The Frozen Hour

Within a grand hotel known for its modern interiors and lively atmosphere, sitting at a velvet couch, Henna was looking towards the entrance of the floor. The party floor buzzed with soft music, glowing under warm, ambient lighting. A sleek bar stretched along one side, where bartenders prepared vibrant drinks with flair. At the centre, a polished wooden dancing stage stood ready, framed by delicate spotlights. Balloons and birthday decorations adorned the tables, completing the festive scene. The setup promised a perfect evening of music, dance, and celebration.

Henna's face held a small frown, dissatisfied. Twenty minutes had passed since Anna was supposed to arrive, but there was still no sign of her. With a sigh, Henna stood up from the couch and made her way to the bar.

"Henna!" Being called out Henna turned her head towards the sound to see a 24-year-old woman with long blonde hair, blue eyes, and a mature build—Lilya—walking toward her.

"Lilya!" Henna called out while moving forward for a hug.

"Why the long face?" Lilya questioned as she hugged Henna.

"Umm.. it's nothing." 

"You know you can tell me anything, right?"

Hearing Lilya, Henna couldn't help but shake her head inwardly, Lilya had invited all of her friends and acquaintances during her engagement party and everyone had attended.. well everyone except Anna, knowing the past between them Henna could only curse her luck. 

"Well... I was waiting for Anna." Henna replied with a small pause.

"Hmm? Anna?... Oh you mean Anieal Starborne" Lilya said while nodding "Well, it's not that surprising that she isn't here is it? Haha!"

Henna could only smile wryly on her sharp remark.

"I mean it won't be first time when she didn't come to an event she pro- " Lilya abruptly stopped when she saw a small smile crept up on the lips of Henna.

"Anna..!! Here!!" Henna said with an excited look, Lilya followed her eyes and soon her eyes fell on Anna, she wore a red and black checkered long skirt, A red T-shirt which fit her perfectly, black boots with red soles, A black jacket with red and white stripes, her ears were adorned with golden square earrings. 

"She came huh" Lilya said with a dejected look on her face.

At one of the corners two friends were collapsed on a velvet couch seemingly tired after having danced for past 15 minutes.

"Oi, where is neo?" Asked one of them.

"Ugh.. I don't know.. I don't think he came" replied another.

"Nothing new about that.. haha!" 

"True.. haha!"

Both of them started chuckling by themselves. 

Meanwhile, A hooded figure could be seen entering a two storey unextraordinary house, the hooded figure swiftly moved through shadows seemingly looking for something or someone.

Soon, his eyes landed on a sleeping figure, the hooded figure moved forward and checked her breathing, after making sure that the person is truly asleep. He started looking through all of the containers placed around the room after being unable to find anything, the hooded figure started looking throughout the room for any suspicious compartments or secluded spots.

Having found nothing out of the ordinary the hooded figure walked towards the window, the hooded figure placed his hand on the window seemingly getting ready to exit through the window. 

Just as he was about to jump through the window his eyes landed on a carving of clawed 5 pointed star at the corner of the window.

'Claw of night?! Interesting..' the hooded figure's eyes gleamed with excitement.

'Young master's guess was correct.' thought the hooded figure as he jumped out of the window.

The Starborne Emporium- 

"We should stop working with the turners due to the current rumours regarding them."

"What rumours?"

"Apparently there are rumours of them actively using unorthodox means for their pr-"

*beep* *beep*

Soon beeping sound can be heard within the meeting room.

"It's important, we shall start the meeting from here the next time, Good night." Damien said.

"Good night, Emporium head." the other members said as they slowly made their way out of the meeting room.

Soon Damien was alone within the room, he dialled a number on his smartphone which was answered instantly. 

"Young master." 

"How did it go?"

"Your guessed correct, young master."

"What did you find?"

"I didn't find anything concrete. but I did see a Claw of night near the window of Amaya's room" 

"It's a midnighter then… huh.. any clue about who it can be?"

"None."

"Keep an eye on her and try to find clues about that Midnighter."

"As you command."

Damien heaved a sigh after placing his smartphone at the table and started walking towards one of the windows. 

"I was right.. huh.. I hoped to be proven wrong" said Damien while looking towards the bustling Necron city through the window.

"As they say, one shall always be more cautious of what's within the dark" 

The Armon Deluxe Hotel-

Neo Hames walked out from the men's washroom and enters the party floor. 

His eyes scanned throughout the floor and it soon stopped at a scrawny guy with short brown hair and an unremarkable face.

"Ronnie!" Neo called out.

"Ah! Neo where were you? We were looking for you" Ronnie said while pointing at the seemingly dead person beside him , he had short black hair, a lean body and above average face.

"I-is he d-dead?" Neo asked with a stutter.

"Haha! No, he just passed out. Man, you and your weak heart."

"I-is that so? Hmph! I was just acting. My heart isn't weak!"

"Yea, yea I know"

"I'm telling the truth"

"Yeah I can hear you"

The two friends continued their bickering for quite some time.

"By the way... did you know that Anieal Starborne is here?" Ronnie asked in a whisper.

"Hmm? What about it?" Neo said with a tilted head.

"Huh?.. you know who Anieal Starborne, is right?" Ronnie asked with a furrowed eyebrow. 

"well of course I do, duh" Neo replied in a matter-of-factly tone. 

