Chương 47: Vol. 2 - That Night

KAORI NIGHTFALL'S POV: He crawled closer until his face hovered above mine. I found myself drawn into his beautiful violet eyes, their gaze beckoning me nearer. Before I could react, he pinned me to the bed—escape no longer an option. His hand slipped beneath my shirt, the warmth of his palm a stark contrast against my cold, soft belly, slowly gliding upward until it came to rest against my chest. His touch lingered there, warm and steady, as if he were testing how far he could go before I broke.

My breath hitched despite myself, betraying the calm I tried so hard to maintain.

"So cold," he murmured, almost to himself, his thumb brushing lightly against my skin. That single motion sent a shiver racing through me. I swallowed, my hands clenched into the sheets beneath me.

"Then maybe you should move away," I said, though my voice lacked any real conviction. Instead, he leaned closer. Too close. His presence wrapped around me, his warmth pressing into my space until all I could feel was him. His violet eyes softened, no longer teasing—just intent, focused entirely on me.

"Say it," he whispered.

"And I will." I didn't. His lips hovered near my ear, close enough that I could feel his breath, close enough that every thought scattered. His hand stilled, resting there as if he were giving me the choice—yet the tension between us said he already knew my answer. The silence stretched, thick and unbearable, broken only by the sound of our uneven breathing. And in that moment, pinned beneath him, I realised escaping was never what I truly wanted.

"Why are you doing this?" I breathed.

"To scare you for this morning," He pulled away and sat up.

"So you got me all excited for nothing?" I frowned.

"..."

"You know, I did say that one day I would do something that you can't ignore," I smirked. I didn't give him time to react. My hands fisted into his shirt, and I pulled—hard—using his own momentum against him. In a blink, our positions reversed, the mattress dipping beneath his weight as I straddled him, pinning his wrists above his head. His eyes widened just slightly before that familiar calm returned, though this time... it was strained. For once, he was the one trapped.

"So," I murmured, leaning down just enough that my hair brushed his cheek, "you really thought you were the only one allowed to play like that?" A slow exhale left him, warm against my skin.

"I may have underestimated you."

"Clearly," I smirked, lowering my voice.

"You said you wanted to scare me. Congratulations—you succeeded." My grip tightened, not to hurt him, just enough to remind him he wasn't in control anymore. His gaze darkened, violet eyes following every movement I made, every inch of distance I deliberately refused to close. The air between us felt different now—heavier, electric. I leaned closer, close enough that our noses nearly brushed.

"But don't start something you're not ready to finish." For a moment, neither of us moved. The silence pulsed, thick with everything unspoken. T"Maybe I am not ready," He tried to get up to leave. To leave me hanging like this. But I pinned him down. I closed the distance between us, silencing whatever came next with my lips. He froze and tried to get up again. But I wouldn't let him get away so easily.

"... You really are impossible," he murmured. I smiled as I pressed my forehead against his chest.

"I am." ALISTAIR NIGHTFALL'S POV:"Good morning," Ella yawned as she walked down.

"Morning, Ella," Kaori smiled.

"Morning, we were just making breakfast," I watched the egg in my pan. Ella froze upon seeing us.

"What?" I asked. She shook her head.

"You two just seem... closer..." Her voice trailed off.

"Want breakfast?" I lifted a plate.

"No, I'll pass," Ella said, looking away.

"I'm heading for school," She dashed out of the door. Kaori smiled as she tugged at my trousers, as if expecting me to drop everything and attend to her.

"Not now," I muttered.

"So you're just going to ignore me now? Did I really make things awkward?"

"No, Big Sis, can't you see that I'm frying an egg right now?" I focused on frying that egg.

"Aw..." She seemed disappointed.

"Big Sis? I like that. Call me Big Sis again," Kaori's face lit up, and she poked me.

"Big Sis..." I said reluctantly.

"Ara ara, the way you say it is so cute!!!" Kaori jumped up and down.

"Let's keep it this way, just a big sis hanging out with her little brother early in the morning,""Mm, yeah, let's keep it this way," I thought.

"Don't you have school today?" I asked her.

"Oh yeah! That's right! Thanks for reminding me!" Kaori took off her apron.

"I'd better get changed." Then she looked at me and smiled. She leaned forward, and her lips pressed against my cheek.

"And that's a goodbye kiss from your big sis to her little brother!" She giggled. Girls these days, I don't understand. ~~~~~~~~~~"Ah, Ace!" Matron's voice rang out above the low murmur of the bar as she lifted her glass and waved at me with exaggerated enthusiasm. I took my time crossing the room, boots tapping unhurriedly against the floorboards, the scent of alcohol already thick enough to sting the back of my throat.

