"You can't be serious about that suggestion, can you?" Terrene tilts her head upward at her sister, her face unreadable.
"I mean what I said," Rai answers with a faint smile, though tinged with annoyance. "It may sound foolish, and of course, it probably won't sit well with Lia." She brushes Terrene's hair gently, like a mother would with her child. "Do you love him?" Her hand pauses, and she sighs dismissively. "Can you truly face eternity without ever having shared that feeling with him?" she corrects herself softly.
Terrene slowly turns away and rests her head on her sister's lap.
"I thought as much." Rai smiles gently as she continues to brush her hair. "Listen, hiding your feelings is going to cause nothing but trouble," she pauses, looking off into space. "Believe me, I'd know," she ends with an exasperated sigh.
"They are late, it's odd and off-putting." Thia worries
"Shouldn't we be happy they are, though?"
"You would think so," she looks up at Daena, "What is wrong with you lately though?"
"Huh?"
"Daena, I might not be the most emotionally available. I am still your mother," she holds her hand.
Daena looked at her mum, visibly confused.
"Look, don't play dumb with me. We've spent far more time together than alive," Thia said, holding her daughter's hand. "Don't worry, I won't judge you."
Daena laughed. "That's a lie."
Thia sighed, sat down on her bed, and patted the space beside her.
With a roll of her eyes, Daena complied. "I really can't get past your appearance. It's just… bizarre."
"It's not bizarre," Thia replied softly. "It's the time we shared there that makes it hard for you to process. But that isn't the point." She smiled up at Daena, urging her to speak.
"I really hate it when you go full mum mode on me. Makes it impossible to be defiant." Groaning, Daena turned her face away.
"Now, why would you want to be defiant?" Thia's brows creased.
Daena sighed. "It's embarrassing."
"Really?"
"I know, I know," she muttered. "Being embarrassed to talk to you should be the last thing on my mind."
"But?"
Daena winced. "Terrene caught me spying on Myles."
"Ugh." Thia let go of her daughter's hand and stood, looking down at her. "And why would you do that?"
"It just… made me think. I got flustered when she caught me."
"Dangerous."
"Huh?"
"Oh, come on, Daena. I thought I taught you better."
Thia's expression darkened. "My sisters may have known him longer, but still… Lia's love for him feels unnaturally deep. Almost crazed. I don't doubt her feelings are real, but something has amplified them."
Daena blinked. "Edward?"
Thia chuckled. "Yes—the vampire from that human novel I used to read when you were younger."
Realisation dawned on Daena, and she smiled knowingly. "As always, you do me proud."
"Does this mean…?"
"I didn't say that. Just don't. It won't end well." Thia stepped closer and caressed her daughter's cheek. "You're beautiful in many ways. Someone else, more worthy, is sure to come."
Daena smiled faintly. "You'd better be right."
Thia smirked playfully. "Hmm." She walked away.
Left with her thoughts, Daena whispered, "I really hope you are." Then her eyes widened. "Oh yeah—that's right. She never told me why it's so bad they're late."
A few days later, Myles sat in his room, preparing for his date with Terrene. Lia had left a day ago, but not before deciding on his outfit and giving him a few tips on keeping the conversation engaging—without flirting.
Myles sighed, adjusting the collar Lia had so meticulously chosen for him. His chest felt tight, though whether from nerves or guilt, he couldn't say. Lia had planned this "date" for him and Terrene before she left, but the weight of it pressed down on him now like armour he hadn't asked to wear.
He made his way through the winding halls until he reached one of the private dining rooms in the mansion. The polished wood doors opened with barely a whisper.
"You're early."
Terrene's voice was flat, as though carved from stone. She sat waiting at the table, her hands neatly folded, her usual stoicism shielding her expression.
Myles almost offered an awkward reply, but then he saw her. His words caught in his throat. The shoulderless black flare-sleeve dress hugged her figure, the silver necklace glimmered faintly in the candlelight, and the delicate waist chain caught his eye before he even realised he was staring. Even the lace platform shoes, subtle yet bold, suited her more than he would have guessed. And then the black nail rings—such a small detail, but somehow the perfect finishing touch.
