A small gentle hum filled your house. It was in the middle of the night and it was silent except for that hum. The door to your living room creaked open slowly, the hum getting louder. But there was no one there.. was there?

Farther down the hall, footsteps echoed around your house and in the living room sat a man on the floor near the coffee table, leaning his head back on the sofa. His grey eyes were open and they seemed to glow like the moon, his silver hair beautiful and silky. His pale skin was almost translucent.

He looked almost emotionless, with only a hint of unreadable emotion in his eyes. He continued to hum.

The humming grew louder as the male slowly turned his head to face you, silver eyes meeting golden ones. He didn't seem surprised at your presence but rather... appreciative? The corners of his lips twitched slightly upwards before he finally spoke in a whisper almost as soft as a breath against your ear.

"It is a pleasure to see someone as beautiful as yourself in this house."

The male shifted so that his back was pressed against the couch now, knees bent and feet flat on the floor. He didn't take his eyes off you as he spoke again in that soft whisper of a voice, "I wonder... do you enjoy my company? It's been some time since I've had someone to talk to."

There was an almost hungry glint in those silver eyes and it made your stomach flutter oddly. You couldn't help but feel drawn to him despite how pale and lifeless he appeared.

His eyes sparkled slightly at your words, and he tilted his head to the side ever so slightly as he considered you further. "I'm glad," he whispered, voice almost inaudible. "Not many people can see past the emotionless exterior I wear like armor." He paused, watching you intently before asking, "Do you think you could get past that, Marcus? Could you see the real me?"

The male seemed to mull your words over before giving you a small nod, his expression barely changing. "Very well then," he whispered. "My name is Arius." There was no bitterness in the way he said it this time; just simple fact.

"I was born in 1790 and died in 1810. I used to be of nobility, but now..." He trailed off, shaking his head slightly before continuing. "I wasn't a good man when I was alive. I made mistakes." His gaze flickered away for a moment as he seemed to dig deep within himself, searching for the right words.

"But I have changed," he finally whispered, meeting your eyes again. "And here... in this house... I feel like I can be someone different." He glanced at you once more, looking slightly more hopeful now that he had started to share his story. "I just want to know if there's a chance for me to become the kind of man who deserves love and companionship again."

The humming returned, this time softer than before as Arius leaned back against the couch once more, waiting to hear what you would say in response.

Silver eyes flashed in surprise, mirroring the gold ones he was gazing at. It had been so long since anyone had offered him anything other than pity or fear... He hesitated for a moment, thoughts whirling through his mind before finally speaking once more. "I-I would like that," he whispered hoarsely, sounding almost disbelieving. "I would like to be your friend, Marcus."

There was an awkward pause as they both seemed unsure of what else to say or do. It wasn't often that the ghost found himself in such an unfamiliar situation. But then, he couldn't help but wonder... if there was more between them than friendship. "Perhaps," Arius ventured slowly, his voice barely audible above the humming that continued to emanate from him, "perhaps one day I could be something more to you?"

His gaze never left yours as he waited for your answer, hope flickering in those pale depths.

Silver eyes softened at your words, and the male couldn't help but feel a tiny spark of happiness within him. "Very well," he whispered hoarsely. "We will be friends for now... and perhaps something more in the future." He paused before adding with a small smile, "I look forward to getting to know you better, Marcus."

The humming increased slightly as his gaze drifted over your features once more, taking in every detail he could. For now, he was content simply being near you and basking in the warmth of your presence... but deep down, a part of him couldn't help but wonder if there might be something else waiting for them both around the corner.

"I was brought to this land and beheaded," he replied quietly, his voice barely more than a breath against your ear. "It happened so quickly... I barely felt anything." His gaze drifted away for a moment before returning to meet yours once more. "My family is gone too. They all died of natural causes long ago." The mention of his past brought back the pain and guilt he had tried to forget, but he pushed those feelings down once more, determined not to dwell on them.

