For a second—Neither of them moved.
The air between them felt tight, stretched thin by something neither of them had named yet. Mishell's breath hitched—just once—before she caught it, forcing it back under control. Then he stepped away, not far, just enough to let the moment loosen its grip.
"And you're not doing enough," He replied.
She looked away immediately, jaw tightening.
What… was that?
Something had obviously changed between them it was subtle but real and she wasn't sure if she liked it.
Mishell straightened, pulling herself back together with practiced precision.
"Don't do that again" She said, voice low and firm. "Don't get that close to me."
Jax didn't argue and apologize either.
Instead, that same slow knowing smirk appeared as he turned and walked back to his seat like nothing unusual had happened.
"I had to," He said casually.
Mishell frowned. "Excuse me?"
He leaned back slightly, eyes flicking toward the far corner of the room where a small red light blinked faintly.
"The media are still around," He said. "We're supposed to look like we're actually on a real date."
Her eyes followed his briefly, The flashes of cameras still lingers in the air. They had no break and It was exhausting, she even wondered why humans are so Interested In prying Into other people's life.
She exhaled slowly through her nose.
"You could have warned me."
"And ruin the reaction?" He said lightly. "No. That part was convincing."
Her gaze snapped back to him, sharp.
"You're enjoying this too much."
"Maybe," He admitted, unbothered.
Surprisingly, Mishell sat back down. This time, she didn't look like she was about to leave.
"Fine," She said. "Then act properly."
Jax raised a brow. "Define properly."
"Like someone who actually wants to be here."
He leaned forward slightly, resting his arms on the table, studying her in a way that felt a little too intentional.
"Who says I don't?"
That caught her just for a second, he was being weird tonight probably cause of the cameras and for the public but also It was making her feel some kind of way she couldn't quite explain.
The rest of the date unfolded in a way neither of them had expected. At first, it was stiff, polite and little bit controlled.
But slowly almost without permission it swifted. Jax continued to tease her, It was light and effortless.
Mishell pushed back too, giving dry, sharp replies but not as cold as before.
And somewhere in between— They stopped pretending quite as much.
"You don't smile a lot," Jax said at some point, watching her.
"I do" She replied Immediately.
"No," He said, tilting his head slightly. "You almost smile."
Mishell frowned faintly. "That doesn't even make sense."
"It does," He said. "It's like you start to… then you stop yourself."
She held his gaze for a second longer than necessary.
"Maybe I just don't find things funny."
Jax's lips curved. "That's not true."
"Oh?"
"I think you just don't let yourself enjoy them. You are really beautiful I must admit but your smile Is something I wasnt to see".
That landed closer than she expected.
She looked away but not before a small, fleeting smile brushed her lips. So quick it almost didn't exist.
Jax noticed, of course he did
"There," He said quietly.
Mishell immediately turned her head. "Don't get too excited that was nothing"
"Not to me" He replied.
The night went peacefully.
Elsewhere.
The night settled in quietly, wrapping the city in a calm that felt almost deceptive.
Because while everything looked still,
not everything was at rest. Corelia landed lightly over the fence, her feet touching the ground without a sound. She didn't move immediately from that spot.
For a brief second, she simply stood there still, composed, her gaze lifting toward the towering apartment ahead. The building looked quiet, almost too quiet, its windows dimly lit like nothing unusual had ever touched it but she knew better.
A faint, knowing smile curved her lips.
Earlier that evening Lydia had been pacing around, thinking which was never a good sign.
"Okay—but explain this to me," Lydia said, waving her hands. "You said you're going to protect Vic from the ruin wraith, right?"
Corelia nodded calmly.
"Yes."
"How?" Lydia pressed. "Like… physically? Spiritually? Emotionally? Because I feel like all three are important."
Corelia's lips curved slightly.
"I'll place a protection spell on him," she said.
Lydia paused. "Okay… that sounds powerful."
"It will alert me whenever the wraith gets close."
Lydia blinked then blinked again.
"Wait." A slow realization hit her. "How are you going to be close enough to him to do that?"
Corelia didn't answer Immediately, she just smiled.
"I have a plan".
Back to her standing Infront of the apartment. She lifted her hand slightly, her expression switching into quiet focus. Corelia casted a spell on herself, a soft, unseen energy wrapping around her form like a second skin, It glowed faintly for a split second then vanished completely. So did she.
