The passage opened with a groan.
Cold air rushed against Elina's face.
For one suspended second, she stood frozen at the mouth of the hidden tunnel, staring back at the mansion behind her. The palace loomed beneath the moonlight like a kingdom built by the Devil himself all black stone, towering windows, and endless shadows swallowing the sky.
It was too grand to describe.
Too beautiful.
Too cruel.
Rows of sleek black cars rested along the marble driveway like sleeping beasts. Armed guards patrolled the gardens. Fountain water shimmered silver beneath the moon.
And somewhere inside that monstrous palace—
Orion Falco was still playing the piano.
The melody drifted faintly through the night air, haunting her even now.
Elina's throat tightened.
Then anger crashed through her grief like lightning.
Her father was dead.
Her mother was dead.
Her brother missing.
Because of him.
She wiped her tears violently and stepped out of the tunnel.
No more crying.
Not for him.
Not anymore.
With one final look at the mansion, Elina turned and ran.
—
The city at night felt colder than she remembered.
She wrapped the shawl tighter around herself as she moved through crowded streets with her head lowered. Neon lights flickered overhead. Cars rushed past. Somewhere distant, people laughed inside bars as though the world had not ended yesterday.
Strange.
Yesterday she had been Elina Valmont.
The princess of a powerful family.
Today she was just another frightened girl hiding her face beneath cheap fabric.
A bitter laugh almost escaped her.
How many people had ever truly seen Lucien Valmont's daughter?
Most only knew her from magazines, blurry photographs, charity galas.
No one would expect a girl like her to walk beside them on cracked sidewalks.
No one would imagine royalty could bleed.
Her steps slowed.
Orion's voice suddenly echoed inside her mind.
"You walk like a duck, princess."
"You're rude," sixteen-year-old Elina had huffed while carrying her school books.
"And you waddle when you're angry."
"I do not waddle!"
"You absolutely do."
"You're evil."
"Correct."
Despite herself, her lips trembled faintly at the memory.
Then the birthday flashed before her eyes again.
Gunfire.
Blood.
Her father collapsing.
Her brother screaming.
Orion standing there in black gloves while her world burned.
Elina suddenly stopped beside a lonely electric pole.
A broken sound escaped her throat.
Then another.
Tears spilled uncontrollably as she covered her mouth, shoulders shaking violently beneath the shawl.
"Why…" she whispered brokenly. "Why…"
A hand suddenly grabbed her shoulder.
Elina gasped.
Before she could scream, another hand clamped tightly over her mouth and yanked her backward into a dark alley.
She struggled instantly.
"Quiet!"
The familiar voice froze her.
Elina looked up sharply.
"…Ares?"
The man released her quickly.
Ares Valmont stepped out from the shadows, his face half hidden beneath darkness. He was tall like Lucien, but sharper somehow thinner, colder. His black coat blended into the alley like spilled ink, while a faint scar cut across his throat.
His eyes darted toward the street cautiously before returning to her.
"Elina," he breathed.
The relief in her chest hit so hard she almost collapsed.
She threw herself toward him immediately.
"Ares…"
For the first time since the massacre, she felt safe.
His arms wrapped around her tightly.
Too tightly.
"You're alive," he murmured against her hair. "Thank God."
Elina broke down again.
"They killed everyone…" she sobbed. "Mother… Father…"
A strange shadow crossed Ares's face.
Then vanished.
"I know," he said quietly.
Elina pulled back suddenly, tears streaking her face. "Where were you?"
Ares stilled.
"You were there yesterday," she whispered shakily. "I saw you before the attack… so where did you go?" Her voice cracked harder. "Why didn't you come save us?"
For the first time, something unreadable flickered across his expression.
Too quick.
Too cold.
But Elina missed it.
Readers wouldn't.
Ares gently cupped her face instead. "Listen to me carefully." His tone softened. "Orion Falco planned this for years. The moment shooting started, Father's guards dragged me away through the underground exits." His jaw tightened. "If I stayed, I would've died too."
Elina lowered her gaze shakily.
That made sense.
Didn't it?
Ares brushed her hair back gently. "What matters now is you survived."
"Elina…" His eyes darkened slightly. "You can't trust anyone anymore."
Orion's face flashed in her mind instantly.
The senior she once admired.
The monster he became.
Hatred burned through her chest again.
"I want him dead," she whispered.
Ares watched her silently.
Then slowly smiled.
It was subtle enough to miss.
"Good," he murmured.
—
Back at the Falco estate, terror spread faster than wildfire.
No one wanted to speak.
No one wanted to breathe too loudly.
Because Elina Valmont was gone.
The guards stood frozen near the piano hall, pale-faced and sweating.
"You tell him."
"Are you insane?"
"He'll kill us."
"He'll kill you first!"
Finally, one trembling guard swallowed hard and stepped forward.
The piano had stopped.
That somehow felt worse.
Orion sat near the massive windows overlooking the moonlit gardens, one hand resting lazily against the piano keys. The black silk robe hung open slightly at the chest, revealing inked skin beneath dim silver light.
He looked calm.
Too calm.
The guard's throat dried instantly.
"Boss…"
Orion didn't turn around.
"…She escaped."
Silence.
The other guards shut their eyes instinctively.
Waiting for screaming.
Gunshots.
Death.
Instead—
Orion laughed softly.
It wasn't amusement.
It sounded dangerous.
Slowly, he turned his head.
Moonlight slid across his devastatingly handsome face sharp jawline, shadowed eyes, damp black hair falling carelessly over his forehead.
Then he smiled.
Cold.
Mocking.
"You think," Orion said quietly, "a girl who couldn't even escape my hallway managed to escape my empire?"
Nobody answered.
Nobody dared.
Orion rose slowly from the piano bench.
The atmosphere changed instantly.
Predatory.
"She ran because I opened the cage."
His gaze drifted toward the city beyond the windows.
Toward Elina.
"After all…" A dark smirk touched his lips. "Broken birds always fly exactly where the hunter wants."