Ronnie was left speechless after hearing neo talk about Anieal Starborne like she wasn't sister of the Head of Starborne Emporium.

"Yeah.. you tell them, Neo." Adam said, who had came back to his senses few minutes ago.

Ronnie felt an ominous premonition after hearing Adam talk, Adam had asked Anna out for a date but was rejected by her, Anna being the first woman to reject his advances caused him to hold a grudge against her.

"That Anieal Starborne isn't anything without her brother.. I am telling you" Adam said with a wide triumph grin on his face. 

People who were standing nearby Adam perked up their ears waiting for a drama to playout. 

Anna who also happened to hear Adam walked towards him.

"What did you say?" Anna questioned while squinting her eyes. 

"What? Didn't hear me the first time?" Adam questioned back with a wide taunting grin plastered on his face.

"Oh, I did hear you. I just assumed no one else cared enough to respond." Anna replied with a small amused smile on her face. 

Adam who heard Anna call him someone ⟨insignificant⟩ couldn't help but get enraged.

Neo who could sense his emotions walked towards Adam seemingly getting ready to stop him from doing something outrageous in anger.

Jacob who could see the mood getting sour called out. 

"Everyone! It's time to cut the cake" 

Everyone turned toward the sound. A black-haired youth with silver eyes stood there, he was donning an Italian suit, standing beside a table, a 3 layered chocolate cake can be seen on the table everyone started walking towards to the table and stopped few steps away. 

Jacob sees that the mood is now better and starts to cut the cake.

Celebrations, gifts, greetings were given to Jacob who had a small gentle smile on his face and replied to everyone with same enthusiasm.

Anna walked towards Jacob with a gift box in her hand.

"Happy birthday Jacob!!" Anna said with a grin on her face. 

"Thank you, Anna.. I am so happy that you came" 

"Haha! How could I miss my friend's birthday?" Anna Replied while giggling to herself. 

"I mean… your reputation isn't that good in that department" Jacob said while slightly shaking his head.

Anna could only wryly smile at his words.

Soon the party ended and Anna who seemed to be in a sour mood due to Jacob's words denied all of her friends who wanted to continue having fun partying. 

She had already called her driver to pick her up, as soon as she stepped out from the hotel she could see jack standing beside with a car while holding his hat in his hands seemingly waiting for Anna, Anna started walking towards him.

"Uncle jack!" Anna called out Jack, who was lost in his own thoughts.

"Ah! Miss Anna" jack replied with a startle. 

"Would you like to go to the mansion or do you have some other place in mind?"

"Let's just go home" Anna replied lazily. 

"As you say, Miss Anna" jack bowed and opened the door for Anna to take seat and he seat on the driver seat.

Feeling exhausted from the party, Anna closed her eyes.

The shy moon drifted away and came the bold sun announcing the start of a new day and a new beginning.

As the warmth of morning sunlight hit Anna who was still sleeping on her bed. Her eyelids fluttered open, She yawned and got up from her bed. 

After freshening up, Anna now dressed in clothes suited for a light workout and called her butler.

"Uncle Andy!"

Andy came with a tray holding a glass full of mango and orange juice and a small plate with few slices of fruits and almonds, Anna swiftly ate and drunk all of it.

"I hope you have yet another great day, Young Miss" Andy said.

"Mhm.. I told you not to call me young miss, I am not a child anymore" Anna pouted. 

"as you say, Miss Anna" Andy replied with a small smile. 

Anna could be seen jogging in the garden pathway surrounding the mansion, the garden was neatly lawned, it had multiple vibrant flowers giving a colour of joy and refreshments to Anna.

"Mew" 

"Hmm?" Anna who was jogging suddenly stopped due to some weird noise coming from nearby her, when Anna listened attentively she found out that it was sound of a cat.

"Meow"

Anna moved towards the sound and she found a feline cat with long black and white fur and topaz eyes, tilting its head curiously, with a collar around its neck.

"Hey kitty!!" Anna's eyes started sparkling when see saw the cat.

"Hmm so your name is Veylor huh?" Anna said after she readout the name on collar, Anna picked up the cat in her arms seemingly wondering what was a pet cat doing here.

Soon Anna started walking towards the mansion.

"Uncle Andy!" Anna called out for her butler.

"Yes, Miss Anna" Andy replied after few minutes.

"Do you know whose pet this cat is?" Anna questioned thinking that the cat might be pet of one of servants.

"Hmm? A Cat? I don't think we have any servant with a pet" Andy answered with a tilt of his head. 

"Maybe it's from nearby houses?" Andy said after pondering on it. 

"Hmm maybe.." Anna said as she paused for a few moments and continued "check out if there's anyone trying to find him if not then I'll make it my pet instead." 

"As you say, Miss Anna" Andy said while bowing to Anna and leaving the room.

"Hmm Veylor is a good name but I'll call you Vey" Anna said with a small grin on her face. 

Veylor replied with a "meow.." and started nodding his head "myu.. myu"

"so cute" Anna said while hugging Veylor.

"Lets go.. its already too late to start jogging again"

"hehe" Anna chuckled after picking Veylor in her arms.

"To the mansion" Anna said as she ran towards the mansion with Veylor.

Footnotes:

Claw of night - A Runic carving which allows a midnighter to transmit or record their voice from the radius of 100 meters for specific amount of time , Recorded voice doesn't play out loud instead a person have to touch it to hear it ( The voice plays in their head )