Chapter 87 Possessed.

Chapter 87: Chapter 87 Possessed.

The evening wind played through her blonde hair like invisible fingers, carrying the chill of oncoming night. Rose rubbed her hands together vigorously, trying to generate some warmth against the biting cold that seemed to seep into her very bones. She had been waiting for Lamia for what felt like hours now, her patience wearing thin with each passing minute. The cold was becoming unbearable, and exhaustion was beginning to weigh heavily on her shoulders.

"I keep wondering how they became so close," she murmured to herself, her breath forming small clouds in the frigid air. The thought had been gnawing at her for days now. Oliver’s strange attachment to Lamia was becoming increasingly obvious, almost possessive in nature, and it made her deeply uncomfortable. There was something suggestive about the way he looked at him, something that hinted at knowledge she wasn’t privy to. And Lamia—Lamia knew something, she was certain of it. But he wasn’t telling her anything, keeping secrets that felt like walls between them.

He had become so secretive lately, overly protective in ways that made her worry rather than feel safe. And then there was Ashton, who had vanished after that disaster at the cafeteria. Did he know what was going on? How had things escalated so quickly? The devil son was apparently planning on marking him, and she had overheard something hours ago about him kissing a moonlight alpha. The implications made her stomach churn with anxiety.

"You can’t just trust a bunch of alphas," she whispered, "especially not the ones under the emperor’s rule."

The weight of everything pressed down on her. "Now I feel like no one is telling me anything." That was the thought that truly ate at her—the realization that both Ashton and Lamia were keeping things from her. Ashton wasn’t being honest, and Lamia was growing more distant by the day, pulling away from her like she was becoming a stranger.

She had positioned herself a reasonable distance from the main building, needing space to think, to breathe. Facepalming in frustration, her thoughts inevitably drifted back to Ashton. "Just why isn’t he here to ask for Lamia?" she wondered aloud. It was so unlike him to stay away, especially after all Lamia had done to help him. The least he could do was show gratitude. But he wasn’t here, and she couldn’t make sense of it.

Deciding she had waited long enough, Rose began walking back toward her lodge. The path took her past the lake, its surface shimmering under the moonlight like a dark mirror. She glanced down at her reflection, then froze mid-step. The face staring back at her wasn’t hers.

Rose blinked rapidly, stumbling backward. She walked away quickly, then forced herself to return, needing to confirm what she had seen. But when she looked again, her own reflection stared back, perfectly normal.

"That’s strange," she muttered, her voice trembling. "I could have sworn I saw Maria’s face just now."

Her heart hammered in her chest. The thought of something taking over her body, possessing her, was terrifying. She was overthinking, she told herself. Just seeing things. "I must be tired. I’m imagining things."

She rubbed her eyes forcefully and continued walking, trying to shake off the unease that had settled over her. But as she approached her lodge, her face came into contact with the glass mirror in the corridor. Students were hurrying to their rooms, none willing to stay outside after dark. The warning had been clear—anything that happened after nightfall, you were on your own. It was a reality no one wanted to face.

Rose stopped short, wondering if she had made a mistake by not waiting for Lamia. She shrugged it off, too exhausted to care anymore. But as she took a step closer to her doorstep, her reflection in the window made her freeze completely.

The eyes staring back at her didn’t belong to her. Neither did the vicious, cruel smile that curved across that unfamiliar face.

"What are you staring at, bitch?" the image spoke, its voice dripping with contempt.

Rose staggered backward, clutching her chest in horror. She looked again, hoping she had imagined it, but the face was still there, still watching her with those dark, predatory eyes.

"How did you do it?" Rose demanded, her voice shaking. "What are you?"

The image laughed, a sound that was cruel and evil, sending chills down her spine. "You thought that Ashton defeated me? Or should I say that imposter in Ashton’s body?"

The revelation hit Rose like a physical blow. She raked her hand through her hair, her mind reeling. "I don’t believe you. You’re trying to confuse me. I won’t doubt him. I won’t."

The image giggled maniacally. "You trust him? How laughable. You’re already in doubt, aren’t you? I can hear your thoughts. They’re so noisy and irritating in that little head of yours."

