Moon and Ashes

Chapter Seven The House Behind the Mask

The house was too quiet.

Selene lay on her bed, staring at the ceiling beams, fingers drumming lightly against her stomach. The argument with her mother the night before still sat heavy in her chest, though it hadn’t ended in slammed doors or shouting. Just silence, and her mother’s disappointment thick enough to choke on.

That morning, her mother had softened. She’d stood in the doorway of Selene’s room, her voice quieter than usual.

“Breakfast is on the table. Don’t leave without eating something.”

No scolding. No lecture. Just that.

It left Selene more unsettled than if they’d screamed at each other again.

By late afternoon, Mira slipped through her window, as she often did, hair unkempt, face alight with mischief.

“You’re brooding again,” Mira announced, flopping onto the bed beside her. “That ceiling must be very interesting.”

Selene huffed, turning her head. “I wasn’t brooding.”

“You were absolutely brooding.” Mira rolled onto her stomach, her chin propped in her hands. For a while, they just breathed in the silence. Then Selene glanced sideways.

“What’s bothering you?”

Mira hesitated, chewing her lip. Selene arched a brow—Mira could never keep anything from her for long.

Finally, Mira sighed. “I… miss him. Elias.”

Selene blinked. “You barely know him.”

“I know,” Mira admitted, her cheeks flushing. “But he was… different. He made me laugh. He didn’t look at us like we were strange or dangerous. I don’t know. It’s stupid.”

Selene sat up, pulling her knees to her chest. “It’s not stupid. Just… risky. He’s human.”

“I know that too,” Mira said quickly. “But I can’t stop thinking about him.”

Selene frowned, the image of Elias flashing in her mind. The way he’d stood in front of them that night, unarmed, yet oddly fearless. Something about it had unsettled her—like he’d been carved from stone no storm could shake.

“Fine,” Selene said, rubbing her temples. “What do you want to do about it?”

“Maybe… see him again?” Mira said carefully, almost sheepish.

Selene groaned. “Of course you do.”

They didn’t have to look far. Elias found them before sunset, leaning casually against the corner of a bookshop near the square, as if he’d been waiting. He wore the same worn clothes as before, his hair tousled, his grin easy.

“Well, if it isn’t the two night-walkers,” he said. “Out past curfew again?”

Mira’s face lit up like the moon. Selene, meanwhile, crossed her arms. “Do you follow every girl you meet, or are we special?”

Elias smirked. “Depends. Are you planning to scold me again, or just glare holes through me?”

Before Selene could retort, shouts carried from the end of the street. Not wolves this time—humans, drunk and spoiling for a fight. Two staggered forward, eyes narrowed at Elias.

“Thought we told you not to show your face here again,” one slurred.

Elias’ jaw tightened. He straightened, no longer the grinning boy, but something sharper. His hand twitched toward his pocket, then stopped.

Selene stiffened, readying a small thread of wind magic in case it turned ugly. But Elias only sighed, shaking his head. “Not tonight.”

The men sneered but backed away, muttering curses as they vanished down an alley.

Mira exhaled shakily. “You get into trouble a lot, don’t you?”

“Depends on the company I keep,” Elias replied, though his eyes lingered on Selene for a beat too long. Then, with a lopsided grin, he gestured down another street. “Come on. Safer to talk somewhere else.”

Selene expected him to lead them to some cramped room, maybe a half-broken shack tucked between taverns. That was the kind of boy he looked like—rough edges, patched sleeves, always pretending not to care.

But what Elias revealed made her pause mid-step.

Behind an ivy-draped gate stood a tall townhouse, its brickwork clean, the windows latticed with delicate iron. The kind of place families of merchants lived in, not boys with worn boots and patched jackets.

Mira’s jaw dropped. “You… live here?”

“Not exactly.” Elias pushed the gate open, glancing over his shoulder with a mischievous smile. “I own it.”

Selene narrowed her eyes. “You own it?”

“Bought it cheap after the last owners fled the city. People get nervous around here.” He shrugged, casual as though he were speaking of buying bread. “Now it’s just me.”

The inside was worse—or better, depending on the view. Plush carpets, walls lined with books, a fire crackling in a marble hearth. The air smelled faintly of cedar and parchment.

Mira twirled in place, eyes wide. “This is… this is beautiful.”

Selene stood near the doorway, arms still crossed. “So you play pauper in the streets and king at home. Why?”

Elias’ grin dimmed just slightly. “Because flaunting wealth gets you killed. And because it’s easier to walk through shadows when no one’s watching.”

Something flickered in his eyes, but he turned away before Selene could read it.

Mira sank onto a velvet chair, running her hands over the fabric like it might vanish beneath her fingers. Elias sat across from her, casual and warm, their banter flowing too easily. Selene felt the first sting of jealousy burn low in her stomach.

They laughed together, Elias teasing Mira about her dramatic sighs, Mira tossing back quick retorts. Selene sat on the edge of the couch, watching, silent. For the first time, she wasn’t at the center of Mira’s attention.

Her chest tightened, though she told herself it was nothing. Just Mira being Mira. Just Elias being… Elias.

Finally, Elias leaned forward, elbows on his knees. His grin softened. “Tell me something.”

Mira tilted her head. “What?”

“That night,” Elias said, his gaze flicking between them. “What I saw—it was magic, wasn’t it?”

Selene’s pulse skipped.

Elias spread his hands. “I grew up hearing stories. Wizards, spells, monsters. Thought it was all talk. But you…” His voice dropped, sincere. “You made me believe.”

Mira glanced at Selene, uncertain. Selene’s instincts screamed caution. Revealing themselves to a human was dangerous—reckless, even.

But Elias didn’t look afraid. He looked curious. Hungry, almost.

“Show me,” he said softly.

Mira’s lips parted, eager. Selene’s heart pounded.

For a moment, silence stretched between the three of them, fragile as glass.