"Where are we?" Bella asked, her eyes scanning the surroundings. The area was lush with greenery, plants winding up trellises, and a glistening pool visible in the back. The venue was spacious enough to easily fit a hundred people.
Cyan noticed her looking around and grinned. "This is The Garden," he said, with a sweeping gesture. "Most of our parties are hosted here. It's got room for a hundred, plus lounges to crash for the night and a pool to... get wet."
Victor, overhearing, slapped the back of Cyan's head. "I mean, take a dip in the pool."
Bella chuckled. "I got what he meant the first time and I'm not a kid, Victor."
Victor grinned mischievously. "Aww, come on, sis. You'll always be my baby sister."
Bella shook her head in mild exasperation, and looking around she said, "Looks like we're early."
"Good," Cyan said with a grin, already dashing toward the entrance.
An elderly man stepped forward, his warm voice carrying through the air. "Welcome, Mr. Cyan, Mr. Victor." Then he turned to Bella, raising an eyebrow. "And a new face? May I have the honor of your name, young miss?"
Victor gently took her hand and stepped forward. "Mr. Ross, this is my sister, Bella Adkins."
Mr. Ross froze for a moment, adjusting his glasses, his gaze flickering between Victor and Bella. He studied her closely before offering a small, respectful smile."Nice to meet you, Mr. Ross," Bella said with a polite nod.
The old man's smile deepened, his eyes twinkling with a mix of wisdom and warmth. "She's a fine young lady, Mr. Victor. Beautiful and sharp, just as you've described her in our conversations."
He turned to Bella, offering a respectful nod. "My name is Ross, Ms. Bella. I'm the Keeper of this place. If you ever need anything, don't hesitate to call me for any arrangements."
Bella nodded politely, noting how the man, though likely in his late 70s, exuded a quiet power and authority that was hard to ignore.
Cyan clapped his hands suddenly, breaking the moment. "Mr. Ross, about that bottle I asked you to hide last time—could you bring it out?"
Ross raised an eyebrow, feigning forgetfulness, but his expression was so deadpan it nearly made Cyan crack a smile. "Oh, that one! I'll get it for you right away, sir."
He turned back to Bella, his voice softening. "Is there anything I can get for you, Ms. Bella?"
"Anything is fine, Mr. Ross. Thank you," Bella replied with a smile.
Victor stepped forward, placing a hand on Bella's shoulder. "Come on, let me show you around."
The Garden lived up to its name, a lush paradise of vibrant plants and herbs. The first floor was dedicated to games, the second to a gym, and the upper floors housed rooms for guests. On the terrace, there was another pool, complete with a bar counter.
Cyan was already settled at the bar, grinning as he and Victor prepared to start their rounds of shots. "Easy, boys," I warned, giving them a look before turning to walk away.
Just then, the elevator doors slid open, and I turned to see Lucas and Dash stepping out.
Both of them stopped dead in their tracks the moment they saw my face, their eyes fixed on me, wide and unblinking.
Dash's, world crashed when he saw Bella from a different angle. The resemblance was undeniable—the girl in front of him was the spitting image of the little girl from his past. His heart slammed against his chest, and a wave of panic rushed over him. If he noticed it... He thought, Then Lucas would too.
Lucas stood frozen, his gaze unwavering. The silence was thick, and then, like an echo from the past, the voice of a little girl flooded his mind.
"Hi, my name is Anna. I'm the servant's daughter. Can I join your game?"
"Hey, where are you going? Don't leave me."
"I'm hungry. What is this dish? Can I try it?"
The voices kept coming, one after another, memories he hadn't wanted to remember rising to the surface.
"Help me… Ahh… Ahhh… Help me... Mom, Dad, V..."
"Hi, Lucas! Hi, Dash! Are you guys okay?" Bella asked, her voice cutting through the silence.
Dash nodded, trying to regain some composure, but Lucas remained frozen in his trance.
Bella stepped forward and gently nudged him, bringing him out of his daze.
Snapping back to reality, Lucas blinked and asked, "Have we met before?"
Bella studied him with a serious expression. "Are you mistaking me for someone else, Lucas? Who was it? Your childhood sweetheart?"
Lucas's face flushed with realization. "she was my mistake," he muttered, turning quickly and walking away.
Dash gave Bella an awkward smile before following Lucas, leaving Bella standing with a smirk tugging at her lips."Mistake, huh?" she thought to herself, her eyes lingering on their retreating figures.
"Ms. Bella?"She turned to see Ross standing with a bottle in hand. Raising an eyebrow, she tilted her head slightly. "I'm not going home, am I?"
Ross chuckled softly. "Would you like some, Ms. Bella?"
Bella nodded, her smirk widening. Without hesitation, she made her way behind the bar with him.
Ross blinked, surprised by her boldness. He glanced over at Victor, who simply smiled and shrugged."Don't bother, Ross," Victor said, his tone light. "She does whatever she likes."
Ross nodded, allowing Bella to do her thing behind the bar, and continued pouring drinks for the four men.
Cyan eagerly grabbed the bottle Ross had brought, but Dash, noticing it, immediately snatched it away."Isn't this from the rare collection? Why are you using this, Ross?" Dash asked, raising an eyebrow.
Cyan, unphased, yanked the bottle back and shot Dash a serious look. "Look, Dash, I deserve a good drink after the match today. If you don't want any, then feel free to walk away."
Dash crossed his arms and stared directly at Cyan, his expression unfazed. "Do I look crazy to you? Of course, I want it. Ross, pour me a glass. And one for Lucas, too. But for the love of everything, hide the bottle from Everett—otherwise, we'll have nothing left to drink."
The group burst into laughter, Lucas joining in as well. Bella found the whole situation amusing, the lighthearted energy lifting her spirits.
Making herself a drink, she leaned casually against the bar and asked, "So, where's everyone else?"
"They'll be here soon," Dash replied with a raised eyebrow, his voice laced with amusement. "Already getting bored?"
Bella shrugged, her smile teasing. "Yeah, I'm not bored yet... but I'm pretty sure I will be soon."
She took a slow sip of her drink, her eyes drifting off for a moment.
Dash studied her intently, his gaze narrowing. "Tell me, Bella, are you really sick, or just pretending?"
Victor froze, his eyes widening at the question, but then he chuckled. "Pretend? What are you talking about, Dash? Do you think this is some drama or movie where people fake sickness?"
Dash shrugged, unbothered. "Nah, just curious about your sister. That's all."
He then turned to Bella. "Anyway, tell me about yourself. What happened with you?"
Bella's expression shifted. She fell silent, her thoughts drifting back to her childhood—the years of loneliness, the constant near-death moments, and the powers that had caused so much chaos in her life. The weight of her memories hung heavy on her, and for a brief moment, her usual sharpness softened..