Great — the stakes just got higher.
đź“–
Lucien didn't ask questions.
The moment Elara stepped through the portal and returned to his realm, the chamber locked behind her with a sound like steel dragging across bone.
He stood by the fire, eyes dim, wine in hand. Unbothered. Unreadable.
"You hesitated."
It wasn't a question. It was a sentence. A verdict.
Elara didn't deny it.
"I didn't kill him."
Lucien sipped his wine. "You think I'm disappointed?"
She blinked. "Aren't you?"
"I'm furious."
The goblet exploded in his hand — shards flew across the room, and black wine hissed as it hit the cold stone floor.
"You had one task. One moment to prove you understood the nature of our pact. Instead…" He turned slowly, eyes burning like coals. "You left the target breathing."
Elara's fists clenched. "He's harmless."
"He's curious," Lucien corrected. "And curiosity kills more than cats in this world."
Before she could speak, a new voice cut in:
"She's not ready."
Adira.
The woman stepped from the shadows like she belonged there — leather armor, blades strapped to her thighs, a look of cold triumph in her eyes.
"I'll go," she said. "I'll clean up her mess."
"No." Elara turned to Lucien. "Let me try again. He didn't see the dagger—he doesn't even know what I am yet."
Lucien raised a hand, silencing her.
"This isn't your decision anymore."
"But—"
"You broke the chain. And that has consequences."
He moved toward Adira and handed her a new scroll.
"Finish the job. Do it clean. No mercy."
Adira grinned. "With pleasure."
Elara moved to block her. "If you kill him, you destroy any chance we have at knowing what he knows."
"I don't care what he knows," Lucien growled. "I care that he exists."
"I can find out—"
"You had your chance."
The chamber shook as Lucien's voice echoed with infernal power.
Elara stood frozen, torn between fear and fury.
Adira slipped past her and vanished into the void, a ripple of shadow trailing behind her like smoke.
Lucien stepped close, too close.
"You don't understand, girl," he whispered. "This is war. And in war, you don't hesitate. You burn everything that threatens your side."
Elara swallowed hard. "He was my only connection to who I was."
Lucien's eyes softened — just for a blink. "Then it's time you forget who you were."
And he disappeared, leaving her in the silence.
✴️ Earthside — 1:02AM
Adira moved through the streets of London like a ghost.
Daniel's building was quiet.
The streetlamps flickered. A raven circled once, then vanished.
She was already inside before anyone could blink. Magic cloaked her. No mortal eyes would ever see her coming.
She found him at the desk. Writing. Obsessed.
The notebook had grown.
Drawings of sigils, sketches of demonic contracts, names written in Latin. He was close. Too close.
Adira unsheathed her blade.
But before she could strike—
A blast of energy knocked her back.
Elara stood in the doorway, breathing hard, arms glowing with black flame.
"Step away from him," she growled.
Adira smirked. "So, the coward returns."
"I'm not afraid," Elara said. "I'm done being used."
"You're breaking the bargain."
"No," Elara said, eyes blazing. "I'm rewriting it."
And then she attacked.