Chapter 31- Arrival
THE NEXT MORNING
Aurora woke up with a low groan, the kind that sounded like she regretted being alive. She probably did.
Oma was still asleep beside her, breathing softly.
Aurora dragged herself out of bed and trudged to the bathroom. The fact that they had a seven o'clock class already ruined her day.
When she came out, Oma was yawning and stretching.
"How are you awake before me? I always wake up first." Oma muttered, rubbing her eyes.
"Seven o'clock class." Aurora replied flatly.
Oma groaned into a pillow before tossing the duvet aside and heading for the bathroom.
Minutes later, they were both coming down the stairs. As usual, Oma looked like a soft, spoiled rich girl who hated stress, because she did, while Aurora looked like her opposite in her baggy clothes and careless energy.
Neither of them smiled. Both were too annoyed about the class.
Gemma was already in the living room, talking excitedly on the phone with Charlene.
As soon as she hung up, she grabbed her bag. "Bye, sweeties. Can't join you for breakfast, I've got a lot to do. Auri, come to my office after school, we're going shopping."
"What?!" Aurora snapped.
Gemma turned, calm as ever.
"Well, in case I didn't tell you, or you forgot, the Grandes are coming tomorrow for the reunion. We have to get gifts."
"Why do I have to come?" Aurora frowned.
"Bye, girls." Gemma ignored the question and walked out.
Aurora took a deep breath, forcing herself to stay calm.
"Yeah, that's right." Oma said softly behind her. "Control."
"There's no harm in going shopping. Chill."
Aurora exhaled sharply.
"Come on, let's eat. I'm starving." Oma said, walking toward the dining room.
Aurora followed reluctantly.
Five minutes into breakfast, Aurora was stabbing her food like it had offended her. Oma just smiled knowingly.
A lot was going to go down at that reunion.
---
ALL ELITES COLLEGE
The campus buzzed with energy. Everyone was talking about the party. Some students didn't even bother to show up for class, they were saving their energy for tonight.
The seven o'clock class had just ended.
Oma and Aurora walked out with Ivy. Kiara and Roseanne were nowhere in sight.
"Almost February." Oma said. "Can't wait to see the madness on Valentine's Day."
"I'm sure Mason will go over the top for you." Ivy teased. "Now I'm even more excited."
Oma smiled faintly.
"I have this gut feeling Kimberly will show up at the party." Oma said.
"Nicole too." Ivy replied. "They won't waste an opportunity like this. If they could act that shameless at Jaxen's birthday, imagine what they'll do at Leo's."
Aurora wasn't listening, until Mason appeared.
"Hi, ladies. I'm stealing your friend." He said, taking Oma's hand and leading her away before they could reply.
Ivy sighed. "Guess I'll be seeing that a lot now." She turned to Aurora. "Dark Queen, are you coming to the party tonight?"
"Yes." Aurora's tone was flat.
"What? Wait, for real?" Ivy blinked.
"Yeah."
Ivy stared. "But... Oma told me you weren't coming. I mean, I wasn't even surprised because..."
"I'm coming." Aurora cut in. "Full stop."
"Cool. Super cool. I just didn't think you'd show up."
"Come on. Let's go." Aurora said, tugging Ivy's hand.
But then Leonard's voice echoed in her mind. Be careful with your new friends.
She froze, then quickly let go of Ivy's hand.
"I...I have to go." Aurora muttered before walking off.
Ivy stared after her. "Did she just...?" She sighed. "Damn, her mood swings."
---
NEON HAVEN HOTEL
Nicole's legs were hung in the air as Zane slammed into her kitty like it was the only thing that could calm him down.
Heya mouth couldn't close as they stayed open, letting out throaty moans, covered in sweat, even with the AC, she still in her heels.
Skins slapping, heavy breaths, cúnty moans. They filled the room.
"Z...Za...Zane..." Her moan came broken.
Tears left her eyes as he got harder, rougher, deeper.
He held nothing back.
As for Zane, he was furious, the cinema, the empty lab, the classroom scene. Everything flashed before his eyes in black and white.
He's mad, raging.
He gave another deep thrust, ripping out a scandalous moan from Nicole.
She laughed crazily. "You're... You're so good... Ahh..."
He pulled out, lifted her up and spun her around.
She bit the pillow, expecting it.
He thrusted from the back, tearing her apart. Her juices spilling on the bed.
Her saliva soaked the pillow as she cried out.
Zane slapped her ass hard, it turned red.
Nicole laughed into the pillow, tears followed saliva.
Zane pulled out, and Nicole turned immediately, capturing his lips. Their mouths moved hungrily.
He laid down and placed her on his c?ck.
She didn't hesitate before she started bouncing on his big monster.
