The morning after

“Miss Aria… please wake up.”

The soft voice came again.

“Miss Aria.”

Aria stirred beneath the heavy silk sheets, her brows drawing together as she slowly opened her eyes.

For several seconds, she stared at the unfamiliar ceiling above her.

It was beautiful.

Too beautiful.

Intricate gold patterns stretched across the surface, illuminated by the warm glow of crystal chandeliers.

She blinked.

Once.

Twice.

Then she pushed herself upright.

“Where am I?”

The maid standing beside the bed immediately lowered her head.

“Good morning, Miss Ashbourne.”

Aria looked around the enormous bedroom.

A fireplace stood against one wall.

Tall windows were covered by cream-colored curtains.

A sitting area occupied the corner, complete with a velvet sofa and a small table already prepared with tea and breakfast.

Everything looked expensive.

Everything looked unfamiliar.

“Who are you?”

“I’m Elise, Miss.”

“Always at your service”

Aria confused slowly pushed the blankets aside.

“How did I get here?”

The maid hesitated.

“You were brought here last night.”

“By who?”

Another pause.

“Your parents arranged it.”

Aria’s heart skipped.

“My parents?”

“Yes.”

She stared at the woman.

“Where are they?”

“They left instructions that you were to rest first.”

“That wasn’t my question.”

The maid lowered her eyes.

“I’m sorry, Miss. I was only instructed to make sure you were comfortable.”

Aria frowned.

Something was wrong.

She remembered yesterday.

Her birthday.

Twenty-one.

She remembered waking up excited.

She remembered waking up at her parents home.

She remembered the cake she bought with her.

Then…

Nothing.

Aria pressed her fingers against her temple.

A sharp headache pulsed behind her eyes.

“What happened last night?”

The maid’s expression tightened.

“I don’t know, Miss.”

Aria looked down.

That was when she noticed it.

Something cold rested against her chest.

She touched it.

A pendant.

It hung from a thin chain around her neck, disappearing beneath the neckline of her sleeping gown.

The pendant itself was unlike anything she had ever seen.

Dark silver surrounded a small stone that seemed almost black beneath the light.

Yet when her fingers touched it, warmth spread through her palm.

“Where did this come from?”

“You came with it.”

Aria looked up.

“And my mother?”

“She hadn’t been here.”

“Boss only instructed us never to allow the pendant to be moved.”

Aria’s fingers tightened around it.

“Who?”

Before Aria could ask anything else, the maid reached toward the bedside table.

“There is something else.”

She picked up a small device.

“Your parents left this recording for you.”

Aria stared at it.

“A recording?”

The maid placed it in her hands.

“They specifically instructed that you watch it alone.”

Aria’s stomach tightened.

She waited until the maid stepped away before pressing the screen.

The image flickered.

Then her mother’s face appeared.

Seraphine.

For one second, Aria smiled.

“Mom…”

But the smile disappeared almost immediately.

Her mother’s expression was different.

Too serious.

Too tired.

She looked as though she hadn’t slept.

“My precious Aria,” Seraphine began softly.

“If you’re watching this, then you are safe.”

Aria’s heart began beating faster.

“Your father and I need you to listen carefully.”

Her mother’s eyes shifted briefly away from the camera before returning.

“For now, you must remain where you are.”

Aria frowned.

“Do not remove the pendant around your neck.”

Her hand immediately went to it.

“Under no circumstances till you are strong enough to challenge the consequences.”

“Keep it beneath your clothes at all times.”

“Do not remove it while bathing. Do not remove it because it becomes uncomfortable. Do not allow curiosity to make you careless.”

Aria stared at the screen.

“Why?”

Her mother’s voice softened.

“That pendant cost us more than you could ever understand.”

A pause.

“It took years of preparation.”

“It required power that should never have been gathered in one place.”

“And it has already taken too much energy from me.”

Aria’s eyes widened.

“Mom…”

Seraphine smiled sadly.

“But it will keep you safe till you learn what it seals yourself.”

The image shifted.

Her father appeared beside her.

Elias looked unusually solemn.

“Aria,” he said, “your mother and I will come back for you.”

“When?”

“Soon.”

The answer came too quickly.

Aria knew her father.

He was hiding something.

“You need to focus on your studies,” Seraphine continued.

“Go to university.”

