Chapter 1

The sun hung low over the prestigious university in Romania, casting a warm golden glow on the cobblestone paths that crisscrossed the campus.The grand campus of the prestigious Crestwood University was alive with energy, the laughter and chatter of students filling the air. It was a normal winter sunny day. Everywhere there were students wearing expensive clothes. It was one of the greatest university of Romania where royals and elites of the country were studying. At the same time, each year the university offered scholarships to three most intelligent students all around the country . The scholarships were given to deserving and sharp students that topped the entrance exam which was held in the start of each year. It was a place where elites intermingle with the extraordinary.

Amidst the ancient architecture and the vibrant energy of a prestigious university, a girl found herself in an overwhelming situation. She stood shyly in the center of a group of her peers—boys and girls, all from royal and elite families, their expensive clothes and confident demeanor starkly contrasting with her own modest outfit. She was extremely beautiful, no doubt about it, with her angelic face framed by ash-brown hair that cascaded to her shoulders. Her soft and glowy face was fully flushed and her softly cut bangs were perfectly styled..Yet, in that moment, she felt anything but.. . Her emerald green eyes, usually sparkling with a quiet confidence, were now clouded with nervousness. Her rosy lips trembled, betraying the fear that gripped her. Clutching her books tightly to her chest, as if they were a shield against the harshness of stares and whispers,she stood in a swirling circle of her in university fellows all seemingly from the upper echelons of Romanian society. Her emerald eyes darted nervously among the crowd, revealing her anxiety. . Dressed in a long skirt and a cozy sweater, she felt out of place. The group moved in a tight circle around her, laughing and whispering, making her heart race with dread.

She was a newcomer, a scholarship student who had somehow managed to break into this elite world. And it was becoming increasingly clear that her presence wasn't exactly welcomed. Whispers and curious stares followed her, and the circle of students grew tighter, their laughter a mocking melody in her ears.She felt acutely out of place in her long skirt and simple sweater amidst the extravagant attire of her peers. They were circling her like a shark.. The circle of students tightened, their laughter like a mocking chorus around her. Her heart hammered against her ribs, a frantic drumbeat against the suffocating silence of her fear.Their laughter a sharp contrast to her rising panic. She was standing in between and they trapped her in a circle. When one of the boy came forward and everyone just stared at both of them.

" So, newbie," He was Rob, a boy with a perpetually smug grin, leaned in, his voice laced with feigned concern. "How did you manage to get into this university?"

Her throat constricted. She opened her mouth, but no sound came out. Her emerald eyes darted around, searching for an escape route, her rosy lips trembling.

Lily, a girl who looked like she'd stepped straight from a fashion magazine, sauntered forward, her voice dripping with disdain. "Oh, darling, you look like you stepped out of a history book. That skirt is positively ancient!"

A ripple of laughter followed, and soon, a silly, off-key song began, each student adding a verse mocking her appearance and presumed social standing. Her fingers tightened around her books, her throat drying. She felt a blush rise in her cheeks, hot and uncomfortable, as their words pierced her fragile confidence.

"Look at her dress," Selena another girl from that group drawled, her tone was mocking."Is that even appropriate for this university?"

Lily's voice, dripping with mock sweetness, was a cruel blade. "Darling, is that… your best?" she sneered, gesturing to her long skirt and simple sweater which was not that bad. It was not that expensive but it was beautiful and modest.

"Shut up everyone... She borrowed it from her grandmother".. Max said in cynical tone.

The circle erupted in a chorus of giggles and a nonsensical, mocking song, the students moving in a derisive dance around her. She felt like she could bolt, run as fast as her legs could carry her, away from the suffocating attention. Hundreds of other students were watching her with pitty. They stopped and enjoyed. But no one dared to stop them.

Jim, another boy from the group, added fuel to the fire, demanding her introduction. "Alright, poor nerd, give us your introduction. We're all dying to know who the scholarship winner is."

Her heart pounded against her ribs. They were all heirs and heiresses, children of the elite, and she was an outsider, a fragile flower amongst thorns.

Lily's words were a cruel echo of her own growing fear. "Introduce yourself, you… commoner."

She felt like a criminal caught in a spotlight under interrogation, trapped and vulnerable. The laughter surrounding her echoing mercilessly in her ears. She took a step back, instinctively wanting to flee from the scene they had created. But as she continued to back away, the laughter didn't cease but it grew. She took a hesitant step back, then another. When she realized they weren't stopping her, she observed that their smiles held a cruel, knowing amusement, a wave of panic washed over her. Without turning, she began to slowly back away, her eyes wide with fear and humiliation. To her horror, why the group didn't even try to stop her. Instead, their smiles widened, a glint of malicious amusement in their eyes.

Panic surged through her as she stumbled backwards, unaware of her surroundings...She couldn't escape, not with them all closing in. She took another step back, then another, until she felt a hard, unforgiving surface against her back.She collided with something solid, unyielding – a wall, or perhaps a person..