"You are unusually late than the others today," she continued, squinting at me as if the room itself were swaying, "but not late, though." Her words dissolved into a satisfied hum as she tipped back her glass and drained it in one go.

"Sorry. I got caught up with something," I replied coolly, my tone flat and unbothered, the way it always was. Matron studied me for a moment longer than necessary, then poured herself yet another cup of champagne. As if a thought had only just occurred to her, she leaned forward with a crooked grin.

"Now that I think about it... You've never shown us your eyes." Her smirk widened, unfocused and dangerous in that uniquely drunk way.

"Alistair..." she moaned, fingers clamping onto my tie as she tugged me closer. The smell of alcohol hit me full force.

"Let me see your eyes," she slurred, her laughter bubbling up between the words.

"Wa—wait!" Artemis shot to her feet, her chair scraping loudly against the floor. Her face burned red as she pointed accusingly at Matron.

"Wh—what do you think you're doing, Matron?" Tyler sprang up as well, nearly knocking his own chair over in the process.

"Ye—yeah! What's gotten into you? I—if you were so much as to offend Alistair, ju—just a little bit, h—he'd kill you!" His voice cracked as he shivered, eyes wide with genuine terror.

"He—he's dangerous! Don't say I didn't warn you!" Jasper, meanwhile, slammed his hands on the counter, panic written all over his face.

"Why are you drunk at this ungodly hour?! You're supposed to be telling us our next mission! I'm going to be late for school at this point!" He glanced at me, desperation bleeding into his voice.

"Yo—your sister... she's going to kill me!!!"

"Don't worry," I said, patting his back with mechanical calm.

"She's in an awfully good mood today." The reassurance sounded hollow even to my own ears—but before Jasper could protest further, a sharp bonk echoed through the bar.

"Ow!! What was that for?!" Matron yelped as she toppled off the counter, clutching her head. Behind her stood a composed woman holding a frying pan, her expression serene despite the chaos she'd just ended.

"Please forgive Lady Thorne today," she said, bowing deeply.

"I am Iris, Lady Thorne's attendant. And as you can see the state she is in, I will be briefing you on your mission." Adjusting her glasses, she turned to Jasper.

"This mission does not require your presence. You may take your leave." Jasper sighed in exaggerated relief, wiping away a fake tear.

"Feels like I'm being kicked out, but it's better than getting beaten up by Kaori." Iris ignored him, handing me a file with practised efficiency.

"Due to the lack of time, Ace, you will guide Queen and Jack on this mission. Now disperse!" Tyler snapped his fingers, sealing the room in a sound barrier as we filed out of the bar—leaving behind the scent of spilt champagne, a groaning Matron, and the uneasy calm that always preceded bloodshed. ~~~~~~~~~~ ISABELLA NIGHTFALL'S POV:"Brother~~" I called.

"It's rare seeing you lazing around on the couch texting friends,""It's for business purposes," He replied, half distracted. Brother should be out still at work at this time of the day, but he's home early today. He's oddly sensitive about his job whenever I ask him, so till this day, I still don't know what he's doing for a living. His paychecks also come in awfully large sums, so I don't pressure him to tell me any more. As long as it's not dirty money, we should be fine. But if it is... I'll kill him.

Ensure your favorite authors get the support they deserve. Read this novel on the original website. Brother suddenly looked up from his phone as if sensing my murderous intent, "So, Ella, how was school today?" He asked.

"Mm, it was fine, Ms Lexi is a great teacher! And I made a couple of new friends today! Their names were...." He nodded along as I listed all the fun things that happened today, just like a good big brother.

"Oh! And I signed up for the Entertainment Club!! Now I can sing, act, and dance!" I squealed.

"Mm, that's good," He gave a warm smile that melted away his usual cold self, just for that split second. Now that my memories have returned, I'd like to practice dancing for a bit. I walked down to the dance room.

"Ah," I brushed my hand along the handrail.

"I still haven't gotten used to this house yet," I chuckled to myself. Honestly, this house is like a mansion that I could only dream about back on Earth. It would be worth a fortune! Probably.

"Sniffff," Stella was crouching in a corner of the dance room, sniffing something.

"What's wrong, Stella?" I crouched beside her and patted her head. She looked up at me with her huge, cute eyes and flapped her tiny wings slightly. Stella nudged something in front of it curiously.

"Stella, I can't see; you need to show me," I said patiently. Stella stepped aside to reveal... a hamster?

"Nyom, nyom, nyom," The hamster was nibbling furiously on a piece of cheese.

"Hey," I gently patted his head.

