Chapter Fifteen: The Abandoned Music Room
(Lyra's POV)
The abandoned music room had been my new favorite discovery. Dust motes floated in the sunlight, the grand piano looked like it belonged in a museum, and the walls still held faint traces of forgotten concerts.
"This is… perfect," Aveline said, sweeping her arms around. "Secret HQ number two."
Soraya clapped her hands. "I vote we decorate it for Halloween! Candles, fake cobwebs, skulls — the works!"
Saphira leaned against the piano, smirking at me. "And Lyra, you are in charge of the aesthetic. Don't mess it up."
I rolled my eyes, but inside I was thrilled. My favorite flower — lavender — would make a subtle appearance in the decorations. Little sprigs here and there, tucked into vases, adding a soft contrast to the orange and black theme.
Then came the costume brainstorming. The group had strong opinions:
Cassian & Aveline: They decided on a couple's costume — a classic vampire and his victim, though Aveline teased that she was "more scary than him." Their chemistry was… obvious, if you looked closely.
Evan: A sharp, golden-vested magician with a cape that shimmered under the dim sunlight.
Soraya: A fiery witch with sequined broomstick and black-and-red hat.
Saphira: A playful black cat, complete with ears and tail that flicked when she laughed.
Me: I went for something soft and whimsical — a forest fairy with delicate wings, a lavender-inspired crown, and twinkling lights woven into my hair.
Soraya and Saphira immediately launched into teasing mode.
"Look at you, Lyra. The fairy princess of Saint Valley," Soraya said, nudging me.
"I demand my own soundtrack," Saphira added, plopping down beside me.
Evan leaned against the wall, pretending not to notice me adjusting my wings. "Cute. Very… tiny and delicate."
I shot him a glare. "You're lucky I brought teddies for emotional support."
"Ah, the teddies," he said, smirk tugging at his lips. "I see they're still glued to your hip."
While decorating, we found hidden corners in the music room: a loft above the piano for storing snacks, a window seat perfect for sketching, and a small stage that could become our mini stage for antics. By the time we were done, the abandoned music room felt like our own secret playground.
"I can't believe we've never discovered this before," Cassian muttered, brushing dust off the piano lid. Aveline nudged him subtly. "We had to make it ours eventually."
I watched them quietly. The way they moved together — small touches, exchanged glances — made my chest tighten.
After a while, we gathered around the scattered snacks, candy, and leftover cake I'd brought. Evan handed me a bite of chocolate-covered apple.
"Try this, fairy," he said with a smirk.
I took it, trying not to smile too much. "Thanks… magician."
Soraya and Saphira erupted into laughter. "Stop calling each other cute names!"
"Oh, we just started," Evan said, mock-innocent.
I felt my cheeks heat up, hiding behind my fairy wings and my lavender crown.
By the time we left the music room, the group had officially claimed it as our second spot. Somewhere between planning costumes, teasing, decorating, and gossiping, the air was thick with excitement — and just a little chaos.
Halloween was going to be messy, loud, and amazing. And for the first time in months, I felt like I wasn't just observing this world — I was part of it.
My lavender sprigs caught the fading light as I left, and I pressed a hand to them, silently promising to always find little things that made me feel at home, even in chaos.