A pair of strong and rough hands clamped down on her arms, spinning her around roughly. She squeezed her eyes shut, bracing herself for another onslaught of ridicule. She was preparing herself for another wave of ridicule, but the anticipated blow never came. Instead, a low voice whispered into her ear.The grip on her arms relaxed. And he released her arms and pushing her back a step away.Her eyes were still snapped shut. A voice, low and dangerous, whispered in her ear.

"Don't run, sweetheart," a smooth, sardonic voice cut through the air. He was like smelling her. Inhaling her.

"In-tro-duc-tion".... He stretched the word.

She opened her eyes to see the source, and her breath hitched in her throat. Towering over her was a very tall, powerfully built man, his black hoodie obscuring his hair and face. His violet eyes, cold and piercing, held a raw intensity that sent shivers down the spine.

She took a shaky step back, but he took another forward, slowly closing the distance between them. The circle of students remained behind her, a silent audience to this unsettling scene.

He pushed the hood back, revealing a face that was both breathtakingly handsome and menacing. It was a face carved from marble, sharp cheekbones, a strong jawline, and lips that seemed to promise both pain and pleasure. That masculine Greek God features were to die for.

She was trapped between a mocking crowd and a man whose presence radiated a dangerous allure. she was a captive between the devil she knew and the devil she didn't. She stepped back, but he moved closer, a slow, deliberate predator. She was the prey and he was the predator. She was the dove and he was the Vulture. She was the angel and he was the head of the devils.He was just so impossibly tall, his physique a powerful testament to strength. He was almost inhumanly handsome, a stark contrast to the cruel smirk that twisted his lips.

She turned her back hitting the group that had been her tormentors just moments ago. He moved towards her, his presence filling the space, suffocating. Now they all were standing there in a group. That handsome devil was standing in front when a girl that makeup shop lily came and hugged him while touching his lips with her lips. She was his girlfriend perhaps. But that devil was looking at her. The crowd was chanting his name .But she was not hearing anything. He leaned against his girlfriend, a cigarette dangling from his lips. He raised his hand and made everyone silent.

"Well, well, what have we here?" His voice was laced with a mocking amusement. "Looks like we've got a little lost lamb in our kingdom."

His eyes, a cruel shade of violet, swept over her, lingering on her simple clothes. "What's your name, sweetheart? And what makes a scholarship girl think she belongs in a place like Crestwood?"

He was a master of manipulation, playing with her emotions, turning her fear into a spectacle for his amusement.... They all began to laugh out loud.With a striking face and a devil-may-care attitude. He was the centerpiece of the group, the alpha, the one who exuded an aura of untouchable power. His name was DAMIEN XAVIER, and he was famous as the school's biggest bully, the baddest boy..the one who ruled with an iron fist and a silver tongue...

"Introduce yourself, sweetheart. We're all eager to know who our new… 'scholarship darling' is." Damien's voice was full of sarcasm.

"Yeah, spill the beans. Tell us your name, your pitiful little story and don't forget to which ditch you crawled out of."Lily said again.

She started to back away, her eyes widened with fear. She doesn't know where to go, or what to do.

w.. w.. who are you??? She looked at Damein..

Let's just say, I'm the one who decides who gets an introduction around here. And you, my dear, need a very… thorough one. Damien answered in a commanding tone.

"We're dying to know who you are.Don't be shy, introduce yourself to our little clan.My name's Damien Xavier and I'm in charge of making sure you don't forget your place here." He leaned towards her..

She moved herself away for him.

Damien smirked at her move.

" So, tell me, poor lamb..What's your name? What class are you in? And how's that scholarship treating you? "Damien inhaled a puff of cigarette. He was the epitome of a rogue, a Greek god with a devilish glint in his eyes.

"Um..." she stammered, trying to gather her thoughts, "I—I'm Delilah," she managed to say, her voice barely above a whisper.She wet her lips with her tongue.

So, the little scholarship girl finally graces our presence. Tell me, darling... what's your full name? What family are you disgracing with your presence?"" His sarcastic tone was horrible.

"Just Delilah?" Lily scoffed, her voice laced with insult. "Such a plain name for such a… plain girl." Yes, do tell us your name, darling. And your family lineage. We must know if you're worthy of being amongst us." Damien replied..

"It's Delilah Scarlett. My full name is Delilah Scarlett." She said slowly. Meanwhile Damien was scanning her. . It was an elegant wool plaid skirt contains a classic flare. Starting from her waist and ends at the ankle. In grey and red colour with reddish brown belt.. And black turtle neck short yet fitted sweater showing all her beautiful curves of delicate body. Her figure was gorgeous. She was just perfect.. and extremely beautiful but she was not his type. His eyes stopped when he saw a delicate silver pendant in her neck with some special symbol on it.

