Chapter 1: Janette.

"The world is a dark place for shifters."

"Hunted, scorned, and driven to the brink of extinction, we look for ways to survive but find our choices narrowed to one or none. 

It's a dark world for creatures like us, yet we find hope in the legacy we hold. That one day we shall be as Selene was to Lysander, a ray of shining hope in the dark forest, the silver light of change on a chilly night, and the sweet sadness of discovery in the morning light. We cast our souls up in righteous prayer, our howls a chant to the moon and the crack-crack of our bones the only accompaniment fit to carry on such a solemn affair."

The class is silent at the sound of my voice.

"We are monsters, but yet we are kinder than most. We are demons, but we love and hold the hearts of angels in ours. It's a dark world for those like us..... but only if you do not see the light."

I finish reading and take advantage of the pin-drop silence that has gripped the class to sneak a peek at the cover of the book.

Cast our souls up in righteous prayer, what the actual fuck?

Before I can even turn to the front page, the book is snatched from my hands and the sound of someone clearing their throat brings me back to my pitiful reality.

Fredrick is looking at me with scorn through his glasses and I lower my gaze so our eyes do not meet. I'm standing in front of his class, in front of his students, and reading for him, someone I hate with my soul.

He looks at me for a minute or two before he averts his gaze again and turns to face the class. When he speaks, his voice is slightly raspy.

"That was a beautiful reading delivered by an ugly Jane" he pauses, glances at me, and then turns back to the class, "If anything it goes to show nothing is impossible in this wide world."

I hear a few snickers and chuckles, but that's about it. Relief washes through me with the force of a flowing stream. 

My next idea is to go back to my seat but Fredrick's voice stops me.

"Who asked you to leave, Jane?"

I turn back, surprised and annoyed at the same time.

"My name is Janette, sir, not Jane. My sister is Jane."

He smirks at me, mousy brown hair falling gracefully around his shoulders and framing his face.

Almost like he reads my mind, a cruel smile flashes past his lips and I know I'm in for it.

"Today class, instead of analyzing what has just been read, I'd like us to do something else. Jane will help as a case study."

I let out a breath of relief, thinking he's indeed talking about my sister and take the first step towards my seat but I'm hit at the back of the head with something hard. I don't have to look to know it's the spine of the book I was reading a few minutes ago.

"I said you're going to be a case study. Are you deaf?" I don't get the chance to answer before he continues "Go stand on the podium, where EVERYONE can see you."

My stomach develops a deep pit as I hear those words, and I bite down my resentment.

I need to pass this class. 

It's just one more term of being picked on and humiliated, six to twelve weeks of feeling like shit. It's nothing I can't handle.

I take the three steps that lead to the top of the podium and I stare back at the class with all the defiance I can muster.

I almost chuckle when I see what has been added to the walls. It must have been done over the break, and to be honest, it's brilliant, but right now it's showing me something I've seen a good number of times.

The walls at the back of the class have been fitted with special reflective panels. I know they're special because I scouted the class early this morning for a seat, and I did not notice them. I can see what all the students are doing behind their textbooks.

Most of them are on their phones. Jane's dark mane is resting on the shoulder of some guy watching porn. Her eyes catch mine and she smiles, snuggling closer to him, I snicker inwardly and look away. 

Like I'd want someone without shame or dignity.

"Keep your head up Jane."

Fredrick clears his throat again, tears his eyes off my sister, and turns to face me. He stares at me strangely before he walks over, his voice ringing out as he asks a question.

"What makes a good actress?"

My legs weaken for the barest moment and he smiles at me. Hands go up in the air and soon answers are rolling in.

"Yes, Levine."

Levine giggles dramatically before standing up.

"Some would argue that connections and personal favors come in handy but that does not make one a good actress. It's talent, dedication, enough opportunities, and adequate time spent honing one's skill."

Fredrick nods and looks around.

"Excellent, anyone else?"

All hands are down now, they don't feel the need to answer anymore. 

Me though? 

I'm a magician, because I know what he will do next. Almost on cue, Professor Fredrick turns to me.

"Going for fifty percent of your grade Jane, tell me what makes a good actress. Remember I have specified the female counterpart of the actor, so please, go on, to the best of your knowledge.."

I gulp subtly and in a nostalgic flash, it's that summer all over again. 

Me in the woods, a book in one hand, my bag in the other, my feet pounding a patch of grass tirelessly as I speak, and read, and become the character whose lines I am saying. 

I scream when they scream, I cry when they cry, I feel when they feel.

I am the character and the character is me. I am passion.

Acting to me is intimate.

"Being a good actress is all about passion." I try to clear my throat to speak better but it does nothing to help "It takes passion to ever be good at anything. What you have the passion for, you do not falter in until you excel at it."

Fredrick snaps his fingers and chuckles to the rest of the class.

"You're right, but you're forgetting something, Janette."

I feel a pit open up in my stomach because he's called me by my name. This next part is going to hurt. 

Someone's golden-flecked eyes catch mine for a moment but I barely notice it.

Fredrick says the words that break me the next.

