Chapter 109 Crystal ball

Chapter 109 Crystal ball
THE MAIN HALLWAY

The bulletin board in the middle of the hallway was covered in flyers.

"They're throwing a Crystal Ball," Island announced loudly, ripping a flyer off the corkboard. "The new teachers have been here for just two days, and they're already throwing us a big party."

"I think it's a great idea," Amorette said with a big smile, wrapping her arms around Neon's waist. "Everyone is exhausted from the war. We need a reason to dress up and celebrate."

"Professor Hale is definitely way better than Sivesco," Levi pointed out, leaning against the lockers. "He brought donuts to Defense class this morning, I already love him."

"The new Potions teacher is nice too," Viella added quietly. "She doesn't scream at us when our cauldrons explode."

Twila stood quietly at the back of the group, staring at the flyer in Island's hand.

A formal ball meant fancy dresses, loud music, and dancing. But for Twila, it meant a huge, terrifying public disaster waiting to happen.

"I am not going to this stupid ball," Twila muttered, shaking her head quickly. "I am going to lock myself in my bedroom and sleep."

"You are out of your mind, Psycho," Island snapped, turning to glare at her. "You’re the Lunar Queen. You saved this whole school. You’re going to walk into that ballroom looking like a goddess, and that's final."

"I can't go, Island," Twila said softly, looking around the busy hallway. "If I go, I have to pick a date. I'm not ready to make that choice yet."

Cassian grunted, wrapping his arm around Island's shoulders. "She has a point, Princess," he said quietly. "If Raiden sees her dancing with the vampire under the disco lights, he might actually burn the whole castle down."

"I'm not letting her hide in her room like a coward," Island argued stubbornly.

Twila rubbed her face, feeling a headache building behind her eyes.

She turned around and walked away from the noisy group, desperate to find a quiet place to breathe.

THE KINGS LOUNGE

The lounge was empty except for one person.

Delaney sat on sofa, he didn’t have his usual laptop open, he wasn't hacking any government databases or tracking magical threats. He was just reading a book.

Twila walked into the room and let out a sigh. She dropped onto the sofa next to him, pulling her knees to her chest.

"Are you hiding from the party planners?" Delaney asked softly, closing his book and looking at her.

"I am hiding from everything, Delaney," Twila whispered, leaning her head back against the soft cushions. "I just want to be normal for five minutes."

Delaney looked at her pale, tired face. His eyes softened. For the last few months, he had kept a heavy secret locked inside. He was the quiet hacker, the guy in the background, the traitor who earned his way back into the family.

But he was also just a teenage boy. Sitting next to Twila every day, watching her battle monsters and protect her friends, had stolen his heart.

Delaney had a crush on her.

He looked into her soft brown eyes, her messy brown hair, and the gentle curve of her lips. His heart raced. He wanted to reach out, to take her hand and tell her she was the most beautiful girl in the world.

"You don't have to pick either of them, you know," Delaney whispered, his voice low and rough. "You could choose someone completely different. Someone quiet."

Twila turned her head slowly to look at him.

She didn't look disgusted, she looked confused.

Before Delaney could say another word, the doors of the lounge swung open.

Raiden walked in, looking worn out. His eyes locked onto Twila.

A moment later, a shadow in the corner shifted. Niles stepped out of the dark, his eyes focused on Twila.

Delaney glanced at the both of them.

Two dangerous kings who would do anything to keep Twila safe.

Delaney felt a lump form in his throat.

He looked back at Twila and saw how she looked at Raiden. He noticed how her body reacted to Niles.

She would never look at a quiet hacker like that. He couldn't compete with a storm, and he definitely couldn't compete with destiny.

Delaney let out a slow breath, releasing the hope in his chest.

"I am going to find someone new," he said with a soft, genuine smile, burying his crush forever. "I think I'm ready to look for my own love story."

Twila smiled brightly at him, completely oblivious to the heartbreak that just unfolded.

"You deserve the best girl in the world, Delaney," Twila promised softly, squeezing his hand.

