The storm outside raged like a creature losing its mind, wind clawing at the windows while shadows flickered across the halls of the mansion the Twinster still struggled to memorize.
They were not allowed to attend Elena's funeral. "Family only," the adults had said, shutting the door before they could argue.
So they wandered through the empty rooms to distract themselves, turning hide and seek into a treasure hunt just so the silence would not swallow them whole.
It had been a year since they moved in, yet this house still felt too large and full of corners they did not understand.
Silas stopped first. A soft melody slipped through the crack of the drawing room door, delicate and familiar.
Adrian leaned in beside him and both boys peeked through the gap.
Lucien sat at the piano, fingers moving with a careful grace he always wanted them to admire, hoping they could point out mistakes even though they never could.
