Shadow of eternity and necklace of death

The rain continued to lash against the windows, each drop adding to the symphony of the storm. The room's warmth was a stark contrast to the cold, unyielding weather outside, yet the calm between Alice and Sebastian seemed to blur the line between comfort and unease. Midnight, perched in the far corner, let out a soft caw, almost as if to remind them of his ever-watchful presence.

Alice stood, smoothing her dress with deliberate motions, her movements steady but betraying a faint restlessness.

Sebastian rose as well, his towering frame casting a long shadow across the room. He moved with his usual grace, his presence commanding yet oddly reassuring. "You don't need to worry," he said, gesturing toward the grand hallway beyond the dining hall. "The castle has more than enough rooms to accommodate you. Follow me."

Without waiting for her reply, Sebastian began to lead the way, his footsteps echoing softly against the polished white marble veined with natural gold streaks. Alice hesitated for a moment before following, her curiosity piqued by the mysterious aura that always seemed to surround him.

As they walked through the corridors. The air grew cooler, and Alice instinctively wrapped her arms around herself. Sebastian noticed but said nothing, his stride purposeful and steady.

"Is it always this quiet here?" Alice asked, breaking the silence. Her voice echoed slightly, filling the void around them.

Sebastian glanced at her over his shoulder, a faint smile playing on his lips.

Alice frowned slightly at his silence but decided not to press further. Instead, she focused on the way the halls seemed to stretch endlessly, each turn revealing more of the castle's secrets.

Finally, Sebastian stopped before a large wooden door, its surface adorned with intricate carvings of vines and roses. He pushed it open, revealing a cozy room bathed in soft golden light. A crackling fireplace cast a warm glow across the space, and the plush furnishings invited relaxation.

"This should suffice," Sebastian said, stepping aside to let Alice enter.

Alice stepped into the room, her eyes taking in every detail. Alice stepped into the room and froze, her eyes wide. "This… this is a whole palace!" She touched the soft bed, gasped at the shining chandelier, and whispered, "Am I dreaming?!"

Alice froze mid step, her wide eyes darting around the room startled. The grand four-poster bed, the glimmering chandelier, the plush rugs beneath her feet all of it screamed wealth, elegance, and something entirely out of her world.

"This… this is a dream," she whispered, her voice barely audible as she ran a hesitant finger along the polished surface of a mahogany dresser. "Am I even allowed to touch this?"

She turned slowly, taking in every corner of the room. Her eyes finally landed on Sebastian, who stood near the doorway, watching her with his usual calm demeanor, one hand resting casually on the doorframe.

Her thoughts raced. "This man has too much blessings… way too much. Who even lives like this? A chandelier bigger than my entire house? And he's just standing there like it's normal. Does he even notice he owns half a jewelry store on his ceiling?"

She glanced at him again, then back to the room, then back to him. "If I had this kind of fortune, I'd drink tea out of a golden cup every day. No, scratch that I'd eat bread off a silver plate."

Sebastian, as if sensing her inner monologue, raised an eyebrow slightly, a faint hint of amusement tugging at the corner of his mouth. "Is the room to your liking?" he asked, his deep voice breaking through her thoughts.

Alice flinched slightly, caught off guard. "Oh! Uh… yeah. It's… nice. Simple," she said, the last word tumbling out awkwardly as if trying to convince herself it wasn't the most extravagant thing she'd ever seen.

"Simple?! What am I even saying?" she scolded herself. "My entire family would lose their minds if they saw this place! The mother would start crying on the spot."

She risked another glance at Sebastian, her mind swirling again. Sebastian tilted his head slightly, his smirk deepening as though he could hear every thought running through her head.

For a brief moment, his eyes flickered, gleaming with a shade of purple, a flash so fleeting it was almost unnoticeable.

Then, as if savoring the moment, he placed his hand on his chin, his fingers brushing lightly against the sharp contours of his jaw. He held the position for a few seconds, giving her just enough time to take in everything around her the opulence, the grandeur, the details she hadn't noticed before. She could feel his gaze on her, the weight of it making her suddenly aware of her own presence, the contrast between her simplicity and the luxury that surrounded her.

It was as if, in that moment, he was silently mocking her. His expression said everything a quiet, knowing amusement, as though he was aware of how out of place she felt. He knew she was a country girl, unaccustomed to such wealth, and he seemed to revel in the difference. It wasn't harsh or cruel, but rather a subtle, almost playful kind of superiority.

Sebastian's gaze softened for a moment, the smirk fading into a more sympathetic smile, as though he were the one who truly understood her discomfort. He tilted his head again, almost as if pitying her for not knowing what she had walked into. His eyes glimmered with a mix of amusement and something else perhaps a subtle trace of empathy, or was it just his usual way of controlling the situation?

Then, with deliberate slowness, he began to walk around the room, the sound of his footsteps echoing softly against the floor. As he moved, his eyes briefly flicked to the pendant around Alice's neck, the amethyst stone gleaming in the soft light. With a practiced, graceful motion, he reached out and carefully touched the pendant, his fingers brushing the gemstone lightly.

"Darling, you want me to harvest your soul sooner, huh?" he said softly, his voice low, almost thoughtful. He turned the pendant slightly, his fingers tracing the contours of the amethyst as if inspecting it, his expression unreadable. The necklace was bringing her closer to death and she knew it but she didn't give it up yet.

For a brief moment, Alice felt the subtle pressure of his touch on her pendant, her breath catching slightly as she realized what he was doing.

Sebastian's eyes met hers then, and for an instant, the warmth in his gaze seemed almost genuine. "It's a shame," he murmured, his fingers still lingering on the pendant, "that something so small could carry such weight."

