I did not dye my hair.

A beautiful, peaceful Saturday morning arrived. The golden sunlight streamed through the windows, casting a warm glow over the quiet house. The scent of freshly brewed coffee and buttered toast filled the air as Lucien stood in the kitchen, preparing breakfast. The rhythmic sound of the knife slicing through fruit and the occasional clinking of utensils against plates echoed softly in the stillness.

Aunt Mariam arrived early, stepping inside just as Lucien flipped the last pancake onto a plate. She greeted him with a brief nod and a mumbled "Good morning" before heading straight to the bathroom. Her hurried pace and lack of conversation made Lucien suspicious—he couldn't help but wonder what she had done. More importantly, had she used the Devil's Claw?

By the time Mariam returned, her hair was damp from her bath, and she wore a fresh set of clothes. She sat at the table, gazing at the breakfast Lucien had carefully arranged. There was a moment of silence between them. Lucien observed her closely, noticing a subtle change in her demeanor. She looked… calm. Too calm.

"Where is Golderine? Breakfast is getting cold," Mariam finally spoke, her voice even.

"She's still sleeping," Lucien replied, setting two cups of coffee on the table. He poured one for himself and the other for Mariam, then sat down across from her. He took a sip, the bitter warmth of the coffee spreading through his chest before he continued, "You look different… peaceful. As if all your worries are gone."

Mariam smirked slightly and stirred a spoonful of sugar into her coffee. "Do I? Well, I would be happy if that were true, Lucien. Just ask what you want to ask. Stop speaking in riddles—I want to enjoy this breakfast you've made."

Lucien exhaled sharply and leaned back. "What did you do with the ingredients I gave you? The potions… and the Devil's Claw?" His voice was low, cautious.

Mariam lifted her cup, took a slow sip, and then smiled at him. "I made a Nightmare Potion. For those who seek to discover their true selves."

Lucien's grip on his cup tightened slightly. "At least you didn't use it to kill anyone," he muttered. "But whose hair did you use?"

Mariam looked at him, her expression unreadable. Then, with an unsettling calmness, she said, "My niece, Lucien."

Lucien nearly choked, his coffee sloshing dangerously close to the rim of his cup. "You used Golderine's hair?" His voice was a mix of disbelief and restrained anger. "You made it so that she would appear in people's dreams… terrorizing them based on their deepest desires and everything they love?"

"Yes, I did." Mariam's voice remained soft, but there was an unmistakable firmness to it.

Lucien ran a hand through his hair, exhaling in frustration. "You actually did it… And yet, Scarlet isn't evil. She doesn't deserve to be used like this." His voice lowered. "How long will it last?"

"Seven days," Mariam replied casually. "Though I plan to extend it."

Lucien's eyes narrowed. "And why would you do that?"

Mariam leaned back in her chair, a slow, knowing smile creeping onto her lips. "Because those people tormented my niece in reality. They don't deserve to sleep soundly, to dream sweetly. They deserve to feel the same fear, the same helplessness she felt. Even for just a week, I will make sure they cannot rest—not even for a moment."

Lucien studied her, the silence between them thick with unspoken tension. He wanted to argue, to tell her that vengeance in this form was cruel, but deep down, he knew Mariam was not one to be easily swayed.

Before he could say anything, Mariam turned away and called Golderine, her voice light and unconcerned.

"Golderine! Come eat breakfast."

Golderine woke up to the soft glow of morning light filtering through her curtains. Her body felt strangely light, yet there was a warmth coursing through her veins, an unfamiliar sensation she couldn't quite place. Stretching her limbs, she sat up, rubbing the sleep from her eyes. She glanced at the bedside clock—no school today. A sigh of relief left her lips.

Without much thought, she slipped out of bed and headed straight for the shower. The warm water cascaded down her skin, washing away any lingering drowsiness. She absentmindedly ran her fingers through her hair, feeling its silky texture but not bothering to check its color. Once dark, it had now transformed into a mesmerizing shade of rose gold, with delicate streaks of silver shimmering under the bathroom light. But Golderine, lost in thought, didn't even notice.

After drying herself off, she threw on a pair of comfortable clothes—an oversized sweater and soft leggings—caring little about appearances. Her mind was elsewhere, tangled in dreams she couldn't quite remember. As she ran her fingers over her neck, expecting to feel the familiar cool touch of the blood-red necklace Lucien had given her, her fingers met something else entirely. A different pendant rested against her collarbone—a crescent moon entwined with vines. It felt ancient, humming with an energy she didn't recognize.

Still unaware of the changes, she left her bed unmade and made her way to the dining room after hearing her aunt calling her name.

