Nightblade (Darkest night)-Chapter 205: Obsidian Blacks

Lucian wanted to flee.

Lucas Ash was many things, a lethal maestro, a great father, and a doting grandfather.

But sometimes, he didn't know when to stop.

Lucian could already see the sinister grin forming on his face.

Despite all the time they'd spent apart, they had a sinking suspicion the old man hadn't changed.

"Grandpa, don't..."

Much to his surprise, instead of teasing him about the girls,

the old man silently embraced him.

"I'm glad you're back," he whispered.

Lucian's eyes widened slightly.

He awkwardly returned the embrace, lightly patting his grandfather on the back.

" Well, this is awkward, Cassius whispered to Talia.

Talia ever so slightly nodded, nodding silently.

"You realize he can hear you right?"

Cassius's eyes widened slightly.

"Shit..."

"I see you've made some really good friends."

The old man smiled warmly, then straightened.

"I want to thank you all for bringing my grandson back to me in one piece."

Rather than the bashful teasing that Lucian was used to the old man was strangely quiet and happy.

" Well that's really surprising..."

" So...any luck with the girls?" the old man whispered.

Lucian snarled pulling back.

Cassius laughed outright while Cedric simply chuckled.

Talia and Emily laughed at Lucian's flabbergasted expression, amused by the whole exchange.

It was rare to see him so...flustered.

Soon after the old man and the head of House Ash left.

Then Cassius and Lucian left as well.

Talia remained with Emily.

But so did the hollow feeling inside Emily's chest.

Even though they'd made it back alive, it felt like they'd lost. Miserably at that.

They'd lost something precious. The ever-present melancholy was almost suffocating.

Emily decided she needed a distraction.

"Talia..."

Talia looked up curiously.

"What's up?"

Could you show me around?"

"Was the request a bit sudden?" Emily thought worriedly.

A faint smile appeared on Talia's face and she nodded.

"But first we'll need to get you changed into something more comfortable."

Talia beamed and then spun around on her feet,

her blonde hair spinning behind her.

" Here come with me. I'll make sure you change into something more stunning' she said with a mischievous light in her eye.

Emily paled slightly at the look on the scion's face.

The two stepped out of the room.

Immediately Emily noticed the rows of guards standing at intervals throughout the large mansion.

The men were clad in dark suits with matching long coats.

A large bear insignia was etched into their breast coats.

The men permeated a silent air of authority, their eyes hidden behind dark-tinted glasses.

Despite their prim and proper appearance, they appeared slightly...ruffled.

" Is it always like this?"Emily asked as they walked.

Talia smiled brightly.

" Not exactly. They probably got a talking to since Morgan's teacher hid right beneath their noses this entire time."

Talia shrugged.

"But inside the Varas mansion, my father knows everything that happens."

Emily took in the large house in awe,

staring at the massive hallways.

Massive chandeliers and radiant lights adorned the ceiling seemingly floating mid-air.

Small bots zipped about in orferly fashioned.

A short distance ahead, Talia walked with calm confidence.

Emily stared in wonder at the scion.

" So this is how Talia grew up...'

She felt a tinge of envy and longing but quickly banished the thought.

" This is my room."

A large muscular woman stood in front of the room with her arms at her sides. Her eyes were a startling blue colour.

She wore a custom-made grey suit that hugged her well-defined muscular frame.

" Miss Talia," she said with a smile moving to open the door.

"Hey, Rosa. Turning around Talia gestured at Emily.

" This is Emily, a dear friend," shecsaid eith a smile.

" A dear friend..." Emily said, mulling over the scion's words.

She'd barely give them. Any thought when Talua nudged her.

" Emily this is Rosa."

The large woman offered Emily a meaty hand, gently shaking her hand.

" Anyone that the young miss considers a friend is a friend of mine as well."

After that brief exchange, they stepped into Talia's room.

Emily paused staring around with an inscrutable expression. Talia noticed the change in pace, giving her a curious look.

"What's the matter?"

Emily slowly shook her head.

" Well, I guess,

it's not what I expected. "

Talia's room was surprisingly...pink.

Just like any normal teenage girl's room.

Talia stared at her for a few moments then began to giggle and then laughed.

Emily flushed lightly at her reaction.

"What did you expect?" she asked wiping away tears of mirth.

"A full set of weapons and armour..."Emily thought quietly but kept the thought to herself.

The room instead was quite cozy and a gentle pink color, with the gentle afternoon sunlight seeming in through a massive glass pane

adding to its warmth.

The walls were neatly covered in fangirl posters and taped album covers.

A plush bed lay at the center of the room and a giant closet at the far end of the room.

A massive set of glass doors led to what Emily could only assume was the bathroom.

Emily's chest tightened slightly.

The room had a...faint sense of familiarity.

Talia slowly caressed the taped posters, her hand gently tracing over them.

" So much has changed in the time we've been gone. The ObsidianBlacks are no longer the best boyband in the world."

Emily stared at her blankly.

" Who are the Obsidian Blacks?" 𝘧𝑟𝑒𝑒𝘸𝘦𝘣𝑛𝑜𝘷𝑒𝓁.𝘤𝘰𝓂

Talia gave her a quizzical look.

" You don't know them?"

Emily slowly shook her head.

Talia hummed quietly then beamed excitedly.

Suddenly Emily felt like she'd unknowingly opened Pandora's box and there was no escape.

In the next moment, Talia transformed into an entirely different person bubbling about different songs and records.

She repeatedly pointed out different posters in her room, explaining the different albums and the times they'd come out.

" Here, I'll show you."

She clapped twice and a gentle hum emanated from all around the room.

Emily's eyes swept around the room in confusion.

" What is that?"

A soft vibration rolled through the air, soothing gentle, and rich.

Emily stiffened.

The music didn't blast from a visible speaker. It bloomed.

From the walls.

From the ceiling.

From the very walls of the room.

A low hum settled first, warm and steady, followed by the opening notes of an unfamiliar tune.

The sound wrapped around them like silk

smooth and impossibly clear.

Emily turned slowly in a circle.

"Where is that coming from?"

Talia beamed.

"Everywhere."

She tapped one of the polished pink wooden panels lining the wall.

"Dad had it installed for my eighth birthday. In-wall acoustic panels. The wiring runs behind the drywall and into the ceiling."

Her voice carried a proud lilt.

"There are micro-speakers built into the corners and bass drivers under the floor. You can't see them unless you know where to look."

As if to prove it, she ran her hand along the edge of her bookshelf. A faint mesh strip, nearly invisible, caught the light.

"I told him I wanted to feel music, not just hear it," she added.

"So he made the whole room a speaker."

Emily listened to the catchy tune in quiet wonder.

" This is really amazing. "

Before she knew it she was swaying in tandem with the music.

The notes were heartfelt and the music gently gripped her heart.

Before she knew it, she was wiping away...tears?

" I'm crying?"

Talia hugged her with a joyous smile.

" Obsisian Blacks are just that good," she whispered.

They listened to one song then another and eventually, the whole afternoon faded into a blend of music and light.