The moment Victoria stepped through the academy gates, she was met with a wall of scorn. Darius stood off to the side, silent and observing, while the male and female students gathered in a loose semicircle.
"There she is," sneered the red-haired girl with a wide smirk stretching across her heavily painted lips. Her voice rang out loud enough for the entire courtyard to hear. "Couldn't even hide her true colors for a single day. I guess once a slut, always a slut."
The other ladies let out cruel chuckles, feeding off her cruelty.
Just then, Zephyr appeared, striding forward from behind Victoria. His eyes were shadowed with fury, his expression tight with restrained rage.
