The echo of their laughter still lingered in the hallways when Madison and Ashley left the greenhouse.
The air in the corridor had changed. It was colder... and more attentive.
The golden light that had previously danced upon the marble now seemed to filter through an invisible veil, as if dawn refused to fully enter this part of the castle.
"Do you hear that?" Madison murmured, stopping.
Ashley tilted her head.
At first she thought she had heard something, a whisper, a subtle vibration... but nothing concrete.
"I don't hear anything," she said, frowning as she tried to sharpen her hearing.
Madison didn't respond immediately.
A nervous smile formed on her lips, though her eyes moved from point to point, searching for an invisible source.
Then, a scent enveloped her.
Warm, deep, with that sweet and burning touch of freshly ground cinnamon.
It was a living perfume, almost tangible, that slid over her skin as if it recognized her.
Her breathing became uneven.
