Edmund and Serena drove in silence toward the dormitory, the hum of the engine the only sound filling the enclosed space. Her luggage had already been delivered ahead of them, but Serena hardly cared. Her mind was far too occupied replaying every strange word, every look, every unnatural moment since she had arrived in Eldermere.
She did not notice the way Edmund's eyes flickered toward her from time to time, brief and cautious, as though looking at her for too long might awaken something dangerous.
He couldn't help it.
The resemblance was haunting.
Olivia.
Over the centuries, a handful of girls had been born in Eldermere and scattered across the world who bore a striking likeness to her. Always close, never exact. There was always something different. A scar. An unusual eye color. A streak of silver hair running down the center of one girl's head like a curse marking her as wrong.
That girl had been found twenty years ago by the scout team.
Ileus had ordered her execution.
Not out of cruelty Edmund had told himself that countless times but necessity. Eldermere survived because its secrets remained buried. Some faces were too dangerous to exist.
Serena Johnson had been discovered only hours ago.
She had been meant to die that very night.
Edmund tightened his grip on the steering wheel.
If you are not Olivia… then who are you?
And why are you still alive?
Serena, oblivious to his turmoil, stared blankly out the window before lowering her gaze to her phone. The unease in her chest had not left since the council meeting. Missy kept resurfacing in her thoughts, something about the her silence gnawing at her instincts.
She unlocked her phone, scrolling aimlessly.
Nothing loaded.
Her messages failed to send. Her social media apps refused to refresh. Even her mobile network icon flickered weakly before disappearing altogether.
A frown creased her face.
"General Edmund," she said carefully, lifting her head. "My phone network isn't working properly. I think I need to log into the school's Wi-Fi. I can't access any of my apps."
Her voice carried exhaustion more than complaint. She wasn't particularly fond of social media, but it had always been her escape something familiar to ground her when her thoughts spiraled.
Edmund's jaw tightened.
"You are not allowed to use that on school grounds, Ms. Serena," he replied as the dormitory came into view.
Serena blinked, stunned.
"Not… at all?" she asked softly.
She knew Eldermere was strict, she had skimmed the admission letter but this felt excessive. No phone? No outside contact?
Her lips parted, then closed again.
"I'm sorry," she said quickly, slipping the phone back into her bag.
Edmund parked the car and switched off the engine. He removed his cap slowly, resting it on his thigh, then leaned back against the seat. His eyes closed, his expression weary—as though he were holding back thoughts too heavy to voice.
Serena watched him before she could stop herself.
He was… breathtaking.
His dirty-blond hair was pulled into a loose, messy bun, strands escaping to brush against his neck and frame his sharp face. His features were refined yet dangerous, the kind of beauty that did not invite comfort but commanded awareness.
Then his eyes opened.
Red.
Not human red something deeper, older.
Serena's breath caught painfully in her throat.
The air inside the car seemed to thicken, pressing against her lungs. It wasn't just his appearance it was his presence. A suffocating aura that filled every inch of the space between them.
"Ms. Serena," Edmund said, his voice stern now, stripped of warmth. "There are things you must never speak about while you are here."
She swallowed and nodded.
"Do not discuss the elders. Any of them. Do not ask questions about Eldermere or its people. Be careful who you trust." His gaze held hers steadily. "Not everything here is what it seems."
Her nod was immediate this time.
"I understand."
She didn't not fully but she felt the weight of his warning.
They exited the car and stepped into the female dormitory, its exterior deceptively beautiful with climbing ivy and glowing lanterns lining the entrance.
Inside, the atmosphere changed.
Girls filled the hallways laughing, chatting, moving in clusters but the moment Edmund and Serena walked in, the noise dimmed.
Every head turned.
Whispers bloomed like wildfire.
Serena's stomach twisted.
She had spent her entire life avoiding attention no parties, no clubs, no spotlight. She existed quietly, a shadow passing unnoticed.
Now she stood beside the town's general.
Unavoidable.
She glanced at Edmund, who seemed utterly unfazed by the scrutiny.
"They won't stop staring," he said calmly. "We should get you to your room quickly."
Serena inhaled shakily and moved toward the stairs.
The whispers followed them.
Who is she?
Why is the general here?
Did she do something wrong?
Halfway up the staircase, Serena felt it.
A stare.
Sharper than the rest.
She turned slightly.
A girl stood near the railing, her gaze locked onto Serena with unnerving intensity. There was something familiar about her face, something Serena couldn't place.
She tried to look again.
The girl was gone.
"Right here," Edmund said, stopping before a door.
62 was painted boldly at the top.
He opened it.
The room was simple but spacious. Two beds stood opposite each other, neatly made with plain pink sheets. The walls were painted a calming light blue, and two small side tables sat beside each bed. There was only one wardrobe, but a private bathroom lay tucked neatly at the back.
Serena's bags rested beside the bed on the right.
She chose it instinctively.
As she checked her luggage for damage, Edmund spoke quietly behind her.
"If you need help with anything," he said, "you can always come to me. No matter what."
She turned.
His eyes held something unreadable—regret, perhaps… or fear.
"Thank you," she said with a small smile.
Then hesitation crept in.
"General Edmund," she said slowly, sitting on the bed. "I thought there were seven elders on the council. I only met five."
Silence fell.
Edmund sighed, rubbing his temple.
You are going to get yourself killed, he thought darkly.
"Did I not tell you not to ask questions about the elders?" he said, leaning against the wall, arms crossed.
Her face flushed.
"I'm sorry," she said quickly. "I forgot."
His gaze lingered on her for a moment longer than necessary.
"I should go," he said at last. "Take care, Ms. Serena."
He left without another word.
The door closed softly behind him.
Serena exhaled and lightly smacked her temple.
"Stupid girl," she muttered, kneeling beside her bags.