With the his expressions darkened and eyes turned red. Losing all his controls, he pulled her towards him from her waist and inhales her from her neck. She was trembling and in a big shock. His touch was full of fire and she felt his warm breath on her neck. On the other hand, he closed his eyes looked in her eyes...

"Don't shy sweetheart. I am sure you have a lot to tell us. And trust me Damien can sit here for centuries to listen you.. After all, it's not every day we get to meet a girl with such… unique taste".He played with her hairs. She was shocked at his soft tone yet his eyes were full of fire as if he was ready to burn her soul. He was bullying her ,his words sharp and cutting. Flirtatious, yet cruel. Her anxiety mounts with every sentence, her fear a palpable thing in the air.

The group was still around her. and they all were watching this with fascination.

Just tell us that what's a girl like you doing in a place like this? You look out of place amongst all these rich kids. Salena's voice was full of disdain.

" I am here to study only"... She murmered.

He let out a cruel laugh, his violet eyes locking with Delilah.

" A scholarship student, eh? we are from the families that are trustees of this college. We are the big names of the society. You are just getting it free from our sides. You are still studying on our money." Jim, the best friend of Damien replied.

" But I earned it. I got first position in the entrance exam. I really worked hard for it.." This time she speak in an audible tone. But her accent was so soft and she was so polite. Even don't know how to prove her point.

They all laughed..

"Well, well, well, look what we have here. A little scholarship girl stumbled into our playground, just get yourself lost into your books and stay out of our league. " Damien warned her with cold voice.

Delilah's heart pounded, a trapped bird in her chest. She was surrounded by cruelty, by arrogance, by a power she couldn't possibly comprehend. The devil before her, with his dangerous charm and ruthless words, had become the focus of her fear, the embodiment of the terror that enveloped her. She was utterly defenseless.

"And don't think you can escape us so easily, sweetheart. We like to play with our prey before we devour them." His gaze was predatory, a flicker of amusement in his violet eyes. "Besides," he leaned closer, his voice a low purr, "I'm curious to see how a delicate flower like you handles a little rough handling"

" If you want to live here poor scholarship student you should follow the rules made by this gang and don't you dare to refuse them." Jim told her.

They were total six in the group. Damien, Jim, Max, Rob, Lily and Selena... They were named as "SOUL REVAERS" of the university.

Delilah moved her neck up and down. They all were elites and royals. She was not and moreover she didn't want to fight with anyone and she didn't know how to fight.

" This college may be your playground, but I'm the devil who sets the rules. One sip of my embrace and you'll forget what it means to feel safe. Care for a taste of the darker side?" Damien came near her and whispered in her ear. His voice so masculine and thick ... so cold and horrifying.

I am just here to study. That's all. She replied in a trembling voice.

"Ahhh... I love that if you will. Try not to cross our paths. And just lost yourself with that books of yours. Don't try to come in front of me to ruin my view.Hey! you wanna be safe????

Y.. Y... yes.. She replied. She was very nervous because of the closeness he made. He was almost 6'4 and she was upto his chest. His scent was intoxicating .

"You think you're safe in your little world of naivety? That's adorable. But trust me, I am the real monster and ready to sink my teeth into your dreams. And darling, you're looking like a delectable appetizer." He smirked and made a distance. She looked at him and he turned away the gaze.

"Now go and remember the rules. Don't ever try to come in our ways". Just get lost poor scholar. Lily said.

Delilah lowered her eyes. Her eyes twinkling with tears and she almost ran inside the campus.

"Is she the only one scholarship students this year?" Rob asked them.

" Yes this time she is the only one". Selena answered.

" Let's not discuss that useless girl again. She will taste her own medicine if she will try to come in our ways". Lily said.

"But I must say she had an amazing blood. I can smell it". Rob said.

" Yes it was something different". Jim replied

"The blood running in her long neck and collection of blood in her cheeks was so appealing. I just want to at least have a taste of it." Selena said

"I can smell it... Her blood will be very delicious. So intoxicating and powerful. She drew our attention because of her that precious blood. Even the smell of her blood felt like a drug"...Max replied.

"What do you say Damien? "We felt it was something full of pleasure .. Let's taste her guys".Lily asked him.

" Don't you all dare to use your cruel fangs in the university. Control yourselves. We are not vampires in the university.. remember the rule". He said fiercely.

"Yes.. yes Damien we will not. But she was something extra ordinary. It's all that we are saying". Jim replied

" Hmm.. Now get off everyone".. His voice was as cold as ice.

"Come'on guys it's time to have our history class". Max reminded.

" I will come with Damien.You all can go". Lily said and held his arm.

" Leave me alone for sometime Lily. You should join them".He said angrily.

Ok as you say. She kissed his cheek and joined them.

They all began to move towards class except Damien Xavier..... .