"Grrrrrrrr," It growled at me, hiding the piece of cheese behind his back as if afraid I would take it away from him.

"Don't worry, I won't take it from you." I looked inside my pocket. Yep, there was an emergency cookie inside.

"Here," I took out the cookie and gave it to him.

"Have a cookie!" I smiled.

"Munch, munch, munch," The hamster chewed on the cookie.

"Mm!" He licked his lips and looked up at me, pleased. He then stretched out his hands, and I put my finger between them instinctively.

"Oww!" I groaned as a searing, hot pain shot up my finger as soon as he hugged it. I glanced at my finger now—there was an orange mark on it.

"What's wrong, Ella?" Brother ran down.

"I heard you scream,""Ugh, Brother, your ears are too sensitive. I didn't even scream, I groaned." I rolled my eyes.

"What's this mark on my finger?" I showed him the orange mark. He looked at my finger, then behind me to the hamster who was calmly munching on the cookie, "The rodent has formed a pact with you. He is now your familiar," He then calmly walked back upstairs, as if dismissing whatever had happened to me as a small matter.

"Familiar, huh?" I looked down at my cute hamster.

"I'll name you Nibbles!!"

"After the hamster, Ace gave me that Christmas." I thought silently.

"Those were the happy times", I smiled to myself.

"Yip yip!" Nibbles squealed.

"Now then," I stood up and gave my body a good stretch.

"Let's get dancing!!" Nibbles climbed up my sleeve as if that had always been his rightful place, tiny claws pricking against my skin before he settled on my shoulder like a fluffy orange epaulette. Stella fluttered up as well, indignant at being replaced, and perched on my other shoulder.

"Hey, hey, no fighting," I laughed.

"There's enough Ella for both of you." The dance room was wide and bright, the floor polished so clean it reflected my silhouette back at me. Floor-to-ceiling mirrors lined one wall, and the chandelier above scattered soft light like falling stars. Even after living here for a while, I still wasn't used to having a room dedicated solely to dancing. Back on Earth, I practised in cramped spaces, pushing aside chairs and tables just to get a few proper turns in. Here, I could spin without fear of knocking over a lamp.

I walked to the centre of the room and placed my phone down, letting a familiar melody fill the air. The first few beats were slow, gentle—like a memory tiptoeing back into my mind. Now that my memories have returned... My reflection stared back at me from the mirror. For a split second, I didn't just see Ella. I saw the other me. The girl who used to dance until her legs gave out. The girl who smiled on stage even when her heart was breaking. I closed my eyes. And I moved. One step. Turn. Slide.

My body remembered what my mind had forgotten. The rhythm seeped into my bones, into the spaces between my ribs. My arms lifted gracefully, fingers tracing invisible constellations in the air. I pivoted sharply, landing cleanly before flowing into a spin that sent my hair fanning out around me.

"Yip!" Nibbles squeaked, gripping onto my shoulder for dear life.

"Hold tight!" I giggled mid-turn. Stella flapped her wings enthusiastically, sprinkling faint glimmers of light that drifted down like stardust. The room felt alive—charged. I leapt. And for a moment, I swore I felt something shift inside me. A warmth. It started from the orange mark on my finger. I froze mid-step. The mark pulsed faintly, glowing with a soft amber hue. Nibbles paused his munching and looked at me knowingly, his tiny nose twitching.

"Uh... Nibbles?" I lifted my hand.

"Did you just—" The music distorted slightly, as if the air itself had vibrated. Then— Heat surged through my limbs. Not painful. Empowering. I gasped as my next movement came out sharper—stronger. My turn was faster, cleaner. When I landed from my jump, the floor beneath my feet let out a faint crackle of orange light that vanished just as quickly. Stella squeaked in shock. Nibbles puffed out his chest proudly.

"... You've got to be kidding me," I whispered. I tried again. Step. Spin. Leap— This time, a faint arc of glowing orange traced my movement through the air like a ribbon of flame, harmless but brilliant. My heart pounded. A familiar. A pact. Magic. Brother said it so casually. I came to a slow stop, breathing lightly. The glow faded, leaving only the steady rhythm of the music and my reflection staring back at me with wide, shining eyes.

"So this world really isn't done surprising me, huh?" I murmured. Nibbles scurried down my arm and onto my palm, placing his tiny paws over the orange mark as if sealing something. The warmth settled into something calmer, more stable. A bond. Not just power. A partner. I smiled softly.

"Okay then, Nibbles," I said, lifting him to eye level.

"If you're my familiar, that means we're a team now."

"Nyom!" he squeaked confidently. I set him gently on the piano bench near the mirror.

