Once Liora was ready, she walked toward the entrance of the women's residence.
The hallway looked busy with a light shuffle of heels against marble and hit the nostrils with various perfumes. Few women stood in small groups, dressed in a mix of styles—some in fitted dresses that clung like a second skin, others in off-shoulder tops and heels that clicked sharply with every step. A few wore simpler clothes, relaxed and confident in their own way.
Liora didn't try to compete with any of it. She wore a soft purple dress, simple and elegant. The frilled fabric brushed her ankles as she moved. Her heels weren't high, just enough to give her posture a lift. Her hair was tied in a neat French twist, and a butterfly pin rested just above her ear—small, delicate, and easy to miss unless someone was really looking.
She stood quietly for a moment, scanning the place. Then she saw them. Sia and her elder sister were already waiting near the archway. Sia wore a soft cream outfit that fell just below her knees. The dress was detailed with rose-like ruffles sewn into the fabric, giving it a gentle, romantic look. Her hair was loose, curled softly at the ends. Her makeup was light, enough to brighten her features. She wore white heels and smiled the way she always did—bright, open, unfiltered.
Next to her stood a taller woman with sharp Indian features. If Sia looked cute, her sister looked composed and intimated. She wore a sophisticated khaki-coloured gown, loose from the waist down. Pearl earrings framed her face, and her hair was tied into a clean bun. Like Sia, her makeup was minimal.
Sia waved the moment she saw Liora. The motion caught Rhythm's attention, and her calm gaze shifted toward the girl approaching. Liora walked up to them, her heels clicking softly on the stone.
"Li, you radiate softness," Sia said, her eyes complete with admiration. "It's like you are some fragile little fairy. My God—simple but so attractive."
Liora blushed, looking down with a smile. "Thank you, Sia. You look really stunning, beautiful." Then, lowering her voice so only Sia could hear, she added, "I bet Kai won't be able to take his eyes off you."
Sia pressed her lips into a tight line, trying not to show her embarrassment. But the blush on her cheeks said enough. Before they could whisper more, Rhythm's voice brought them back.
"Li, I'm Sia's older sister. Rhythm."
Liora straightened her posture immediately, her hands folding in front of her. "Yes, Aka—I mean, Rhythm."
Sia always referred to her elder sister as Aka, and Liora had heard it so many times that it nearly slipped out by instinct.
"You can call me Aka," Rhythm said, her tone soft but clear. "You are Sia's closest friend. I don't mind."
Liora gave her a small smile and nodded politely.
Rhythm's expression didn't shift, but her voice took on the tone of someone used to being in charge.
"Pay attention. I'm the oldest one here, which means you two are my responsibility. Don't go anywhere without telling me. And don't drink anything unless I have checked it. At parties, people sometimes spike drinks—especially to mess with freshers. Do you understand?"
"I—I, Captain," Sia said quickly.
"Same here," Liora added, both of them speaking without thinking.
It just felt natural. Rhythm had the energy of a commander, and they were very much under her command.
"I mean… Aka," they said in unison.
Rhythm nodded. "Good. I have called the cab. It should be here soon."
She turned and began walking toward the exit.
Sia and Liora followed close behind.
"See?" Sia whispered, tilting her head toward Rhythm. "Told you she is strict. Now, you believe me?"
Liora smiled. "I don't mind having a strict older sister. I actually like her. And Sia—she means well. She is just looking out for us."
Sia rolled her eyes dramatically. "Please, just take her with you if you like her so much."
Liora laughed, and Sia joined in.
*
The three of them reached the venue. The party was being held on the rooftop terrace of a hotel—one of the biggest in the area. The hotel had two separate terraces reserved that night. One side was for law students, and the other was for those studying business management and administration.
They shared the same elevator, but once at the top, the two terraces branched in opposite directions.
When the elevator doors opened, Liora didn't feel nervous. Not even a little anxious. She was calm and steady. Maybe it was because Sia and Rhythm were beside her. Or perhaps it was because Donovan had assured her—Kai would be there, and he'd make sure she was safe.
A slight flutter moved through her stomach. It was nothing heavy, but it was just a quiet shift—like the air before the music started. She glanced to her side, hoping the motion would settle her thoughts.
