I stumbled through the Academy's halls with Aria, my head still buzzing from the club's atmosphere. The clicking of our heels echoed off the stone walls.

"You're such a prude," Aria pouted, her violet eyes gleaming with mischief. "That orgy would've been amazing. Did you see how many hot demons were there?"

"I told you that you could go without me." I brushed back my white hair, trying not to think about the writhing mass of bodies I'd glimpsed before dragging Aria away.

"And leave my best friend alone? What kind of succubus would I be?" She bumped her arm against mine. "A terrible one, that's what."

I let out a long sigh. The halls were mostly empty at this hour, with only the occasional student hurrying past.

"Well, well. If it isn't my favourite classmates."

We both froze at the familiar voice. Valentina stepped out from behind a column, her blonde hair perfect as always.

"What do you want?" Aria's voice turned cold.

Valentina held up her hands. "Peace, actually. I've been thinking about our... disagreements. I'd like to make amends."

I raised an eyebrow. "Really?"

"Yes. Would you both join me for tea in the gardens tomorrow?" Her red eyes seemed sincere, but something felt off.

I glanced at Aria, who looked as sceptical as I felt. After a moment's hesitation, I nodded. "Alright."

"Wonderful." Valentina's smile was dazzling. "I'll see you both after classes." She turned and walked away, her hips swaying.

When we finally reached our room, Aria flopped onto her bed. "There's no way she's sincere."

"Of course not." I sat on my own bed. "Question is, what's she planning?"

"Could be poison," Aria mused, rolling onto her stomach. "Or she'll try to humiliate us somehow."

"We should be careful." I kicked off my shoes. "Very careful."

I paced our dorm room, my tail swishing back and forth with nervous energy. Classes had finished, and Valentina's "tea invitation" loomed ahead.

"We could just not go," I suggested, watching Aria fix her makeup in the mirror.

"And let her think we're scared?" Aria's violet eyes met mine in the reflection. "She'd never let us live it down."

"Better than walking into whatever she's planning." I stopped pacing and crossed my arms. "You said it yourself - it could be poison."

Aria turned around, leaning against the dresser. "Please, she's not that stupid. Poisoning other students would get her expelled faster than you can say 'succubus.' No, she's planning something else."

"Like what?"

"Probably trying to embarrass us. Or maybe she invited some of her pureblood friends to mock us." Aria shrugged. "But if we don't show up, she wins."

I knew she had a point. Running away would only make things worse. "Fine. But we leave at the first sign of trouble."

"Deal." Aria grinned. "Besides, there's two of us and one of her. What's the worst that could happen?"

"Don't say that," I groaned. "That's exactly what people say before everything goes wrong."

"Now you're just being paranoid." Aria grabbed my arm. "Come on, let's get this over with. But first..." She reached into her drawer and pulled out a small vial. "Antidote. Just in case."

I took the vial, tucking it into my uniform pocket. "Where did you even get this?"

"Let's just say I've dealt with nasty purebloods before." She winked. "Ready?"

I nodded, squaring my shoulders. "Ready. But remember - first sign of trouble..."

"We're out of there," Aria finished. "Now let's go see what our favourite pureblood has planned for us."

I followed Aria through the Academy gardens, my nerves on edge. The usual bustle of students was notably absent, leaving only the gentle rustling of hellfire flowers in their eternal dance.

"This is weird," I muttered, scanning the eerily empty paths.

In the garden's centre stood an ornate table with three delicate chairs. Valentina sat there like a queen holding court, surrounded by five other succubi. Her red eyes lit up when she spotted us, her lips curling into something that wasn't quite a smile.

Aria leaned close to me. "I really don't like this."

"Me neither." I turned to leave. "Let's go."

We spun around only to find our path blocked by another group of students. My heart sank as I realized we were surrounded.

"Leaving so soon?" Valentina's voice dripped with false sweetness. "I'm afraid it's too late for that."