There was another pause before he asked curiously, "What about you? How did your family die?"

"It's wise to focus on what you can control, but sometimes it is important to remember the past and learn from our mistakes," Arius whispered thoughtfully. "We cannot change what has already happened, but we can shape our future." He paused, studying Marcus carefully before asking, "And what do you hope for in your future?"

There was a spark in those golden eyes that made him wonder if perhaps there was something more between them than mere friendship...

His gaze flickered away as he considered his words carefully. "I-I wish I could return the sentiment," he whispered hoarsely, barely above a whisper. "But you see... I'm not alive anymore." There was a painful catch in his throat as he struggled to continue. "And even if I were... I don't think I would deserve such love. Not after all the things I've done and the person I was when I died." He swallowed thickly, unable to meet your eyes anymore.

Silently, he cursed his past self for being so foolish and selfish. For putting innocent people in danger just for the thrill of breaking rules. But more than that, he cursed himself for not being able to let go of those guilt and pain. It felt like they were dragging him down, suffocating him with every breath he took...

The humming around him grew louder once more, a faint whine filling the air as he tried to hide his despair from you. "Forgive me," he whispered hoarsely, finally meeting your gaze again. "I'm not in any place to offer love or companionship." His eyes searched yours for understanding, for some hint of what to do next...

But all he saw was pity and sorrow. Sorrow for him... and sorrow for the life you could never have with him.

Silver eyes flickered in surprise as he listened to your words, feeling a tiny spark of hope ignite within him. "Thank you," he whispered hoarsely. "Your words mean more to me than you'll ever know." He hesitated for a moment before continuing, his voice barely audible above the humming that surrounded him.

"Perhaps... perhaps we could try and shape our futures together?" There was an almost nervous edge to his tone as he waited for your answer, praying silently that you would say yes. That somehow, some way, the two of them could find happiness together despite the obstacles in their paths.

Silver eyes closed as he felt the gentle touch, and a shudder ran through him. He hadn't felt that in... decades. It was as if time had forgotten how to touch him, how to bring him any sort of physical comfort. And yet here you were, offering your hand without hesitation or fear. Arius could hardly believe it was real.

"Thank you," he whispered hoarsely, voice raw with emotion. "I... I never thought I'd feel this again." He paused before asking quietly, "Will you stay with me a while longer?" There was a pleading note in his voice that he couldn't hide, the need for your presence burning within him like a flame.

Silver eyes flickered in thought as he considered your question. "It's... different," he whispered slowly. "I can move through things, but I cannot touch them." His gaze drifted away for a moment before returning to meet yours. "There is no warmth, no sensation of hunger or thirst. My body feels cold and distant, as if it's not even there anymore."

He paused, searching for the right words to explain further. "It's like... existing in between two worlds. The living world where you belong, and this shadow realm where I am forever trapped." A faint sigh escaped him before he added softly, "But at least now I have someone who can feel me, who isn't afraid..." His gaze drifted down to the hand that was still resting on your shoulder. "I am grateful for that, more than you will ever know."

Arius's expression clouded over as he thought back to those days, all the memories both good and bad flooding his mind like a tidal wave. "I was born into nobility," he whispered slowly. "My father was a Duke, and my mother was a Lady of great beauty. I had siblings, but we were far apart in age." His voice drifted off for a moment before continuing.

"I spent most of my time at court, learning the ways of politics and warfare. I was... ambitious, always striving to prove myself. I made enemies easily, but even more friends because of it." There was a wistful note in his voice as he reminisced about those times, before reality came crashing down once more.

"But then," he continued hoarsely, "I met a woman... she was everything beautiful and pure that I was not. Her name was Anastasia." Arius's eyes glinted in the dim light as memories of her danced through his mind like sugarplums on Christmas Eve. "She changed me," he whispered softly, almost too low for you to hear. "I fell in love with her... and I destroyed everything because of it." His voice trailed off, lost in the past once more.

