Deviant: No Longer Human

Ruixin shook her head, still holding the dress. "It started a few years ago. I remember coming back home during my sophomore year... and it was like she\'d turned into a completely different person."

Everyone was wise enough not to inquire about the attacks.

They were happening across the world—in Europe and both American continents—and people anticipated they would soon spread to other regions.

Meanwhile, the Holy Church was swiftly taking action to locate the source and contain the threat

Jiarong frowned, trying to reconcile the image of the fierce, commanding woman who had just left with the memory of the once-haggard woman she vaguely remembered. "Yeah... The last time I saw her before that, she was so different—exhausted, like life had worn her down. But now... she\'s like a queen or something."

Ruixin nodded, her thoughts drifting back to that visit home. "I was shocked when I saw her. The way she carried herself, the way she spoke... It was like she had shed her old self entirely. There was no trace of the woman who used to be overwhelmed by everything. Instead, she was strong, confident, like she\'d built this wall around herself.

I still don\'t know what caused it."

Jiarong gave a low whistle, still processing. "Whatever it was, it turned her into someone pretty... commanding."

Ruixin gave a small, humorless laugh. "Yeah, commanding...."

[A/N: Xinyue Zhilan and Xin Meifang are sisters — With Xin Meifang being the elder sister! ^⁠_⁠^]

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Crash... Crash...

The waves crashed against the cold, rocky shore, their rhythmic pounding a constant reminder of the vast, dark abyss that was the night sea.

Lines of bonfires flickered along the beach, their warm glow fighting against the biting chill in the air.

The flames danced in the wind, casting long shadows and bathing the gathering in an eerie, yet beautiful light.

Despite the cold, many guests shivered but stubbornly refused to put on jackets.

They had spent hours preparing for the event, selecting the perfect outfits to showcase.

To cover them up now, even with the icy wind biting at their skin, seemed unthinkable.

A typical vanity-driven affair, where appearances were everything.

The dinner area was lively, almost chaotic, filled with the hum of conversation and the clinking of glasses.

But the noise level spiked when Mary made her entrance.

Dressed in a stunning white gown with open shoulders, she immediately drew attention.

Her straight black bangs nearly obscured her crimson eyes, giving her a mysterious, almost haunting look.

From a distance, her pale skin and delicate features made her appear angelic, but anyone who met her gaze was quickly unsettled by the devil blood-red eyes.

People whispered, exchanging uneasy glances, before quickly looking away, as if her eyes might trap them in some unspeakable horror.

Mary was not alone.

She followed two figures who were even more captivating—Wang Xiao\'s favored twin daughters, Wenxi and Yue.

Their entrance caused an immediate stir.

Whispers filled the air, some admiring, others skeptical, as they walked with the kind of grace that demanded attention.

Yue, in particular, held a distinct air of authority—unsurprising, given that she was the owner of the company organizing the event.

Her sharp gaze swept the crowd, taking note of everything, every detail, every face.

As they moved through the crowd, the murmurs died down, especially when Xinyue Zhilan and Xin Meifang, stepped forward to recieve them, although the former curious about their sudden appearance.

Her warm reception quickly smoothed over any lingering skepticism, and soon, the guests were distracted by the flowing wine, drinks and the promise of a good time.

They blended into the party, their presence becoming just another part of the night.

On a small platform to the right, a show was in full swing.

Six models dressed in traditional Hawaiian attire performed flame stunts, their exotic beauty and daring moves instantly captivating the men in the audience.

The women, however, weren\'t as impressed.

Some glared, others simply sighed in resignation, their expressions a mix of annoyance and acceptance.

"Typical," one woman muttered under her breath, crossing her arms tighter against the cold but refusing to cover her meticulously chosen dress. "They bring in these foreign beauties to flaunt around, and we\'re just supposed to smile and watch?"

Another woman beside her nodded in agreement, her eyes flicking disdainfully toward the models. "Just another reminder of how disposable we are at these things. But what can you do? Let them have their fun."

Despite the simmering tension, the night continued, with most guests gradually surrendering to the festive atmosphere.

"Miss Yue, thank you for joining us," Xinyue Zhilan greeted politely, making sure to keep her tone respectful without prying into why they were there.

Yue, after all, was the owner of the company organizing the event, and even if her arrival was unexpected, she was still a guest—someone who, according to tradition, should be treated with utmost respect.

Xin Meifang, standing beside Zhilan, quickly recognized Yue but kept her acknowledgment subtle, offering only a nod.

Her attention, however, was drawn to the mysterious young woman trailing behind Yue.

Mary\'s presence was quiet but intense, her red eyes partially hidden by dark bangs, giving her an eerie, almost spectral aura.

\'Why is she here!?\' Meifang wondered, panicked inwardly but cautious outside.

"It\'s no trouble," Yue replied, her gaze steady as she met Zhilan\'s eyes. "We just wanted to look around. I hope we\'re not intruding." She glanced briefly at Meifang, who was still studying Mary.

Yue\'s sharp eyes missed nothing, and she made a mental note of Meifang\'s curiosity.

But now wasn\'t the time to address it.

Xinyue Zhilan noticed the way Yue\'s eyes briefly flickered to Meifang before returning to her. \'She\'s observant,\' Zhilan thought. \'Not just a pretty face, but someone with sharp instincts.\'

Wenxi, standing beside Yue, remained silent, but her icy curious gaze lingered on Xinyue Zhilan.

The way Wenxi stared made Zhilan uneasy, though she couldn\'t quite place why.

Finally, Zhilan turned her attention back to Yue, hoping to ease the tension.

Sensing the awkwardness, Yue offered a polite smile. "By the way, just call me Yue. It feels strange to be addressed so formally by someone of your stature." She remembered Wenxi mentioning that Xinyue Zhilan was her father\'s mother, though they had never been close. Still, having Zhilan call her \'Miss\' felt too distant, almost uncomfortable.

Zhilan seemed relieved by the suggestion and nodded. "Alright, Yue," she said, the name rolling off her tongue with more ease now.