Everything happened at once. Two succubi grabbed Aria while four others seized me. Despite their numbers, they struggled to hold me down. My newfound strength surprised even me as I nearly broke free several times before they finally managed to restrain me.

Stolen from its rightful place, this narrative is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

"You brought this on yourselves," Valentina stood, circling us like a predator. "If you'd just learned your proper place, this could have been so much easier."

"The Academy won't stand for this," I spat, still straining against my captors.

Valentina laughed, the sound like breaking glass. "Oh please. I'm a pureblood. The worst I'll get is a slap on the wrist. Besides..." She paused for dramatic effect. "You're going to do everything yourselves."

"What are you talking about?" Aria demanded.

"See that plant there?" Valentina pointed to a twisted vine bearing luminescent purple flowers. "Its nectar is quite special. In the right dose, it can turn a succubus completely feral for hours." She ran a finger down my cheek. "These tragic accidents happen from time to time, unaware succubi wandering into the wrong part of the garden..."

My blood ran cold as I realized her plan.

"You'll both beg me for release in front of everyone," she purred. "It'll be the perfect payback for my humiliation."

One of her followers plucked a flower and approached with the glowing nectar. I struggled harder, but couldn't break free. Just as they were about to force the nectar down my throat, a familiar voice cut through the garden.

"What exactly is going on here?"

Professor Moira stood at the garden entrance, her eyes blazing with controlled fury.

The succubi holding us froze. Even Valentina looked shaken for a moment before recovering her composure.

"Professor! We were just having tea-"

"Save it." Moira's voice could have frozen hellfire. "Release them. Now."

The grip on my arms vanished instantly. I stumbled forward, catching my balance while Aria rubbed her wrists beside me.

"Everyone except Miss Morgenstern, Miss Nightstar, and Miss Ariasielle - leave. Now." Moira's command sent the other succubi scattering like roaches in daylight.

Valentina's perfect mask cracked as she realized she was alone. For the first time since I'd met her, real fear flickered across her face.

"Professor, I can explain-"

"Oh, you'll explain alright." Moira's smile was razor-sharp. "In detail. To the Headmistress."

I sat stiffly in the ornate chair before Headmistress Valencia's massive desk, Aria to my right and Valentina to my left. The tension in the room was thick enough to cut with a knife.

"Let me get this straight," Valencia's voice remained eerily calm as she steepled her fingers. "You attempted to drug two of your fellow students with feral-inducing nectar?"

"They deserved it!" Valentina burst out. "That commoner dared to embarrass me in front of-"

"Silence." The single word cracked like a whip. Valencia's eyes blazed with barely contained fury. "You endangered other students. In my Academy."

"But I'm a pureblood! You can't-"

"I can and I will." Valencia rose from her seat, her presence filling the room. "This may be Hell, Miss Morgenstern, but in my Academy, we have rules. Standards. And you have violated them spectacularly."

Valentina's face twisted in outrage. "My family will hear about this!"

"By all means, tell them." Valencia's smile was glacial. "Tell them how you failed to properly subjugate two 'lesser' succubi and got caught in the process. I'm sure they'll be thrilled."

That shut Valentina up. Her face went pale as the implications sank in.

"As punishment, you will assist the cleaning staff for the next month. Manual labour, no magic."

"What?" Valentina shrieked, jumping to her feet. "You can't make me work with slaves! I'm a pureblood! This is beneath me!"

"Would you prefer suspension?" Valencia's voice dropped dangerously low. "Because I assure you, that can be arranged. And I don't care if you're Lilith's daughter herself - in these halls, you will follow my rules or you will leave. Your choice."

Valentina collapsed back into her chair, seething with impotent rage.

"Ladies," Valencia turned to Aria and me, her expression softening slightly. "I apologize for this incident. You may go. Miss Morgenstern and I need to have a longer discussion about proper behaviour."