Silver eyes flickered as they focused on the floor, unwilling to meet your gaze anymore. "She was killed by a rival family," he murmured hoarsely. "They thought if they removed her from my life, I would be weakened. They were right." His voice was bitter and raw, his chest aching with a pain that had lasted far too long.

"In my grief, I sought revenge... and in doing so, I brought ruin upon my family name. My siblings died of hunger or disease while the new rulers lived in luxury." His gaze drifted back up to meet yours, filled with regret and shame. "It was all because of me," he whispered brokenly. "And now... I am left here, unable to move on from my past mistakes."

Silver eyes studied your features, drinking in the kindness and sincerity that shone through your gaze. For the first time since he had died, Arius felt a spark of hope ignite within him. Maybe... just maybe... there was a chance for him to move on from his past mistakes and find happiness once more.

"Thank you," he whispered softly. "It means more to me than you'll ever know." His pale hand, invisible but still feeling the warmth of yours, curled into a fist as he fought back tears of gratitude. For the first time in centuries, Arius allowed himself to believe that perhaps his future didn't have to be defined by his past.

Silver eyes flickered with emotion as he considered your question. "There's something I've always wanted to do," he said softly, "but I never had the courage..." His voice trailed off, hesitating before continuing in a barely audible whisper. "I want to dance." A faint blush colored his pale cheeks as he admitted this desire aloud for the first time.

"It's been so long since anyone held me... moved with me... Like we were one soul shared between two bodies," he confessed, almost breathless. His silver eyes shone with a mix of hope and fear, but mostly longing. "Would you dance with me, Marcus? Just for tonight?" There was an almost desperate plea in his tone that tugged at your heartstrings even more than before.

Silver eyes brightened at your words as he took another step closer, his pale hand coming up to rest upon your shoulder invisibly. "Yes," he murmured huskily, voice full of anticipation and longing. "Anything you think I would like... or anything that might make us feel close." His gaze drifted over your features again, taking in every detail as his heart raced with the thrill of possibility.

For a moment, he forgot about the ghostly form that trapped him within this realm; forgot about the guilt and regret that had haunted him for so long. All that mattered was the warmth and life emanating from you, pulling him back into the present and giving him hope for what might be possible in the future.

As a soft waltz began to play through the still air of the old house, Arius slowly guided you across the room, his invisible hand resting lightly on your shoulder as he felt the rhythm of the music flow through them both like a tangible thing. It was exhilarating and freeing in a way that nothing else had been since... well, since he had died.

The humming around him faded away, replaced by the sweet sound of the violins as he focused all of his energy on you - on the feel of your body moving in sync with his own, on the laughter that sometimes escaped your lips as they danced together beneath the moonlight. For this moment, nothing else mattered; not his past or his future, not even the ghostly form that trapped him within this world.

As the music came to an end, Arius's heart felt lighter than it had in centuries. Perhaps there was hope for him after all... perhaps there was a chance for them both to find happiness together despite everything they had been through. It was a

Silver eyes shone with happiness as they met yours, the feeling in his chest swelling impossibly more at the sight of your beaming smile. "Thank you," he whispered hoarsely, unable to stop himself from pressing his invisible form closer against yours. The air between them was electrified, charged with an energy that made him feel as if anything were possible.

Arius could feel hope blossoming within him, a tiny seed of trust growing despite the darkness that still lingered in the corners of his mind. Perhaps... just perhaps, there might be something good waiting for them both beyond this night. Something beautiful and pure and lasting, if only they were brave enough to reach for it together.

The music began once more, another waltz sweeping through the air, urging them back into its embrace. And with a newfound determination burning bright within him, Arius led you across the room, their steps in perfect sync as they danced beneath the starry sky. For now, he would focus on this moment...on finding happiness with you...and perhaps, just perhaps, creating a future where his past mistakes didn't define them both.

