As Ciara and I slid into her sleek black car, I couldn't help but feel a small tinge of nostalgia flutter in my chest. It had been a while since I'd last been to her castle Ciara's grand estate that was somehow both imposing and a bit over the top, much like her personality.
"Seatbelt, princess," Ciara teased, glancing over at me as she revved the engine. Her white hair fell loosely over her shoulders.
I shot her a look, but buckled my seatbelt nonetheless. "Princess? Is that what we're going with now?" I raised an eyebrow.
She shrugged, her lips curling into a grin. "Hey, if the tiara fits."
"Funny. Last time I checked, you were the one with a castle."
"Touché," she said, shifting into gear as the car smoothly pulled out. "Maybe I'll loan you one someday. You'd look cute ruling over your own little kingdom." She tossed the comment casually, but there was a mischievous glint in her eyes.
I rolled mine in response, though I couldn't help but feel a warmth spread in my chest. "As long as I don't have to deal with your loyal subjects," I quipped back, feigning disinterest. "I've seen how you manage things."
We sped down the road, the afternoon sun glinting off the hood of the car. Ciara's hand rested lazily on the steering wheel, her confidence always bordering on cockiness, and yet somehow, it suited her. The city began to melt away, replaced by the rolling hills and thick trees that led to her estate.
"So," I started, trying to shift the conversation. "Been practicing any new recipes since last time I was at your place? Or are we about to be subjected to the horrors of 'Ciara's Spicy Inferno Noodles' again?"
She let out a laugh. "Oh, come on, that was one time! And you're the one who kept going back for seconds."
"Yeah, after dousing it in half a gallon of milk."
Ciara looked over at me with mock offense. "Okay, okay. I've improved. You'll see. Tonight's menu? Classy. Refined. Totally non-lethal."
"Oh, this I have to see." I grinned, leaning back in the passenger seat as we continued down the winding road.
---
The sprawling sight of Ciara's castle soon came into view, perched like a jewel amid the landscape. Even after all this time, the place never failed to impress.
Gothic towers rose up into the sky, draped in ivy, with tall windows that gave it a haunting yet undeniably charming appearance. It looked like something out of a storybook a place where powerful sorceresses and brooding demons might dwell.
"I forgot how dramatic this place is," I muttered as we pulled up the long driveway. "You sure you don't have a dungeon in the basement?"
Ciara chuckled. "Oh, I do. But it's reserved for special guests."
I shot her a sideways glance. "Let's hope I don't end up on that list."
"Only if you misbehave." She winked, stepping out of the car before I could retort.
The moment I stepped out of the car, the cool evening breeze brushed against my skin, carrying with it the faint scent of lavender from the gardens surrounding the castle.
Despite its grandeur, there was something oddly welcoming about this place. It felt like Ciara bold, untamed, and undeniably alive.
Inside, the interior was just as grand as I remembered. Black marble floors, sweeping staircases, and tapestries that looked like they belonged in some ancient dynasty. But despite the luxury, the atmosphere was...cozy.
The warm, amber lights softened the sharpness of the castle's edges, and the faint sound of classical music hummed in the background.
"Hungry yet?" Ciara called from the kitchen, her voice echoing through the vast halls.
"Starving," I replied, kicking off my shoes and following the sound of clinking dishes.
As I entered the kitchen, I had to stifle a laugh. There she was, Ciara supreme wielder of purple fire magic, conqueror of demons wearing a frilly pink apron that clashed terribly with her tough, badass vibe.
"Don't say a word," she warned, pointing a spatula at me.
"I wasn't going to!" I lied, trying to suppress the grin creeping onto my face. "But I mean, you pull it off. Really."
Ciara narrowed her eyes at me but continued stirring something in a large pot. "You can thank my mom for this... gift." She tugged at the apron, looking mildly embarrassed.
I leaned against the counter, watching her. "So, what's on the menu, Chef?"