He froze, lost for words.
Terrene, noticing the intensity of his gaze, faltered. Her carefully constructed mask slipped. A flush bloomed across her cheeks, and she let out a small, almost inaudible squeal as she covered her face with her hand.
That was what broke him. Myles burst into laughter, trying and failing to smother it. "Sorry," he said between chuckles, "I couldn't help myself. You look… amazing."
He regretted the words the instant they left his mouth—what was he doing? But the sight of her blushing, flustered, and completely unguarded almost made the guilt worth it.
"I'm glad you came," Terrene said, lowering her hand. Her smile—bright, genuine, and entirely at odds with her reputation—struck him harder than he expected. For a moment, the world seemed to falter, as though it wasn't real. He hated himself for being moved. Lia's face flashed in his mind, and he reminded himself: Lia comes first. Always.
Terrene's voice pulled him back. "Let me get straight to the point, Myles." Her tone was calm again, steady, but her smile lingered, softening the blow of what came next. "I'm in love with you. I have been for a while."
Myles sat frozen. Suddenly, so many things made sense—the running away, the awkward glances, the moments he'd dismissed as odd. It all fell into place. And yet he had no idea how to process it. He stared down into his glass of juice, swirling it absently as silence stretched uncomfortably between them.
At last, he found his voice. "Hey… I understand that you have feelings for me." He forced himself to look up, his eyes steady. "But I can't reciprocate them. I'm in love with your younger sister."
Terrene didn't flinch. Instead, she smiled faintly, the curve of her lips warm rather than wounded. "I'm very much aware. I just wanted you to know, so things don't get awkward when we become friends."
Myles blinked. "Can I say something?"
She nodded.
"Usually… friendships just happen. Asking for one kind of makes things weird."
Her eyes widened in mock horror, and she covered her mouth. "Really? I messed up?"
For whatever reason, that reaction was enough to crack him open again. Myles laughed, harder than before, turning his head away to try to hide it—but it was no use.
"Can you not laugh at me?" she pouted, cheeks puffing slightly.
Myles straightened, forcing composure. "Sorry."
"So… how do I fix it?"
He grinned. "Oh, well—we're off to a good start already."
Her brows knitted together. "How so?"
"You made me laugh." He tried to keep his face straight, but the corners of his mouth twitched.
Terrene tilted her head, arms crossing over her chest, eyes still closed. "Huh. So basically, I have to put myself in a position to please you?"
"What? No, no, no—that's not the point!"
"Then what is the point?" Her brow arched, the faintest smirk threatening to appear.
Myles raised his hands in surrender. "Can we just… change the subject?"
Terrene huffed, clearly amused but pretending otherwise.
"I've been meaning to ask about your eyes," he said, seizing the distraction. "I caught a glimpse once. They were beautiful. Why do you always keep them hidden?"
Her face coloured again. "Were they?"
"Absolutely breathtaking."
She stiffened, suddenly suspicious. "You're messing with me." Her tone was flat, almost disenchanted.
He chuckled, shaking his head. "Not at all. You're like a kid—it's… interesting."
"Huh?"
His laugh slipped out again at her reaction.
"What about them is so breathtaking?" she pressed, urgency sharpening her words as though she needed to know.
Myles' tone softened. "If that offended you, I apologise. But they were… purple. And I thought I saw a shimmer of blue, maybe even stars. I've never seen anything like it. If you don't mind, I'd love to see them again."
She turned away, exhaling sharply. "That's not going to happen. No special reason. Just… because."
"Harsh."
"You think so?" She waited a moment before a sly smirk curved her lips. "Good."
The night wore on. They talked—about little things, strange things, meaningless things. And yet the air between them was lighter, less guarded. By the time they rose from the table, an unspoken ease had settled between them.
A few hours later, as they parted, Terrene surprised him again. "Another date?" she asked casually.
Myles hesitated. "Sure."
She nodded, satisfied, and walked away.
Alone in the hall, Myles found himself smiling despite the weight in his chest. I had fun, he admitted silently, though guilt clawed at the edges of the thought. Lia's face came to him again, her voice, her certainty.
And with that, the smile faded.