She was Invisible to mere eyes, untouchable and unseen. She moved forward without hesitation, the entrance doors offered no resistance. She passed through effortlessly, her presence leaving no trace behind.
Inside, she slowed. Her eyes moved carefully, taking in everything. The apartment was larger than expected so far larger. It wasn't just a place to live, It was a space designed for constant movement and creation. Equipment lined the walls, a studio setup tucked Into one side, while the rest balanced comfort with quiet luxury. Soft music drifted faintly through the hallway.
She followed it.
Jeremy sat in a studio-like room, a guitar resting against his thigh, fingers moving absently over the strings. The melody was incomplete, scattered but there was focus in the way he played, like he was chasing something just out of reach.
He didn't notice her not even slightly.
Corelia paused at the doorway, watching him for a moment then moved on.
The rest of the apartment felt calm and quiet, she search room after room, It was all empty. Foxy was nowhere to be found.
The living area was untouched even the kitchen felt abandoned.
"…Where are you…" she murmured softly.
Still shifting between spaces In the apartment, then a door slightly open, she stepped inside and stopped almost Immediately.
Vic stood near the center, just stepping out of the shower, completely unaware of the presence that had entered his space.
The air was still warm, faint steam curling lazily against the walls, softening the edges of everything around him.
Water traced slowly down his skin, each droplet catching the dim light before slipping along the natural contours of his body. His shoulders were broad but not exaggerated—strong in a way that felt real, lived-in. The kind of strength built over time, not displayed for attention.
His chest rose and fell steadily, defined without effort, every line subtle but precise—like something sculpted with intention but left untouched after. Not perfect in a polished sense… but compelling in a way perfection could never be. His hair still damp, fell loosely across his forehead, darker than usual, strands clinging together as drops gathered at the ends before falling one… two… tracing down along his jawline and neck.
There was something almost careless about the way he stood there, comfortable in his own skin in a way that made it hard to look away.
Corelia blinked once then again.
For a moment she didn't move, couldn't think straight or breathe.
"…Oh."
The word barely left her lips. She turned her head sharply, looking away like she'd been caught doing something she shouldn't.
Then a frown settled on her face.
"Why am I looking away?" she murmured quietly. Her brows knit slightly. "He can't even see me."
That was true.
Slowly, she looked back, this time without hesitation and stepped closer. Her movements were quieter now, more controlled, every step was on purpose. But her gaze lingered just a second longer than necessary, as though she was trying to understand something she hadn't expected to feel. She concentrated more on the mission, tge spell.
Her fingers lifted slightly. A faint, invisible energy gathered at her fingertips, subtle but precise, bending quietly to her will.
All she needed… was proximity.
Corelia stepped in, close enough now.
Her hand moved toward him steady and
certain. As she was about to touch him Vic shifted. Her fingers brushed nothing but air.
Corelia stilled, her brows drew together slightly. She adjusted her position and
Moved to his side this time. More careful and precise, her hand rose again closer than usual. She was almost there Vic moved again..A step to the left.
At this point it felt Intentional.
Corelia exhaled softly, a quiet breath slipping past her lips.
"Really? Can he see me or something?"
She circled him now, slow but measured.
Her presence silent, her focus sharp.
Trying to predict him an understand him again. She stepped in front of him,closer than before to feel the faint warmth still clinging to his skin. Her fingers lifted.
The energy at her fingertips sharpened slightly, responding to her focus, this time she moved faster and just as her hand was about to touch him Vic turned again.
Corelia's hand stopped mid-air then she screamed
"You're making this unnecessarily difficult," she outed out.
Still she wasn't going to give up. She followed him again, matching his movements now, closing the distance with quiet persistence. At this point, it no longer felt like coincidence It felt like resistance.
Corelia narrowed her eyes slightly adjusted once more.
One last attempt
She thought as she stepped directly in front of him closer than ever, her presence nearly brushing against his.
Her hand lifted again and just as she moved to place it on him.
"Don't."
Her entire body stilled, Vic hadn't moved.
Not this time slowly he turned his head and faced her directly.
"Don't touch me."
Silence fell heavy between them.
Corelia didn't move, she couldn't.
Because the way he was standing now, the way his eyes fixed on that exact spot
It didn't feel like instinct anymore It felt like he was looking right at her.