Chapter 4 Villainess

Nyx didn't glance back as she descended the stairs, the weight of her presence hanging in the air like a storm waiting to break. The other students made way for her, their eyes darting in her direction, their whispers louder than the soft breeze that rustled through the courtyard.

She felt the heat of their stares but ignored them. The game had just begun. And Nyx always played to win.

As she rounded the corner, a voice broke through her thoughts.

"You think you can just waltz in here, steal the show, and make everyone bow down?"

Nyx raised an eyebrow without turning. "I don't think it, I know it."

Alec Ji stepped into her path, his lean figure radiating confidence as always. He had always been a player in the shadows, a man who liked to manipulate from behind the scenes. And yet, here he was, confronting her.

She allowed herself a small smile. "Alec Ji. To what do I owe the pleasure?"

"I'm not here to chit-chat, Nyx," he said, his tone cold but tinged with curiosity. "I know what you are. What you've become. But this isn't your world. You think you can just stroll in and tear everything down?"

"Do you think I care about your world?" Nyx's voice was quiet but cutting, the words hanging in the air like a threat.

Alec's eyes narrowed, but there was a flicker of respect in them. He knew better than to underestimate her. "I think you'll find there are more than just a few players here who won't let you take what you want. You may be the hurricane, but this academy isn't a kingdom."

Nyx stepped closer, her heels clicking on the marble floor with authority. "And I don't need a kingdom, Alec. I need power. And I'm not asking for permission. I'm taking it."

The tension was palpable, and for a moment, neither of them moved. Alec didn't flinch, but there was something in his eyes-a dangerous mix of admiration and warning. It was clear. Nyx was dangerous, but she wasn't just a force to be reckoned with. She was an inevitable storm, sweeping away anyone who dared to stand in her path.

Alec finally broke the silence with a smirk. "Well, Nyx. I suppose this just got interesting."

As he walked past her, his shoulder brushing hers with a calculated nonchalance, Nyx felt the flicker of something she couldn't quite place-an ember of respect for the man who, for all his calculating ways, didn't shy away from confrontation.

But she wasn't here to play games. And she wasn't about to let anyone-least of all Alec Ji-get in her way.

---

The next morning, Nyx walked into the academy's lavish dining hall with a slow, deliberate stride, her mask of confidence firmly in place. The students parted like waves before her, but she wasn't paying them any attention.

Instead, she scanned the room, looking for an escape from the unspoken stares and whispers that seemed to follow her everywhere.

And then she spotted her target.

At the far end of the hall, a familiar face caught her eye: Olivia Hartley. The girl's cheerful, bubbly demeanor was like a breath of fresh air in the suffocating atmosphere of the academy.

Nyx smirked. A little levity was just what she needed today.

Olivia was sitting at a corner table, chatting with a group of friends, but as soon as she saw Nyx, her face broke into a bright smile.

"Nyx! Over here!" Olivia waved, and Nyx couldn't help but be amused by the warmth in her voice.

"I thought I was the last person you'd want to sit with," Nyx teased as she made her way to the table.

Olivia chuckled. "Oh, please. Who else would I talk to about the absurdity of all these power plays? I swear, it's like a soap opera, but with better outfits."

Nyx grinned, taking a seat beside her. "I'm just here for the drama. And the food. Don't forget the food."

"Ah, of course," Olivia replied, tapping the table in mock seriousness. "Who could resist the cafeteria's gourmet offerings?"

They both laughed, the sound echoing through the room. For a moment, the weight of Nyx's mission seemed to lift, if only just. Olivia had that effect on people-she was like a walking, talking dose of sunlight, and Nyx found herself enjoying the warmth of it, even if only for a few moments.

"So," Olivia leaned in, her eyes sparkling mischievously. "What's the deal with the whole 'storming back in like you own the place' vibe? Any plans to burn the academy to the ground today, or are you just here for the gossip?"

