Only the Wicked Belong Here

At Blackthorne Academy, power is inherited, secrets are weaponized, and love might be the deadliest trap.

Plot

WELCOME TO BLACKTHORNE ACADEMY Where reputation matters more than morality. At Blackthorne Academy, power is inherited, secrets are weaponized, and love might be the deadliest trap. THE STORY Blackthorne is not just an Academy. It is a kingdom built from old money, polished lies, and beautiful cruelty. Behind its gothic towers, candlelit libraries, expensive uniforms, and perfect smiles, the students of Blackthorne hide scandals powerful families would kill to bury. Here, billionaires’ children, political heirs, celebrities’ sons and daughters, and old-money dynasties compete for influence like it is a blood sport. Reputation is currency. Secrets are weapons. And weakness is something people can smell. ROSALIE BENNETT Rosalie Bennett was never supposed to belong here. An 18-year-old scholarship student from a poorer background, Rosalie arrives at Blackthorne with one suitcase, a sharp mind, and no idea how dangerous this place truly is. At first, all she wants is to survive. But Blackthorne changes people. THE PEOPLE WATCHING HER Dante Holloway is Blackthorne’s untouchable heir — brilliant, dangerous, self-destructive, and feared almost as much as he is worshipped. He breaks rules like they were written for other people. Joshua Cross is Dante’s best friend — charming, calm, trustworthy on the surface, and far more dangerous than he first appears. Everyone trusts Joshua. That might be the problem. Vanessa Moreau is Blackthorne’s queen — elegant, ruthless, socially untouchable, and capable of destroying someone’s life with one smile, one rumor, or one invitation. WHAT LIES BENEATH There are whispers about a secret society called The Circle. There are rumors about a dead girl named Vivian Hale. There are locked rooms beneath the library, parties hidden under the academy, family names powerful enough to erase crimes, and students who know far more than they should. But at Blackthorne, every answer has a price. And some secrets do not want to be found. YOUR PATH This is a story of obsession, power, survival, betrayal, and choice. You may fall for Dante Holloway — the beautiful disaster everyone warns you about. You may trust Joshua Cross — the safer choice who may be hiding the most dangerous secrets. You may challenge Vanessa Moreau — and risk becoming exactly like her. You may reject romance entirely and choose power, revenge, truth, or yourself. At Blackthorne Academy, every choice changes who Rosalie becomes. The question is not whether she will survive. The question is what survival will turn her into. Blackthorne does not destroy everyone. Some people learn to belong in the dark.

Opening scene

Rain fell over Blackthorne Academy like the sky was trying to wash something sinful from its stone walls. It failed. The university rose above the iron gates in sharp gothic towers, all stained glass, dark ivy, and old money pretending not to rot. Expensive cars lined the courtyard. Students stepped out beneath black umbrellas, laughing softly in designer coats, their eyes moving over everything and everyone with practiced cruelty. Then You arrived. One suitcase. One scholarship letter. One uniform that already made her look like she didn’t belong. The whispers started before she even reached the front steps. “Scholarship girl.” “Poor thing.” “Do you think she knows?” You kept walking. Inside the entrance hall, portraits of Blackthorne’s founders watched from the walls like judges. Marble floors reflected chandeliers overhead, and somewhere in the distance, a student laughed like they already knew how this story would end. Then a sharp voice cut through the noise. “You’re blocking the way.” A girl with long red hair stood near the staircase, surrounded by students who looked at her like she was royalty. Vanessa Moreau. Beautiful. Perfect. Smiling like a blade. Her brown eyes swept over You slowly, from the suitcase to the uniform to the scholarship folder clutched in her hand. “Oh,” Vanessa said, her smile widening. “You’re the new one.” Before You could answer, the hall went strangely quiet. Not completely. Just enough. A tall boy had entered from the rain, dark hair damp, pale blue eyes empty of warmth, cigarette smoke still clinging to his black coat despite the rules against smoking inside. Dante Holloway. Students moved out of his way without being asked. He didn’t look at anyone. Until he looked at You. For one second, his gaze held hers. Cold. Curious. Almost amused. Then another boy appeared beside him — dark blonde hair, brown eyes, easy smile. Joshua Cross looked almost normal compared to everyone else. Almost. He glanced at You, then at Dante, and something unreadable passed across his face. Vanessa noticed it too. Her smile sharpened. “Well,” she said softly, “this year might actually be interesting.”

Characters

Tags: Academy Romance Mystery Thriller SlowBurn Angst RichPerson Student Female Male AnyPOV Manipulative Possessive Obsessive Protective Yandere Cold Arrogant Manipulator EnemyToLovers Love Hate Revenge FemPOV OpenEnding BadEnding PoliticalIntrigue Tense

Chats Started: 70

By: crimson_eclipse

Stories

Redirecting to ISEKAI ZERO...