No hesitation, no shame, no delay.
Just sin.
He held her waist tightly, growing bigger inside her.
Nicole bounced on him, her skin slapping his brutally. Her mouth never stayed shut.
Zane's mouth reached for her nipple. Biting it till it turned red.
Nicole leaned closer, enjoying what he was doing to her nipples.
She rode slowly this time, making sure they hit each other at the right places.
Nicole lifted herself from his c?ck. Taking it into her mouth.
She deep throated him, her eyes rolled back.
Zane's hand went to her hair, grabbing it in handfuls, he pushed her hand down, making his c?ck hit her deeply in the throat. She gagged.
She licked, sucked, rolled her tongue on it. What ever she could do to pleasure both of them immensely.
He's so f?ckin' good!
Zane turned them over, getting ontop her again.
He slammed into her harder than before this time.
A loud moan escaped her throat.
Zane leaned over to bite her neck. Her eyes rolled back.
"F?ck, the things I wanna do to you." He whispered.
Nicole smiled in between her moans.
"... Fuck... Aurora..." Zane whispered.
Nicole froze, her eyes stilled.
"What..what did you just say?" She muttered.
"Shut up and moan...." He breathed.
She pushed his chest. "I said what the f?ck did you just say?!" She snapped.
Zane pulled out angrily, his ???k dangling carelessly.
"What the fuck is your problem?!" He snapped back.
"Did you just say that bitch's name. I heard Aurora. Why did you say her na.." A slap from Zane shut her up.
The impact of the slap was so hard, the mark showed on her face.
"How dare you call her a bitch?! How dare you?!!" He slapped again.
"Zane!!!!" She tried to slap back but he stopped her hand, twisting it.
"She's not a bitch!!! She's mine!!!! Mine!!!!!" He punched her.
"Mine!!" Another punch.
"Only! Fucking! Minnee!!!" A harder punch.
Even after Nicole fainted while bleeding he didn't stop.
He kept punching.
"You have no right to call her that!!!" She's mine!!!"
"Minee!!!!!"
AURORA ARTSPACE
Gemma sat behind her office desk, staring blankly at the screen. Her phone buzzed with messages, but she wasn't really seeing them.
The photographs Melvin showed her that evening was haunting her.
Aurora's case had always been a paradox: the closer she came to healing, the closer they came to the storm they'd all tried to bury.
For a second, Gemma closed her eyes. "Please." She whispered under her breath. "Not yet."
---
Back at college, Oma caught up with Ivy. "I'm back."
Ivy smirked. "Of course you are." She teased , looking at Oma's flushed cheeks and lips a little too pink.
"How long do we have till next class?" Oma asked, ignoring her teasing.
"I dunno. But we have enough time though." Ivy replied, not ready to let go of the issue.
"Stop that." Oma chuckled.
Ivy rolled her eyes. "Can't believe you're his girlfriend now." She pouted.
Oma laughed. "Brat "
"Anyway, Auri just said she's attending Leo's party tonight." Ivy said, still in shock.
"What?!" Oma gushed excitedly.
"Yeah." Ivy giggled.
"But she literally refused last night." Oma furrowed her brows.
"Did Leo do something already?" She muttered.
"Who cares. She coming." Ivy beamed.
"Yeah..." Oma squinted her hands.
What's going on in that mind of hers?
---
LEONARD'S VILLA (EVENING)
Music pulsed through the sprawling compound. The theme was decadence, dark outfits, champagne, glitter, and smoke.
Girls in over exposing and slutty dresses laughed under string lights; boys flashed wealth like a badge of power.
The entire event shimmered with danger and money.
Sean was there, looking infuriatingly confident.
Jaxen arrived with Roseanne on his arm, the pair turning heads instantly.
Collette and Charlotte came next, both scandalous and stunning, Collette's red hair glowing under the lights.
Oh, the night had just begun.
RAVEN MANSION
Aurora stood before her mannequin.
The dress waiting on it looked almost alive, black silk, sculpted to her form. Behind her, Oma was already dressed, glowing like she owned the world.
"You're gonna kill them all." Oma said, grinning.
Aurora traced the fabric's edge. "How does he even know my size?"
Oma laughed softly. "He just does."
By the time she already put it on, Oma's mouth was already hanging in shock.
Now she understands why Leo added a coat.
She wore black, not the soft kind, but the dangerous kind that shimmered under light.
The top curved around her chest, a single strap tracing her collarbone before looping around her neck.
Her skirt sat high on her waist, short, and unapologetically daring. The boot heels added the final edge.
Aurora's fingers shook, as she stared at herself in the huge mirror. Oma is still wowing.
