A/N: A/N: When I read HxH Yorknew Arc, I had a feeling there's something else deeper behind Neon's brattiness. So I want to develop her into a more relatable character.

"Everything you want is on the other side of fear."

-Jack Canfield-

CHAPTER 6: HER VISION

The wind softly caressed the flowers in the sky garden on Hotel Beitacle's rooftop.

There was a large, fascinating open-air swimming pool located right at the border of the garden, gazing down on the city below. Its borderless design showcased a brilliant view of Yorknew city from the heart-throbbing height of the hotel building. The cool blue tiles efficiently enhanced the color of the pool water which was clear as crystal.

Clandestia was absolutely loving it. Such a soothing sight to the eyes. The place was usually busy and crowded with the hotel's customers and staff. But today, it was strangely quiet.

No one's here but the Nostrades.

"What did you do?" Clandestia shot her cousin a questioning look.

"I told Dalzolene to rent the whole floor for the few days that we're here." Neon said cheerfully.

That's filthy rich cousin for you! Clandestia smiled wryly.

"Thanks for the treat." She scoffed. Uncle Light really spoiled Neon.

"Let's go, Tia!" Before she could react, she was pulled towards the pool by a very cheery Neon.

"Whoa, hold on. Let me take this off first!" Clandestia pulled the oversize T-shirt over her head, revealing her black bikini suit.

The bikini Neon picked seemed to highlight just the right amount of Clandestia's advantages. The simple design bottom did a good job showing off her delicate waist and long legs. Her breasts, though of modest size, were standing tall and perky.

Neon leered at her from top to toe, then sighed with pleasure. "Ah, my eyes are blessed, Tia."

"Would you stop talking like a dirty old man?" Clandestia slightly blushed.

"If I were a guy, I'd definitely date you." Neon confided jestingly.

"Oh? I'm flattered but sorry, spoiled tycoons are not my type!" Clandestia chuckled. "How about a round of swimming to heal your broken heart?"

The two sisters merrily made their way into the pool.

The water was pleasantly cool. Clandestia found it refreshing to the mind and body.

Suddenly, Neon squeaked and turned around. "Oh no, I forgot my swan floater, Tia!"

"You're still using it?" Clandestia asked incredulously.

"Yes, I can't live without it." Neon exclaimed as she rushed back to the pool deck pulling a robe over her body and left.

"Ok, fine." Clandestia sighed and leisurely descended into the cool deep water.

Meanwhile, a group of four bodyguards was keeping watch on the Nostrade's ladies from the distance.

"Wow, look at those two!" Basho made a lascivious whistle. "I feel like I hate my job a little less now!"

Baise clicked her tongue. They're just teenage girls. She would look much better in a swimsuit than those kids. Dalzolene was on an errand for Sir Light and they were stuck here babysitting the two girls.

"Keep those vulgar thoughts to yourself, Basho" Kurapika said coldly.

He suddenly realized Melody was absorbed in thoughts.

"What's wrong?" He inquired.

"I don't know…" Melody said uncertainly. "Something feels off about Lady Clandestia."

His gaze quickly scanned the pool area. Nothing seemed wrong. Clandestia was relaxing inside the pool after a round of swimming. No sign of drowning or anything.

"What did you see?" He inquired.

"I can hear her heartbeat from here. It's getting increasingly erratic." Melody frowned.

The pleasant soft wind caressing her face made Clandestia feel light-headed. She leaned back on the pool's deck and closed her eyes, letting her mind roam free.

In a fleeting moment, she felt an obscure dark presence looming above her head. Her eyes shot open. The image instantly vanished like smoke. She only saw a dark cloud up above, suddenly shielding a part of the sun. Her jumping heart quickly calmed down.

Phew, why am I so paranoid?

She mentally reprimanded herself and leisurely tucked a few hair strands behind her ear. She needed to cool off. So she took a deep breath and dived in. The pleasant temperature of the water suffused her sun-heated skin and she gladly embraced it.

Clandestia briefly rose up for air and dived back, deep into the bottom of the pool. She gradually opened her eyes in the cool water. The sight of Yorknew city could be seen through the tempered glassed bottom of the pool. The view was magnificent. Her amethyst orbs shone in the water.

