rebellious moments, and shared understanding. No matter what my family wanted or expected, Liana always understood the pressure I felt.
"Ready for your first class?" she asked, pulling me out of my thoughts.
I nodded. "You know it."
Before I could say anything else, the bell rang, signaling the start of the first class. The students filed into their respective rooms as we walked together to ours. The class buzzed with idle chatter, but my thoughts remained heavy. Sitting in my seat, I opened my books, pretending to focus as the teacher began his lesson.
"Alright, class, today we'll start with history," Mr. Abrams announced, his voice cutting through the chatter. He glanced over at me before continuing. "Venecia, what's your take on the fall of the Roman Empire?"
I blinked, momentarily thrown off by his sudden question. Mr. Abrams had a reputation for singling me out, probably to test me against the weight of my family's legacy. My fingers instinctively brushed against my mark once again.
"The fall of the Roman Empire wasn't just caused by internal decay; it was the shift in power dynamics that laid the groundwork. Rome had become too vast for a single leader to hold all its threads in one hand," I responded confidently.
A murmur spread through the class. Some of them nodded; some of them just watched intently. Mr. Abrams gave a brief nod of approval.
"Correct, Venecia," he said, moving on to another student.
I let out a small breath I hadn't realized I was holding. The relief was fleeting. I could still feel the weight of those words hovering around me, as heavy as the expectations pressing down on me.
Then it happened.
The doors burst open.
Romeo Draekhaven strolled in, late but utterly unapologetic. His presence demanded attention-the way his cold, piercing gaze swept the room, as if daring anyone to question him. Conversations died instantly; all eyes glued to him. Including mine. His eyes, the color of a stormy sea, held a depth that made my breath catch in my throat.
I shouldn't have stared, but I couldn't help it. There was something magnetic about him, even with his aloof expression. Then it hit me-literally.
My shoulder burned.
Not painfully, but enough for me to wince slightly. My hand flew to the mark instinctively, the warmth beneath my uniform unnerving. Across the room, Romeo's gaze flicked toward me briefly, his jaw tightening before he turned away. For a fleeting moment, I thought I saw a flicker of something in his eyes, a mirroring of the shock I felt. Did he feel it too?
"Are you okay?" Liana whispered, nudging me with concern.
"I'm fine," I lied again, focusing on the teacher as she began her lecture about ancient feuds. My fingers traced the outline of my shoulder mark. It didn't hurt anymore, but its sudden flare wasn't a coincidence.
It was something more. Something I couldn't explain.
Liana's POV:
Liana Veyron rarely paid attention to where her feet took her. As long as she walked into the familiar corridors of Regent Crest Academy, her mind raced far ahead of her. Her mornings were a blur of rushed breakfasts, misremembered timetables, and constant greetings to nearly everyone who passed by her.
Unlike Venecia, Liana didn't bask in whispers of admiration. She relished her anonymity while managing to hold on to just enough charm to be everyone's favorite classmate-or, at least, a tolerable one.
Today, however, something felt off. Venecia was quiet. Too quiet.
Liana's curls swayed as she craned her neck. Her sharp green eyes trailed Venecia in history class. Normally poised, Venecia's fingers were tense, tapping a nervous rhythm against the wooden desk, a faint, insistent drumming that mirrored the unease radiating from her, and her gaze kept darting between Romeo and her shoulder. Liana, seated just behind her, saw her fidgeting with her uniform, brushing her shoulder as if she were trying to smooth down a phantom wrinkle.
Liana frowned and scribbled a note. With a gentle toss, the paper fluttered onto Venecia's desk.
Are you okay? You're acting super weird. Don't tell me it's your parents, again.
Venecia's shoulders stiffened. She read the note quickly and tucked it under her book without replying. That alone made Liana's chest tighten. Something was definitely wrong.
When the teacher turned his back to the board, Liana leaned forward.
"Psst, Venecia," she whispered. "What's going on? Is it him?" Her eyes flicked to Romeo, her voice dropping lower. "It's the first day of school. He doesn't look that special."
"Liana, not now," Venecia muttered back, her tone sharper than intended. Liana tilted her head, arching an eyebrow. "Well, excuse me for caring," she quipped, leaning back in her seat.
Venecia sighed, rubbing her temple. "I'm sorry," she whispered, glancing behind her to meet Liana's concerned eyes. "It's not him, exactly. It's just... something weird."
Liana didn't buy the answer. Venecia rarely called things "weird." For her to admit it? That was worth investigating.
For the rest of the lecture, Liana noticed it all-Venecia's unease when Romeo shifted in his seat, the way her fingers grazed her shoulder as if shielding it from a ghostly touch. And then there was Romeo himself, so calm yet impossibly tense, his gaze subtly darting to Venecia like a needle drawn to a compass.
By the time the bell rang, Liana was convinced she'd gotten half the story, if that.
As they walked to their lockers, she grabbed Venecia's wrist. "What's going on? Spill. Is there something you're not telling me?"
Venecia hesitated, biting her lip. "I don't even know myself, Li," she admitted softly. "I think... I think I'll figure it out soon."
"Great," Liana muttered sarcastically. "Because you're super mysterious now? Just don't go all Eryndor-secretive on me, okay? Whatever it is, let me in."
"Fine, you'll be the first to know." Venecia smiled weakly before shutting her locker door, the metallic clang hiding how uncertain she felt.
Watching Venecia walk ahead, Liana's eyes narrowed.
Something was wrong, and it wasn't just Venecia's "weird" feeling. Her intuition said there was more to Romeo Draekhaven than Venecia-or anyone-was letting on.
For now, though, Liana filed it away. Her best friend needed her, and that's what she intended to be.