Nyx snorted, trying to stifle the laughter that bubbled up from her chest. "I can't say no to some well-placed destruction, but I've got other things on my mind today."

"Ah, a woman of mystery. I like it," Olivia said with a wink. "I mean, really, though. You've been gone for how long? Five years? And now you're back, all glamorous and dangerous. It's like a superhero origin story."

Nyx rolled her eyes dramatically. "If I had a cape, I'd be flying around saving the world. But unfortunately, my only superpower is making people sweat under pressure."

"Well, that's a pretty good power to have," Olivia said with a grin. "You know, I've been meaning to ask you-why the whole 'mask' thing? What's with the mystery? I'm curious."

Nyx raised an eyebrow, her lips curling into a half-smile. "I like to think of it as... keeping things interesting."

Olivia blinked, then laughed. "Aha! So it's a style choice? I thought you were secretly Batman or something."

Nyx chuckled softly. "If only. Gotham could use a little more glamour."

Their conversation flowed easily, each joke and jibe lightening the atmosphere, and for the first time since her return, Nyx felt like she could almost forget about the looming battles ahead.

---

As Nyx sipped her coffee, her eyes scanned the room, settling on a few familiar faces from the student body. They were all watching her-some with curiosity, others with judgment-and a few, she suspected, were making silent bets on how long it would take for her to burn the academy down.

Olivia, ever the optimist, leaned forward and whispered conspiratorially, "I'm calling it now: you're going to be the most popular girl at school in a week. Just wait. Everyone loves a good villainess."

Nyx snorted, nearly choking on her coffee. "That's not exactly the vibe I'm going for, Liv."

"Sure it is. You've got the mysterious mask, the icy glare, and the whole 'I can destroy you with a glance' thing going on. Classic villain material." Olivia gave her an exaggerated wink. "What's next? Dramatic monologues in the middle of the cafeteria?"

"Only if I can make it rain while I do it," Nyx shot back, grinning.

"Of course," Olivia said, mock-seriously. "You've got to make an entrance, Nyx. Maybe throw in a trapdoor. Really up the stakes."

"Excellent idea," Nyx mused, tapping her chin thoughtfully. "I'll have the trapdoor installed by next week. We'll make an event out of it."

Their laughter filled the air again, a bright spot in the otherwise tense room. For a moment, Nyx let herself enjoy it-the easy camaraderie that came from having someone like Olivia around. Maybe it was a good thing to have at least one friend in this snake pit.

As they finished their meal, the bell signaling the end of the break rang out, echoing through the grand hall. The students began gathering their things and heading back to their classes, but Nyx wasn't in any rush.

"You know," Olivia said with a sly smile, "I heard some of the other students talking. They think you're here to take over. That you're plotting something big."

Nyx raised an eyebrow. "Oh? And what exactly am I plotting?"

"Well," Olivia began, her tone serious for once, "word on the street is that you've got some unfinished business with Liya."

Nyx leaned back in her chair, her eyes narrowing slightly. "Unfinished business is an understatement."

Olivia tilted her head, clearly intrigued. "Care to share? Or is this one of those 'I'll tell you later, but only if you promise not to tell anyone' things?"

Nyx chuckled, shaking her head. "I'm not one for secrets, Liv. I just... prefer to let my actions do the talking. And believe me, there will be plenty of action."

Olivia gave her a knowing look. "I get it. Sometimes, silence is way more powerful than words."

Nyx smiled softly, her gaze distant for a moment. She was already planning her next move-calculating, cold, and precise. But for now, she'd let the world believe she was just another student. It would make the shock even sweeter when her grand plan finally came into motion.

"Thanks for the company, Liv," Nyx said, standing up and tossing a few bills onto the table. "I'll see you later. I've got some... things to take care of."

"Good luck, villainess," Olivia called after her, laughing.

Nyx paused, glancing over her shoulder with a mischievous glint in her eye. "Thanks. I'll need it."

---