Out of nowhere, her ears caught an elusive, grating susurration. It was indistinguishable yet she was able to fluorescent it as seconds went by. She involuntarily cowered as a horrible feeling of foreboding washed over her.

Soon enough, the dark figure she saw a few minutes ago reappeared before her eyes, gruesomely vivid this time. In mere seconds, it multiplied into a dozen or so, floating, circling around, and cornering her trembling form.

The grim reapers.

Impossible! They even materialized now when she was completely awake. They'd gotten stronger.

An indescribable pain instantly sunk into her body. The kind of pain that she had been through a thousand times before but only got worse each time.

Clandestia… They called.

"What do you want from me?" She screamed in her head as she felt the demonic existence gradually take control of her mind and body. Her heart smashed violently against her ribcage and she thought it was going to burst into pieces.

"Leave me alone!" She tried to resist to no avail. She willed herself to rise up to the surface but her body didn't cooperate.

The air was escaping her lung at a breakneck speed and her mind grew hazy.

Is this the end?

Ah...If I die here, these evil beings will leave me for good. All these sufferings would finally come to an end! She felt oddly tranquil at the fleeting thought. Her body gradually went limp by a morbid sense of relief and the growing temptation to surrender.

No!... Not like this! I don't wanna die at their mercy. It's just so unfair! The sudden sobriety triggered a brutal jerking motion on her body. Like a predator, the pool water jumped at the chance and instantly invaded her nasal passage. The last bit of air was squeezed out of her lung.

Somebody... Help!

Before she lost touch of her consciousness, she saw flashes of blond hair. The next moment strong and warm arms caught her.

Then her mind drifted into an abyss of darkness.

"She's awake yet?" Neon sobbed, lingering outside Clandestia's hotel suite.

"Not yet, Lady Neon." Dalzolene said. "We'll inform you when Lady Clandestia wakes up."

"You should go back and rest now as it's already quite late." Eliza, her personal maid, gently touched her shoulders.

"What do I do if she's not waking up? I shouldn't have left her alone." Neon said. Her eyes were red from crying.

"The lady is fine. She's just sleeping now." Eliza comforted her mistress.

Dalzolene sighed and instructed Eliza to take Neon back to her quarters to rest for the night. It's already a long evening. He couldn't imagine how gruesomely Sir Light would kill them if something happened to Miss Clandestia. Everything was in chaos and now he's totally spent.

He opened the door and walked back inside the room.

"Guys, all go back and rest." Dalzolene gave his orders. "Except Kurapika, you stay and guard her tonight."

At Dalzolene's order, everyone gradually left the room.

Melody was the last to leave.

"Luckily you saved her on time, Kurapika." The music hunter sighed.

"It does not matter who saved her. It's everyone's job." Kurapika replied monotonously.

Melody's eyes lingered on the girl lying limp on the bed.

"I think she's in tremendous turmoil." The music hunter added softly with a wince.

"I did some investigation about her" Kurapika said. "But I found nothing useful."

"Then why are you weary?" Melody asked.

"Exactly because I found nothing that we should take precautions." He said, casting a glance at Clandestia. "She left the Nostrades at the age of 9 and all the maids and bodyguards used to serve her disappeared at the same time. They just vanished, in one night, without any trace!"

"The fact that the Nostrades went to such a hassle to cover up information about this girl is unsettling. I always get a wicked feeling whenever I see her. She's not normal and I'm sure of it!"

"We'd better keep a distance from her, Melody-" Kurapika said with a dark expression. "-I have yet to find out exactly what she is."

"I see." Melody frowned, feeling a little conflicted. "-But whenever I hear her heartbeats, I feel a rather lonely rhythm."

"You'd better rest now," Kurapika said, signaling the end of their discussion.

Right, they all had plenty of secrets and motives. It'd be too dangerous.

Melody gave a heavy sigh as she pivoted her steps. "Alright, good night."

Before she was out of the room, the music hunter glanced back at the girl sleeping on the bed.

Looks like Kurapika is not the only one that needs some help.