Nocturnal Isle

Chapter Nine: May I Have This Dance?

Just as I finished the last entry, I heard music coming from downstairs. Out of curiosity, I went to see what was going on. As I approached the living room, the soft strains of classical music grew louder, a melody rich with emotion and history. The music pulled me in, curiosity piqued. When I stepped into the room, I was greeted by a warm, intimate scene: Max and Amy, gracefully dancing together in the centre of the spacious living room. The room itself was bathed in soft, golden light from an elaborate chandelier, the polished wooden floor reflecting their fluid movements.

Max, still dressed in his tailored suit, held Amy close, guiding her effortlessly as they glided across the floor. Amy, in her elegant, vintage-inspired dress, seemed to float, her red hair cascading down her back as they danced in perfect harmony.

I hesitated at the doorway, feeling like an intruder on a private moment, but the scene was so captivating that I couldn't bring himself to turn away. Just then, Luna and Adrian entered the room from a door on the opposite side of the room, both drawn by the music as well.

Luna's eyes lit up when she saw her parents dancing, a soft smile spreading across her face. She glanced at me, and just as I caught her eye, she used her vampire speed to instantly travel across the room to my side, leaning in to whisper.

"They've been doing this for as long as I can remember," she said quietly, a note of affection in her voice. "Every time they hear this song, it's like they're the only two people in the world."

Adrian, standing in the opposite doorway, watched his parents with a rare softness in his usually guarded expression. For a moment, the room was filled only with the music and the graceful movements of Max and Amy, the rest of the world fading away.

Then, as the song neared its end, Max spun Amy outwards, and they both caught sight of us.

"Join us," Max said, his voice smooth and inviting. He extended a hand towards Luna, who hesitated for a second, looking at me as if asking for permission, then she stepped forward and took it.

"Would you care to dance?" Amy asked me, her voice gentle, though her eyes sparkled with a mischievous challenge.

Feeling caught off guard, I stammered slightly. "I—I'm not much of a dancer," I admitted, feeling a bit out of place in such a graceful setting.

Adrian, who had remained silent, stepped forward. "I'll take over for you, Jack. It's been a while since I danced with Mother."

I was grateful for the reprieve and watched as Adrian took my place with Amy, who seemed pleased. The music started up again, and the couples begin to move in sync, Max with Luna and Adrian with Amy. I stood back, watching the fluid, practiced movements, feeling the deep connection that ties this family together, and a sense of belonging began to creep into my heart.

Luna caught my eye as she danced with her father, her expression a mix of joy and something more..vulnerable, something that looked like hope. It seems clear that she wants me to feel like a part of this world, to share in moments like these.

At one point I noticed Adrian whisper something into Amy's ear as he looked my way with almost what seemed to be a smirk. Amy too looked in my direction with some excitement and then in an instant they disappeared and immediately reappeared on the ceiling. They continued dancing as though gravity had completely reversed in their favour. Max and Luna just laughed as they watched my reaction to this strange ability that seemed to belong to this family.

As the music played on, I felt the weight of the island, the mystery of the vampires, and my own situation, but also the warmth of the family I'm becoming entangled with. The sight of Luna, moving so gracefully, her smile lighting up the room, filled me with a strange sense of peace.