"Something you're actually going to enjoy, I promise." She ladled some sauce into a bowl and slid it over to me. "Taste this."
I raised an eyebrow, eyeing the suspiciously orange liquid. "Are you sure this isn't another one of your experiments?"
"Just try it!" she insisted, nudging the bowl closer.
Sighing, I dipped a spoon in and hesitantly took a bite. To my surprise, it was...delicious. Creamy, rich, with just the right amount of spice. "Okay, not bad," I admitted, taking another bite. "In fact, it's really good."
Ciara beamed. "See? Told you I've improved."
We spent the next hour or so in the kitchen, the air filled with the aroma of sautéed vegetables, roasted meat, and the occasional burst of laughter. Cooking with Ciara was far from the silent, methodical process it was with others.
She was chaotic throwing ingredients into pans with reckless abandon, spilling sauce here and there, dancing around the kitchen like we were in some sort of food-fueled musical.
At one point, I was chopping vegetables when Ciara snuck up behind me, her voice low and playful. "Careful with that knife, princess. Wouldn't want to lose a finger."
"Maybe you should worry more about not burning down your castle," I shot back, pointing toward the oven where a tray of garlic bread was starting to crisp a little too much.
She yelped, diving toward the oven with a dramatic flair. "Crisis averted!" she declared, pulling the tray out just in time.
By the time we finally sat down to eat, the kitchen looked like a war zone flour dusting the counters, pots and pans strewn everywhere but the food was perfect.
We ate in comfortable silence for a while, the clink of forks against plates the only sound as the sun dipped lower on the horizon, casting a warm, golden glow through the tall windows.
"This is nice," I said quietly, after a while. "It's been a while since we've just... hung out like this."
Ciara looked over at me, her expression softening. "Yeah, it has. I missed it."
There was something vulnerable in her voice, a rare glimpse behind the confident mask she always wore. I glanced down at my plate, feeling a strange warmth spread through me that had nothing to do with the food.
"Maybe we should do it more often," I suggested, trying to keep my tone light, though the words held more weight than I intended.
Ciara looked at me for a moment, her gaze unreadable, before she nodded. "Yeah. I'd like that."
---
Later that night, after we'd cleaned up the kitchen and the sun had fully set, we found ourselves lounging in the castle's cozy living room. The fireplace crackled softly, casting flickering shadows across the walls as we sank into the plush sofas.
"This place is ridiculous," I muttered, half to myself, taking in the opulent surroundings. "How do you not get lost in here?"
Ciara grinned. "Who says I don't? It's all part of the adventure."
I laughed, feeling a little more at ease. The playful banter between us had always been my favorite thing about Ciara. No matter how complicated things got, we always found a way to make each other laugh.
"So, what now?" I asked, stretching out on the sofa.
Ciara shrugged, leaning back into the cushions. "We could watch a movie. Or we could—"
"Or," I cut her off, "we could just enjoy the peace and quiet for once. No demons. No drama. Just... us."
She smiled, a soft, genuine smile that made my heart do a little flip. "Sounds perfect."
For a while, we sat in comfortable silence, the crackling fire and the occasional hoot of an owl outside the only sounds. It was a moment of peace in a world that often felt too chaotic, too uncertain.
As the night wore on, I found myself growing more and more relaxed, my eyelids growing heavy. Ciara must have noticed because she nudged me gently with her foot. "Hey, don't fall asleep on me just yet."
I smiled sleepily. "No promises."
As I drifted off, I couldn't help but think how different things felt between us now. It was as if the walls we'd both built had started to crumble, little by little, leaving something real and fragile in their wake.
And maybe, just maybe, that was okay.
Ciara shifted beside me, her warmth seeping through the cushions as we both settled deeper into the cozy silence. I glanced at her, noticing the soft curve of a smile still on her lips, the flickering firelight dancing across her face.
"Don't go getting too comfortable," she teased quietly. "You'll owe me another rematch soon."
I smirked, eyes half-closed. "Deal... as long as there's dessert involved."