Adonis kept his eyes trained on the figure outside the cafe, his heart racing. The man in the heavy coat stood motionless, half obscured by the shadow of a nearby lamppost. Kosuke's instincts screamed at him to stay seated, to remain invisible. But the original Adonis, whose memories he now shared, wouldn't have hesitated. This world demanded boldness, and if Adonis was to survive, he couldn't afford to act like the Kosuke of old.
He drained the last of his coffee, the bitterness lingering on his tongue, then stood up slowly, tightening his grip on the ring that housed his vault. Without looking back, he walked to the door, pushing it open with deliberate calm.
As soon as he stepped outside, the figure shifted. The man's coat rustled in the night breeze, his face still obscured beneath the shadow of his wide-brimmed hat. Adonis walked toward him, his body tense but his expression neutral.
"You've been watching me," Adonis said, his voice steady. "What do you want?"
The man tilted his head slightly, and a low chuckle escaped his lips. "I'm surprised you don't recognize me, Adonis," he said, his voice smooth yet unsettling. "Or has the Rite muddled your memory more than I thought?"
Adonis clenched his jaw. This man knew the original Adonis—perhaps better than Kosuke did now. He remained silent, hoping the man would reveal more.
The stranger stepped forward, just enough for the dim light of the gas lamps to illuminate his face. He was older, with graying hair and sharp, calculating eyes that glinted with amusement. His presence felt wrong, like he didn't quite belong in the world of steam and brass.
"I see," the man murmured, studying Adonis closely. "You're not quite yourself, are you? Interesting… but not unexpected."
Adonis' heart skipped a beat. Could he know? He couldn't afford to show any weakness now, so he straightened his posture and narrowed his gaze. "Get to the point. Why are you here?"
The man smiled faintly. "You're still playing the same game, Adonis. Even now. Fine, I'll be blunt." He paused, then leaned in closer, his voice dropping to a whisper. "You owe me. And the people I represent."
Owe him? Kosuke's mind raced through the fragmented memories of the original. There were debts, deals, contracts—but it was all so scattered. But something clicked into place. The original Adonis had been involved in something—something illegal, dangerous.
"I don't owe you anything," Adonis replied, his voice colder now. "I've paid my debts."
The man's smile grew wider, a serpent's grin. "Not quite. You may have completed your side of the pact, but the people you've been working with? They're still expecting results. You're not out of the game, Adonis. Not yet."
Kosuke's stomach churned. The memories were coming back in sharp flashes now—meetings in the dead of night, exchanging information with unsavory figures, smuggling magical artifacts, and even contracts with forbidden entities that operated outside the reach of the Council. The original Adonis had been playing a dangerous game, walking the fine line between power and destruction.
And now Kosuke was stuck in the middle of it.
"What exactly did Adonis—what did I agree to?" he asked, his tone edged with frustration. He needed answers.
The man's smile faded, replaced with a look of mild disappointment. "You really don't remember, do you?" He sighed and straightened his coat. "You were working with us to retrieve a certain item. A powerful artifact that could shift the balance of power in the city. The kind of thing that could make you... untouchable. The plan was going well, until recently."
Adonis felt a cold pit form in his stomach. "What went wrong?"
"You disappeared," the man said bluntly. "Went off the grid after the Rite. The Council's got their eye on you now, but that doesn't mean our business is over. The people you were working for expect you to deliver, and if you don't, well… let's just say the consequences won't be pleasant."
Adonis stood there, silent, trying to process everything. The original Adonis had been deeply entangled in illegal dealings—deals that involved powerful artifacts and forbidden magic. He was in way over his head, and now Kosuke was too.
"What's this artifact?" Adonis asked, his voice quieter now, careful.
The man's eyes gleamed. "It's called the Heart of Nox. An ancient relic from the pre-Ascendant era, long believed lost. We found it. Or, rather, you found it." He chuckled again, a dry, humorless sound. "But you never delivered it."
The Heart of Nox. The name stirred a faint memory—a vision of darkness, of chains wrapping around something pulsating with power. Adonis felt his pulse quicken. Whatever the Heart was, it was dangerous, and it was clear that both the Council and the underworld were interested in it.
"I'll need time," Adonis said, stalling for more information. "The Council's watching me, and I can't make any moves without attracting attention."
The man gave him a long, calculating look before nodding. "Fair enough. But don't take too long, Adonis. The people I work for are patient, but only for so long. You have until the end of the month."
Without another word, the man turned and disappeared into the shadows, leaving Adonis standing alone on the street, his mind spinning.
---
As he walked back toward his apartment, Adonis' thoughts were racing. The original had been involved in a plan to steal an ancient, powerful artifact. He had been working with dangerous people—people who expected results. And now, Adonis was the one who had to deal with the fallout.
What do I do? Kosuke wondered, feeling the weight of his new reality settle heavily on his shoulders. He could try to flee, but where would he go? He didn't even understand this world fully yet. The Council was watching him closely, and now these shadowy figures from the underworld were expecting him to deliver on a promise he hadn't even made.
He stopped in front of a tall, worn-down building—his apartment. Or rather, Adonis' apartment. It was an old, industrial structure, covered in soot and grime from the city's constant churning of machinery. The pipes running along the exterior groaned softly, releasing thin streams of steam into the night air.
Adonis trudged inside, his body heavy with exhaustion. He made his way up a narrow flight of stairs, the creaking of each step echoing in the empty hallway. When he finally reached his apartment, he unlocked the door with a quick flick of his wrist, activating the mechanical lock.
The apartment was small but practical. Brass fixtures, mechanical odds and ends, and books lined the shelves. It felt cold, impersonal—like a place where Adonis spent as little time as possible.
He collapsed onto the bed, the weight of the day pressing down on him like an iron chain. His mind kept spinning, but exhaustion finally won out. As he closed his eyes, one thought lingered in his mind:
What have I gotten myself into?
And then, sleep took him, pulling him down into the abyss of forgotten memories and dark deals.