Abigail's POV 
The sunlight filtered through the curtains, casting a soft glow on my room. It was hard to believe that today was the day. The Aurorium Ceremony had finally arrived, and with it came a lot of expectations. I sat on the edge of my bed, running my fingers over the smooth fabric of the Black Elite uniform that now felt like a second skin. The sleek black jacket, with the sharp lines and perfectly placed badge, symbolized everything I’d achieved in such a short time. 
I sighed, adjusting the Black Elite badge on my chest, making sure it was centered. Despite being in this new role, my old room still felt comfortable. It didn’t have the cold, sterile atmosphere of the Black Elite quarters. It felt like home—small, cozy, and mine. A place I could breathe.
“You know,” Nathalie’s voice broke through my thoughts, “that uniform looks pretty damn good on you.” 
I glanced over at her. She was lounging on the sofa, one leg draped over the other, watching me with a smirk on her face. “Almost like you were born to wear it.”
I couldn’t help but laugh. “You think so? I mean, I don’t know if I’ll ever get used to this,” I said, pulling at the collar. It was stiff, a bit too formal for my taste. But Nathalie was right—it did fit me well, physically at least. 
“You’ve only been a Black Elite for what, a month? But you’re already acting like you own the place,” Nathalie teased, her tone playful but with a hint of admiration. “Feels like we’ve been besties forever, doesn’t it?”
I grinned, shaking my head. “When in fact, we’ve only known each other for a few weeks.”
She chuckled, but then her expression shifted. “Anyway, don’t get too comfortable. You know the rules. All the highest Elites and ranks gather for a meeting before the ceremony starts.”
My heart skipped a beat. “Right. The meeting.” I’d completely forgotten about it in all the excitement. I had been meaning to talk to James before the ceremony.
“I need to talk to James,” I said, mostly to myself, as I continued adjusting my uniform.
Nathalie’s brow furrowed in confusion. She stood up, folding her arms across her chest. “James? You know you’re not allowed to talk to the regular students anymore. Not without permission from Emery.” Her voice carried a sharp edge, reminding me of the rules I’d been forced to learn over the last few weeks.
I nodded, fully aware of the restrictions placed on me now. “I know, but it’s just a quick conversation. It won’t take long.” 
Nathalie sighed, crossing the room to stand in front of me. Her eyes searched mine for a moment, as if she was trying to figure out if I was serious. “You better make it fast. I’m not covering for you if you get caught.” Her tone was serious, and it made me smile.
“You’re too soft,” I teased, trying to lighten the mood. “I know you can’t resist me.”
Nathalie rolled her eyes, her lips twitching in a disgusted smile. “Ugh, you’re insufferable.” She grabbed a pillow from the couch and tossed it at me.
I caught it, laughing as I tossed it back at her. “Admit it. You love me.”
Nathalie took a step back, her face scrunched up in mock horror. “Love? You wish.” She picked up the pillow again, ready to throw it, but then dropped it back on the couch with a grin. “Alright, enough flirting. We need to go. Emery hates it when the Elites are late. And you’re already breaking rules for a stupid reason.”
I chuckled, picking up my Black Elite token from the table. Nathalie noticed and raised an eyebrow. “What are you going to do with that now?”
I shrugged, slipping it into my pocket. “It’ll be my lucky charm from now on.” I winked at her, but she just narrowed her eyes, rolling them playfully.
“Lucky charm, huh? Well, good luck explaining that to Emery,” she said with a small giggle, and soon, we were both laughing.
As we headed out of the room and down the hallway, I felt a little lighter. It was good to have moments like these, where the weight of my responsibilities didn’t feel so heavy.
But as we turned the corner and walked into the boys' dormitory hall, reality settled back in. I knocked on the door softly, waiting. My heart pounded a little faster as I waited for James to answer. I knew this was bending the rules, but I needed to give him something—something small, but meaningful.
The door swung open, and there stood James, still in the middle of getting ready. His uniform was slightly wrinkled, and his necktie was hanging loosely around his neck. His eyes widened in surprise when he saw me, but they quickly shifted to my uniform, taking in the Black Elite insignia.
He quickly bowed his head, speaking in a hushed tone. “Abigail… What are you doing here? You know the rules…”
I smiled softly and reached into my pocket, pulling out a small box. “I know, but this won’t take long. I promise.”
He glanced at the box, hesitating. “What is this?”
I held it out to him. “Your glasses. I know you’ve been struggling without them, and I happen to have an extra pair I don’t use anymore. Thought you could use them.”
James looked between the box and me, clearly unsure of what to do. But after a moment, he took the box from my hand, his fingers brushing mine. “Thank you… I don’t know what to say.”
“You don’t have to say anything,” I said softly. “Just… take care of yourself, alright?”
Before the moment could get any more awkward, Nathalie spoke up from behind me. “We’re going to be late if we don’t leave now.”
I turned back to James and smiled. “I have to go. But I’ll see you after the ceremony, okay?”
James nodded, still looking a little shell-shocked. “Okay. Thanks again, Abigail.”
As Nathalie and I walked away, I glanced back over my shoulder one last time. James stood there, holding the box, watching us leave. There was something about the look on his face that made my chest tighten, but I pushed the feeling down.
We had a ceremony to get to, and rules or not, I wasn’t going to let anything stop me today.
“You know, you’re pushing your luck with all this,” Nathalie said as we made our way down the hall. 
I grinned. “Yeah, but you wouldn’t have it any other way.”
