Page 152 of Midnights
Can’t I have one night with no weird shit?
It’s been happening more frequently now, an unseen presence just out of reach. But every time I turn, there isn’t anyone there.
Still, it lingers. Tightening around my ribs.
I force my focus back on the dance, to the music, and on the way my partner’s hands guide me through each step.
Everything starts to shift when the sound around me dulls. The ballroom lights dim as a sharp, high-pitched ringing floods my ears, drowning out the laughter, the music, and the murmuring voices. The world around me blurs, and the colors fade, while the movement around me slows down.
I blink hard, and my footing wavers. The floor is suddenly unsteady, like reality itself has tilted. My partner’s lips move, but his voice doesn’t reach me.
I shake my head, blinking again. The moment snaps like a rubber band, and the ringing fades as the music filters back in.
His words cut through the fog. “... you alright, love?”
I exhale, forcing a reassuring smile, though my pulse is still thundering. “Yeah, just a little… distracted.”
I can tell he's not convinced. “Tell me,” he muses, titling his head as if trying to read through my expression. “Do you ever feel like places like this are haunted with old memories?”
I blink. Not the question I was expecting.
“I suppose it’s possible,” I answer slowly, choosing my words carefully. “Especially places with so much history.”
“Exactly.” His voice dips lower, almost to a purr. “It’s like certain people are more open to it, more attuned, you know?”
I shrug, “Could be.”
“I get the sense you might be one of those people.”
I shiver, trying to decide if I like this conversation or if I should be walking away already.
“Interesting observation,” I let out a small laugh. “But I think I’d notice if I were… attuned.”
The song winds down, and I step back, offering a polite smile.
“Thanks for the dance, have a great night.”
I dip into a graceful curtsy, hoping to make my exit feel like a choice, not a retreat.
“If you’ll excuse me, I promised my friend I’d find her after each dance.”
I turn around and slam straight into a wall of solid muscle. A sharp inhale catches in my throat.
Warm hands find my waist and it sears straight through me, sharp and sudden.
I look up and freeze.
His mask is dark and sharp edged. Even in the shadows of the dance floor, his gold-flecked eyes cut through the dim light. They're impossible to look away from.
For a second, the entire room tilts. The music fades, the world narrows, and I’m locked in the weight of that stare. It's different than when it hit me on the dance floor a moment ago. This one digs in, demanding I pay attention.
They remind me of Kane’s eyes, but there's no way.
Before I can shake myself loose, the next song starts in a low, sultry, way, humming with something I probably shouldn't want to feel.
He steps closer with his hand outstretched in a silent command.
I freeze, scanning his face for a tell, for any sign of what game he thinks he's playing—why every nerve in my body is suddenly staging a coup against me.
