The city above roared with rain and traffic, but inside Praise's mansion, silence reigned. Massive chandeliers hung from the high ceilings, catching light from ornate windows and throwing patterns across polished floors. Prince, Lammy, and Jed stepped cautiously into the grand foyer, the weight of the tunnels behind them replaced by awe—and a lingering unease.
Praise appeared from a doorway above, descending the marble stairs with effortless grace. Her dark eyes scanned them carefully, lingering on Lammy with recognition. The first time Prince laid eyes on her, he felt an unexpected flutter in his chest, a warmth that had nothing to do with the mansion's lavish decor. She's… remarkable, he thought, heart skipping a beat. Calm, confident, and impossibly graceful, she seemed untouchable—yet oddly familiar.
"I didn't expect to see you here," Praise said, voice calm but firm. "And I certainly didn't expect to be hosting… fugitives."
Lammy swallowed. "It wasn't safe anywhere else. Please… we need a place to regroup."
Praise studied them for a long moment, then nodded. "Very well. You'll stay. But understand this—this house is no ordinary shelter. There are rules. And secrets."
Prince couldn't help but notice the mansion's size, the quiet luxury, and the fact that it was practically empty. But his attention kept drifting back to Praise. The way she moved, the sharpness in her gaze, the quiet authority in her tone—it all left him momentarily distracted.
"Your parents?" he asked quietly, trying to focus.
"They're gone," Praise replied, her tone unreadable. "Long gone. I manage this place alone now." She gestured toward the library, where rows of books and odd artifacts lined the walls. "Here, you can rest, heal, and plan. But keep your eyes open. Danger doesn't stop at my gate."
The team spread out. Lammy carefully examined the library, brushing his fingers across spellbook and journals. Jed leaned against a wall, wincing as he tended to his wounds. Prince walked to a window, peering at the sprawling gardens below, yet even there his thoughts kept returning to Praise—how her presence seemed to command the room without effort. He felt both admiration and something unfamiliar stirring inside him.
Despite the opulence, an air of tension clung to the mansion. Praise moved through the halls with precision, as if she knew every corner and secret. "I've watched over this city for years," she said finally. "Not because I'm rich, or because it's safe… but because someone has to. The Revenants are growing bolder, and soon, you'll see just how dangerous they've become."
Prince felt a chill. The ghost girl's warning from the tunnels echoed in his mind: "They're building something… it's calling us…"
Lammy approached Praise. "Can we trust you?"
Praise's gaze hardened. "I'm not your enemy. But I am no fool. If you slip up here, the Revenants will find you—and me. So yes… you can trust me. For now."
The night deepened, and shadows gathered in corners where lamplight didn't reach. In the mansion's quiet, the team tended to their wounds, sharing stories of survival and loss. Prince found himself sitting slightly closer to Praise than necessary, stealing glances when she wasn't looking. Each word she spoke, each movement she made, pulled at something inside him he hadn't expected.
As the team settled into the library, Lammy and Jed exchanged quiet updates on wounds and supplies. Prince lingered near the window, pretending to study the sprawling gardens outside, though his attention kept drifting back to Praise.
Praise approached, carrying a tray of water and bandages. "You've been staring out that window for a while," she said lightly, arching an eyebrow. "Watching the city, or… someone in it?"
Prince froze, the tray almost tipping in his hands. "Uh… just… thinking," he stammered, cheeks heating. He looked away, focusing on a distant tree, though he knew she could tell he was lying.
Praise smirked, setting the tray down. "Hmm. Thinking, huh? I hope your thoughts are useful. The Revenants won't wait while you daydream."
Prince tried to hide a sheepish grin. "Yes… I mean, no. I mean—I'm ready. Always ready."
Praise laughed softly, the sound light but confident. "We'll see, Prince. Actions speak louder than words." She walked away, leaving him staring after her, feeling both frustrated and intrigued.
Lammy, noticing the exchange, nudged him quietly. "You like her, don't you?"
Prince blinked, startled, and muttered, "I… maybe…" He refused to look back at Praise, though a small, guilty smile tugged at his lips.
Even in a mansion filled with secrets and shadows, Prince realized that sometimes the most unexpected dangers—or delights—were the ones that touched your heart.
The mansion was a temporary sanctuary, yet the weight of the outside world pressed on their minds. Beyond these walls, dangers were growing, planning, building, calling. And somewhere within the quiet and opulence of Praise's home, Prince realized he had found something unexpected—a spark of something that might make the coming storm feel a little less lonely.
For now, the mansion was safe. But the shadows outside promised that safety would not last.