“Live normally.”

“Make friends.”

“Do everything you would have done if nothing had happened.”

Aria swallowed.

“But something happened.”

Neither parent answered.

The recording continued.

“For now, trust the people taking care of you.”

“Stay where you are.”

“And whatever happens…”

Seraphine looked directly into the camera.

“Do not remove the pendant.”

The recording ended.

The screen went black.

Aria remained frozen.

Her fingers curled around the pendant beneath her gown.

“What happened to you?”

No answer came.

She immediately picked up her phone.

Her mother’s name appeared on the screen.

Aria called.

Once.

Twice.

On the third attempt, the call connected.

“Aria?”

Her mother’s voice was calm.

Too calm.

“Mom, where are you?”

“I’m fine.”

“You left me in some strange house.”

A brief silence.

“It’s temporary.”

“What happened last night?”

Another silence.

Aria could hear faint movement in the background.

“You were tired,” Seraphine said.

“I don’t remember.”

“You had an emotional night.”

“That’s not an answer.”

Her mother laughed softly.

“Focus on your studies, sweetheart.”

Aria frowned.

“Mom—”

“I love you.”

The call ended.

Aria stared at the screen.

Her mother had never hung up on her like that.

Something was happening.

Something they weren’t telling her.

She glanced toward the mirror.

Her reflection looked normal.

Same dark hair.

Same amber eyes.

Same face.

Yet something felt different.

She couldn’t explain it.

She couldn’t remember what had happened after her birthday celebration.

And strangely…

She couldn’t sense anything beyond herself anymore.

Normally, she noticed everything.

Changes in the air.

Faint scents.

Subtle sounds.

Things most people overlooked.

Now there was nothing.

Just silence.

A knock sounded.

The door opened.

Two guards stood outside.

“Miss Ashbourne.”

Aria turned.

“Yes?”

“You have classes today.”

She stared at them.

“Classes?”

“Your schedule has already been arranged.”

She looked at the clock.

She had barely enough time to prepare.

“How am I getting there?”

“We’ll take you.”

Aria reluctantly nodded.

⸻

By the time she reached Madine University, the campus was already alive.

Students moved between buildings, laughing and talking.

Aria attended her classes, took notes, answered questions and behaved as though everything was normal.

But her mind wasn’t there.

She kept touching the pendant beneath her clothes.

Why was it so important?

Why had her mother sounded frightened?

And what had happened on her birthday?

During lunch, she called her mother again.

This time, Seraphine answered almost immediately.

“Are you eating?”

Aria almost laughed.

“Mom, you’re avoiding my questions.”

“I know.”

“Then tell me the truth.”

“I will.”

“When?”

“When it’s safe.”

The words were gentle.

But there was fear underneath them.

Aria heard it.

Her mother was hiding something.

“Just promise me you’ll be careful.”

“I promise.”

The call ended.

Aria stared at her phone.

She had no idea that somewhere far away, her mother was forcing herself to remain calm while preparing for a battle Aria knew nothing about.

⸻

When classes finally ended, a black vehicle was waiting outside the university gates.

One of the guards opened the door.

“Miss Ashbourne.”

Aria stepped inside.

“Are we going home?”

“Yes.”

She leaned back against the seat.

The drive felt strangely familiar.

But when the vehicle finally stopped, Aria looked through the window.

Her breath caught.

Huge iron gates stood before them.

Beyond them rose an enormous mansion.

She had seen it before.

Not in person.

In photographs.

University brochures.

The official Madine University website.

Her eyes widened.

“Wait…”

She slowly stepped out of the vehicle.

The guards lowered their heads.

“Where are we?”

The answer came calmly.

“Nightbane Manor, Miss Ashbourne.”

Her fingers instinctively closed around the pendant beneath her dress.

Nightbane.

The name she had heard countless times since arriving at university.

The owner of Madine University.

Her chairman.

And the mysterious man whose golden eyes had felt strangely familiar the first time they met in his class.

The strange chairman that suddenly decided to take up classes again as a lecturer. The highest professor in the university and the youngest in the country just suddenly started taking classes again.

“Kaelen Nightbane…”

For some reason, the name sent a strange shiver through her.

She had no idea why.

She only knew one thing.

Her parents had sent her here.

And whatever had happened on her birthday…

She needed to know how she got there.