Chapter 103: Fiery
When Eira returned to the mansion, it was already a few minutes past 10 PM. She didn’t bother looking for Jania and instead went straight to her room. She stripped off her dress, took a refreshing shower, and rolled her eyes at the sight of yet another set of Lyle’s oversized pajamas waiting for her. Still, she slipped into them, climbed into bed, and began scrolling through her phone. She expected Jania to eventually show up to ask about the dinner, but the hours passed and her friend never came. Slowly, Eira drifted into sleep, her phone slipping from her hands.
As soon as she was sound asleep, the door creaked open, and Jania stepped inside quietly. Standing at the foot of Eira’s bed, she smiled softly at the sight of her friend.
"She’s asleep," Jania murmured to herself before leaving just as silently as she had entered.
Eira wasn’t sure if she was dreaming or not when her consciousness stirred. She found herself staring up at a high, metallic ceiling, unable to move her head. Unlike her previous dreams of Ephyra’s childhood—where she experienced events both as an observer and a participant—this felt different. This memory seemed to belong to her.
Around her, indistinct voices murmured, their tones soft yet unrecognizable. Then, a woman approached and gently lifted her as though she were a fragile doll. She likely was a baby because her tiny hands instinctively reached for the woman’s face. When the soft coos of an infant left her lips, her suspicions were confirmed.
The woman’s features were blurred, but her long black hair cascaded over her shoulders, glinting faintly in the dim light as she murmured soothing words.
"Bring my baby to me," a hoarse voice commanded from nearby, drawing the woman’s attention.
She looked up, meeting the speaker’s gaze, though the figure remained indistinct. "Are you fine yet? You need to be stable before coming near this child. You almost killed yourself. What if you—"
"Bring my child to me, Aurora." The voice cut her off, cold and threatening. "I will not say it again."
Aurora flinched but held her ground. "Aerona, do you think I want to keep your baby from you? Of course not, especially after losing the other one. But you need to understand—I’m doing this for you and her." She glanced down at the baby in her arms, her voice softening. "Please, sister, let the drug take effect first. You need to be stable."
The room grew silent except for the faint sounds of breathing. After a tense pause, Aerona grudgingly muttered, "Fine."