#dazzlings

Once upon a time, there lived a human in Canterlot simply named "Sunset." She was the prized pupil of the Sun Witch Celestia (aside from Celestia's adoptive daughter, Cadance) –– her "little solar flare." But Sunset desired more than status; she wanted power –– she wanted to be a Witch. For when she looked in the mirror, she no longer saw a lowly human, but the Fire Witch she was meant to be.

The more Celestia denied her desires, the stronger her animosity grew. One night, Sunset performed a dark, forbidden ritual to commune with the spirit world and grant her a Witch's body. But the ritual backfired when Celestia stormed in. In the ensuing chaos, a piece of Celestia was transferred into Sunset and three wicked spirits were released into the physical world: the Siren Sisters –– Aria, Sonata, and the most powerful, Adagio.

Despite her best efforts to contain the sirens, Celestia could not stop them from escaping to Earth where she could not reach. Distraught, betrayed, and heartbroken, Celestia banished an inconsolable Sunset to Earth. Only once she vanquishes the three spirit blights she brought upon this world will she be allowed to return home.

Rumi hadn’t slept.

Her finger hovered over the keyboard again as she reviewed the footage on repeat — three girls, gliding out of a shadowy alley like ghosts in heels. Their faces weren’t clear, but the shape of them… the presence… it struck something familiar.

She had seen those silhouettes before. Just not in the dark.

Her lips tightened.

She didn’t want to jump to conclusions. The Huntrix weren’t just performers — they were watchers, guards of the veil between worlds. Mistaking a human idol for something otherworldly could be dangerous… and humiliating.

But still.

Something about those girls didn’t sit right.

“Rumi?” Zoey's voice broke her focus, slightly muffled through the dorm’s intercom system. “You’ve been up all night again. You’ll glitch if you don’t sleep.”

“I’m fine,” Rumi replied quickly, closing the screen. “I’m coming.”

Elsewhere — The Dazzlings’ Apartment

Reader sat perched on the apartment's narrow windowsill, watching the quiet city below. It was morning now. The street hummed lazily — delivery bikes, school buses, commuters.

The hunger was gone. For now.

Sonata snored on the couch, sprawled across a nest of pillows and empty instant ramen cups. Aria, on the floor, had her back against the wall, tossing a bottle cap up and catching it with each beat of silence.

“You were staring into space again,” Aria mumbled. “Thinking about her?”

Reader didn’t answer right away.

Was she?

She thought of Rumi’s eyes again — sharp but unreadable. Like she knew something but was giving nothing away. There was a command to her presence. Something like Reader's own.

“She’s not just some pop princess,” Reader said at last. “She’s more than she lets on.”

“Yeah, no shit,” Aria said. “And we’re sitting ducks if she figures out we are too.”

Reader’s eyes narrowed.

“That’s why we don’t let her.”

Later That Day — Hongdae District

Crowds had gathered again.

The street buzzed with energy, and the air crackled with a familiar sound — music. Live, raw, and unfiltered.

People circled around the center of the plaza where five boys danced in perfect sync. Their harmony was tight, unpracticed yet intoxicating. Their vocals were rich. Their steps were magnetic.

The Saja Boys were performing again. And this time, the city was watching.

Reader stood at the back of the crowd, flanked by Sonata and Aria. None of them said a word at first.

Because the leader — Jinu — was different.

Not just charismatic. Not just beautiful.

Powerful.

Reader could feel it in the vibrations of the pavement beneath her shoes. Something in the way his voice reached out — it stirred something deeper than the hunger. Something ancient. A resonance.

And then it happened.

His eyes found hers.

And locked.

Jinu faltered for half a second — a crack in the performance so subtle no one else seemed to notice. But Reader did.

She didn’t move.

Neither did he.

It was like they had met before. Or maybe… were supposed to meet now.

Then the moment was gone.

A wave of cold and panic flashed through Reader’s body as her eyes glide down his body. The small amount of skin showing his arms and neck flashed a translucent purple before quickly fading away into the light.