A few steps later, Yo joined them near the party entrance. She had come straight from her relative's home. She wore a dramatic black gown, the kind that made heads turn without even trying. She greeted them with a soft smile and slipped easily into step with the group.
As they walked onto the terrace, loud music hit their ears. The floor beneath their feet vibrated faintly with the bass. The rooftop space was massive—easily enough room for two thousand people. The main terrace stretched wide under the open sky, and above it was a mezzanine floor with glass railings that offered a view of the crowd below.
Lights shifted through colours. Somewhere across the crowd, someone was already dancing. Others clinked glasses and leaned into conversations they might forget by morning.
"Let's grab some drinks," Yo said enthusiastically, already moving toward the bar in the right corner.
Rhythm glanced at Sia, her eyes narrowing in silent warning.
"I'm going to order a mocktail," Sia said quickly. "You don't need to give me that look."
They each stepped up to the bar and placed their orders. Liora asked for a virgin mojito. Sia hesitated and then ordered the same—not out of taste, but out of fear her sister might report her, and she would be saying goodbye to Valtham and flying back to India.
Yo ordered a cosmopolitan with a casual and confident attitude. Rhythm, as expected, asked for a simple glass of Coke.
"Everything's free tonight," Rhythm informed them. "It's all being covered by the seniors. So go ahead—enjoy the food and drinks."
They began to move toward the left side of the terrace when a figure stepped in front of them.
It was Kai. He wore a crisp, dark designer shirt tucked into tailored trousers. Effortlessly clean-cut, like someone who always knew how to dress just enough to be noticed.
"Ladies," he said, smiling, "I have reserved a place for us." He gestured toward the upper floor—a private lounge area with glass railings and soft lights.
"We never asked you to, Kai," Rhythm replied flatly. But Sia's eyes lit up like candles. Her lips parted slightly, but she said nothing.
"You might not have," Kai said, keeping his gaze on Rhythm. "But Li did mention it to me." He turned to Liora and offered a friendly smile. "We are high school friends. Isn't that right, Li?"
Liora laughed softly, a little sheepish. "Yes, Aka. We have known each other since high school. I asked him earlier to reserve a place for us… just in case it got too crowded." Liora lied because of Nova. He definitely arranged this, her new friend!
She glanced toward the dance floor. People were already packed in—heels tapping, arms raised, drinks in hand. It pulsed with energy. It was loud and constant. She preferred quiet over chaos.
"I guess we can go then," Rhythm said, her eyes shifting from Kai to Liora, then back.
Sia had already stepped forward, planting herself beside Kai like it was the most natural place to be. "Hi, Kai. Do you remember me?"
"Of course, Sia," he said politely. "You are Lio—" He caught himself. "I mean, Li's friend. And I have to say, you are looking stunning tonight."
Sia blushed instantly while Rhythm gave her another warning look, but Sia didn't notice, or maybe she didn't care.
Kai led them up the steps to the first-floor lounge. The couches were soft brown leather, arranged in a wide semi-circle. A low table sat at the centre, glass and steel gleaming under the soft lights.
It was not quieter up there, but it was not as crowded as a dance floor. Just the way Liora liked it.
Unknown to Liora, Harper, Elena and Rihana stood among the crowd on the opposite side of the terrace. As seniors from the Business Management department, they were the ones hosting tonight's party for the juniors, and although their smiles appeared effortless, their attention constantly moved—eyes scanning the space, watching the flow of students, the shifting groups, the undercurrent beneath the celebration.
Not far from the hotel, just across the narrow street where the shadows stretched longer under the streetlight, Sven stood with his back pressed against a concrete wall. He wore a black hooded jacket, pulled low over his head, though the wind kept lifting the edge slightly. A cigarette burned slowly between his fingers, the tip glowing, ash clinging on too long before it finally gave way and fell to the pavement.
His hand trembled slightly, not from cold but from something that had taken root in him since the night before.
His eyes moved constantly, and never stayed in one place for too long. He was watching the front entrance of the hotel, scanning the faces of those coming in and out, waiting for something. Then he looked up. The hotel's rooftop glowed with lights and music, and even from this distance, he could sense the pulse of the party. He knew she was up there, Liora.
He was sure she had a hand in it for him to experience paranormal activity. He wasn't going to wait until Monday for an answer.
He wanted answers now. And he was going to get them—tonight.