"Watch closely. Your master is about to become the greatest idol this world has ever seen." The next song started—faster, brighter. I took my position. And this time, when I danced, I wasn't just moving. I was shining. The next song began with a stronger beat, something brighter and more demanding, and I let the rhythm settle into my chest before moving again. This time, I didn't rush into it.

I allowed my breathing to even out, allowed my pulse to sync with the music, and then I stepped forward slowly, deliberately, as if the polished floor beneath my feet were a stage and not just another extravagant feature of this ridiculous mansion. My reflection followed me in the mirror—same posture, same steady gaze—but there was something different in her eyes now. A quiet spark. A knowing. I lifted my arm, extending it with precision, fingers relaxed but purposeful, then rolled my shoulder into a smooth turn.

My body flowed naturally from one movement into the next, as though the choreography had been sleeping inside my muscles all along. The warmth from the orange mark lingered faintly beneath my skin, not blazing like before, but humming—alive and attentive. Each step felt supported, grounded. When I spun this time, it wasn't wild or experimental; it was controlled, elegant, the kind of turn that ended exactly where it was meant to.

The air shifted around me again, but gently, like it was responding rather than reacting. Stella hovered near the ceiling now, tiny wings fluttering as she watched with sparkling eyes. Nibbles sat upright on the piano bench, his cookie forgotten, little paws resting on the edge as if he were observing something critically important. For such a tiny creature, he looked strangely dignified.

I moved into a faster sequence, letting my hips follow the beat, feet gliding across the floor with quick, sharp steps before transitioning into a fluid wave that travelled from my shoulders down to my fingertips. When I leapt, the orange light traced my silhouette once more, but this time it didn't crackle violently. It shimmered—like embers carried by wind—wrapping around my form for a fleeting second before dissolving into nothing. It wasn't just power. It was resonance.

The magic wasn't forcing itself through me; it was aligning with me. I slowed toward the bridge of the song, lowering into a controlled kneel before rising smoothly, one hand pressing lightly against my chest. My breathing deepened, but not from exhaustion. From realization. This wasn't random. Nibbles hadn't chosen me by accident. The mark on my finger pulsed again, softer now, almost affectionate. I glanced at it briefly before looking back at my reflection, tilting my head slightly as if studying a stranger.

On Earth, dancing had been my escape. My comfort. My way of expressing the things I never said aloud. Here... it felt like something more. Like the world itself was answering back. I stepped forward into the final sequence, pouring everything into it—not just technique, not just memory, but emotion. The joy of making new friends today. The warmth of Brother's rare smile. The strange comfort of this mansion still didn't feel entirely real.

Even the bittersweet echo of Christmas memories with Ace and the old hamster named Nibbles. The music swelled. I turned once, twice, then leapt into a final spin that carried me across the centre of the room before landing perfectly on beat. This time, instead of a flash, a faint ring of amber light spread outward from my feet like ripples on water, gliding across the polished floor before fading against the walls. Silence followed. Not empty silence. Satisfied silence.

I remained still for a moment, chest rising and falling gently, before straightening up and brushing a strand of hair away from my face. My lips curved into a quiet, confident smile.

"Well," I said softly, glancing at Nibbles, "if this is what having a familiar feels like, I think we're going to get along just fine."

"Nyom," he agreed, nodding with absurd seriousness. Stella swooped down and landed on my shoulder again, chirping in approval, as if she, too, had accepted him into our strange little family. I walked toward the mirror, lifting my marked finger and examining it more closely. The orange symbol had settled into something delicate yet intricate, almost like a tiny crest. It didn't look threatening. It looked... intentional. Brother knew. Of course he did. He had said it so calmly—The rodent has formed a pact with you.

He is now your familiar—as though this sort of thing happened every Tuesday. My eyes narrowed slightly.

"What exactly are you hiding from me, Brother?" I murmured under my breath. Upstairs, faint footsteps shifted, almost imperceptible to normal ears. I smirked. Maybe his hearing wasn't the only sensitive thing in this house. I rolled my shoulders back and turned toward the sound system again.

"No distractions," I declared firmly.

"Entertainment Club auditions won't ace themselves." Nibbles perked up immediately.

"If I'm going to shine on stage," I continued, placing my phone back on the stand, "then I'll need more than just talent. I'll need control. Control over my body. Control over this magic. And control over whatever mysterious big-brother-secret-job nonsense is happening in this house." The next track began—strong, confident, unapologetic. I took my starting position once more, gaze sharpening, posture straightening. The mansion, the magic, the pact, the secrets... they could wait.

Right now, under the soft glow of the chandelier and the watchful eyes of my two tiny companions, there was only the music. And this time, when I moved— I didn't just shine. I commanded the light.