The heavy silence of the night began to lift with the first rays of morning, yet a new restlessness was about to awaken in the Ghost Mentors' house. Michael was sitting on the sofa, already going through his old files, when Claire came and sat beside him, adjusting her silk nightdress. The faint fragrance rising from her blended into the freshness of the morning.
"You didn't sleep all night, did you?" Claire asked, looking into Michael's eyes, her voice carrying a quiet intimacy. Michael answered only with a small smile. Across the hall, Stephnie had taken charge of the kitchen, and the chhink-chhink of the frying pan echoed through the house.
Turning her head toward the kitchen, Claire asked, "Hey Stephnie, where's Lily? I don't see her anywhere."
Stephnie replied while toasting the bread, "She was still sleeping deeply—proper, peaceful sleep. I just woke her up a little while ago. She's gone to take a shower; she'll be here any moment."
