Darkly Devoted (Book 1, 2, 3)

Darkly Beloved - Prologue

Author's Note: So, I completely rewrote this book as of December 2025. If anyone here has read both versions (the version prior to December 2025), can you tell me what do you think of the changes? The original was completely from Vivienne's POV. The rewrite was 80% from Allison's POV. Do you think it's better this way? I choose to change this book to Allison's POV because in the original Vivienne was largely just hanging out until Darkly Deceived. 


Prologue

On the day Allison Devon first became friends with Vivienne Weisse, it was not memorable. In fact, it was the most ordinary of days. It was in fifth-period science, the most ordinary of all periods of the day. It was right after lunch, so no one had any patience to pay attention to their teacher droning on about osmosis.

Allison was half asleep when she heard a stack of books slam onto the floor behind her.

Allison turned around to see a scrawny girl with messy hair glaring at Brian, the class clown.

"Y-you're a jerk," the girl muttered.

"Okay, Spooky," Brian murmured under his cupped hand. Half the class giggled along with him. Allison heard the teacher clear her throat in annoyance before leaving the room to take a call. Their teacher never cared much about keeping order.

It wasn't that Allison cared for the girl with the weird eyes. It was that she hated that Brian was high-fiving his friends like he was some smug Mr. Popular. With a flick of her wrist, Allison knocked her own pencil case to the floor.

Pens scattered everywhere. The laughter became glares. How dare Brian? Did he just attack Allison? Before Allison could react, Daniel jumped out of his chair and shoved Brian so hard that Brian and his entire chair went flying across the floor.

"Keep your hands to yourself," Daniel threatened, his face engorged with blood. Allison blocked her face in embarrassment and rolled her eyes. Oh, Daniel. He thought that just because she once shared an umbrella with him during a hailstorm, they were fated to be together for life. Daniel immediately got down on his hands and knees and began gathering up everything on the floor. Brian even scampered to his feet. He was like a kicked dog who had been reminded of his place. He even went as far as to help Daniel gather up the pens.

Both boys competed against each other to pile up all the books and pens onto Allison's desk. When Daniel slapped Brian's hand away in irritation, Brian immediately started rearranging everything as neatly as a clumsy teenage boy possibly could.

"These aren't mine," Allison pointed to the books. "Those belong to her."

Daniel looked confused for a moment and then realized his mistake. He picked up the books and placed them haphazardly by Vivienne's left foot. It was though he didn't want to venture too close to her. Vivienne jumped out of her chair and thanked him profusely for helping her gather her things.

After class, Vivienne came up to Allison's desk and hastily slipped her a pencil that had gotten wedged into one of her textbooks by accident. Allison noticed that the girl didn't even dare look her in the eyes.

"Wait," Allison said, as she grabbed Vivienne's wrist. "I think Daniel has a crush on you. Did you see what he did? For you?"

"I think he likes you," Vivienne muttered under her breath.

"No way," Allison snorted. "I'll never date anyone in Lewisville. If you want him, he's yours."

"I don't think I could —"

"No, you can," Allison insisted. "I'll help you. You would do the same for me, if you could. I know it."

Allison didn't know how exactly they became friends after that day. Being friends with Vivienne didn't benefit her in any way. If anything, Allison did it just to show off to the other girls that she wasn't afraid to befriend someone so low on the social totem pole that it would be suicide for any other girl.

As a friend, Vivienne Weisse didn't stand out in any way. She was an average student, a useless shopping buddy, and perpetually late to any party. There was, however, one quality that made her a good friend. Vivienne was always there. She never stopped seeking out Allison, even when all of Allison's other girlfriends faded into the silence and indifference.

After Allison went to Manna City, she cut communication with everyone else in Lewisville. Vivienne's letters kept appearing in her email inbox. How could anyone talk to someone who never responded for days, then months, and later years?

Vivienne could.

Allison often wondered if Vivienne would go down to the underworld, Mearnox, itself to seek her out if she died.

Vivienne wasn't Allison's best friend in Lewisville, and after Allison went to Manna City, Vivienne's friendship was like an old dress she had outgrown and couldn't possibly squeeze back into. But Vivienne Weisse's loyalty was undeniable. That was why, at the present, Vivienne had very much won the distinction of being Allison's oldest friend.  Yet the title of best friend was a title Vivienne had never inhabited, not even for a second.

It was a friendship that grew increasingly bittersweet over the years. At first, Vivienne's letters served as a comforting reminder to Allison of an old life that hadn't forgotten about her. Then, as time went on, those letters seemed to stare at her accusingly, bolded and underlined in her email box, as though Vivienne had an inkling that Allison's new closest friend and confidant was her childhood friend, Blake.