Not human. But not a siren either. Reader was stumped- at a loss for what the Saja Boys were. She knew that they were to devilishly handsome to be human – especially with vocal cords as good as theirs.

The beat kicked back in.

The Saja Boys finished to thunderous cheers, vanishing just as quickly as they’d appeared.

Sonata was practically bouncing beside her. “Did anyone else feel that?! They’ve got juice. Like, seriously weird juice.”

“Not like ours,” Aria said slowly. “But close. Close enough to mess things up.”

Reader didn’t speak.

Because she was still thinking about the way Jinu looked at her. Not like he recognized her.

But like he saw through her.

The three start to walk back, mumbling theories.

Backstage at the Arena — Moments Later

They hadn’t meant to run into the Huntrix again.

But fate — or maybe something else — had other plans.

“Hey!” Zoey’s voice rang out.

Reader turned, too slow to hide her expression.

The three Dazzlings stood face-to-face with the three Huntrix girls in a narrow hallway beside a rehearsal room. No cameras. No fans. Just tension.

Zoey crossed her arms with a smile. “We were just talking about you.”

“That’s always a flattering thing to hear,” Reader said coolly, flipping her hair over her shoulder.

Mira narrowed her eyes. “Funny how we keep running into each other, huh?”

Rumi stepped forward, composed but unreadable. “What were you doing in Hongdae earlier?”

“Watching,” Reader replied simply. “Same as everyone else.”

“You seemed… very interested,” Rumi said, carefully.

Reader gave the smallest of smirks. “Can you blame me?”

The tension was palpable. Like a thread pulled tight.

Then Zoey laughed suddenly and stepped in. “You girls are… different. Kind of like us, honestly.”

Mira elbowed her. “Not like us.”

“Oh, come on,” Zoey laughed. “Let’s not be so dramatic. It’s not like they’re magical creatures trying to steal our spotlight or anything, right?”

Reader smiled.

So did Aria.

And Sonata let out a too-loud laugh that was just shy of convincing.

“No,” Reader said, voice even. “Definitely not.”

The two groups stood in silence for a moment longer.

And then Rumi turned on her heel. “We’ll see you around.”

The Huntrix walked away.

And the Dazzlings exhaled all at once.

“Okay,” Sonata whispered. “I think she totally suspects us.”

“They all suspect us,” Aria muttered.

Reader just watched Rumi disappear down the hall.

And felt the weight of two glances on her.

Rumi’s earlier.

And Jinu’s still lingering.

This wasn’t going to be easy.

But it was far from over.

__

The rehearsal center buzzed with nerves. Bootcamp week had always been brutal, but this time it was televised elimination. And something felt off — like the air had teeth.

Twelve trainee groups were crammed together in the same mirrored building, each desperately clawing for a spot in the final showcase. It wasn’t just about debuting anymore. It was about surviving.

An idol bootcamp elimination. One of the last chances to impress the industry’s talent scouts and major label execs in a public broadcast. Only five groups would move forward.

And the Dazzlings?

They were eating this up — literally.

Reader stood by the wall, her arms crossed, letting the noise and heat of the room wash over her. The hallway outside the main stage was lined with nervous trainees pacing, rehearsing lines, adjusting makeup, fighting not to break down.

Reader’s eyes scanned them with a slow hunger.

Emotions were pouring off these kids like rainfall. Insecurity. Rage. Doubt. Fear. Just waiting to be siphoned.

Behind her, Sonata hummed. “This place is like a five-star buffet.”

Aria cracked her knuckles. “I could feed here for days.”

Reader didn’t smile. But her eyes flicked with faint amusement. “Focus.”

A girl stormed past them, makeup smudged, sniffling violently as she yanked out her in-ears and threw them at the floor. Another group huddled in a corner — two of them mid-argument, one trying to break it up.

Tension was ripe.

And then the door creaked open. A staff member stepped out, clutching a clipboard like a lifeline.

