"Wha… What are you doing here? Don't you have one-on-one combat training now?" Willow's voice was thick with disbelief. He wasn't supposed to be here. He wasn't supposed to be in the room.
"Oh, that?" Navian shrugged, dropping his leg from the table and sitting wide, watching her like a cat with a trapped bird. "I told my instructor I was low on magnesium, so he let me rest up."
Willow's brow knit. "Huh?" She jabbed a finger at the door, scoffing in disbelief. "So… you heard me out there? Struggling? Begging? Seriously?!"
Navian pointed at a wall-mounted timer behind him. "I heard. But I was watching that."
He dropped his hand and gave her a small smile. "I wanted to see how long it would take you to get in."
Willow could not believe her ears. He had planted a door that could kill her. He heard her battle with it and he still looked bored. He was insane!
"Well, your skills are a tiny bit rusty, but with a little training, you could be a great asset to the team," Navian said, his tone completely casual.
Willow blinked. "What team?"
"My team."
"Team of what?"
Navian chuckled softly. "I thought you had me figured out."
"No. Why would I waste my time figuring you out?"
"Ouch." Navian didn't sound hurt. "So Ezrik's the one you figured out?"
Willow shrugged. "Well, yes. Why else would I break into his room?"
Navian arched a brow at her. "To seduce him?"
Willow's cheeks flushed. She coughed awkwardly. "You know that's a lie."
"Hmm mm." He looked like he was enjoying himself.
She wasn't. "Stop it. I'm serious."
"Fine." He sighed, leaning back against the chair and pinning her with a hard stare.
"But you need something from me."
"No. Not anymore. You almost killed me." She turned toward the door. "I'd rather use my bathroom."
Navian rose to his feet, shoving a hand into his hair, ruffling it slowly. "The floor's yours, pretty thief," he called after her. "But honestly? I would love to see it happen."
Willow stopped in her tracks and turned to look at him. "See what happen?" she asked, just to be sure of what he was talking about. He wasn't talking about Nex-9, right?
"See what you plan to do with what you took from Ezrik." Navian cocked his head, pinning her with a narrowed stare. "You were stealing it on your first day which means that it must be something really special. Be honest with your master. Satisfy my curiosity."
Willow scoffed. "Who do you think I am? You're insane, and you almost killed me. There's no way I'm going to be—" she air-quoted, "honest with my master." Then she turned away. "I'm leaving."
Navian sighed heavily with disappointment and pulled out his phone.
"I have a timed message ready to send to Ezrik if you leave this room, Willow. His room is just two floors away, and I'm sure he can get here before you even think about getting back to yours."
Those words were strong enough to make Willow stop. She turned and glared at him.
He waved the phone at her. "So, will you show me or not? Take your time. I'm a patient mutant."
Willow gritted her teeth, hissing, "Bastard."
"Bastard?" Navian mused, shoving his phone back into his pocket. "I'm not sure I'm a bastard. Not that I'd mind being one... it's not like I like my family anyway. Hmm, I honestly wouldn't mind being an orphan. But I happen to have parents, so… not a bastard."
Willow stared at him in disbelief. At this point she just had to accept that everyone in this place was insane. And now, since he wasn't going to let her go, she let out a heavy sigh. "Okay fine. You win."
Navian settled back in his chair. "And you are really something else. That was a very advanced weaponized tech door I built for my faction's security. Now I'll have to upgrade it to avoid your likes."
Willow couldn't help but smile. "You really built that?"
"Hmm." Navian nodded.
"Isn't it dangerous to have that in the building? It could have destroyed the place if I didn't succeed in getting in."
Navian smiled. "Trust me, pretty thief, no one is dumb enough to break into my room. Except you, of course. Those glasses…"
He pointed at her face, looking fascinated. "What are those?"
Willow didn't know if she should take his words as a compliment or not.
She took off her glasses, handing them to him. "It's a Code scanner. I built it myself."
Navian studied the glasses in his grasp, looking genuinely impressed. "You're really good."
He looked at Willow, who gave him a soft smile. It seemed like they actually had similar interests. "Thank you."
He set the glasses on the study table. "You can begin."
"Okay. You are really invested in this." Willow nodded slowly and made her way to the large couch in the sitting room. It faced Navian directly, and he even turned his chair to watch her.
"Are you ready?" Navian asked.
"Yes." Willow pulled out the vial of Nex-9 from her jacket pocket. "As long as you promise not to disturb me, no matter what happens."
"I think you've got me wrong," Navian chuckled.
"Huh?" Willow blinked.
Navian smiled. "You could be dying, princess, and I would watch you go to the netherworld in peace. So, I promise not to interrupt or save you."
"Oh." Willow wasn't sure if that was a comfort or a threat.
She shrugged it off and opened the vial of Nex-9, pressing the cold glass against her lips with a racing heart.
"Here goes nothing." She murmured as she took a gulp from the bottle.
Looking at what was left, Willow nodded. "I think this should be enough."
Navian arched a brow, expecting her to pass out instantly. Instead, she remained on her feet, staring at her hands as if she was trying to understand what she was feeling.
"Hmm." She breathed. "I expected..."
Then her expression twisted with pain before a raw, sharp scream tore from her throat.
Navian's eyes widened but he didn't move from his chair.
He just watched as she collapsed to the floor leaving the room in total silence, the only movement the faint sway of the chair he was seated on.