Entire story is in Nina POV, set after House of Doublecross/House of wires.

House of Anubis

Dead Songs

Chapter One, The Piano

It was just a regular day. My mind was racing with thoughts of Sibuna, and the latest mystery. Patricia and Eddie were busy pretending to hate each other. Amber was contemplating the best shade of dress to go with her eyes and lipstick. Mara was studying. Alfie and Jerome were playing pranks on Mrs. Andrews or some other unlucky soul. Fabian was in the library and Joy was thinking up new ways to get his attention. It irked me how she managed to be able to get him to do anything. It would take me five minutes of long babble to get Fabian to go with me to the movies, but it took Joy approximately 10 seconds.

Just a regular day; right? The rain was drizzling outside, reminding me I was in England. The latest mystery was on my mind, reminding me of the jackal mark on my arm. The Mark of Anubis meant that if I didn't find the mask I would die. My thoughts turned grim after that. How could we get past the webs? It made me want to stamp my foot.

I heard the door clang downstairs and wondered who it could be. Then I remembered; Vera had been gone all day. Was it her coming back?

I looked carefully over the banister after tiptoeing out of my room. You never knew what to expect in this house. It could be Alfie and Jerome running for their lives from Mr. Sweet. It could be Rufus Zeno. It could be yet another of Fabian's ex girlfriends.

I chided myself for the last thought. I was jealous, and I knew it.

I looked down into the hallways. Vera was standing, directing two men with a piano.

Her voice drifted up to me, past the chandelier. "Put it over there."

Why was Vera bringing a piano in? What could possibly the point of that?

Amber came up the stairs after glancing at the piano. "What's all that all about?" Her gray eyes showed a look of disinterest.

"I don't know," I confessed.

"Whatever. So Nina, I have a personal question for you." She said, her eyes now focused on the glowing screen of her phone.

"Um, Amber right now I'm kind of trying to figure out what the piano's doing downstairs." I said. Amber's personal questions always involved what sort of dress I liked best.

"That's your problem." She told me.

I looked back at her. "Excuse me?"

"Well, I've figured it out. Now can I ask you a personal question?" she said as if it was obvious.

I looked back over the railing. "Ask away."

"So, if there was no mystery would you be after Fabian as much as Joy is?" she asked. She finally looked away from her phone and up to the back of my head.

I looked around. "W-what does that have to do with anything?" I asked. She had my attention now. Why was she asking? Why did it matter? Would I be?

"Well, I'm trying to figure out if Fabina is a lost cause or not." She said, once again looking away from her phone.

I stood up straight. "Amber, Fabina was over a long time ago. Why are you still thinking about it?" My mood had turned sour. Why did she have to bring up 'Fabina'? Hadn't I been thinking about it enough?

If Amber had known as big a word as 'hypocrite', she would have used it. Instead, she said, "Just answer my question and I will stop bugging you." She smiled encouragingly, showing off her newest lip gloss.

I threw up my hands. I just wanted to figure out what the deal with the piano was. She wouldn't leave me alone if I told her the truth. "No. Fabina was over a long time ago. And it's not like it would ever happen again, so stop with your obsession, okay? My friends are my friends, Amber. Wasn't like it would have ever worked anyway." I walked away, swallowing as I went down the stairs toward the piano.

Amber threw up her hands in response. "Don't get all huffy on me! And it's not like you're telling the truth, anyway."

I stopped short. She had recognized the fib?

"And I still think you and-"

I cut her off as Fabian entered the room. "Hey Fabian!" I said loudly.

He looked up at me in surprise for a minute. "Hey!" he said. "Anyone know what's up with the piano?" he asked after a pause.

Amber muttered as the two walked over to the piano. "No one ever pays any attention to my advice."

Patricia and Joy walked through, laughing about some private joke between the two of them. They stopped when they saw Fabian and I examining the piano.

"Gonna play the piano for us Fabian?" Patricia laughed.

Fabian didn't bother to look up. "I find your senseless jibes incredibly entertaining, Patricia."

Amber sadly descended the stairs. Neither Nina nor Fabian would listen to her! Nina wouldn't even talk with her. "Fabian, you are coming with me. Now." Amber marched over and grabbed Fabian by the arm.

"Ah! Amber, what are you doing? Can't it wait?" he asked in protest, his voice growing high pitched.

"No. It can't, actually." She said as she dragged him into the kitchen. "You." She prodded his chest.

"Me?" He asked, stepping back a little.

"Exercise your brain. What's the only reason I go out of my way to talk to nerds?"

Fabian rolled his blue eyes. "Why does everyone call me a nerd?" he muttered.

Amber sighed. "Dating, Fabian. Dating. The only reason I go out of my way to talk to you is to talk to about dating." She had meant it as a joke. Fabian never cared that people called him a nerd.

"Amber, I'm not sure..." he trailed off looking at the floor.

"You're not sure of what?" Amber Millington was not about to let Fabian be all quiet and depressed.

"Amber, maybe we should just focus on Sibuna and stuff and not worry about that for the moment." He said.

"Fabian, what's gone and made you all quiet?" She really wanted to add, 'Well, quieter anyway', but then he wouldn't answer.

It was only then she noticed his hand was shaking. "Fabian?" Amber asked quietly

The group of students walked in, interrupting their conversation. Patricia had a moody expression on her face and they were all silent until Patricia spun around to face Nina and Joy. "Aw, why don't you two just go and brawl or something? Just ignore and focus on being complete idiots!" she said suddenly. She pushed back through the rest of the students.

Jerome had a crafty expression on his face. Alfie rolled his eyes at Jerome. He was always plotting some clever prank!

Joy's eyes widened. "Patricia, what do you mean?" She ran out of the kitchen after Patricia.

Nina looked to the side as Jerome stepped up. "Nina," he began.

Nina was rolling her eyes already.

"So, tell us all, us all, including Fabian and Amber; why is it you hate Joy so much?" he asked, a wild smile spreading on his face after he asked the question.

Nina spun to Jerome, and pushed him back from her. "Just stop it, Jerome!"

"Because that always works." He made a little hand puppet and made it open and shut over and over again. He said in a high pitched voice, "Just stop it Jerome!"

Nina shrugged and looked back at Fabian and Amber. "So, what's so ultra important that Amber pulls Fabian out of a room?" she asked them both.

Fabian walked off, swallowing. Amber looked up at the ceiling. "Well, uh," she said.

Nina frowned. "Okay, whatever. Does anyone know what's up with the piano?"

Alfie said seriously, "Do you think it's alien infiltration?"

Everyone else sniggered. Only Alfie would have that idea.

So, they all went by their daily activities, unaware of the new danger that lurked in the House of Anubis... but would it be revealed by night?

AN: It's my first House of Anubis story, PLEASE be nice! I'm not sure if I'll continue or not. And I know it seems a little weird to start off with, but tell me if you think I should continue on my new story? Please? If I get 3 reviews I'll add another chapter.

Thanks guys. Sorry if I got them OOC.

~Iceshadow of ShadowClan