"What makes anyone truly great is how successful they are. There is a way we can gauge success, and believe me when I say with your set of looks Janette, no one's ever going to give you any major roles. You'll be stuck as an extra for the rest of your life."

Tears prick my eyes and a lump forms at the back of my throat. I glance down.

"Keep your head up"

I do and look at the paneled walls again. 

I see myself.

Plain Janette.

Ugly Janette.

So not going to cry in front of the class Janette.

"Drop out of my class Janette. Your looks disqualify you enough as it is. I hate a waste of space as much as the next person."

 ***

"Tell me he did not just do that to you?"

Cara's voice is cracking and the look on her face is angry. 

"And tell me I did not just watch him do that to you?"

She's almost crying and that just makes me burst out into tears myself. My best friend wraps her arms around me and she grants me access to her shoulder so I can cry into it. My eyes burn and the back of my throat is raw. Humiliation is always a bitter pill to swallow and the aftertaste just makes me cry even more.

I know it's childish, crying into your best friend's shoulder in the middle of the noisy hallway. Cara pats my hair down with her hand and I can almost feel her boiling with rage.

"Don't listen to him Janette, okay? I don't want you to ever listen to any of the bullshit that comes out of that fool's mouth."

The vehemence in her voice makes me chuckle through my tears and soon my sorrowful feelings are receding. I sniffle and squeeze the last tear drops out of my eyes. 

"I know Cara. I know."

I step back from her embrace and she frowns almost immediately. We break out into a flurry of giggles the next moment and soon we're laughing uncontrollably. Everyone in the hallway is looking at us like we're crazy, but again, it's nothing new so we don't really care.

I'm plain Jane and she's screw loose Cara, there was never a more perfect match.

"But seriously though, I'm being real about this. The next time that fucker calls you out so he can humiliate you, I'm stealing one of the hockey bats and breaking every reflective surface on his car."

I facepalm myself and adjust my glasses.

"Don't do that Cara, please. You'll get expelled."

 She shrugs, like getting expelled isn't the worst thing that could happen to her.

"I'm already failing most of my classes. What's so bad about having some fun before I do something very similar to dropping out?"

I want to facepalm myself again but Fredrick comes out of the classroom just opposite us with a sneer on his face. He's Professor Fredrick to others, but since he's such a bitch, he's Fredrick to me. Cara just calls him scum.

He walks over to us.

"Cara Bania, is it?"

Cara turns at the mention of her name and I want to slap my hand over her mouth right now but it's too late.

"That's me. What can I do for you?"

Fredrick sneers like he's revolted at the sight of her, but I can tell he's entranced all the same. He has the eye equivalent of a sweet tooth, he likes seeing pretty things.

"Come with me to my office Cara."

She scoffs.

"Why?"

Fredrick blinks, like he just heard her single-word response wrong and the thought of why he's a professor comes running across my mind again. He's barely thirty, just one year short of it, and yet he's already a professor teaching at a well-off Art school. 

"I don't have to provide you with an answer, Miss Bania.."

"And I don't have to adhere to your instructions Mr. Fred." He hates it when people call him Mr Fred "Threaten me with expulsion if you must, it seems you get off from making a fool of yourself all the time."

Fredrick turns a bright shade of red.

"What did you just say?"

Cara smiles and takes a few steps back, stopping just beside me and slinging her arm around my shoulder.

'"I said me and Janette have something to do in the girl's bathroom, I get off from pinching her nipples all the time."

This should be my cue to get redder than a ripe tomato but I don't and I'm not surprised.

Fredrick is silent and short of words. My best friend gives him a conspiratorial wink.

"Be seeing you later, Fred."

I am practically dragged by this maniac because she knows I would have tried to apologize. A few minutes later we stop in front of the entrance to my next class and she blows me a kiss as she runs off.

My nipples will become the next running joke, but at least that'll mean they're admitting I have any. I don't even have the time to think of how twisted that is, I just walk in, pull out my textbook, and I start flipping the pages.

Cranduke Academy of Art functions like clockwork, the next teacher will be in here not a second later than he is supposed to be. 

Mr Barbell walks in and with him is the next batch of students from which he will be deducting a few marks from their overall grade, in other words, latecomers.

"As usual, only Janette is early."

Mr. Barbell has to be my favorite teacher. He gives me a soft smile as he passes. I smile back.

"Page 367. I want a full essay on whatever it is you're seeing there, and you might be compelled to ask, what exactly am I seeing? Well, that's for you to decide."

Mr. Barbell turns to back the class and that's the moment my whole world stops.

In my field of vision is the most handsome man I have ever seen. My heart is pounding, my pulse is racing, and I can feel my throat going dry almost immediately.

I would know that face anywhere.

Holy fuck.

"I'm sorry to interrupt the class, but I'm looking for a girl named Jane? Someone named Cara should be pinching her nipples right about now."

My brain refuses to interpret those words properly but when it does, I wish the ground will open up and swallow me whole.

This man isn't just any man. He's billionaire business tycoon and madly talented veteran actor, Ayden Bravlov.

And he's looking for me?