"I'm here! Who made breakfast? I'm starving," Golderine said, her voice laced with hunger as she pulled out a chair and focused entirely on the food in front of her.

But she didn't notice the stunned expressions frozen on Mariam and Lucien's faces.

They had stopped mid-motion, mouths slightly open, eyes locked onto her with an intensity that made the air thick with silence. Slowly, as if drawn by some unseen force, both Mariam and Lucien stood up, moving toward her.

Golderine finally looked up. "Why are you guys staring at me like that?" she asked with a nervous chuckle.

Neither of them answered. Instead, they reached out, fingers threading through her long, flowing hair that now cascaded down her back, brushing against her waist. It was breathtaking—the delicate rose gold strands shimmering under the morning light, enhanced by streaks of silver that seemed almost celestial.

"You... you look different," Mariam whispered, awe lacing her voice.

Lucien said nothing, but his gaze darkened. His intense blue eyes roamed over Golderine's face, drinking in the details—the way her cheekbones looked sharper, the way her lips seemed fuller, the way her entire presence radiated an almost divine beauty. There was something magnetic about her now, something ethereal and untouchable.

His chest tightened.

A mix of emotions stirred within him. Awe, desire, confusion. He had always found Golderine beautiful, but now... now she was something else entirely. She wasn't just beautiful. She was mesmerizing. Enchanting. And it made his heart race in ways he wasn't prepared for.

"Mary... Lucien, what's going on? Did I do something wrong?" Golderine asked, trying to keep her voice light.

Lucien didn't respond right away. His gaze was locked onto her, unwavering, as if trying to decipher a mystery only he could see.

"Did you dye your hair, Golderine? What about school?" Mariam finally broke the silence, still touching her transformed locks. "And your makeup... it's flawless. Are you going somewhere special?"

Golderine frowned. "What? I didn't dye my hair. And makeup? What makeup? I don't even—"

Before she could finish, Mariam turned her toward the hallway mirror.

What she saw made her breath hitch.

The girl staring back at her was her, but also... not. Her hair, her eyes—now more piercing, almost glowing—her lips, fuller and more seductive. Her skin had an ethereal radiance, as if kissed by moonlight. She looked like something out of a fantasy. A goddess. A celestial being wrapped in human form.

Her fingers trembled as she touched her own face.

"I... I don't understand," she whispered.

Mariam exhaled, shaking her head. "It wasn't Lucien, Gold. He wouldn't do this to you."

Lucien, who had remained silent all this time, finally spoke.

"Look at her necklace," he murmured.

Both women followed his gaze.

The crescent moon pendant gleamed against her skin, its silver vines almost pulsing with a hidden energy. Mariam's eyes widened, realization dawning upon her.

"This is... It is time," she muttered, more to herself than anyone else.

Golderine felt a strange chill down her spine.

Something about that necklace felt right on her, like it had belonged to her all along. Yet, at the same time, she could feel the absence of Lucien's red blood necklace. Her fingers traced the new pendant absentmindedly, lost in thought.

Lucien's fingers twitched at his sides. His mind was reeling.

He protected Golderine, kept her safe and close. But now, looking at her—this version of her—something primal stirred inside him. She was no longer just the girl he had sworn to watch over. She was something more. More powerful. More dangerous. And undeniably more alluring.

His fingers itched to trace her jawline, to see if she was real.

What was happening to him?

His heart pounded against his ribs. His gaze lingered on her lips—so tempting, so inviting. He had never allowed himself to think of her this way, never let the thought of wanting her seep into his mind. But now, standing before this otherworldly version of her, he found himself battling something dark and possessive within him.

"Golderine..." he said her name like it was a forbidden prayer.

She turned to him, her mesmerizing eyes locking onto his.

A slow smirk curled at his lips.

"You don't even realize how breathtaking you are, do you?" His voice was low, almost a whisper, laced with something unspoken.

Golderine's cheeks warmed under his stare. "Lucien, stop teasing me. This is serious."

"Oh, I'm very serious," he murmured, stepping closer, just enough for her to feel the heat radiating off him.

Her breath caught.

Lucien's fingers brushed a strand of rose-gold hair behind her ear, his touch lingering for a second longer than necessary.

"You're changing, Gold," he said, voice softer now.

Before she could respond, a dizzy spell took hold of her. The room spun, her vision blurred, and a sudden wave of exhaustion washed over her.

"Golderine?" Mariam's voice sounded distant.

Lucien barely had time to catch her as her body went limp.

She fainted.

And in that moment, as he held her close, feeling her warmth against his chest, Lucien realized one thing—

Whatever was happening to Golderine... it was only the beginning.