Sebastian and Wendy had spent the
afternoon piecing together fragments of the night's events. They reviewed timelines, cross-checked witness notes, and re-examined the sketch Sebastian had made of the mysterious woman.
Nothing.
Every lead evaporated into thin air.
Wendy sighed, flipping her notebook closed. "I don't understand… it's like she never existed. No records, no sightings, nothing."
Sebastian ran a hand over his face, jaw tight.
"Exactly. Every angle I've considered leads nowhere. But I can feel it—she's here. Watching, testing, waiting."
They walked silently toward Julian's ward, hoping for a brief break in tension. Julian had been resting, recovering from the gunshot to his hand, but the worry still lingered.As they approached the door, a gentle voice called out.
"Is Julian awake?"
Both turned sharply. A woman stood there, dressed neatly, composed, her eyes calm yet calculating.
Julian stirred, sitting up slightly. "I… I don't think I know you…"
The woman smiled warmly. "You don't know me yet. My name is Lilith."
The moment she said her name, Julian's expression shifted. Relief, recognition, familiarity.
"Lilith…" he breathed. "I… I remember you."
Sebastian's eyes narrowed. Something didn't feel right. Every instinct screamed at him.
Wendy, curious, whispered, "You know her?"
Julian shook his head, almost defensively.
"No… but the name… it feels… I don't know… right."
Sebastian stepped closer, his gaze fixed on Lilith. Every movement she made, every tilt of her head, triggered a subtle alarm in his mind. Her posture, the calm in her eyes, the way she observed the room—it was too precise, too measured.
"Lilith," Julian said again, smiling nervously.
"It's good to see you."
Lilith returned his smile, graceful, soft, almost disarming.
"And you as well, Julian. I came to see how you're recovering."
Sebastian's pulse quickened. He wanted to speak, to question, to demand answers—but he had no proof. Nothing.
Instead, he remained silent, observing every detail, every microexpression.
Wendy leaned closer to Sebastian, whispering, "Something about her… doesn't feel right, does it?"
Sebastian's eyes didn't leave Lilith. "No… but until we have something concrete, we can't accuse her. Not yet."
Julian, oblivious to Sebastian's suspicion, continued to chat with Lilith, recounting his injury and making light of the incident with his usual humor.
Sebastian clenched his fists, forcing calm.
"We watch. We gather. And we wait. That's all we can do for now."
Lilith's smile never faltered. But beneath that calm exterior, the room seemed to chill ever so slightly and Sebastian knew—whatever game Lilith was playing.
Lilith had just left Julian's ward, her graceful figure disappearing down the corridor. The atmosphere seemed lighter for a moment, but a faint tension lingered.
Wendy turned to Julian, curiosity sparkling in her eyes. "Who was that?"
Julian leaned back on the bed, wincing slightly from his hand. "An old friend."
Wendy raised an eyebrow and smirked.
"An old friend… your friend is really beautiful. Or… is she your partner?"
"Hey, watch your mouth," Julian said, half embarrassed, half amused.
"You've been single for twenty years. Surely you've had someone in your life?" Wendy teased, nudging him lightly.
Julian chuckled softly, eyes distant. "you want to know why?"
"Yes," Wendy replied, grinning.
"I… once liked someone when I was a teenager. You could ask Sebastian about it."
Wendy's eyes widened playfully. "Really? But… what happened?"
Julian's expression turned a little somber.
"Unfortunately… she decided to become a nun."
Sebastian, standing nearby and listening quietly, let out a low sigh. "Yes… very tragic. The person you cared for didn't leave you for a nobleman… but for God."
Wendy clapped her hands together softly, eyes sparkling with mock sympathy. "Wow… truly a misfortune of love."
Julian chuckled again, rubbing the back of his neck. "Yes… but it's part of life. I accepted it."
Sebastian's gaze softened for a moment, though his mind was already racing with suspicion about Lilith. He knew there was more behind her visit.
Wendy leaned closer to Sebastian, whispering with a grin,
"She seems harmless… at least, on the surface."
Sebastian didn't answer. He only nodded slightly, his sharp eyes still scanning the hallway outside. Lilith's calm smile had left a chill in his mind.
Some truths were hidden behind beauty.
And he intended to uncover them all.