Chapter 37 The Gala

Chapter 37 The Gala
Selene’s POV
The Gala

The night of the Gala arrived. The whole Academy was buzzing with light and music. I stood in my small room, looking at the dress that was spread out on my bed. It was deep blue. It had ornate white bearings around it and it was pretty. When I unboxed it from the packaging, I gasped at it. It would've been fascinating and great if it were for another occasion and for another person. But it was Cael and something inside me squeezed at the thought of him. I re-read the note sent along with it and swallowed for the 100th time this night.

You're mine, aren't you, baby?

My hands shook as I put it on. The fabric was soft and expensive.

Nyra stirred inside me. ‘Be careful tonight,’ she whispered. ‘I don't have a good feeling about today, Selene.’ She stirred restlessly inside of me. I took a deep breath to calm myself because she wanted to come out. She really wanted to be free.

I knew she was right. But I had no choice. I had to play my part. I was getting so close to knowing the truth and getting my revenge.

I looked in the mirror. I had already styled my silver hair, packing it into a braided bun. I stared back into my eyes and took a deep breath. These eyes that were once full of determination and strength when I first came here…that spark had started to dim. This…this, whatever this person was or whoever they were, they seemed to have been so sure people would come after them, so they had even taken several steps ahead before we were even born. I closed my eyes.

I was Selene, the soon to be rogue queen and I am brave. I never let anyone step down at me. Never.

Just as I dusted invisible dust off my dress, a knock came at my door. It was time.

I took a deep breath and opened the door. Cael stood there. He wore a black uniform with silver threads. He looked like a king. His eyes swept over me, and for a second, I saw something in them. Something warm. Then it was gone.

“You look... fair,” he said. His voice was flat.

“Thank you,” I said. My voice was just as flat.

He offered me his arm. I took it. His muscles were hard under my fingers. We walked to the Great Hall together. We didn't speak.

The Great Hall was transformed. Thousands of candles lit the room. Banners hung from the high ceiling. Music filled the air. Students and teachers danced and laughed. They all looked happy. They didn't know about the lab. They didn't know about Joren.

They were blind.

Cael led me to the center of the room. All eyes turned to us. I saw Lyra watching from across the hall. Her face was a mask of hatred. Her father stood beside her. He was a tall man with cold eyes.

The Headmaster stood on a stage. He smiled at the crowd. It was a cold, dead smile.

“Welcome,”he said. “Welcome to the Moon Gala. A night of celebration. A night of unity.”

His eyes found me in the crowd. They lingered for a moment too long. My heart beat faster.

The music started again. Cael pulled me closer. We began to dance. His hand was firm on my back.

“Remember,” he whispered in my ear. “Stay close to me. Do not wander off.”

“I know the plan,” I said.

“Do you?” he asked. His eyes were hard. “Because Riven is here. And he's watching you.”

I looked around. I saw Riven leaning against a wall. He wore a simple black suit. He wasn't smiling. His golden eyes were fixed on me. He gave a small nod.

Oh, that was my cue. It was time. I took a deep breath. The fireworks were supposed to start soon. That was our signal.

We danced. The music kept playing around us. Cael held me tight. I could feel the eyes of the whole Academy on us.

“You're trembling,” Cael said.

“I'm fine,” I lied.

He spun me around. For a moment, my world twisted and blurred. Then I was back in his arms.

“You don't have to do this,” he said softly. “Whatever you're planning. You can just stop. I can't do this anymore. Trying to pretend like I don't have a duty to uphold.”

I looked up at him. “It's too late for that.”

The first firework exploded outside.

A bright flash of red light filled the hall. Then a loud boom. The music stopped. People screamed and laughed. They thought it was part of the show.

But then another firework went off. And another. They were too loud. Too bright. They weren't going in the right order. They were scattered in the sky and they were going so fast.

The Headmaster looked confused. Then angry. This was it. Our distraction.

I pulled away from Cael. “I need some air,” I said.

His grip tightened on my arm. “Lira…”

“I'll be back,” I said. I pulled my arm free and melted into the crowd.

I moved quickly. I didn't look back. I could feel Cael's eyes on me. I slipped out a side door and into a dark hallway. The sounds of the Gala faded behind me. I ran to the Headmaster's office. The hallways were empty. Everyone was at the party. Riven was already there. He was working on the lock.

“Took you long enough,” he said. His voice was tense.

“The dress slows me down,” I said. “Was not my fault.”

The lock clicked open. We slipped inside.

The office was dark and quiet. The Headmaster's big desk sat in the middle of the room. I saw the safe behind it. It was made of dark metal. Riven pulled the amulet from his pocket. It glowed with a soft silver light.

“This is it,” he said. He pressed it against the safe.

For a moment, nothing happened. Then the safe made a soft clicking sound. The door swung open. Inside was a single folder. Riven grabbed it. He opened it. His face went pale.

“What is it?” I asked.

He showed me. It was a list of names. Students. And next to each name... a date. A date they disappeared.

Tiana's name was there. Breanne's name was there. So many names. And at the bottom of the list... my mother's name. The Rogue Queen.

“They've been taking people for years," Riven whispered. "This is the proof.”

My hands shook. This was it. This could destroy them. Then we heard a sound. Footsteps. Coming down the hall. We were out of time.

Riven shoved the folder inside his jacket. “We need to go. Now.”

We ran to the door. I looked out. The hallway was still empty.

We slipped out and closed the door behind us. We started to run back toward the Gala. But we turned a corner and ran right into someone.

Cael.

He stood there, his arms crossed. His face was like stone.

“Going somewhere?” he asked. His voice was cold.