The triplets climbed the East Wing's spiral staircase to their bedrooms, their silk robes whispering against the obsidian steps.
The hallway was a gallery of luxury: gold-framed paintings of Vionica's mountains, crystal sconces casting soft light, and a runner of black velvet underfoot.
Their bedrooms were three grand suites, each a reflection of their shared style but with subtle differences.
The fourth door, always locked, loomed at the hall's end, a silent shadow they ignored.
Valentina's room was first, its double doors carved with swirling vines.
Inside, the space was vast: a four-poster bed with black silk sheets, a gold chandelier dripping crystals, and a balcony overlooking the pool.
Her wardrobe, separate from the shared closet, held tailored suits and glittering gowns, their fabrics catching the moonlight.
She lingered by the balcony, her Obsidian bead pulsing, her thoughts on school. "Big day tomorrow," she murmured, her fingers tracing a gold necklace on her dresser.
She changed into a black silk pyjama set, her movements slow, savouring the room's quiet. The mirror reflected her sharp features, her dark eyes glinting with determination.
She sat on the bed, running her hands over the silk, feeling the weight of being a Vespera.
Vittoria's room was next, its doors etched with stars.
The space was warmer, with a mural of a sunset on one wall, its oranges and pinks softening the obsidian.
Her bed was draped in gold silk, a plush rug underfoot. She wandered to her desk, cluttered with fashion magazines and gold pens, her robe slipping off one shoulder.
"School's gonna be a circus," she said to herself, grinning.
She slipped into black satin pyjamas, her gold earrings still in place, and stood by her window, watching the city's lights.
Her bead glowed, a reminder of the power she'd wield tomorrow.
Viviana's room was last, its doors plain but elegant.
The room was sleek: a black bed with white silk sheets, a minimalist desk, and a massive window framing the gardens.
She paced, her robe tied tightly, her bead pulsing faintly. "We've got this," she whispered, her voice firm.
She changed into black cotton pyjamas, simpler than her sisters', and sat on her bed, staring at a gold-framed mirror. Her reflection showed a quiet strength, ready for the challenges ahead.
The triplets lingered in their rooms, each savouring the solitude before bed.
Valentina stood on her balcony, the cool air brushing her skin, her silk pyjamas soft against the breeze.
She leaned against the railing, her Obsidian bead glowing, her thoughts drifting to the school's houses—Orion, Cassiopeia, Andromeda—and the rivalries waiting.
She climbed into bed, the silk sheets cool, and stared at the chandelier, its crystals winking like stars.
Sleep came slowly, her mind buzzing with plans.
Vittoria sprawled on her bed, her satin pyjamas catching the light.
She flipped through a magazine, her fingers tracing a photo of a runway model, her bead pulsing softly. The room's warmth wrapped around her, the sunset mural glowing faintly.
She imagined the school's parties, the eyes that would follow them, and grinned.
She tucked herself under the gold silk, her earrings on the nightstand, and drifted off, dreaming of spotlight moments.
Viviana sat at her desk, her cotton pyjamas loose, her bead glowing against her skin.
She stared out the window, the gardens a sea of shadows, the pool's light a distant beacon. Her mind churned with Nonno's words—watch who you trust.
She climbed into bed, the white silk sheets crisp, and lay awake, her dark eyes fixed on the ceiling.
Sleep came at last, her bead's glow fading as she surrendered to the night.
The East Wing was quiet now, its obsidian walls holding the triplets' secrets.
The clock struck midnight, and the Vesperas slept, their beads pulsing faintly, ready for the dawn and the world they'd conquer together.