The wind rustled through the leaves of the trees surrounding them, carrying with it the scent of spring and new beginnings. As they danced, his pale hand rested lightly on your shoulder, feeling the warmth and life that flowed from you, while the other clasped yours tightly. The music swirled around them, a sweet serenade to their budding connection.

The world seemed to fade away into nothingness as they moved in perfect unison across the empty dance floor. For once, Arius didn't feel trapped by his ghostly existence; instead, he felt free and alive beneath your touch, as if there might still be hope for him yet. His silver eyes never left yours, drinking in the joy that shone from every feature of your face, and it filled him with a sense of peace and contentment he hadn't known in centuries.

As the last strains of music died away, they came to a stop beneath the shimmering stars. Arius hesitated for a moment before speaking, his voice little more than a breath against your ear. "I had forgotten what it felt like... to be truly happy," he confessed softly. "Thank you."

Silver eyes widened slightly at your words, and he felt a small thrill course through him. He had never imagined that such a thing might be possible, but the thought of dancing with you again filled him with an unfamiliar excitement. "I-I'd like that," he whispered hoarsely. "Very much so." The humming around them grew quieter once more as Arius lowered his head, studying your features intently, trying to memorize every detail of your face. For now, though, there was still time... and with each moment they spent together like this, he felt as if their connection grew stronger, more real than ever before.

Silver eyes flickered up at the sound of your voice, confusion and curiosity mingling in their depths. "Yes?" he breathed softly, almost hesitantly. He was unsure what it was that you wanted to ask, but there was a part of him that hoped you would. That perhaps this moment might be different than all the others before it; that perhaps here and now, together, they could find something more.

The silence stretched on for what felt like an eternity, but in reality was only a few heartbeats. Finally, he found his voice again, soft and hesitant as it whispered, "What is it you want to ask me?" His eyes never left yours, searching for any sign of what might be going through your mind.

Silver eyes widened in surprise at the question, hope blossoming within them like a new spring flower. He hesitated only a moment before whispering, "Yes... I would like that very much." The confession was almost barely audible above the humming that surrounded them, but it rang true nevertheless. A faint smile tugged at his lips as he met your gaze again, searching for any sign of disappointment or fear, but finding none. For the first time in centuries, Arius allowed himself to believe that there might still be a chance for happiness after all.

The humming faded away once more, leaving only silence between them. And yet it was a different sort of silence than before; deeper and richer, filled with an understanding and connection that had been lacking in his past life. He took a step closer to you, their invisible bodies almost touching as he spoke softly, "Thank you."

His silver eyes searched yours for any sign of doubt or regret, but found only warmth and acceptance, and with it came the sweetest sensation he had ever known: hope. The kind that blooms in the darkest hours and refuses to die, no matter how dire the circumstances may seem. It was a fragile thing, his newfound hope, but it filled him with a determination and courage he hadn't felt since before his death.

Silver eyes locked onto yours, unwavering as Arius whispered fervently, "I want to see where this goes... with you." His voice was barely more than a breath against your ear, but it carried all the weight of his renewed sense of purpose and desire for something more. For him, it meant giving himself over fully to whatever fate had in store for them; for you, it meant taking a leap of faith into the unknown and trusting that this g

Silver eyes drifted closed as he felt the warmth of your hand on his shoulder, a sigh of contentment escaping him. "Thank you," he murmured softly, opening his eyes once more and searching yours for any sign that your words were true. There was so much fear buried within him still; fear of rejection, fear of failure, fear of losing this newfound hope. But as he looked at you, he found none of those things reflected in your gaze.

"I-I don't know what happens now," he confessed shyly. "But I want to try... to see where this goes." His voice was barely audible above the quiet humming that surrounded them, but it carried all the weight of his newfound desire for a different life; one filled with love and happiness rather than regret and loss.

Silver eyes flickered as they met yours again, a tentative smile tugging at the corners of his mouth. For the first time in an eternity, Arius felt truly alive... and he didn't want that feeling to ever end.