We didn't need to be told twice. Aria and I practically bolted for the door, Valentina's furious glare burning into our backs.

"That was intense," Aria whispered once we were in the hallway.

Before I could respond, Moira appeared beside us. "Miss Nightstar, a word please?"

Aria squeezed my hand before heading off, leaving me alone with Moira. She led me to an empty classroom, closing the door behind us.

"You need to be more careful," she said without preamble. "Your mother would skin me alive if anything happened to you."

I shifted uncomfortably. "It wasn't that dangerous-"

"Wasn't it?" Moira arched an eyebrow. "Do you know what that nectar does to Lilim?"

"I... no?"

"It doesn't make them feral. Instead, it amplifies their dominant nature. Their need to control, to subjugate." She fixed me with a stern look. "You would have dominated everyone in that garden, including your friend Aria. Your true nature would have been exposed to the entire school."

My stomach dropped as I processed this information. "Oh."

"Yes, 'oh.' You're not just any succubus, Lily. You're not even just any pureblood. You're a Lilim, daughter of Lilith and Lucifer themselves. Your powers are far beyond what anyone here could imagine."

"I didn't know," I said weakly.

"Which is why you need to be more vigilant. More careful." Moira's expression softened. "I promised your mother I'd keep you safe, but I can't do that if you walk into obvious traps."

"I understand." And I did. The thought of losing control, of exposing myself made me feel sick. "It won't happen again."

"See that it doesn't." Moira opened the door. "Now go. Your friend is probably worried."

I nodded and left, my mind spinning with this new information. Another reminder of how little I truly knew about this body I inhabited, and how dangerous that ignorance could be.

I followed Aria back to our dorm room, my mind still reeling from the day's events. As soon as the door closed behind us, she flopped onto her bed with a dramatic sigh.

"I just can't believe it," Aria stared at the ceiling. "I mean, I knew Valentina was awful, but trying to drug us? That's low even for Hell's standards."

"Yeah." I sat on the edge of my bed, watching Bellas fold some clothes in the corner. The elf's presence was a constant reminder of Hell's true nature.

Aria rolled onto her side, propping her head up. "You know what's really messed up? If we weren't at the Academy, she probably would have gotten away with it." She shuddered. "Headmistress Valencia is the only reason purebloods like her can't just do whatever they want here."

The truth in her words hit home. Valencia's office had been a brief glimpse of order in a realm of chaos. "Outside these walls, Hell is still Hell," I muttered.

"Exactly." Aria sat up, running fingers through her black hair. "Ugh, this whole thing has killed my mood. I don't even feel like playing with Bellas tonight." She glanced at our slave apologetically. "No offense, sweetie."

"None taken, Mistress," Bellas replied softly.

Aria stretched, her wings unfurling slightly. "Though I wouldn't say no to a nice warm bath with you, Lily. Help wash away this awful day?"

I considered the offer. After everything that happened, some relaxation did sound appealing. "That actually sounds perfect."

"Great!" Aria bounced up, her usual energy returning. "Bellas, be a dear and draw us a bath?"

"Of course, Mistress." The elf headed to the bathroom, and soon we heard water running.

"You know," Aria said as we gathered our bath supplies, "I'm really glad you're my roommate, Lily. Most other succubi would have thrown me under the bus the moment Valentina showed interest in them."

Her sincerity caught me off guard. "I wouldn't do that to you."

She smiled, genuine warmth in her purple eyes. "I know. That's what makes you special."

The bathroom was filled with steam when we entered, the large black marble tub already full of perfectly heated water. I tried not to think about how natural it felt now to undress in front of others as we slipped into the bath.

The warm water was exactly what we needed, washing away the tension of the day. We settled in, Aria's wing occasionally brushing against my arm as we found comfortable positions.

"Tomorrow will be better," Aria said softly. "At least Valentina will be too busy scrubbing floors to bother us."

I smiled at that mental image. "Small victories."