Something's wrong.

The Lady in the suit, Cleo walked you up the stairs with a quiet enthusiasm, her soft hands holding your muscled arm as you began to get nervous, having another extremely beautiful girl so close to you "S-So... when did Mr Nox hire all of the staff?" You asked.

Cleo shrugged "A while ago, I have only recently begun to Hostess here... I always thought that it would suit me." By how she held herself and her friendly demeanour, you didn't doubt it.

"Who else works here then?" You asked curiously. Cleo's dark eyes looked at Daisy for a moment, the Blonde blinking as the Hostess listed them off.

"Well, Isabelle Harlow works part-time with me as Hostess also, though she has her own priorities with her family. There is Rudy she's our handywoman on-premises but she isn't very social. You've met Naomi, receptionist obviously, There is the twin's Henry and Ramona they manage the Books, the place has been busy since we have started hosting events here... but Diana will talk to you about that, there are others I'm sure you will... meet in time." She explained.

She flashed her teeth that were white as ivory and you found yourself saying without meaning too "You have a really pretty smile."

Cleo blinked "Oh... thanks I guess." She said, hiding her smile away.

What did you say?

Moving through the hall towards the second floor, you heard voices as you came to the office doors, one fierce and familiar, the other calm and slightly obscure, though you smiled as you realised who it was.

Pushing open the double doors, you saw them, Your sister sat at your dad's desk and... your Aunt Remhilde sat on the arm of her chair next to her.

The Pairs of Golden eyes locked on you, and you grinned as Remhilde stood and gave you a motherly smile. "Chippy..." She whispered lightly moving towards you with open arms as you hugged her closely, her warm embrace calming your anxiety slightly.

"Aunt Hilde, I can't believe it, it's so good to see you! it feels like ages since I saw you last!" You said happily. Hilde grinned touching your face with her tattooed hands. Her hair was a little longer than you remembered, it fell down to her shoulders with a neat cut on the left side, and her ruby red lips pursed as she kissed your cheek.

"Really? it feels like I just saw you... so handsome." She said in her soft tone.

Your eyes turned to look at Diana, but she was already on you, your sister grabbing you into a tight hug, You raised an eyebrow, Didi wasn't ever this touchy before "Hi Didi... are you feeling alright?"

She pulled back her face close to yours as she went quiet, you felt a little uncomfortable, but she eventually just smiled and let you go "Yeah... sorry it's just, I was worried about you, Chip."

"I'm fine, you don't need to fuss over me... Damn this place is so different, it must have been hell to do deal with dad-" You paused.

Hilde and Didi looked at one another, and you hugged yourself uncomfortably "How is your head, dear, You took a nasty blow in the attack..." Hilde asked.

"Attack?" You asked in confusion.

Your aunt and your sister looked at Daisy, the Blonde placing her hands on her hips "I couldn't explain everything!? He rushed hear as soon as He woke up!" Daisy moaned.

Diana took a breath, as if struggling to say what she was going to say, but said it anyway "There was... an attack on the Mansion, the Police don't know who did it but, you went to visit dad during and... you were found with... dad's body, You woke up a couple of times, we thought you'd stay with us but..."

"You fell back into the coma." Hilde added, smoother than Diana did.

It was all a bit much, so you, woke up? "Are you saying, I could become comatose again?" You asked.

Hilde grabbed your arms "You will stay with us this time, I know it."

You looked at them both, dead-eyed "Did dad's funeral happen already?"

They shifted awkwardly "Yes... you don't remember?" Diana asked.

Your touched your forehead as your brain began to ache, flashing pictures, diving, a black coffin, a hundred hands touching you in support.

"Charlie.. .are you okay?" Diana asked.

No you weren't okay, your fucking brain was broken, you dad was dead and you couldn't shake this feeling that something was off, something was wrong, someone was lying about something... and You were going to find out what it was. "Yeah, I'm okay. Listen, I'm going back to my dorm. I have class tomorrow, and that's gonna be a hoot." You chuckled fakely.

Your Sister and Aunt seemed perplexed "You don't want to stay here?" Remhilde asked.

"No... I mean, it will just be easier if I am near the Academy."

"It will be safer too, the military have been keeping everything secure since that Creature started knocking over buildings." Hilde was looking at You, but she wasn't speaking to you, Diana nodded in response.

"Alright but... at least stay the night I... I just want to make sure that You are safe" Didi pulled you into another hug, she was hot, like physically hot, not... eugh, but she was acting strange "I love you..."

"Hehe, yeah whatever I love you too, sis."

She frowned, and Remhilde pulled you aside as Your sister sulked by the desk "Listen, Chippy, I have an apartment near the Academy, I want you to visit me sometime, I'll text you My number and address"

You fumbled in your pockets, but you realised that You didn't have your phone, much to your distress.

Daisy peeped, reaching into her red purse and handing you a phone that wasn't yours "Oh here, I forgot new 11."

Hilde scowled at Daisy "It's an iPhone 12."

You took the new phone, hiding your suspicion, something was very very wrong. "Thanks..."

You spent the rest of the day in your room... well Dad's room. the Huge Space was nothing less than illustrious, with a huge ensuite bathroom, a full corner study, a gigantic queen-sized four-poster bed, with a massive flatscreen in front of it. The Carpet was soft on your feet as you sat in your old pyjamas, tapping away on the laptop that you borrowed from Diana after escaping from her longing looks.

You sat on the soft couch in your dad's room, the bright screen bathing your face in light as you typed into google. The research that you did bore little fruit, nobody knew who... or what attacked your home, all that was left was the massacre of your dad's body guards, your dad, the destroyed ruin of the mansion and... you couldn't find a report on you, only that You had vanished, and reappeared at you dad's funeral not that long ago, you weren't sure how things added up but it still felt fishy, however you did have someone that You worried for profusely.

You typed the number quickly and listened to it ring, and ring and ring... "Come on... pick up."

There was an answer "Hello, Boris Taiga here."

You stood you were so happy "Boris! thank god..."

"Myska! Diana told me that you had woken up, I'm sorry I did not call, I... have been busy with Nox's business."

"Nox's Buisness... is there anyone this guy didn't manage while I was gone?" You asked.

Boris was quite for a moment "Nyet. He was good man, I hope to see him again."

You raised an eyebrow "I Thought He was dead?"

"In the afterlife Myska, in the afterlife. Okay, I have to go, but I hope to see you soon, stay safe Myska."

"You too, Boris, see you later." Boris had already hung up... you shook your head, rubbing your chin as you fell back into the chair, finding yourself nodding off as you fell into a gentle slumber on the couch, unwanting to sleep in your dad's bed.

You fell into a strange dream, wet and bubbling as you sank into the depth. Your feet touched the sandy sea bed, and your eyes opened to dark unclear waters, the endless stretch of blue pieced by figures, hazy and unclear, like a cell phone on the edge of it's range. You peered at the figures in confusion, looking around until your eyes caught on something very odd.

Your eyes settled on something small, and dark, it was tiny like a black pearl, its viscous darkness fluttering in and out like a candle in the wind... or the currents in these azure depths.

And then you awoke.