Vincent Huang gently lifted the broken music box, examining it under the soft glow of the bedside lamp. Its golden gears were scattered, the melody silenced mid-note — a memory frozen in despair.
"I don't think the damage is too bad, Lilie," Vincent said softly, using her nickname as he brushed the dust off the shattered lid. "I'm sure we can take it to the repair shop and have it fixed. I'll bring it first thing tomorrow."
The warmth in his voice wrapped around Nattalie like a blanket. Her small feline form trembled slightly, not from fear this time, but from the fragile hope his words carried. She looked up, her big amber eyes shimmering beneath the lamplight — eyes that Vincent knew all too well.
For a brief moment, she forgot the curse. Forgot her ears, her fur, her helplessness.
All she could see was her brother — her calm, steady Vincent — the one who never raised his voice, who always shielded her from the chaos around them.
If only I could stay like this… just for a moment longer, she thought.
Not as a cursed creature, not as a frightened girl — but as someone who could still feel safe.
Vincent smiled faintly as if he could read her thoughts. "You should rest now," he said, lowering his hand to gently pat her head once more. "Try not to think about anything. Tomorrow will be better."
Better?
The word echoed in her heart like a whisper carried by the wind. Could tomorrow really be better… when every tomorrow might turn her into something else?
Still, she nodded — or at least tried to, the movement coming out as a soft tilt of her furry head.
Vincent chuckled quietly. "Good girl," he murmured. Then, with careful hands, he pulled a light blanket over her tiny body.
Nattalie closed her eyes. For the first time since the nightmare began, she allowed herself to breathe slowly — to let her heart settle. The scent of her brother's cologne lingered in the air, calming her.
Outside, the moon hung low and pale, casting silver light through the window.
And as her heartbeat slowed, the faint shimmer of the curse began to fade.
A soft glow surrounded her, the fur melting away, her skin returning to normal — fragile and human again.
When Vincent turned back, he froze — the little cat was gone.
And there, beneath the blanket, was his sister.
Sleeping peacefully, as if none of this had ever happened.
Vincent exhaled in relief, his shoulders finally easing.
"Welcome back, Lilie," he whispered, brushing a lock of hair from her forehead.
Outside, the clock struck midnight — and for that night, at least, the curse was silent.
***
Morning After
The sunlight filtered softly through the gauze curtains, brushing faint gold over the room. The air was still, filled only with the quiet hum of the air conditioner and the slow rhythm of Nattalie's breathing.
She stirred beneath the blanket, eyelids fluttering open to the tender warmth of morning. For a few seconds, her mind was blank — no memory, no fear, no curse. Only the simple peace of waking.
Then it hit her.
Last night.
Her breath caught. Nattalie threw off the blanket and stared down at her hands — pale, human, trembling. Her gaze darted toward the mirror across the room.
Her reflection stared back — no fur, no tail, no pointed ears.
Just her.
Just Nattalie.
A strangled laugh escaped her lips, half disbelieving, half relieved. "I'm… me again," she whispered.
The door creaked softly.
Vincent's familiar silhouette filled the doorway, carrying a tray of warm porridge and milk. His hair was slightly disheveled, his expression calm as always — though the faint dark circles beneath his eyes betrayed how long he'd been awake.
"Good morning, Lilie," he greeted with that quiet warmth only he could manage. "You slept through the night."
She blinked at him, still dazed. "I… didn't think I'd ever wake up like this again."
Vincent set the tray on her bedside table, smiling gently. "I told you — tomorrow would be better."
Her throat tightened. "You really waited the whole night, didn't you?"
He shrugged lightly, as if it was nothing. "I wasn't going to leave you like that. You were scared."
Nattalie's eyes burned. She bit her lip, trying not to cry again, but her voice cracked anyway. "I don't deserve you, Kak…"
Vincent reached out, brushing his thumb gently across her cheek. "Don't say that," he said softly. "You're my sister. You're family. There's nothing to deserve."
Nattalie looked up at him, her heart swelling with both gratitude and dread.
She wanted to stay in this moment forever — in the quiet safety of his presence. But reality pressed against her like a shadow creeping back in.
The curse wasn't gone.
It had only… fallen asleep.
"Vincent," she murmured, her voice trembling. "What if it happens again? What if next time… I don't come back?"
He fell silent for a long moment, his expression unreadable. Then, with quiet conviction, he said,
"Then I'll find a way to bring you back. No matter what it takes."
Something inside her broke — or maybe it healed. She didn't know anymore.
She reached out, wrapping her arms around him tightly. "Promise me," she whispered into his shoulder.
Vincent held her just as tightly. "I promise."
Outside, the morning sun rose higher, scattering light across the quiet Huang residence.
For now, the world was peaceful — as if the curse had never existed.
But deep inside, both siblings knew… this calm was only the beginning.
***