Elysium: Desired by the Cold-hearted Princess [GL]
Chapter 89 89: Switched

Electra's Pov

I rolled my eyes as Ashleigh, Jolene, and Liana gathered around my bed like I was some kind of rare animal they'd discovered at a zoo.

Their overly chipper introductions grated on my nerves, each word dragging through my patience like nails on a chalkboard.

It was almost laughable, though, because just a few days ago, I'd been this close to sending Liana to an early grave, and now here they were, buzzing around me like I was a shiny new toy.

"I'm Ashleigh!" chirped the little blonde in her typically overly styled hair, and her always annoying voice.

"Jolene," the brunette followed, her tone softer but just as irritating.

"And I'm Liana," added my last victim with a smile that tried too hard to be sweet, even though her predatory glint was impossible to miss.

I didn't respond. Why should I? My silence was louder than anything I could say. My gaze flicked between them, a clear way to let them know that I was measuring them, judging them—and finding them irritating.

Even now, as Electra Hook—a name that made my skin crawl—I still carried the presence of Electra Vale. I wasn't just anyone; I never had been, and the way they looked at me, their awe barely concealed behind their curiosity, made it clear my demeanor hadn't lost its edge.

My good looks, and my intimidating aura still held power, even here, and even like this.

They kept chattering, probably thinking they were being charming, talking about how "cool" I seemed. I felt my patience snap, and without a word, I pushed off the bed, brushing past them with an expression that screamed indifference.

I didn't look back. They didn't deserve it.

The bathroom wasn't much to look at. Small, unimpressive, with the faint scent of tacky soap clinging to the air. I turned on the tap, letting the cold water flow over my hands before splashing it on my face. I needed to focus. To calm down.

How had it come to this?

I looked up, meeting my reflection in the mirror. My face was still mine—sharp cheekbones, striking eyes, lips that could curl into a smile or a snarl—but something was off. My eyes looked haunted, there was a foreign tightness in my jaw, and my skin was just a shade too pale. It was as if this nightmare of a life was already starting to seep into me.

"Electra Hook," I muttered under my breath, the name tasting like ash on my tongue.

I'd been Electra Vale. The princess. The untouchable. Now? I was no one. A nobody shoved into a life that didn't belong to me. A life beneath me.

Beneath me.

The thought burned. Living like this—living as Seraphina—was a nightmare I needed to wake up from. The girl I had once toyed with now defined my reality, and I hated her all the more for it.

"I won't last a week like this," I said, my voice low, gripping the edges of the sink so hard my knuckles turned white.

The sound of the other girl's voice drifted through the bathroom door, as well as their giggles and whispers that I didn't need to hear to know what they were saying. They were probably laughing, and speculating about me, turning me into some kind of hot topic for their amusement.

I closed my eyes, letting out a sharp breath before splashing my face again. No. This wasn't me. This wasn't my life. I wouldn't accept this. I wouldn't allow this insult to go unanswered.

This sudden change wasn't just an inconvenience, it was a humiliation, and I wasn't about to stand for it.

Suddenly, a thought struck me, freezing my breath in my lungs. If I was now Electra Hook, living Seraphina's life as the new Aldorian girl in Elysium, then someone else must be living my life as Electra Vale.

I gasped, gripping the edge of the sink even tighter, and my mind raced to piece things together. It made sense—too much sense. If I was stuck in Seraphina's shoes, then Seraphina might be in mine.

Seraphina Vale.

The thought both enraged and terrified me. How dare she? Whether it was her fault or not, the idea of her wearing my crown, walking through my halls, and holding my power—it was unthinkable. Unforgivable.

Without thinking, I spun around and rushed out of the bathroom, not even bothering to grab a towel to dry my face.

I had to confirm it.

If she was living my life, I needed to see it with my own eyes.

The halls were blurry as I made my way to the wing where my old room was located. If Seraphina really was playing princess, I'd find her there. But what would I find? Could she really be there?

My thoughts were so consumed by what I was going to find that I didn't even notice the figure approaching me from the opposite direction. Before I could react, I collided head-on with someone, the impact sending both of us sprawling to the floor.

Pain shot through my skull as it connected with the cold floor, and I groaned, rubbing the back of my head.

"Damn it," I muttered, blinking rapidly to clear my vision, and across from me, the other person was doing the same.

"Watch where you're going!" I snapped, my irritation spilling over, but when my eyes fully adjusted, my words died in my throat.

There she was.

Seraphina's face—a familiar, at the same time, unfamiliar face—stared back at me.

But it wasn't just her face. Everything about her screamed power, and authority in a way it never used to. She was different, her hair, the look on her face, and her aura as well.

The aura she carried was unmistakably mine, and staring directly at her felt like I was staring into a mirror. My mind reeled as I tried to process what I was seeing.

"What the hell," I blurted out, unable to stop the words from escaping me .

Seraphina—or whoever she was now—froze for a moment, her eyes narrowing as she quickly composed herself. She sat up gracefully, brushing imaginary dust from her uniform.

"Watch where you're going, kid," she said coldly, and without saying anything else, she stood up and attempted to walk away.