He withdrew his hand, stepping back with a faint smile that now carried a layer of mischief. As he moved away, the smile returned to its original teasing form, but the glimmer in his eyes told her he wasn't entirely mocking her. Perhaps he was just reminding her of the vast difference between them.

With a quiet chuckle, he turned and ready to leave. Her thoughts were interrupted when she heard his voice again, distant but clear "I hope you enjoy the rest of your stay." The tone was light, almost too light.

Sebastian's gaze swept over her face, as though searching for something unspoken. "Rest well, Alice," he said finally, his voice low and smooth. Then, without another word, he turned and disappeared into the shadows of the hallway.

Left alone, Alice let out a quiet sigh. She moved toward the fireplace, the warmth drawing her in. As she sat down in one of the armchairs, she couldn't help but feel a strange mix of emotions. The storm outside mirrored the turbulence within her, the questions that lingered in her mind.

But her thoughts were interrupted by a fierce sound, as if the sky itself had torn apart. The thunder suddenly roared, and the frightening flash of lightning lit up the room for a moment, as though the earth itself had trembled beneath her feet. The sound was deafening, causing her heart to leap in her chest like she had woken from a nightmare. The brilliant flash of lightning illuminated the space for an instant, then the darkness returned, leaving her in a state of confusion and anticipation..

In sebastian private quarters, he stood by the mirror, unbuttoning his dress shirt slowly, preparing for bed after a long day. The soft flicker of candlelight cast long shadows on the walls, and the room was filled with a quiet, calming atmosphere.

As he removed his dress shirt, revealing the toned frame underneath, he moved with the same fluid grace that defined him, his actions calm and deliberate.

Midnight let out a soft, disgruntled caw. The crow let out a dissatisfied sound, flapping his wings in what could only be described as an exaggerated display of annoyance.

Sebastian glanced over at Midnight, the hint of a smirk tugging at the corner of his lips.

"Not now, Midnight," Sebastian murmured, without looking up. his expression impassive, though a flicker of amusement danced in his eyes.

Midnight, clearly unimpressed by Sebastian's indifference, hopped down from his perch and strutted across the room with an air of complaint. He hopped up onto the desk, knocking over a small glass of ink in the process, which promptly spilled across the papers.

Sebastian sighed, rolling his eyes. "Really? You can't be serious right now."

The crow ruffled his feathers again, as if fully aware of the chaos he was causing. He let out another series of annoyed caws, his beady eyes narrowing "She's staying tonight?"

Sebastian paused, glancing at Midnight before giving a slow nod. "Yes, Alice will be staying. You can stop now." His voice was dry, but there was a hint of something playful in his tone.

Midnight made an exasperated sound, hopping around the desk before flying up to his usual perch. He seemed to glare at Sebastian, clearly unimpressed by the way the situation had unfolded.

As Midnight settled back down, he gave one last irritated caw, before turning his head away, sulking in silence. It was clear that Midnight was not thrilled about the new arrangement. His jealousy was palpable, but it was almost endearing in a way sebastian couldn't help but chuckle at the crow's childish antics.

With a quiet chuckle, Sebastian extended a hand toward the crow, who eyed it with suspicion before reluctantly hopping down. Sebastian's fingers lightly brushed the crow's glossy black feathers, the motion tender and almost soothing. Midnight's sharp eyes softened ever so slightly, though he still let out an annoyed little caw, as if unwilling to completely drop the act "You prefer her over me, huh!"

"Stop being mad," Sebastian muttered with a teasing smile, his deep voice quiet, yet filled with a certain warmth. "Jealous, are you?" He ran his fingers through Midnight's feathers, the soft texture contrasting with the sharp edge of his gaze. The crow fluffed his feathers as if relishing the attention, "You've got nothing to worry about. She won't take your place," he added, almost like a promise to midnight.

"Lord, Why are you making a bigger deal out of her?" Unfortunately, what Midnight said was ignored. Sebastian's eyes, dark and deep, flickered briefly toward the window, his thoughts momentarily far away. He paused as his hand lingered over Midnight's sleek plumage, and the faintest sigh escaped his lips. But it didn't last long.

"Well, we're stuck with her tonight," he murmured, almost to himself, before flashing Midnight a wry smile. "Guess you'll just have to share me for now."

Midnight gave an almost dramatic roll of his head, letting out one final, annoyed caw. Sebastian shook his head, still grinning, before stepping back. His long, dark hair tumbled over his shoulders like a cascade of dark silk. The glossy strands, deep as the night sky, fell in a perfect flow to the middle of his back, contrasting sharply with his pale complexion. The thick, straight locks shimmered in the soft candlelight, flowing effortlessly down to the nape of his neck before trailing off to the lower part of his back. The ends curled ever so slightly, suggesting a natural wave, but they remained untamed, almost as wild and untouchable as his demeanor.

Sebastian carefully untangled a few strands of hair as they fell into his eyes, pushing them back with one hand. His features, sharp and chiseled, held an almost ethereal quality as he stood there for a moment, lost in thought. His long fingers brushed through his hair with practiced ease, every movement deliberate and graceful, a dance of sorts.

Midnight finally seeming to accept the situation, though his eyes remained narrowed in quiet judgment "May you rest well, my lord" Sebastian glanced at him one last time, his smirk returning, before turning toward his bed.

With a soft sigh, he finally prepared to rest for the night. Turning toward the large bed, draped in deep velvet curtains, The space. The bed was grand, with a high, carved wooden frame and lush bedding that seemed to invite relaxation. Midnight cawed once more, his call echoing softly in the otherwise quiet room.

"Don't stay up all night," Sebastian muttered under his breath, casting a final glance at Midnight. The shadows of the room seemed to stretch with him, and the air felt almost thick with anticipation, the storm outside now a mere echo against the quiet that enveloped the castle.