The Almar estate loomed like a forgotten specter as the night descended, casting its sprawling ruins in eerie, shadowed silence. The estate's once-grand facade now stood crumbled, overgrown with ivy and crawling vines, the perfect place for clandestine meetings and dark schemes. Aran watched from a hidden vantage point near the perimeter, his gaze fixed on the entrance, waiting for the players of the night's deadly game to arrive.
Ravenna was beside him, her eyes scanning the surroundings, alert and focused. She had placed the agents strategically around the estate, all well-hidden in the dark. Each of them had one task: observe and report, only striking if necessary. Tonight, there would be no room for mistakes.
"It's quiet," Ravenna whispered, barely audible.
"It won't be for long," Aran responded, his voice a mere murmur, his eyes never leaving the entrance. His cloak swirled lightly with the breeze, but his posture was unyielding, like a predator in wait. "Tavros will make the first move, but it will be Serena who reveals her true colors."
Ravenna glanced at him, her curiosity apparent. "Do you think she'll go through with betraying Tavros?"
Aran smirked. "She already has, in her mind. She just doesn't know that Tavros is thinking the same. Two snakes, circling each other, waiting to strike. They don't realize they're both walking into the jaws of the lion."
The tension was palpable as they continued to wait. It wasn't long before the soft crunch of gravel beneath boots echoed in the distance. Aran stiffened slightly as he saw Tavros approach, a small entourage of his men at his side. Tavros was a large man, his presence commanding even in the dim moonlight. His face was grim, hardened by years of cutthroat deals and alliances built on fragile trust.
"He brought more men than expected," Ravenna muttered under her breath, her fingers resting on the hilt of her dagger.
"Doesn't matter," Aran replied calmly. "They're here for intimidation, not for action. Tavros won't risk an open confrontation, not unless he's forced to."
Tavros and his men made their way inside, the heavy doors of the estate groaning as they opened. Once they vanished from view, Aran's gaze shifted back to the entrance. Serena would arrive soon.
And arrive she did.
Serena moved with grace, her cloak trailing behind her as if she were gliding through the night. She came alone, as expected—prideful and self-assured. Her confidence bordered on arrogance, and it was that very trait that Aran planned to exploit. Her beauty was striking, but Aran had long since become immune to her charms. Tonight, he saw her only as a pawn in the larger game.
"She's alone," Ravenna said, her eyes narrowing.
"She doesn't need anyone else," Aran remarked dryly. "In her mind, this is already over. She believes that once she secures Tavros, nothing can stop her."
Ravenna gave him a sharp look. "And Tavros?"
"Tavros knows she's not trustworthy. He'll use her for his purposes, but the moment she becomes a liability, he'll dispose of her. They're both too blinded by their own ambitions to see that they're being played."
"By you."
"By me," Aran confirmed, his voice tinged with amusement.
The two of them watched as Serena entered the estate, her movements swift but composed. The door closed behind her, sealing both Serena and Tavros inside the same space. Now, the real game would begin.
---
Inside the crumbling walls of the Almar estate, Serena and Tavros faced each other across a long, cracked marble table in what had once been a grand dining hall. The light from a few lanterns cast flickering shadows across the room, making the already-decaying surroundings seem more sinister.
"Tavros," Serena greeted coolly, her lips curving into a calculated smile. "I'm glad you could make it."
Tavros eyed her warily, his arms crossed over his chest. "I didn't come here to exchange pleasantries, Serena. What do you want?"
She laughed softly, the sound echoing through the empty hall. "Straight to the point, as always. I admire that about you."
"Enough games," Tavros growled, his patience clearly wearing thin. "You asked for this meeting, so speak."
Serena's smile faded, her expression turning serious. "Very well. We both know that Calder's Rest is on the verge of shifting. Power is changing hands, and we need to be on the right side of that change."
"You're talking about Aran," Tavros said bluntly, his eyes narrowing.
"Yes," Serena said, her voice laced with venom. "He's too dangerous. He's been orchestrating everything from the shadows, manipulating us all. If we don't move against him soon, he'll take everything for himself."
Tavros remained silent, his gaze cold. He wasn't a fool, and he certainly wasn't about to trust Serena's words without caution.
"And what exactly do you propose?" Tavros asked finally, leaning forward slightly.
Serena's eyes gleamed with ambition. "We take him down together. With your resources and my influence, we can outmaneuver him before he makes his next move. Once he's out of the way, Calder's Rest will be ours."
Tavros didn't respond immediately. His eyes flickered with something unreadable, and Serena, confident in her pitch, didn't notice the shift.
Outside, hidden in the shadows, Aran listened to every word through a hidden spy device. His lips twisted into a sardonic smile. Serena was playing her part perfectly, as expected. But Tavros was not as predictable.
Tavros leaned back in his chair, folding his hands in front of him. "And how do you plan to deal with Aran?"
Serena's smile returned, this time sharper. "Leave that to me. I know his weaknesses. I've been close enough to him for long enough to know how he operates. Once I have him isolated, I'll strike."
Tavros nodded slowly, but Aran could see it in his posture—Tavros wasn't fully convinced. The seeds of doubt were already planted, and it wouldn't take much to turn him against Serena entirely.
Just a nudge.
Aran motioned to Ravenna, who nodded silently and disappeared into the darkness to set the final phase of his plan in motion. He would let the meeting play out a little longer, just enough to let Serena feel secure in her false victory.
But before the night was over, Tavros would betray her, and Serena would be left with nothing.
---
As the meeting continued, Aran's trap slowly tightened around Serena and Tavros, both too consumed by their ambitions to see the strings that guided their every move. By the time they realized the truth, it would be far too late.
And Calder's Rest would belong to Aran—just as he had always planned.