It took me a lot of effort to finally go back to my studio. I didn't know how much time I had spent in Lu Jinghao's penthouse but I knew, that was the most peaceful morning I had ever had.
My studio still felt silent, just like the threads of secrets it carried.
The beautiful morning light was painting all my mannequins gold but for some reason, I felt like some of them were turning their heads towards me.
'None of them turned host. You are just too tired...and probably overstimulated.'
"Your words are not reassuring me Nova," I muttered, placing a cup of freshly brewed coffee on the edge of my desk.
My assistant Rumei seemed to have placed everything in order, as my schedule for the day was neatly placed on my desk, my upcoming orders printed neatly on another sheet of paper.
To date, I wonder how none of my workers ever realized what was happening in my studio, but only Lu Jinghao seemed to be caught up in my world. This was all confusing but I didn't have time to think through things.
'No one else can see what you see host, I just don't know how your CEO lover seems to see past the ordinary eye.'
"You aren't making things easy for me Nova. You are not reassuring me...if anything, you are just making me think deeper."
'Well host, that makes two of us because nothing is reassuring about listening to a stubborn human in a haunted workspace.'
"Hey! My studio is not haunted."
'Stinky liar. You call yourself phantom and most of your collections are either named after rebirths or ghosts. How you love to deny things!'
"You little..." I rolled my eyes at him and turned back to the sketches. I had a lot of work to do.
The past few weeks had been nothing but a blur of shows and galas, Lu Jinghao's interviews and his public declaration of my position in his proffesional life. The world was still buzzing in envy and curiosity but beneath that success, there was a heavy fabric soaked in memory.
I noticed this when I decided to reorganize some of the boxes I took from my old studio, boxes I never had the courage to open since my rebirth.
"Okay Nova! It is time to open these big boys. I wonder what is in them."
I spoke as I set my sketch pad down, ready to break through the boxes.
"This looks like a mannequin, judging from how tall it is." I spoke to no one in particular as I broke the box and true to my words, it was an antique mannequin draped in a ruined shawl.
I felt my tears sting because it belonged to my mother. The more I looked at the silk shawl, the more my chest tightened with part grief and part motivation to complete my mother's unfinished work.
The mannequin had some hollowness, but it was carved from high quality dark mahogany. I genuinely couldn't recall ever seeing this mannequin because it was just another sealed box in my former studio.
The scarf however, I had seen it countless times, I just couldn't come to a conclusion on how it got in there.
I let my fingers brush the back of its waist and there sat an engraving.
"Nova," I whispered, shaking slightly. "What is this?"
'I am not sure host, but there might be a hidden compartment somewhere.'
I felt a thrill creep up my spine. "Are you sure there is a hidden compartment?"
I put in some force as I pressed the engraving and suddenly, something clicked.
The mannequin's back opened slightly, akin to a secret inhaling after hours underwater.
There was a rolled wrapper inside, wrapped in high quality silk that was intact.
My breath caught because there was a crest stamped on the ribbon. This crest had the infinity symbol interlocked with two needles.
Below it, there were faint rose gold letters.
HOUSE OF NEXUS
'...oh crap!'
"What do you mean oh crap?"
'Statistically, this house results to danger and curses, 99.9%'
"Don't play games with me Nova. What exactly is this?"
'That is an international fashion house older than I am host. That alone should tell you something.'
I slowly unrolled the wrapper, my heart pounding. The handwriting inside was elegant and unmistakably my mother's.
To my beloved daughter Rui. If you are reading this, that means either you have found the guild or the guild has found you. Either way, the threads of fate are already stirring. Do not, I repeat, DO NOT OPEN OR TRUST THE SECOND DOOR IN THE SPACE. That door does not open to light.
With love,
Lin Yue.
The paper uncontrollably shook in my hands.
"Nova...this is my mother's handwriting. But what is it with the second door?"
'Host, we do not talk about the second door .'
" But why?"
'Because the last time your mother did, she died three days later.'
My heart turned cold before I stopped.
"What do you mean, didn't my stepmother and sister kill her?"
'Well, after your mother opened the second door, those two were used as a catalyst to finish her...but the...I shouldn't be telling you this now."
"Why didn't you tell me?"
'Your mother made me. I am not supposed to say some things until it is time.'
"But...you are supposed to be just mine..."
'Cute. But no. I was not only her companion but also her...guard.'
My throat went dry. "What do you mean guard?"
'Sigh. The sooner you understand this Rui, the better. Your mother did not just design clothes. Your mother designed spells and wards. Every piece of hers was protection and every stitch a sacred seal.'
I turned to the mirror, still processing Nova's words when for a brief second, my reflection changed. It was no longer mine, but my mother's. She looked exactly like me but her eyes glowed gold, the beauty mark beneath her eye glowed too.
"M..mom?" I called out and the reflection tilted its head. And suddenly, it spoke.
"Rui, do not open the second door."
The moment her voice faded, the mirror shattered, scaring me completely, that I ended up stumbling back, my heart hammering, as the glass shards glittered around me.
"Nova!" I gasped, finally finding my voice. "What the hell just happened? What was that?"
'Host, that is memory projection linked to what you just touched.'
"Memory projection?"
'In other words, your mother sent you a ghost voicemail.'
I sank to my knees, as I stared at the broken mirror. Something serious was changing in my space but nothing seemed to align just yet.
I extended my hand a touched the mannequin again and that's when I saw it.
'Don't touch it host.'
I ignored Nova's words and did it anyway.
I saw models walking in silence, wearing dresses that shimmered like they were alive. My mother stood at the center of it all, weaving light through her fingers and then...darkness.
All I heard afterwards was screams, defeating and agonizing screams.
"Nova..." I shook while whispering. "I saw her creation."
'That is why I told you not to touch anything host.'
My pulse raced. "But...why did my mother leave this space for me?"
'Maybe she had hopes that you would do what she failed to. But what exactly did she fail to do?'
Nova's words got me thinking, and I turned to look at the crest one more time.
"Nova, If my mother was part of this, then I want to know why."
'You will host. Just not today.'
I forced myself to look away, my reflection shimmering on the broken glass shards on the floor.
Everything finally went silent as my studio returned to its stillness, with my own shallow and uneven breathing gracing my ears.
I watched the crest still gleaming faintly in my palm, before I decided to seal it away.
All I could hear the whole day was the weight of my mother's voice.
Do not open the second door Rui.