Aurora shook her head. "This is barely covering me. I'm half naked." She muttered, already starting to take it off.
Oma's hand stopped hers. "Don't." She shook her head.
"It's just one night. I'm there with you. I won't leave you, okay. Chill."
"I can't chill. I can't. Look at me. I look like..." Aurora trailed off.
"That's why there's a coat. See." Oma brought the coat. "Wear it."
She put on the black fur coat slowly. It swallowed her frame, soft and oversized.
"See." Oma smiled. "It's all good."
Aurora sighed. "I can't do this. I can't."
"You can. You're fine. You're safe, Aurora, You're safe." Oma assured.
She cleared her throat. "But I have to say, girl, this body of yours..."
"Oma..." Aurora cautioned. "No let me finish. Girl, your body is tequila cuz tea and coffee combo ain't strong enough. You're so ho-"
"Oma." Aurora cautioned again.
Oma sighed slowly, controlling herself. "Okay... Okay... It's all good..."
"Let's bounce." She took Aurora's hand.
They went downstairs together.
Gemma froze mid-sentence. Her eyes widened at the sight of her daughter, no longer the quiet girl she'd tried to protect, but a girl who wore her scars like armor.
Melvin said nothing, just studied her with calm intensity.
"So, you weren't kidding when you said you're both going to a party?" Gemma said slowly to Oma.
Oma nodded. "I wasn't. We're gonna be fine. She's gonna be fine."
"Ar- are you sure Auri, are you sure about this?..."
"Hm." Was Aurora's simple reply.
Melvin smiled faintly, the kind that didn't reach his eyes. "Enjoy your night."
When the door closed behind them, Gemma turned to him, panic breaking through her calm. "I'm scared. She's getting closer, too fast."
Melvin wrapped an arm around her shoulders. "Then we'll be ready."
He took out his phone and sent a single text: Follow her.
---
LEONARD'S VILLA
The party roared louder as the night deepened. Leonard finally arrived, the birthday king himself, looking so carelessly hot.
He looked like trouble wrapped in designer, black-on-black from his open silk shirt to the sculpted leather pants hugging his frame. The cross chain around his neck gleamed against his skin.
He looked like the kind of guy your mother warned you about, and the kind you still couldn't walk away from.
The fact that Ricky bought this for him. The things that guy would do for a party.
The girls went crazy. Screaming and chanting his name.
The rule of the night for the girls is "push up bra or no bra at all" cuz that's literally what's everywhere.
The crowd parted for him without being told to. His expression unreadable, but his presence alone made the air heavy.
Girls whispered, some bold enough to reach for his arm. None were seen. His eyes scanned the crowd, waiting.
Mason showed up moments later, looking effortlessly charming, eyes searching for Oma.
Somewhere darker, Kimberly was peeping at Leonard, the pain in her chest tightening, remembering what he did to her for Aurora.
She covered her face with a scarf.
"Kimberly?" Perry's voice sounded form behind.
She turned to see him with a smug look in his face.
"You should be crowned the queen of shamelessness.
Look at yourself, your eyes are puffy, your lips are swollen.
You're a mess and all because you tried to sabotage someone but your plan backfired.
I'd leave the city if I were you, or probably the country. "
Kimberly scoffed. "Call me whatever you want. You're just jealous I didn't do all these for you."
"Baby..." A sweet feminine voice broke through the noise, drawing their attention.
A satisfied smile came to Perry's face as Charlotte ran and jumped on him.
He steadied her by her ass and they shared a deep kiss.
Kimberly balled her fists. Her nails digging into her palm
She scoffed. "This is my replacement? Wow." She smirked.
Perry rolled his eyes to her. "Well, there's is only gonna be one Kimberly Henderson, one shameless, cheap, and jobless Kimberly. So no, she can't be like you." He kissed Charlotte again, making her giggle into his lips while kicking her feet.
Kimberly scoffed, and stormed off.
Ivy and Kiara entered together, Kiara smiling too brightly when she saw Leonard , but he wasn't looking at her. Ricky was already moving toward Ivy, charm turned up to full.
Jaxen nudged Leonard. "You sure she'll come?"
Leonard's lips curved into a slow smirk. "She will."
And she did.
A sleek car rolled up to the villa gates. The crowd quieted instinctively. Oma stepped out first, her beauty commanding attention instantly. Mason couldn't take his eyes off her.
Then Aurora emerged.
Every stare followed her, envy, lust, awe, but her eyes stayed cold, fixed on something deeper.
Even Leonard, the unshakable, untouchable Leonard, felt it. The smirk faded for a heartbeat, replaced by something raw.
Around them, the music swelled, and whispers rose like waves.
Aurora Raven had arrived.
TBC...