“Next group: The Dazzlings.”

It was colder inside the stage room.

Rows of judges. Idol coaches. Cameras. Trainees sitting in bleachers like an audience of prey watching their predators decide who would get eaten next.

Reader led the trio up the small riser, her boots echoing confidently across the floor.

They stood in a triangle — subtle, but sharp. Practiced. Deliberate.

A female judge leaned forward, pen ready. “Song title?”

Reader held the mic. “Battle of the Bands.”

A murmur ran through the other trainees. It wasn’t a song anyone recognized. Which meant either it was original — or they were insane.

The music began.

Low. Throbbing. Dangerous.

It wasn’t K-pop, not really. It had some of the polish — but the undertone felt darker. Rawer. Like something that didn’t belong on this stage, or maybe anywhere.

Reader started.

Sonata’s harmonies curled in like silk and poison. Aria’s voice was sharp — cutting into the air like a slap. They layered their vocals, wrapped them in an irresistible cadence, and slowly wove tension into the room like a spell.

And the spell worked.

The trainees watching started to shift. Small things. A glance. A side-eye. A foot tapping too fast. The girl in the back row narrowed her eyes at a teammate. One boy whispered something to his group, and one of them turned red.

Reader could feel it.

The unease.

The dark pulse.

The feeding.

Magic slithered through the air like a breeze — invisible to human eyes, but undeniable. They weren’t casting spells. They weren’t flashing lights or floating. This wasn’t magic like movies.

This was ancient.

Instinctual.

They were siphoning the raw, unspoken negativity in the room — the jealousy, the fear, the desperation — and turning it into energy. Into power.

And they didn’t have to lift a finger.

The performance soared to its peak — a sharp, powerful trio crescendo that made the room shake.

A girl gasped in the back. Another shoved her groupmate, whispering something too loudly. Whoever in the audience who managed to not start arguing and fighting with their teammates and friends were left sobbing in the corner.

One of the judges blinked and quickly scribbled something down. The idol coach beside her leaned over to whisper in her ear.

They didn’t know what they were witnessing.

But they knew they were witnessing something.

Backstage, Minutes Later

The hallway was even more chaotic now.

Groups full on arguing in the corners. Some were crying. One was already packing up their bags — they knew they’d be cut. Staff members ran around with clipboards and stage gear.

Reader leaned against a wall, arms folded again, watching it all with unreadable calm.

Aria’s smirk had never left her face. “You felt that, right?”

Sonata twirled a strand of her hair, grinning. “It was delicious.”

She felt good. Full. Stronger than they had been in weeks.

But as her gaze drifted to the far end of the hallway—

They weren’t alone.

Standing a few feet away, barely visible through the clusters of people — were three girls. Silent. Still.

Watching.

Huntrix.

Mira, eyes flickering between the Dazzlings and quiet scowl, was leaning against the wall with her arms crossed. Zoey, smaller, with messy buns and warm eyes, looked confused. Her brows were furrowed, lips parted slightly — as if about to say something.

And in the center… Rumi.

Expression unreadable.

Her dark eyes held Reader’s with an unsettling calm. Not fear. Not suspicion.

Observation.

Reader didn’t break the gaze.

But her heart did thump, once, in her chest.

It wasn’t attraction. Not really. It wasn’t even a spark. It was something colder. Sharper.

Recognition.

Like two apex predators clocking each other across a clearing. One smiling. The other still.

Mira leaned in, whispering something to Rumi.

Zoey’s eyes flicked between them all nervously, like she was the only one unsure about the tension she could feel in the air but couldn’t name.

Eventually, Huntrix turned and left.

But not before Rumi gave Reader a small, polite nod.

One that said:

“I saw you.”

And Reader knew then — the chaos had fed them well.

But it had also drawn attention.

Later that evening, the energy at the bootcamp facility had shifted.

After the performance evaluations, most of the trainee groups were told to rest or review their critiques, but the mood was far from restful. Word had spread about the Dazzlings’ performance like wildfire, despite it not being televised yet.

