Night of Unravelling

The day had already passed, and the shy moon was about to grace the world with its presence within a couple hours.

Anna stood in front of a mirror holding two dresses one of which was a black party gown with white and golden embroidery, net sleeves, and the other was a green gown with printed black and yellow floral designs, both were elegant in their own way and made one appear above the rest.

Anna looked at the dresses in the mirror with a thoughtful look but soon she shook her head and placed both of the dresses and looked at them with hands on her waist.

Anna turned towards Veylor and asked.

"What do you think, Vey? Which one should I wear?" she looked at Veylor with eyes full of hope.

Veylor turned towards her and then looked at the dresses, he turned back to her once again, nodded his head and started to walk out of the room as he continuously nodded to himself.

"Meow Meow Meow…"

Anna looked at the acts of Veylor with a baffled look as she mumbled.

"It shouldn't be that hard, right?"

Anna flung her arms up in annoyance and walked towards the black gown and picked it up and walked towards the dressing area.

Once ready, Anna looked at herself in the mirror with a proud look. She wore a black gown, golden earrings adorned with various gemstones, black heels, and a serpent-like bracelet with a purple gem in its maw —a gift from Damien— on her right wrist. Her hair flowed down to her waist like a waterfall.

Anna placed her hand around the waist which apparently had pockets leading to hidden compartments which had her daggers. She took them and looked at them with a solemn look, a few moments later she shook her head and placed the daggers back and smiled.

"I look pretty as always." Anna boasted as she started to giggle and left the room.

"Miss Anna." Andy called out as he bowed towards Anna. 

He stood beside the door to Anna's room.

"Uncle Andy!" Anna greeted him with a smile, her voice gentle. I

"The car is ready, Miss Anna." Andy too replied with a smile of his own.

'Just looking at her smile makes one smile.' he thought as he looked at Anna with warm eyes.

"Okay." Anna nodded as she started to walk towards the stairs and left the mansion.

Anna looked towards Jack who was smoking a cigarette as he looked at the image of his deceased wife. A sad smile involuntarily appeared on his face. 

Seeing him smoke, Anna frowned as she called out with a serious tone.

"Uncle Jack."

Jack nearly dropped his phone when he heard Anna's voice. He hurriedly threw away the cigarette and stepped on it and coughed a few times.

"Ahem… Miss Anna!" Jack turned towards the voice and saw Anna walking towards him with a frown.

'Ah she is going to lecture me again.' He thought. 

Anna however stood there in silence and spoke after a few moments.

"Do you still miss aunt?" Anna questioned with a tone full of worry.

Jack, who was ready for the lecture, frowned deeply, but soon shook his head as a bitter smile appeared on his face.

"Yes, I do, miss Anna." Jack said with a voice full of love and passion and continued.

"I miss her everyday and every moment but I can't lament on it now, can I? After all, I promised her that I would live without regrets and I have no regrets."

Anna, who heard his words, fell in her own thoughts.

'Live without regrets…' 

'I wonder if I could do that.'

"Miss Anna?" Jack called out with a tilt of his head. His voice was a little louder as he was calling her for quite some time.

"You shouldn't think too deeply about it, Miss Anna." Jack said with a doting smile on his face, for everyone including the servants and employees of Starborne Mansion Anna was like their own daughter.

"Yes." Anna replied with a nod of her head.

She walked towards the car and sat at her usual seat.

"Let's go." Anna gave the command to leave and Jack followed.

The car zipped past the streets of Necron City, leaving behind other vehicles. The streets were illuminated by a strange canopy of neon and LED lights.

After a few moments it stopped in front of a huge iron fence design gate behind which stood a huge building, its windows emanating from the lights inside, bathing it in an elegant glow, people could be seen moving throughout the place.

Anna stepped out of the car with an envelope in her hand, she walked towards the gate at which stood three figures— two guards and an agent.

Anna walked towards the agent, who wore a white shirt under a black blazer, his pants and boots were of the same colour. He appeared average, someone so plain, you'd forget him within an hour.

The Agent looked at Anna with a smile as he spoke with a gentle smile.

"Miss Anieal, you don't have to show us your invitation." 

Anna nodded at him without any change in expression, it was normal for her. After all, who didn't know about her within Necron City? Everyone knew her.

The guards moved and opened the gates, Anna walked inside.

There was a pool a dozen steps away from the gates at the centre, lounger chairs were placed around the pool with appropriate space. Anna continued to walk and soon stopped as her eyes fell on three figures chatting together with a glass of wine, cocktail or other beverages. A smile appeared on Anna's face when she saw the three girls.

"Hey!" Anna called out with a loud voice, her voice filled with excitement for the party and having fun with her friends.

Hanna, Zora and Elise turned towards the voice as they called out with a smile.

"""Anna!"""

Anna's smile widened as she moved forward and hugged all of them one by one.

Hanna wore a baggy cream t-shirt which was tucked under her black jeans, black boots and her usual black earrings. She didn't appear as weak or tired as before.

Elise donned an open blue jacket with white round neck t-shirt underneath, a blue skirt with red lines and black stylish sliders. A golden pendant rested on her neck, She had an excited look on her face.

Zora wore a camo hoodie with white shorts which reached an inch above her knees, silver hope earrings adorned her ears. She had the same look as Elise.

"How do I look?" Anna questioned as she turned around in a full circle,

Hearing her question a wry smile appeared on all of their faces.

Anna, hearing no reply, asked once again.

"How do I look?" her eyes narrowing with each passing moment.

"Stop it Anna, you always look good no matter what you wear." Elise said as she was annoyed by Anna's behaviour.

Zora followed Elise as she spoke.

"Yeah, Elise is right, Anna. I bet you would look good even if you wore rags." Zora finished and the other two nodded at her words.

"So, you are calling my outfit rags now?" Anna questioned with a solemn look on her face as she looked in the eyes of Zora.

"W-what?! That's not what I meant." Zora tried to clear out the misunderstanding but Anna didn't let her.

"I don't know, it sounded like that to me." Anna replied, her eyes narrowed.

Hanna shook her head as she walked forward and placed her hand on Anna's shoulder as she spoke.

"Enough teasing, Anna."

Anna's expression suddenly turned to one of amusement as she started to chuckle.

"Haha! But it was fun."

"That it was." Elise agreed as she nodded to herself.

"Hmph!" Zora, who had finally put the pieces together, looked away with a pout.

And seeing that, Anna once again started to chuckle.

"Zora! Elise!" Right then Zora and Elise were called by other friends of theirs.

"You both should go and chat with them too." Hanna suggested with a smile on her face as she looked at the friends of Zora and Elise.

"Alright." Zora agreed as she held Elise by her hand and dragged her away.

Hanna, who was finally alone with Anna heaved a sigh as her face turned serious.

"Anna." She called out and turned towards Anna, only to find her stuffing a donut in her mouth.

"These are good." Anna said as pointed at the donut she was eating.

Hanna shook her head as she continued.

"Anna, I want to talk." 

Hanna nodded and replied as she continued to eat the donut.

"Go ahead."

"It's serious, Anna."

"Hmm… how serious?"

"Very serious."

Anna finished the donut she was eating and cleaned her lips with a handkerchief as she spoke.

"Let's move somewhere more private.