Chapter 64 Perfect Prey
Aurora's POV
The house had finally settled into silence by the time I slipped out of my room at 1:18 AM. My bare feet made no sound on the hallway carpet as I made my way toward Nolan's bedroom.
I pushed open his door carefully, finding him exactly as I'd expected—sprawled across his bed in rumpled clothes, one arm flung over his eyes, completely unconscious from exhaustion.
Perfect.
I closed the door behind me and crossed to his bedside, kneeling on the mattress beside his sleeping form. My hands trembled slightly as I raised them to his temples, pressing my palms flat against his skin. The moment the obsidian ring made contact with his flesh, I felt the connection snap into place like a lock clicking open.
Dark red symbols flared to life across my palms, spreading in intricate circuits that crawled up my wrists and disappeared beneath my sleeves. I closed my eyes and let my spiritual vision take over, watching as Nolan's life force became visible—a brilliant white stream of pure energy that flowed through his body like liquid sunlight.
I began to draw it into myself, slowly at first, testing the pull. The energy responded immediately, streaming from him into me through the connection points at his temples.
Nolan's breathing remained steady and deep, showing no sign of awareness as I fed on his life force. He trusted me completely, had fought his own family to bring me here where I could rest and recover.
Ten minutes passed in a blur of sensation and power. The bruises on my arms had vanished entirely, leaving smooth unblemished skin in their place. I could feel my body growing stronger with each passing moment, the weakness from the failed ritual melting away as I absorbed more and more of Nolan's vitality.
Then Silk's voice cut through my concentration, cold and sharp in my mind. "You've reached the safe limit. Any more and he'll notice the drain when he wakes."
I wanted to protest, to take just a little more, but I forced myself to pull my hands away from Nolan's temples. The dark red symbols faded from my skin as the connection broke, leaving only the faint warmth of the obsidian ring against my palm.
Nolan stirred slightly, a small frown creasing his forehead. I quickly reached out to smooth away the cold sweat that had beaded on his skin, my touch gentle and careful. He mumbled something incoherent and shifted position, but after a moment his breathing evened out again and he settled back into deep sleep.
I slipped out of his room and made my way back down the hall to my own guest bedroom, closing the door behind me with a soft click. The moment I was alone, I practically ran to the full-length mirror mounted on the far wall, my fingers already reaching up to tear away the bandage covering my forehead.
The wound that had been bleeding through the gauze just hours ago had vanished completely. There wasn't even a scar, just smooth unblemished skin that looked like it had never been injured at all.
I grabbed the hem of my sleeves and pushed them up to my elbows, examining my arms in the mirror's reflection. The black-purple bruises that had covered my skin from wrist to shoulder had disappeared entirely, leaving behind skin that was somehow smoother and more supple than it had been before the ritual.
But it was my face that truly caught my attention. I leaned closer to the mirror, studying every detail of my reflection with growing satisfaction. My skin had taken on a luminous quality, tight and smooth and glowing with health.My cheeks had a fullness to them that made me look years younger.
A smile curved my lips as I ran my fingers along my jawline, feeling the firm smoothness of my skin. "This is what I should look like," I murmured to my reflection. "This is who I really am."
But as I lowered my hand, my smile faded. The satisfaction of my physical transformation couldn't quite erase the bitter taste of failure that lingered in the back of my throat. I moved away from the mirror and sank down into the vanity chair, my mind drifting back to the events that had led me here.
My original target had been Elara. She was supposed to be the one whose body I claimed, whose life I took over completely. I'd spent so much time preparing for that ritual, gathering the materials and timing everything perfectly according to the lunar calendar. But somehow, impossibly, it didn't work.
So I'd shifted my focus to James instead, using one of the dolls I'd given him years ago as a child. The ritual should have worked flawlessly. Except it hadn't. Something had gone wrong that night, some interference I still didn't fully understand.
And then Damian had started asking questions, his sharp mind piecing together connections I'd hoped would remain hidden. The discovery of the doll house had been the final nail in the coffin of that plan. I'd been lucky that I'd given out multiple dolls over the years, that there were other black-haired toys scattered throughout the house that could serve as red herrings.
My hands clenched into fists on the vanity surface as frustration burned through me. I stood abruptly and began pacing the length of the bedroom, my bare feet silent on the plush carpet. The energy I'd absorbed from Nolan thrummed through my veins, making me feel powerful and alive.
"I should try again," I said aloud. "I should take Elara's soul and claim her body as my own. I have the power now, I can feel it—"
"Absolutely not," Silk cut in, her mental voice as cold and sharp as a blade of ice. "The body-snatching method carries far too much risk at this point. Elara has already demonstrated awareness of supernatural threats. She'll be on guard. You need to maintain a low profile."
"I don't want to maintain a low profile!" I snapped, spinning on my heel. "I want what's mine! Why should she get everything while I—"
I cut myself off, pressing my hands to my face and taking several deep breaths. The anger was making me sloppy, making me want to lash out without thinking things through properly. After a moment, I lowered my hands and let out a bitter laugh. "You're right. I can't afford to be impulsive. Not now, not when they're already watching me so closely."
I walked back to the mirror and studied my reflection again, taking in the perfect features and flawless skin. At least I had this—the physical transformation that came from absorbing Nolan's life force. My gaze drifted toward the bedroom door as a new plan took shape in my thoughts.
"Even if I can't go after Elara right now," I murmured, my smile returning, "I can still continue borrowing life force from Nolan. He has the highest favorability rating toward me out of everyone in the family. He trusts me completely, never questions my motives, never sets up any kind of protection against me. He's the perfect energy source."
A laugh bubbled up from my chest, genuine amusement mixing with satisfaction. "He has no idea he's delivered himself into my hands. This isolated estate, quiet and peaceful with no one around to interrupt or ask questions—it's like a hunting ground designed specifically for me."
I crossed to the bed and lay down on top of the covers. I lowered my hand and stared at the ceiling above my bed, my voice soft but filled with venom as I whispered into the darkness: "Elara, you might have won this round, but I'm not finished yet. One day, I'm going to make you kneel before me and beg for mercy."