DEEP WITHIN ELDHOLLOW
Elric hated the forest, too many memories, too many shadows pretending to be something they are not. But this time, the shadows weren't lying, they were swallowing him whole. He had collapsed the night before, body stiff, veins burning like wildfire. The curse in his blood or whatever ancient thing it was had spread too far. He barely remembered falling. What he could only remember was waking up.
In an old room filled with low firelight, was a vampire healer hovering over him. She was older than him by a few centuries, she looked younger by a few lifetimes, and had no patience for his dramatics.
"You almost died," she muttered, flicking her fingers over a red stone.
"No," Elric croaked, "I dramatically rested."
She rolled her eyes hard enough they might have popped out. "You're lucky I owed Kael a favour. Though why he keeps stubborn idiots like you around is a mystery."
Elric was healed, mostly though, but he could still feel the weight of it crawling in his bones. Something was wrong with him, something had always been wrong.
KAEL'S MANSION
Kael was in the west hall, reading some ruined text by a candlelight like a brooding statue.
"I'm alive," Elric said, leaning on the doorframe. Kael didn't look up. "Barely."
"I was sick."
Kael finally looked up at him not in an angry manner, not in a surprised way but quiet. Just... quiet.
"You should've told me."
"I thought I'd get better, or die probably but i didn't want to burden you with it."
Kael stood, slow and calm, and then punched Elric in the chest, not hard but strong enough to make the silence him.
"You idiot," Kael muttered, then went back to his book.
"Love you too," Elric said, while holding his chest
CRESTFORM APOTHECARY, ELDHOLLOW
Liora's hands smelled like crushed rosemary and something acidic, it was probably troll root.
It was a very slow day in the apothecary. Filled with mostly old witches buying potions they could've brewed themselves. Unexpectedlly Kael showed up around in the evening, like a bad omen in a good suit.
"You again," Liora said.
"You didn't tell me where you worked." Kael said
"You're creepy."
"You're welcome."
She ignored him for a while. He waited like he was made of patience and quiet threats. When her shift had finally ended, she packed her bag, gave him one look, and left through the back. He followed, obviously.
They had passed five blocks down the alley when the air shifted. The shadows didn't just move, they slithered. One blink and the street was full of them, seventeen, she counted. Ugly things with glassy eyes and smoke for teeth.
"Don't move!" Kael said immediately, but she didn't listen. She threw a weak spell, and her fingers sparked, it fizzled out and was totally useless.
The creatures lunged, but Kael was faster.
She'd never seen him move like that, so smooth and precise, like water and knives. And within seconds, the alley floor was a canvas of dead shadow and Kael didn't have a single scratch. He stood in the middle of it, looking bored. She stared.
"Are you alright?" he asked.
She blinked in shock.
"Liora?" Kael called.
"I'm- I'm fine," she said stiffly. "Thank you, or whatever." He tilted his head. "You're welcome, or whatever."
She didn't say it out loud, but she wondered why he had done it. He didn't hesitate, not even for a second, she watched his hands steady, unbothered. There was something about him... no, everything about him was more dangerous than she'd thought, and that scared her more than the creatures ever did.
LIORA'S HOME
That night, Liora dreamt, she heard her mother's voice echoed in her skull, mixing with a man's voice she hadn't heard since.Her father. In the dream, he was whispering to someone else. "The curse will keep her weak. Long enough, she must not remember."
She woke up gasping, her fingers gripped the bedsheet like it owed her something. Her skin was cold, but her blood boiled. Something was wrong and she knew it now. Someone cursed her. And she was starting to think it was her own father.
AQAIL DISTRICT, ELDHOLLOW
Selene sat at her balcony, feet up, sipping blood from a wine glass like it was cranberry juice. She was stunning, in the way that made people uncomfortable, pale skin, lavender hair down to her waist and braided by the edges, and eyes that looked like they'd seen too many things, because they had.
She was thinking about Kael, the man she had always loved. He didn't need saving, he'd never admit that he wanted it. But if anyone was going to tear that damn contract off his back, it would be her.
"Elric," she called into the air.
He appeared two seconds later, looking slightly less like death than usual.
"You're going to help me," she said.
"Of course," he shrugged. "But don't expect me to cry about it."
She smiled. " I wouldn't dream of it."
Meanwhile in Kael's home…
He was pacing. He did that sometimes when he had too many thoughts and no one to lie to. The bond,he could It would save her and Save them both, maybe. But he couldn't bring himself to say it, not yet.
BACK AT LIORA'S HOME
Nessa made the tea for their mother, but she didn't drink it.
"She's stronger than you think," Nessa said.
"She's sick," Thalia replied coldly.
"Still stronger."
Thalia sighed. "You always believed in fairy tales."
"And you always gave up too quickly."
That one stung and Nessa knew it. She didn't apologize, but just pushed the tea forward again and left it there, Thalia didn't drink it, but she didn't throw it away either.
Few minutes later, Ezra brought cake, that he made from scratch. It was lopsided and weirdly purple, but he offered it to Nessa like it was a peace treaty. "I'm trying,you know?" he said. "You're failing," Nessa said, but she took the cake anyway.
IN MIRA'S ROOM
Mira stood alone, smiling at a mirror that didn't reflect what it should've.Her eyes were different and her fingers were so stern and fearless.Something had changed, and she liked it.
ON A BUILDING
Kael and Liora stood on the rooftop. It was late, the city below humming quietly like it was afraid to interrupt. "I could help you," Kael said, and his voice was soft, too soft.
"I don't want help."
"You need it."
"Doesn't matter."
He sighed. "There's a bond-"
"I said no," she snapped, immediately
They stared at each other for a long moment.
Then, behind her, something moved, but just for a second. A hulking figure on the edge of the next building. A twisted body, glowing eyes, sharp like a nightmare, then it was gone. Liora turned sharply. "Did you see that?" Kael's eyes narrowed. "Yes." They said nothing after that, because whatever that thing was...It wasn't finished with them yet.