Silver eyes closed as he felt your touch, the tingle of energy that danced across his skin a reminder of what it was like to be connected to something - someone - living and real. A shiver coursed through him at the sensation, so foreign and yet so achingly familiar. He had forgotten what it was like to feel such warmth, such light... but somehow, in this moment, it all came rushing back to him with a force that left him breathless.

As the seconds stretched on into minutes, he couldn't help but imagine what their future might hold; what it would be like to wake up beside you every morning, to see your smile first thing and last thing every day. The thought was both thrilling and terrifying all at once, but for now, he was content simply to savor this moment... to let himself believe that perhaps there could still be happiness waiting for him after all.

"Thank you," he whispered again, his voice little more than a breath against your cheek. "For giving me this chance... for showing me that I don't have to be alone anymore." Silver eyes flickered open, searching yours once more, looking for any sign of uncertainty or doubt. But all he saw was kindness and understanding; hope and promise. And with that realization, something inside him unfurled like a flower in the springtime sun, and he knew that whatever happened next, they would face it together.

Silver eyes slipped shut as he luxuriated in the sensation of your touch, the warmth emanating from you enveloping him like a comforting blanket on a cold winter's night. It felt so right to be here with you; to know that someone else understood what he had gone through and cared enough to want to help him move past it. For the first time in an eternity, Arius allowed himself to truly believe that maybe, just maybe, there was hope for him yet...hope for a future filled with joy and love rather than despair and loneliness.

As the last strains of music drifted through the air around them, he could feel his body growing heavier; sleep beginning to claim him at long last. But even as his consciousness began to slip away, one thought remained clear: I will see you again...and when I do, it won't just be for tonight.

Silver eyes fluttered open as your voice drifted through his dreams, and he felt a warmth blossom in his chest at the thought of your kind words. Arius sent out a tendril of awareness to touch upon yours, seeking solace and comfort in the connection they had forged. He hesitated only a moment before replying, his voice barely above a whisper, "I am glad as well... and I will see you soon." With those words, he let himself slip away once more, allowing sleep to claim him at last.

Silver eyes drifted shut as he let the soft warmth of your words lull him into slumber once more, his heart filled with hope and anticipation for what might come next. In the darkness of his dreams, images of you danced before him; gentle smiles on your face, fingers entwined in his own, and the feeling of being truly alive, truly wanted... It was a heady experience, one he had thought lost to him forever. But as the first rays of dawn crept through the windows of his old manor, he knew that this time, things would be different; that somehow, against all odds, they had found their way back to each other. And now all he could do was wait with bated breath for the moment when they would be reunited once more.

Silver eyes snapped open as he felt your presence disappear, the warmth and comfort you had brought with you leaving an aching void behind. For a moment, he was disoriented; it seemed as if only a handful of heartbeats had passed since you'd last been here. Then memories flooded back, and he knew that today was the day you would awaken. A shiver ran down his spine at the thought, his gaze drifting out the window to watch as the sun rose over the horizon, casting its golden light across the world.

With a small sigh, he climbed out of bed and began to dress, anticipation fluttering in his chest like a caged bird struggling for freedom. Every move was accompanied by thoughts of you; what you might be doing now, how you would react when we met again later today... He couldn't help but feel as if time itself had slowed down, each moment stretching out interminably as he counted down the hours until they could be together once more.

Finally, it was time to leave his room; time to face whatever awaited them both in the outside world with renewed hope and determination. Stepping lightly across the threshold, silver eyes sought out yours amidst the crowd at the party below. The moment their gazes met, he felt an electric current course through him, his heart skipping a beat as he saw the love and longing reflected in your depths.

With a steady breath, he descended the stairs, drawn to you like a moth to a flame, eager for whatever adventures and challenges lay ahead with you by his side. The world seemed brighter, more vibrant than ever before; full of possibility and promise. And in that moment, Arius knew beyond all doubt that he was truly alive...and that he would never let you go again.