The phone alarm blares on the small wooden table beside Lilith's bed, where she's tangled in her sheets. She slowly sits up, her fiery red hair a mess, and rubs the sleep from her eyes. She checks her phone for the time and looks around her dimly lit room. The black walls with rose paintings seem to soak up the faint morning light peeking through the blackout curtains.

As Lilith swings her legs over the side of the bed, she scratches her tousled locks and yawns. Just then, a ghostly figure phases through the wall, her translucent form glowing softly. The old woman's purple skin and matching maid's uniform are pretty trippy, but Lilith is used to it

"Hurry up, dear," the spirit says, her voice gentle but firm. "You don't want to be late." Lilith nods, recognizing the familiar voice, and slips out of bed, her sleeping gown rustling as she moves.

After a thirty-minute bath, Lilith combed her hair and slipped into a black-and-white striped, baggy long-sleeve crop top and black jeans. With her bag and phone in hand, she headed downstairs. In the dining room, she found her mother, Sombra Maldonado, serving breakfast, while her father, Lobo Maldonado, assisted. Her brother, Cuervo Maldonado, sat at the table, enjoying the meal. Lilith noticed the spirits moving around the house, a familiar sight. She took a seat next to Cuervo.

"Hey, Lilith," Cuervo said, "I just watched a movie where this girl lived with vampires but wanted to be normal, human. It made me think, why can't my sister be like that? It'd be way easier to deal with you if you were sane. Instead, I've got a sister who's just as crazy as the rest of us, maybe even crazier."

Lilith's wicked smile spread as she taunted her brother. "Looks like Mom and Dad's crumbs of attention are getting to you." Cuervo's glare intensified. "At least I haven't been kicked out of five schools. I'm the one who might actually live up to our family's legacy." Lilith nodded, her teeth sinking into her food. "Well, you're the oldest. How's spirit binding going?"

Their father materialized behind them, his voice low and urgent. "Finish up, you're running late." He leaned in, his gaze piercing. After breakfast, they headed out, Lilith adorning a golden necklace with a central red gem, while Cuervo pocketed a round golden artifact with a matching gem.

As they walked, the forest path unwound before them. They emerged on the other side, the school-bound route stretching out.

As they stepped onto the school yard, Cuervo and Lilith stood out amidst the bustling crowd. Cuervo's black sweater with a bold red cross emblazoned on the chest, paired with black joggers, exuded an edgy vibe. Lilith, meanwhile, rocked a black-and-white striped, baggy long sleeved crop top and black jeans, her black leather bag slung over her shoulder. Their grim expressions seemed to match the intensity of their outfits as they gazed at the school.

"School and prison – what's the difference?" Lilith muttered, her voice laced with disdain.

Her brother's gaze swept the surroundings before responding, his tone equally unimpressed.

As they walked inside, they parted ways, heading to their respective classrooms. The hallways buzzed with students.

As Lilith walked into homeroom, she was greeted by a familiar voice calling out, "Hey Frida!" She turned to see her friends Nick and Mira waving her over to the seat they'd saved. Nick, with his blonde hair and bright blue eyes, sported a cool blue jacket and relaxed-fit brown jeans. Mira, with her sleek black hair, wore a stylish black hoodie paired with a crisp white skirt. Lilith's face lit up with a smile as she made her way over to them, slipping into the seat between her friends. "So, how were your holidays?" Nick asked, a smile of curiosity.

Lilith scanned the ordinary classroom, her expression darkening with disapproval. "Which they were longer," she replied grimly, before dramatically collapsing onto her table. "Coming to Soulwing High School as a student is incredibly stressful and psychologically taxing," she declared.

Nick offered a gentle smile and patted her head soothingly. "You poor thing." Lilith's gaze snapped up, her tone taking on a petulant edge. "Why are you treating me like a helpless child?" But as she spoke, she leaned into his hand, her voice softening to a childlike whisper, "Though I do like the head pat."

Mira couldn't help but chuckle at the exchange. Just then, the homeroom teacher, Mr. Charles, entered the room, and the chatter ceased. The students' eyes fixed on him, sensing something off. Mr. Charles's usual warmth was absent, replaced by a grim, lifeless expression.

"Mr. Charles seems different," Mira whispered.

