In the dim atmosphere of Abyss & Ale, Ezra Kane felt frozen as Kael Voss's words—"I'm your solution"—hovered ominously. The hazy air clung to him, while what seemed like humans sipped glowing drinks; their eyes flickered with a palpable hunger. Ezra could feel the curse flowing through him, a restless energy urging him to listen to the demon pureblood lounging in front of him. His athame pressed firmly against his spine, demanding action.
Kael leaned back, casually swirling his drink with piercing amber eyes locked on Ezra. "You're breaking, half-shadow. Your curse is seeping out, disrupting everything around you. You sensed it at Apex, didn't you?" His voice was smooth, almost alluring, coaxing out hidden truths.
Ezra clenched his jaw. The glitches in his code and the twisting sigils on his screen weren't just technical issues—they were manifestations of him. "What do you want, Voss? To control my power? Or to control me?" he shot back.
Kael's laughter was sharp and chilling. "Control is a term too simplistic for this. I want you to awaken to your true self." He moved closer, his presence radiating warmth that made the air around them shimmer. "Your lineage knows the truth. You're not just a coder with a weapon. You hail from the Demiverse, Ezra. Embrace it, or let it consume you."
A surge of images flooded Ezra's mind: a desolate city, Kael's majestic wings spreading wide, a throne glowing with crimson. He staggered back, grasping the bar for support. "Get away from me," he growled, uncertain if he was addressing Kael or the haunting visions assaulting him.
Kael's fingers lightly brushed against Ezra's hand – charged, electric. "You can't escape your roots," he said softly, almost intimately. "Or me."
Ezra pulled back forcefully, using the weight of his athame as his only grounding point. He pushed through the throngs at the bar, neon lights swirling outside in a blur. Above him, Kael's drone lingered, watching his every move. The pull of the Demiverse was relentless, and so was Kael. Deep down, Ezra could sense his curse was just as reluctant to let go.