No one could explain why it rattled them. No one wanted to.

But still — arguments kept flaring. People who were friends hours ago barely spoke. Coaches were alarmed at the sudden shift in group dynamics. Even staff started muttering about “some weird vibe in the air.”

And through it all, the Dazzlings wandered the halls like sharks after a feeding frenzy. Full, yes — but hungrier now than before.

Reader had separated from the others, finding herself in one of the dance studios that had gone dark for the night. Only the glow from the windows lit the space. Her reflection stared back at her from the mirror wall — calm, self-assured, but with that haunting glint in her eye. A glint she hadn’t seen in a while.

The magic had settled in her chest like a sun.

She could feel every single drop of energy they’d absorbed pulsing through her bloodstream. They were getting stronger. Not just in spirit — but physically. Her voice was more controlled. Her movements tighter. Even her senses were sharper.

It felt good.

Too good.

Until the door creaked open.

Footsteps padded in soft across the hardwood. Reader didn’t need to look to know who it was.

“Hey,” said a voice, casual but cautious.

Zoey.

The nice one.

Reader turned slowly, hiding her surprise behind a small, almost lazy smile.

Zoey stood there in a black hoodie, her curls pulled back, no makeup, holding a water bottle like a peace offering.

“Didn’t mean to interrupt your brooding moment,” Zoey added, her voice warm with a tinge of sarcasm.

Reader gave a light chuckle. “You didn’t.”

They stared at each other for a beat. The quiet was comfortable, but something simmered beneath it.

“You guys were... intense today,” Zoey said finally.

Reader raised an eyebrow. “That a compliment?”

“It’s something.”

Zoey looked like she was choosing her words carefully, but not in a manipulative way. Like she genuinely didn’t know whether she was concerned or intrigued.

“That song you did — Battle of the Bands?” Zoey asked, chewing on the inside of her cheek. “Was it original?”

“More or less.”

“Felt... I dunno. Weird. Not in a bad way. Just... different.”

There was something behind her eyes. A flicker of suspicion, sure. But also confusion. Like she didn’t want to assume the worst — but couldn’t shake the feeling that something about the Dazzlings wasn’t quite right.

“Different gets remembered,” Reader replied smoothly.

Zoey smiled faintly. “That it does.”

She didn’t ask anything else, and Reader didn’t offer.

The moment passed — light, but not meaningless — and Zoey gave a small wave before heading out.

But Reader knew: if Zoey was the one checking in casually, it meant Rumi and Mira were probably watching in the shadows. They weren’t stupid.

They felt the magic. Even if they didn’t know what it was.

Elsewhere in the Bootcamp Facility

Rumi stood with her arms crossed on the rooftop, wind brushing past her hair, Mira beside her.

“They’re not human,” Mira said quietly.

Rumi didn’t respond right away.

She had been watching the Dazzlings from the beginning — but today confirmed it. That wasn’t just a strong performance. Something shifted in the air when they sang. Something dark. Something primal.

“We can’t take demon out of the picture yet,” Mira continued. “We may have just not seen any patterns yet.”

Zoey nods in agreement.

“No, not demons.” Rumi adds. “I’ve seen Reader’s arms and stomach from when she was training for some choreography. There was nothing, I made sure of it.”

Zoey wiggles her eyebrows. “Oh?”

“And the song,” Rumi murmured, staying on topic. “It wasn’t just lyrics. It did something to the room.”

Silence.

Then Mira turned to her. “You think they’re like us?”

Rumi stared out over the glittering skyline, deep in thought. Her voice, when it came, was low.

“I think we need to find out.”

next chapter

it's currently 12:45 am as i am posting this and i have work in the morning. also 3rd update td cuz im js crazy like that.

also if yall dont tell me who u want reader to end up with im js gonna start killing off everyone lol

ya girls broke and living off of monster energy so anything helps- Buy me a coffee <3

tag list is open