To see or rather, to read through another person's eyes. Have you ever experienced that ? To recognize in a single face-to-face encounter the intentions of the being standing before you, and their darkest thoughts. More than unsettling sometimes destabilizing, wouldn't you say ? Dear readers, a word of advice: beware the games of love and rivalry, lest you end up with both your heart and your mind in ruins.
ANGOMA Secondary Villa
Despite the wound on her arm, Céline managed to make it back to the villa. The bitterness and anger that had taken hold of her since Thoras's disappearance refused to let go. Seeing him again had sounded a death knell somewhere deep inside her, and fear was beginning to seep in. She was greeted by the housekeeper, who noticed her injured arm with a look of horror. Céline stepped toward the old woman and seized her arm immediately.
"Not a word to my husband. You saw nothing. Is that clear ?" she threatened, her voice glacial.
The housekeeper nodded frantically, and Céline went straight upstairs to her room. Pressing her back against the closed door, she let out a long sigh, trying to gather her thoughts. Her energy was fluctuating erratically , so much so that the thin layer of water protecting her wound shattered. The scythe responsible for her injury had drained a significant amount of the vital energy present in her blood.
"Cursed reaper."
She went to the bathroom and rummaged through one of the drawers for something to help. She found a small vial containing a greenish liquid and wasted no time pouring it over her wound. Slowly, before her eyes, it began to close, though the pain stubbornly lingered. She took a quick shower to wash away the smell of blood and the weight of everything that had happened.
She had barely stepped out of the shower when she heard footsteps in the hallway and rushed to tidy everything and erase the last traces of blood.
"My love !"
"Yes, I'm coming !"
She pulled on a robe and composed herself before stepping out of the bathroom, only to find Josh standing there, his unsettling gaze plunging directly into hers. She placed her hand against his cheek and offered a soft smile.
"Didn't you have matters to settle with Hassan at the capital ?"
"I changed my mind at the last moment. I wanted to spend a little time with my wife. Does that worry you ?" he asked, leaning toward her.
"On the contrary."
He took hold of her jaw and kissed her slowly, pulling her against him as his fingers closed gradually around her throat.
"You reek of blood" he murmured.
Céline stiffened at his words but fought to show nothing. The feel of his hand at her throat was making her nerves dangerously fray.
Josh untied her robe and let it fall to the floor, inspecting her body. He noticed immediately a faint cut closing before his eyes and ran his hand over it. He turned his intrigued gaze on his wife and pressed her arm slowly. Céline did everything she could not to cry out in pain. She tried to pull away, but his grip on her throat tightened at once.
"Who did this ?"
"No one. A simple work accident," she said firmly.
"Liar. You left your office this morning looking furious and terrified."
"You're spying on me now ?" she shot back, irritated, pulling against his hold without success.
"I'm simply trying to understand what occupies the mind of my mysterious wife."
"It's none of your business. Full stop."
Josh's darkening gaze sent a chill through her, and the threatening smile that crossed his face did nothing to improve the situation.
"Watch your words, my love."
He released her at last, bending to pick up the robe from the floor before slipping it back onto her shoulders. Céline was left bewildered by his reaction, unable to decipher what lay beneath his questioning.
"I'll be away for three days, business in the south of the capital. When I return, you and I will have a long conversation about certain details."
He tightened the belt of her robe before kissing her tenderly, a gesture that contrasted sharply with the coldness in his eyes.
"Fine" she said simply, rubbing her arm.
He left the room, leaving an unspoken warning hovering in the air behind him.
"What are you thinking right now, my dear husband? "
***
MELOS, OSA, Day of the Meeting
It was nearly noon when the processions of the various clans passed through the gates of the OSA building. On this day, security and vigilance were at code red. A team of several escort agents took their positions in the central hall, clad in long white jackets bearing the image of a rising phoenix embroidered in red, the organization's emblem since its founding.
The first to make an appearance in the hall was the leader of the BELLATORUM clan, Elijah MANOGE, accompanied by his two advisors. The agents greeted him respectfully, and two of them guided the group toward the meeting room.
Next came Miliana ESMERA, leader of the VERTAS clan, and Leonas AQUARIS, making their entrances into the hall. The two leaders exchanged a glance without a word, while four more agents directed them respectively toward the room where hostilities would unfold. From the corner of his eye, Leonas observed Miliana, whose aura seemed different from usual. He knew her well enough to sense she was preparing something and his instincts confirmed it. He therefore subtly ordered his personal guard to keep a discreet eye on her every move and on the advisors accompanying her.
A few minutes later, the SHADOW clan's procession arrived, dark and imposing. E-lise CALYPSO made her entrance into the hall, cloaked in her deceptive softness and menacing aura. The agents lowered their heads swiftly in respect before escorting her to the meeting room.
Meanwhile, the three other clan leaders settled into their respective seats. The room was immaculately white, containing nothing but a large round table and six chairs, each color-coded to match its clan: green, blue, red, black, and gold. There were no windows, save for an entire wall of glass looking out onto the exterior. The main door could only be opened from the outside and remained sealed for the duration of the meeting.
E-lise made her entrance into the room under the sharp gaze of all present, wearing a triumphant smile. She took her seat and crossed her legs up onto the glass table, pulling a cigar from the pocket of her jacket as Elijah let out a weary sigh. She took a long drag and blew a stream of grey smoke through the white curls hanging across her face.
"You'll get used to it with time, Elijah. You have no choice," she said, fixing her violet eyes in his direction.
"I doubt it," he replied in a low voice.
"Your excess of zeal never ceases to amaze me. You have no manners, E-lise," Miliana declared in a reproachful tone.
"And yours are so mind-numbingly boring they could put anyone to sleep. Why don't you carry on talking to the wind in silence, the way you do so well ?" she threw back.
"Don't start ! I'm warning you."
"Save your warnings for yourself and the evening weather forecast," she replied.
"E-lise ! A touch of composure on your part would at least lend a shred of false credibility to that angel face of yours," Leonas declared.
"Try adding some credibility to what you actually stand for before spouting nonsense," she countered, blowing smoke in his direction.
"Watch your words, little witch. Or that cigar might end up shoved down your throat to choke you," Leonas growled.
She narrowed her eyes and smiled with quiet malice, her voice deliberately provocative.
"Go ahead and try, little fish."
Leonas shot to his feet, his turquoise irises blazing and his aura darkening with threat. Miliana raised a wall of wind to block his advance while E-lise remained perfectly still in her seat, cigar at her lips. Miliana shot E-lise a withering look as she lowered her wind barrier then redirected it toward her, only for E-lise to counter it effortlessly with a dissolution spell.
"Don't test me, Miliana. And don't try anything that stupid again," E-lise said, her tone cold and final.
At that moment, Hassan ANGOMA, head of the ALPHA clan, made his entrance into the room, his gaze dark, his aura commanding. Every face tightened at the sight of him before each person returned to their seat.
"You're late, Hassan," Elijah noted.
Without a word, Hassan walked directly toward E-lise and plucked the cigar from her fingers. She watched him with an irritated look as he took his seat in silence.
"I know. And it was intentional. It spares me from walking in on your childish squabbles. Leonas, you should have more self-control. You've known CALYPSO for years; stop letting yourself be baited by her provocations. Miliana, you know full well that your advice falls on deaf ears with her. And as for you, E-lise, watch your tongue."
She read the warning in his eyes but paid it no great mind, settling for a sigh.
"Right then. Shall we begin this pathetic meeting ?" he said, placing the cigar between his lips and locking his gaze onto the young woman across the table.