Lilith's response was laced with sarcasm, "You mean he isn't the happy, jolly man I hate so much?" But her attention wasn't on the conversation; her eyes were fixed on Mr. Charles's hands. The golden bracelet with a red gem, usually a staple on his wrist, was nowhere to be seen. A knowing smile spread across her face as she relaxed into her chair, her mind whirring with possibilities.

As the school day ended, Lilith gathered her belongings and bid farewell to her friends Mira and Nick, who invited her to the movies. "Sorry, I have plans," Lilith said, shouldering her bag. "Another time, no hard feelings?" Mira and Nick exchanged disappointed glances, but Nick smiled and said, "Nah, it's cool."

Outside the school, Lilith's brother Cuervo waited for her. "Ready to head home?" he asked. However, Lilith's attention was diverted by Mr. Charles, her homeroom teacher, walking out of the school building. "Actually, I'm going to hang out with some friends," she said, her eyes fixed on Mr. Charles.

Cuervo shrugged and walked away, leaving Lilith to follow Mr. Charles from a distance. Later that evening, Cuervo arrived home and found their mother watching a horror movie on the big screen TV in the parlor. "Good evening, Mother," Cuervo greeted respectfully.

His mother smiled warmly and asked, "Where's your sister?" Cuervo replied, "She's hanging out with friends," before asking about their father. "He's at an important meeting," their mother said. Cuervo nodded and headed to his room.

Meanwhile, Lilith continued to discreetly follow Mr. Charles, her mind racing with curiosity about his unusual behavior.

As darkness descended, Mr. Charles strolled down the sidewalk, unaware of the 5'6" figure trailing behind him. The follower, Lilith, maintained a safe distance, her casual gait deceiving the few passersby who didn't notice her surveillance. When Mr. Charles turned onto Budson Street, Lilith followed suit, her eyes fixed on her target.

The streets grew increasingly deserted, and Mr. Charles's next move caught Lilith off guard: he ducked into an abandoned three-story hotel. Lilith hesitated, her instincts screaming "trap." Before she could react, a black tentacle burst from the shadows, snatching her ankle and dragging her inside. The grip felt like acid, searing her skin as she was pulled into the hotel lobby and slammed to the ground.

As the tentacle released its grip, Lilith sprang to her feet, ignoring the burning pain in her ankle. Mr. Charles loomed over her, his expression grim. "Humans aren't as sneaky as they think," he remarked.

Lilith's response was laced with menace: "So, I was right. Your body's been possessed by one of your own spirits." She tilted her head, her smile unwavering.

As two black tentacles burst from Mr. Charles's back, Lilith's eyes widened in alarm. "This isn't Mr. Charles anymore," she thought, her mind racing with caution. The tentacles sprang to life, one lunging at her with deadly precision. Lilith dropped into a swift squat, narrowly avoiding the attack. Before she could react, the second tentacle charged, forcing her to roll away desperately.

The tentacles continued their relentless assault, one striking at her again. Lilith darted behind a tattered sofa, the tentacle tearing through the worn fabric mere inches from her head. She sprinted toward a nearby pillar as the second tentacle gave chase, its tip barely missing her as she dodged around the column. She leapt behind the bar counter, but the tentacle pierced through it with ease.

Undeterred, Lilith bounded up the stairs, a sly smile spreading across her face. "You gonna keep chasing me like a useless housecat that can't do its job?" she taunted. Mr. Charles's expression twisted in a scowl.

The tentacles persisted, attacking her individually as she evaded and maneuvered through the hotel. Finally, Lilith jumped down to the first floor, the tentacles straining to reach her. She flashed a triumphant smile. "Dumbass, you couldn't even tell what I was doing. I noticed you can only use your tentacles to attack one at a time. I gambled on that, and it looks like I won. You've gotten yourself tangled up in this entire hotel, and I doubt you're smart enough to untangle yourself."

The spirit controlling Mr. Charles nodded in approval. "Impressive. But you realize I still have two more tentacles at my disposal. How do you plan on dodging them without getting burned by the tangled ones?"

Lilith's smile turned unnerving. "I don't plan on fighting you alone," she said, the red gem on her golden necklace beginning to glow. "I'll be using help, and she's not exactly friendly with men." As she spoke, a towering figure materialized behind her – a massive, pale-skinned woman in a tattered wedding dress. The woman's arms crossed over her chest as Lilith smiled. "Let's get this over with."