The fate of two Hybrids: Demian and Alice

Alice had been at Blackthorn Academy for less than a day, but the weight of her reputation was already suffocating. Whispers followed her through the halls like shadows. She's the witch who beat up Andrea, they said. She's crazy.

Alice tried to ignore the murmurs, keeping her head down as she walked to her next class. Cassie, her roommate, had warned her to steer clear of Andrea and the Amazons, but it was too late for that now.

It wasn't just the Amazons she had to worry about. The way Demian, the demon prince, had watched her yesterday still sent chills down her spine. His crimson eyes had seen right through her, and the memory of his smirk made her uneasy.

---

The tension came to a head during her second day at Blackthorn. Alice was leaving Combat Tactics when she felt a sharp tug on her arm. She turned to find Demian standing behind her, his crimson eyes blazing.

"We need to talk," he said, his voice low and dangerous.

"Talk about what?" Alice asked, trying to keep her voice steady.

Without waiting for an answer, Demian dragged her down the hallway. Students stopped and stared as he pulled her into an empty classroom, slamming the door shut behind them. A crowd began to gather outside, pressing against the windows to watch.

Alice's heart raced as she faced him. The room felt suffocating, the air thick with Demian's overpowering aura. He radiated an energy that made her skin prickle—an energy that seemed to match hers, as though they were two forces cut from the same cloth.

"You think you can just walk into my school and humiliate my girlfriend?" Demian snarled, his voice filled with venom.

Alice clenched her fists, determined not to show fear. "I didn't humiliate her. She came at me first."

Demian's smirk returned, but there was no humor in it. "You don't understand how things work here, do you? No one crosses me or my circle. No one."

Alice swallowed hard. She could feel the raw power emanating from him, pressing down on her like a physical weight. For the first time, she felt a flicker of doubt.

"I don't care who you are," she said, her voice trembling slightly. "I'm not going to bow down to you."

The students outside gasped, their faces glued to the windows as they watched the confrontation unfold.

Demian took a step closer, his presence overwhelming. "You should be afraid of me, Alice."

"I'm not afraid of you," she lied, her voice barely above a whisper.

But the truth was, she was afraid—just a little. Demian was unlike anyone she had ever encountered. His power felt ancient, dark, and dangerous.

As he raised his hand, a wave of energy crackled through the room, making the lights flicker. Alice flinched, her body tensing as she prepared to defend herself. But before Demian could make another move, the door burst open.

"That's enough," a voice said.

Alice turned to see a boy standing in the doorway. He was tall and lean, with piercing blue eyes and dark hair that framed his sharp features. The crowd outside the window gasped again, their whispers filling the hallway.

"It's Michael," someone said. "What's he doing here?"

Michael stepped into the room, his gaze locking onto Demian. The tension in the air became almost unbearable as the two boys faced each other.

"Stay out of this, Michael," Demian growled.

Michael smirked, his expression calm but dangerous. "I think you've made your point, Demian. Let her go."

"She doesn't need your help," Demian snapped. "This has nothing to do with you."

"It does now," Michael said, stepping between Alice and Demian.

Alice stared at him in shock. She didn't know who Michael was, but the way he carried himself—calm, confident, and utterly unafraid of Demian—was enough to make her feel a glimmer of hope.

Michael reached out and grabbed Alice's wrist, pulling her toward the door.

"Come on," he said, his voice soft but firm.

Alice hesitated, glancing back at Demian. His crimson eyes burned with fury, and his aura grew darker, more menacing.

"You're making a mistake, Michael," Demian said, his voice low and dangerous.

Michael didn't respond. He led Alice out of the room, the crowd parting to let them pass.

---

Once they were out of earshot, Michael finally spoke. "You've got guts, I'll give you that. But you're playing with fire."

Alice stopped and pulled her arm free, glaring at him. "Who are you, and why did you help me?"

Michael raised an eyebrow. "You don't know who I am?"

"Should I?" Alice asked, crossing her arms.

He chuckled, though there was no humor in it. "I'm Michael. Demian's worst enemy."

Alice blinked, surprised. "What's your problem with him?"

Michael's expression darkened. "We used to be friends—a long time ago. But that's ancient history. Let's just say we don't see eye to eye anymore."

"What happened?" Alice asked, her curiosity piqued.

Michael hesitated, his blue eyes narrowing. "It's not a story I like to tell. But I'll give you some advice: stay away from Demian. He's dangerous, and he won't stop until he gets what he wants."

Alice frowned. "Why do you care what happens to me?"

Michael smiled faintly. "Let's just say I don't like bullies. Besides, you're interesting. I don't meet people like you every day."

Alice wasn't sure how to feel about that, but she nodded. "Thanks, I guess."

Michael glanced down at her bracelet, his eyes narrowing slightly. "Nice bracelet. You should hold onto it."

Before she could ask what he meant, he turned and walked away, disappearing down the hallway.

---

Alice returned to her dorm room, her mind spinning. Cassie looked up from her book, her expression curious.

"What happened? The whole school's talking about you and Demian."

Alice sank onto her bed, running a hand through her hair. "I think I just made an enemy—and a strange ally."

Cassie smirked. "Welcome to Blackthorn, where nothing is ever simple."

As Alice lay back on her bed, her thoughts drifted to Michael and the way he had stood up to Demian. She didn't know what kind of history they shared, but one thing was clear: she had become tangled in something far bigger than herself.

And deep down, she knew her life would never be the same.

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