Chapter 2: A Gala Like No Other (Continued)

A shiver went down Holly's spine. Words hung in the air, it seemed, and the room breathed as if in expectation. This sounded like fairy tale stuff—the existence of hidden treasure, the life-altering treasure. Still, she could not deny that something in the gravity of Mr. Yule's voice stayed the idea of utter dismissal.

"The treasure," Holly asked cautiously, "is it tied to the riddle? The star that never shines?"

Mr. Yule nodded slowly. "Yes. The star is a symbol, just as this mansion is. It's a symbol of something hidden in plain sight, something lost in time."

Holly's mind reeled as she tried to absorb what Mr. Yule had just told her. A treasure, a prophecy, and a star that never shines. She looked down at the silver snowflake pendant in her hand, wondering if it had anything to do with all he had just revealed.

Just before she could ask her next question, Clara stepped forward, her face set with determination.

"Enough talking in circles," Clara said, her voice cutting through the tension. "We need to find the next clue, and fast. Victor isn't here, and I'm not about to let this night turn into a wild goose chase. We have a job to do."

She spoke bluntly, and they were all caught off guard, but Holly could not help but agree. They needed to act, to start unraveling the mystery before it spiraled out of control.

"Right," Holly said, gripping the pendant tightly in her hand. "Let's start looking. The clue said the star that never shines, but what exactly are we supposed to be looking for?"

Nick was already on the move, scanning the room with his eyes, his brain working overtime. "We should check the paintings," he said, his voice urgent. "A symbol like a star could be hidden in a painting, or maybe in a statue. Victor is known for his eccentric taste—there's bound to be something like that in here.

Clara nodded in agreement, her eyes darting to the large, ornate paintings that adorned the walls of the ballroom. “Let’s split up,” she suggested. “We’ll cover more ground that way.”

As the group dispersed, Holly walked toward the far side of the room, her eyes drawn to an enormous portrait that hung over a fireplace. It depicted a family—Victor Noel’s ancestors, she presumed. The faces were somber, with eyes heavy with secrets. Yet, something was off about the way they stared out from the canvas, as if they were watching her. The portrait seemed to carry an energy, almost a weight, that pressed against her chest.

She took a few steps closer, her eyes narrowing. Was it just the effect of the dim lighting, or was there something strange about the way the starry sky in the background seemed to shimmer with an unnatural glow? Her heart skipped a beat.

"Do you see it?" she whispered to herself.

The star in the painting was no ordinary star. It was a bright, gleaming white against a dark blue sky. But it didn't shine like the others. In fact, it was dim—faint, almost invisible to the naked eye unless you were standing at the right angle.

Holly reached out tentatively, her fingers brushing the edge of the frame. She took a deep breath, steeling herself for whatever lay ahead.

She had just taken another step forward when Clara appeared beside her, expression unreadable. "What did you find?" she asked, her voice a soft whisper almost.

"I think I found the star," Holly said, pointing to the painting. "But it doesn't shine. It's almost like it's hidden.

Clara squinted, inspecting the painting with a critical eye. After a long moment, she nodded slowly. “That’s definitely it. But the question is… what now?”

Holly’s mind raced. The star wasn’t just a symbol—it was the beginning of something much bigger. And with every step they took, they were drawing closer to the heart of the mystery. But what would they find when they got there?

Before Holly could utter another word, the grand clock of the mansion struck again, ringing out in the room.

The time was ticking. And the secret was waiting to be uncovered.