Lucien stood on the rooftop, the city of New Albion spread out before him like a dark, twinkling sea. The night was quiet, save for the distant hum of the city's nocturnal activities. He knew she would come. He could feel it. The bond between them, strained and twisted by centuries of pain and regret, still remained.
He waited, his thoughts a whirlwind of emotions. He hadn't seen Selene in so long, and now she was back, alive, and very much changed. The memories of their childhood, their bond, and the night he thought he had lost her forever haunted him.
A soft rustle behind him broke his reverie. He turned slowly, and there she was. Selene. Her eyes, once so familiar, now held a cold, steely glint. Her presence was both a comfort and a torment.
"Lucien," she said, her voice low and filled with a mix of anger and sadness.
"Selene," he replied, his own voice barely more than a whisper. "I knew you'd come."
