RECAP
The blood moon rose.
Aanya recieved a letter sealed with her family's ancient crest—no name, only a warning "You are the last. Return before the next moon dies."
Inside, she found her aunt's torn journal page, a key, and strange messages that seemed to arrive before she did.
A shadowed man— seen in the mirror— left a whisper behind:
"You're a already wearing me."
A silver ring, a forbidden name, and her reflection smiling without her.
Now, the House watches..... Closer than ever.
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Her name never sounded sinful. Until he said it.
"Aanya", he said , the voice was silk wrapped in sin. A rustle of fallen leaves. A blade drawn slow across velvet.
Aanya stood frozen in the doorway of the West Wing, eyes locked on her reflection in the tall mirror.
The smile it wore had vanished.
Now, her reflection whimpered.
But the voice hadn't come from the glass.
It came from behind her.
She turned slowly.
There he was.
No longer a flicker of shadow in the corner. No longer a breath on her neck .
He stood real now — tall sculpted, painfully beautiful in a cruel way. Like an angel who'd fallen and never regretted it.
He wore the same silver ring.
Her ring.
"I didn't call you" she said, barely breathing.
He stepped closer, not with menace.... But gravity. Like space itself bent around him.
"You wore the ring. That's calling enough."
Aanya stepped back. "What are you?"
The man— if he was that— cocked his head. "I used to have a name. Once before they buried in Room 13."
He touched the wall beside him, and the wallpaper curled back like it feared him.
Behind it was old brick — scorched, blackened.
"I waited for Veena. But she never let me in. She Only tasted me. You...."
His eyes darkened.
"....you unlocked the door."
Aanya's chest tightened.
"You're... Trapped?" She asked.
His smile didn't reach his eyes. "Aren't we all?"
The ring on her hand began to burn.
He watched it, amused.
" Don't try to take it off. The House doesn't like being rejected."
She yanked at the ring . It wouldn't budge. Instead , it pulsed — like it was part of her skin now.
" I didn't choose this."
"You came back, didn't you?" He whispered.
That's more than choice. That's blood loyalty."
The room began to shift — walls breathing, books trembling.
The chandelier above them flickered to life, though no switch was touched.
"I need answers ",she said . "Where is my aunt?"
The man's gaze turned unreadable. "Some questions require payment."
Aanya's voice trembled. "What kind?"
He stepped so close, she could smell it again— that strange blend of old smoke and night-blooming jasmine .
He lifted her hand and kissed the ring.
Her pulse sluttered.
"In the House", he murmured, lips against her skin.
" Everything begins.... With a touch."
Suddenly, the lights went out.
The chandelier shattered above them . And the mirror — her mirror — cracked straight down the middle.
She turned, startled—
And her reflection was no longer her own.
It was her aunt Veena.
" Aanya," the reflection whispered, voice raw and broken.
"He lies."
Then it smiled.
And began to bleed
She screamed. Turned back — he was gone.
Only the ring remained warm.
Only the scent of jasmine lingered.
Only the whispers:
"He spoke my name like it was a sin.... Because he wanted to taste it."
To be continued.....
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MESSAGE TO MY SHADOWHEARTS - From Zara@VexInk
My darling souls who dance in shadows,
He has finally spoken.
You've felt it, haven't you? That pull... That heat under your skin.....
That moment when a name— your name— is spoken too tenderly by something too dark?
This is only the beginning of sin and silk, mirrors and secrets.
The house is peeling back it's walls for you.
But beware .....
Not all touches are blessing.
Some? They stain you forever.
Keep your candles lit. Keep your mirrors covered
Until chapter 4.....
—Aish
Your dark-humored Queen , the vexed ink of secrets