Descendants of the fallen

oster mother, moves around the kitchen with rigid, precise movements, muttering prayers under her breath. Liora watches as Diane opens a small bottle of anointing oil and drizzles it over a

s, a tall one with a smug look on his face, calls out. "Hey, Liora! What's the rush? Scared your devil friends are gonna pop out of nowhere?" The others laugh, but Liora ignores them, picking up her pace. She's used to this - the name-calling, the mocking. Her foster parents' gossip has spread like wildfire. But today, the anger rises faster. She feels her patience wearing thin, the power inside her pressing against her skin like a restless beast. She's tired of being the target. The boy doesn't let up, stepping closer. "Come on, Liora. You can't run from yourself forever." Liora stops and turns to face him, her eyes cold. "Why don't you come a little closer and find out?" She removes her gloves slowly, tucking them into her pocket. The boy hesitates for a second, unsure if she's bluffing, but his pride gets the better of him. He steps forward, a mocking grin on his face. "Yeah? What're you gonna do?" Liora doesn't say anything. She just reaches out, her movements slow and deliberate. She places her hands gently on either side of his neck, her touch soft, almost tender. At first, he laughs, but then his expression shifts. Confusion. Panic. His knees buckle, and his eyes roll back. In an instant, he collapses, unconscious, crumpling to the ground like a rag doll. The laughter of his friends dies abruptly. They stare, wide-eyed, frozen in place. Liora stands over the fallen boy, her gaze steady, her heartbeat even. "Anyone else want to test their luck with the devil?" No one moves. The boys exchange nervous glances, fear settling in their eyes. Finally, one of them mutters, "Let's go," and they back away, dragging their unconscious friend with them. They're gone. Liora watches them leave, her expression unreadable. She feels the power retreat, the surge of adrenaline fading. Her hands tremble slightly, but she puts her gloves back on, hiding her hands in her pockets, and continues walking toward school, her steps steady, her head high. When she finally approaches the school, she spots Vaxen waiting by the entrance. He's watching her, concern etched on his face. "You okay?" he asks. Liora shrugs, masking any trace of emotion. "Why wouldn't I be? I should be the one asking that question." Vaxen hesitates for a moment. "I'm fine... it was just the usual, and I needed a day off. Something freaked me out." Liora gives him a knowing look but doesn't press further. "Well, let's get to class before something else happens." As they head inside, Liora notices Vaxen seems distracted. She follows his gaze and sees Romeo standing by the lockers. Her unease grows, but she tries not to overthink it. Romeo starts walking over, a look of concern mixed with relief on his face. Liora glances at Vaxen, who is smiling. *He's smiling?* Romeo waves at Vaxen with a gesture that clearly signals he wants to have a private conversation. Liora reluctantly steps aside and watches as the two of them begin to talk, both exchanging smiles and a bit of flirtatious banter. *When did this happen?* Liora thinks, feeling a pang of confusion and frustration. The bell rings, signaling the end of the exchange. They all head to their respective classes, and Liora's thoughts are troubled as she tries to make sense of what she just witnessed. -- During lunch, Liora pulls Vaxen aside, her expression serious. "What's going on with you and Mr. Christian over