Delaney stood up from the sofa and nodded to Raiden and Niles as he walked past, leaving them alone in the lounge.

"Are you okay, Twila?" Raiden asked, sitting where Delaney had just been.

"I am fine," Twila whispered, pulling her knees tighter to her chest.

Niles didn't sit down. He leaned against the doorframe, keeping his hands deep in his pockets.

"Island is talking about the Crystal Ball," Niles said smoothly, his eyes on her face. "Everyone is buying dresses."

"I am not going," Twila stated firmly, looking down at her shoes.

"Why not?" Raiden frowned, his shoulders tensing. "You saved this whole school, Psycho, you deserve to dress up and celebrate."

"Because I can't pick a date!" Twila yelled, frustration filling her eyes with tears. "If I go with you, Raiden, the whole school will stare at us, and Niles will have to watch. If I go with Niles, it will break your heart. I am not doing it!"

Raiden and Niles both fell silent.

The tension in the room was thick.

"She is right," a cold voice echoed from the doorway.

Nyx walked into the lounge, wearing her usual jacket and ignoring the two guys.

"You boys are choking the life out of her," Nyx sneered, walking over and taking Twila's hand. "Get up, Twila."

"Where are we going?" Twila sniffled, wiping her nose.

"We are going dress shopping," Nyx commanded, pulling Twila off the sofa.

"I just said I am not going to the stupid ball, Nyx!" Twila protested, trying to pull her hand away.

"You are going to the ball, you idiot," Nyx snapped, glaring at Raiden and Niles. "But you are going by yourself."

Raiden froze. "What?"

"You heard me, Storm King," Nyx said with a smirk. "She isn't taking either of you. She's going with me and Island. We will walk in like bosses, and you two can stand in the corner and drool."

Twila stared at Nyx in shock.

A wave of relief washed over her, she didn't have to choose a side tonight. She could just be with her friends.

"I love that idea," Twila said, a smile spreading across her face.

Niles looked at Raiden. Raiden looked at Niles.

They both hated it, they both wanted to hold her hand when she walked through those doors.

But they saw the relief shining in Twila's eyes.

"Fine," Raiden gritted, his jaw tight. "Go with the girls. But I'm saving you a dance."

"I'll be waiting for my dance too, beautiful," Niles promised, his eyes serious.

Twila felt her stomach flip.

"Let's go buy the most expensive dress in the city," Nyx smiled, dragging Twila out of the lounge.

THE GIRLS DORMITORY

The bedroom was a total mess. Dresses, shoes, and makeup were thrown everywhere.

"This one is disgusting," Island groaned, tossing a yellow dress onto the floor. "You are the Lunar Queen, Twila. You need something that makes them drop dead when they look at you."

"I just want something simple," Twila sighed, sitting on her bed in her underwear.

"Simple is for boring people," Amorette giggled, holding up a beautiful, sparkling pink gown. "Neon said he bought a grey suit to match my dress. Isn't he the absolute sweetest?"

"You guys are so gross," Nyx muttered, but she was holding a stunning, tight black velvet dress against her own body.

Island dug deep into the back of her closet. She pulled out a garment bag.

"I was saving this for myself," Island whispered, her eyes totally serious. "But I think it belongs to you, Twila."

Island unzipped the bag.

Twila stopped breathing completely.

It was the most beautiful dress she had ever seen in her entire life. It was a floor-length gown made of pure, sparkling silver silk. It looked exactly like liquid moonlight.

"Try it on," Island demanded softly.

Twila grabbed the silk and slipped it right over her head. The fabric hugged her waist perfectly, flowing down her legs like a beautiful, glowing waterfall.

She looked in the mirror, she looked exactly like a Queen.

"Holy fucking shit," Nyx breathed out, dropping her own dress onto the floor.

"They are literally going to lose their minds," Amorette squealed, clapping her hands together.

Twila stared at her own reflection, her heart hammering a crazy rhythm against her ribs.

She was ready for the ball. And she was finally ready to face the music.