Rose’s eyes widened. An imposter? No, that wasn’t right. But on closer examination, she realized how different he had been lately. More confident. Bratty. Sarcastic. Fashionable. Smarter than the old Ashton, who always talked so dumbly and stumbled over his words.

"I will not listen to you," Rose screamed, trying to break free from whatever hypnosis the image was casting on her. "You’re just a voice in my head trying to confuse me!"

"Oh, Rose," Maria cooed, her voice silky and persuasive. "You don’t know how weak you are. Let me in. We both know you want it. With me in your life, I can elevate you. Make you stronger, make your powers invincible. Make you immortal. Compared to Lamia and Ashton, you could be a legend."

The offer was tempting, Rose couldn’t deny that. But at what cost? Losing her humanity? Betraying the two good friends who had been given to her—Ashton and Lamia? Because at this stage, that was inevitable. If she let Maria in, there would be no going back. Worse things would be demanded of her.

"I am not weak," Rose declared, her voice firm despite the fear coursing through her. "I am a moonlight affinity user. Who said anything about weakness?"

Maria burst into harrowing laughter. "You’re trying to protect them, but let’s be frank—they don’t need you. If an opportunity presented itself for them to throw you away, it would be as easy as the alphabet. Because you’re worthless. Not useful. You never will be."

The words struck deep, cutting through her defenses. She moved away, trying to hide her expression, but the truth was impossible to ignore. She wasn’t on par with Lamia. She had discovered that during the day when he cast that spell without being affected much, while the same spell had nearly driven her to madness.

"Now you get it?" Maria pressed. "Oh, girl, let me take over. Let me give your life meaning. Because just as they’re beginning to cut you out, soon it will be immediate. Lamia and Ashton will run away. You were never needed. You’ve fulfilled your part. So LET ME IN!"

Maria screamed, and Rose covered her ears, tears streaming down her face. A ringing filled her head like pounding drums, making her shiver uncontrollably. She had to get away. She had to escape.

Desperate, Rose started to walk away, but she noticed eyes on her. Students in the corridor had stopped to see what was wrong, noticing the tears rolling down her cheeks.

"Rose, are you alright?" Abigail asked, approaching with Emily by her side.

Rose looked at them and immediately broke down, throwing herself into their arms and sobbing. All the bad feelings she had been suppressing crashed over her like a wave, threatening to drown her. The times she had chased after Noah-Ashton fervently, only to be rejected repeatedly, had her efforts thrown back in her face. That had been Ashton’s behavior, and now she thought he had changed. But he was being different and hiding things from her again, when she would risk her life for him. It wasn’t fair.

"Rose, I know we haven’t been friends," Abigail said gently, her face showing genuine concern. "But talk to us. What’s the issue? We’re here."

"Or should we bring this discussion to our lodge?" Emily suggested. "You’re invited. Just come and sleep over. Slyvia isn’t part of the group anymore, and tomorrow is a big day for everyone. Don’t cry."

Rose couldn’t stop crying. She felt so weak and vulnerable, stripped of all her defenses. "I don’t know how to say it," she sniffled. "I don’t even know where to start."

Abigail nodded understandingly. "I understand. Let’s do it this way—you can cry to your heart’s content. But you know it’s not safe anymore around this school. We don’t know what’s happening or what strange things we’ve witnessed. But we’re always here. The rich always stick up for each other, and no matter how you try to deny it, you’re one of us."

Rose was speechless. She realized that it had been Slyvia’s poisonous presence corrupting the two girls all along. Now, without her influence, they were showing their true colors in their own awkward way.

"Thanks, guys," Rose managed, her voice thick with emotion.

They both nodded, wisely refraining from asking about Ashton and Lamia. Together, they headed toward the room the two girls shared. As they walked, Rose began to feel different—something was happening to her head, her neck, the back of her hands. Something crawled beneath her skin, something she was completely unaware of. Her eyes grew darker, turning pure black for just a moment before returning to normal. No one saw it. It vanished as quickly as it had appeared, leaving her unaware of the transformation beginning within her.