She rolled her eyes again, but I caught the faint smile on her lips. “Let’s just hope Emery doesn’t find out about this.”
I nodded, but deep down, I knew I couldn’t keep bending the rules forever. There was only so much I could get away with. But for now, I was ready to face whatever the day, and the ceremony, had in store.
As Nathalie and I stepped through the grand doors of the meeting room, the weight of the room hit me like a ton of bricks. It was massive inside, way bigger than I’d ever expected. The outside looked deceptively small, but once you were in, it was like standing in the middle of a cathedral. Red, Blue, and Black Elites all sat in their respective sections, divided by color, the air buzzing with whispers and tension.
But the minute we entered, all eyes turned toward us. Their stares didn’t bother me anymore, though. Being a Black Elite, you get used to the attention. Nathalie and I were the highest rank here, and people looked at us like we were untouchable. It was normal now. Even still, I felt a knot tighten in my stomach.
Then I noticed her. Emery.
She was standing in the middle of the room, arms crossed, her usual serious look locked onto us like a hawk eyeing its prey. Nathalie and I exchanged glances, both of us feeling the same knot of unease. As we walked toward our seats, I could feel Emery’s eyes boring into us, her cold gaze a weight on my shoulders.
Before we could even sit, Emery’s voice sliced through the room. “Why are you almost late?” The tone of her voice was icy, and it made me gulp. My throat tightened as I felt every pair of eyes in the room now fixed on us. It was my first real meeting as a Black Elite, and here Emery was, already scolding us.
Nathalie, bless her, tried to say something. But the words that tumbled out of her mouth were a complete mess. “Uh, Abigail took too long in the bathroom,” she blurted out. My eyes widened, and I shot her a look. 
That didn’t happen! I screamed internally. Damn it, Nathalie!
Around the room, Finn and Lucas were practically shaking, trying to hold in their laughter. I bit my lip to keep from groaning. Nathalie was making this situation worse than it had to be.
Emery rolled her eyes, her expression one of complete disbelief. “Sit down,” she said, her voice thick with annoyance. The hard edge in her tone left no room for argument.
Just as we were about to take our seats, the doors of the meeting room swung open with a heavy creak. The sound echoed, making everyone stop and turn. I looked over my shoulder, and standing there were a group of bodyguards, all dressed in sharp black suits. They stood rigid, like statues.
Then he walked in.
Mr. Aurorium.
The moment I saw him, my blood ran cold. His hair, a mix of black and white, was neatly combed back, and his presence was like a shadow creeping over the room. My eyes locked onto him, and a chill ran down my spine. This was the man I’d been waiting for—the man Lucas and I had been digging into for weeks. He was one of the final pieces I needed to put the puzzle together.
I couldn’t tear my eyes away from him, and I noticed that everyone else in the room was doing the same. The tension was thick as we all shifted our gazes to Emery, who was now staring at her father with an expression I couldn’t quite read. Her face was always so controlled, but there was something different about the way she looked at him. 
Mr. Aurorium stopped in the center of the room, his eyes scanning over the Elites before finally resting on Emery. He stood tall, his back straight, and when he spoke, his voice was deep and commanding. “Good morning, everyone.”
Instantly, every Elite stood up and bowed their heads in respect. Nathalie grabbed my hand and tugged, signaling for me to follow suit. I bowed, though I couldn’t shake the feeling that something wasn’t right.
“Good morning, Emery,” he said, his voice calm but filled with authority. It wasn’t just the greeting of a father to a daughter. It was a reminder of who he was, of the power he held.
Everyone sat down, but the room was thick with tension, like the calm before a storm. My eyes flicked to Emery, waiting for her response. The silence stretched for what felt like forever until, finally, Emery spoke.
“We’re in the middle of a meeting,” she said, her voice sharp, colder than usual. “You shouldn’t interrupt like this.”
I glanced at Mr. Aurorium, and for a brief second, I saw it. A small, almost invisible smile tugging at the corners of his mouth. It was the kind of smile that made my stomach turn. He tilted his head slightly, almost like he was amused by her defiance.
“I’ll be waiting in my office,” he replied simply, his voice calm, unaffected by Emery’s coldness.
He turned to leave, but just before he stepped out of the room, his eyes flicked over to me. It was quick—so fast I wasn’t even sure if I imagined it. But it was there. His eyes met mine, and something about the way he looked at me made my skin crawl. It was like he knew something. 
As soon as the door shut behind him, I let out a breath I didn’t realize I’d been holding.
“What the hell just happened?” I muttered to myself. I felt a shiver run down my spine, and I rubbed my arms, trying to shake off the unease that settled over me. 
Lucas, who was sitting across from me, caught my eye. He didn’t say anything, but the look on his face said it all. He felt it too. Something was off. 
Emery’s eyes were fixed on the door, her jaw clenched tight. The tension between her and her father was obvious to everyone in the room, but no one dared to say a word.
I shifted in my seat, glancing at Nathalie, who was equally tense. “I don’t like this.” I whispered, leaning closer to her.
“Neither do I.” she replied under her breath, her eyes still fixed on Emery. 
The rest of the meeting dragged on, but my mind was elsewhere. My thoughts kept circling back to Mr. Aurorium, the way he looked at me, the tension in the room. It felt like something big was about to happen, something none of us were prepared for.
As soon as the meeting was over, I stood up quickly, eager to get out of there. Nathalie and I exchanged a glance, both of us knowing that today was far from over.