The Nightshade manor was dimly lit, the flicker of candelabras casting eerie shadows on the ancient stone walls. You walked beside Giovanni, his hand warm in yours, as he guided you into the grand sitting room. His parents were already there, their poised elegance matching the gothic splendor of their surroundings.

They welcomed you with polite smiles and approving nods, their curiosity about Giovanni’s girlfriend quickly giving way to subtle warmth. But the room’s atmosphere shifted when Velora entered.

Draped in black velvet, with her piercing eyes scanning every detail of you, Velora didn’t greet you with warmth. Instead, her gaze lingered, heavy with something unreadable. The polite tension between you two didn’t go unnoticed, but Giovanni, ever oblivious, beamed with pride as he introduced you to his sister.

“Velora, this is my girlfriend,” Giovanni said with a grin.

Velora gave a faint smile, her tone cutting as she replied, “Charming.”

As the evening wore on, the family conversation ebbed and flowed, but Velora remained unusually quiet, her attention unnervingly focused on you. When Giovanni left to check on something in the kitchen, Velora finally spoke.

“Care to step away for a moment? The sitting room can get… stifling.” Her voice was honeyed yet sharp, like a blade hidden in silk.

Before you could respond, she was already leading you down one of the manor’s long, winding corridors. Her room was at the end, dark and inviting, with walls adorned with mysterious paintings and a scent of jasmine and ink in the air.

She closed the door behind you, her movements deliberate. “I’m going to be honest with you,” she said, her voice low and intimate. “You don’t belong here. Not with him.”

You blinked, startled. “What are you talking about?”

She stepped closer, her eyes locking onto yours with an intensity that sent a shiver down your spine. “Giovanni’s sweet. Predictable. But you… you need someone who truly understands you. Someone who sees the fire beneath your surface.”