The alarm cut through the silence, the emergency red lights flashing in rapid succession. Mordrek's heart didn't race, but his mind went to work, assessing the situation with deadly precision. It's too soon.
The screen of his terminal flashed with the familiar alert: Unauthorized access detected. Lockdown initiated. His gaze narrowed. The Ascendancy was here. They had acted faster than expected, and they were after the artifact.
Kaelyn's hand instinctively gripped her weapon. "They're here. What now?"
Mordrek's lip curled into a small, cold smile. "We fight, of course."
The door slid open, and operatives in black tactical gear flooded the room, their weapons drawn. But it was Lysander who entered last, stepping through the doorway like a shadow, his commanding presence immediately filling the room.
He surveyed the trio with a measured glance, his eyes lingering on Mordrek with a subtle intensity. "Mordrek," Lysander said, his voice calm, betraying none of the tension that hung in the air. "You knew this moment would come, didn't you? We're here for the artifact."
Mordrek didn't flinch. "I'm not like the others you've dealt with. I don't fear you."
Lysander's lips twitched slightly, though the smile never reached his eyes. "You might want to reconsider that, Mordrek. Hand it over, and we can avoid unnecessary bloodshed."
The operative group behind Lysander remained still, their presence more intimidating than their weapons. This wasn't a moment of brute force—this was a battle of minds. And Lysander had the upper hand. For now.
Mordrek's gaze flicked briefly to Kaelyn, her eyes wide with uncertainty. He could feel her hesitation, the doubt creeping in. She had sided with him, but this confrontation was about more than just allegiances. It was about survival.
Lyra stood silently at Mordrek's side, her expression inscrutable. As the mention of the artifact hung in the air, a flicker of something—an emotion or a memory—passed across her face. What is she hiding?
Lysander seemed to notice the shift, his eyes narrowing as they locked onto Lyra. "You've been... elusive. Always just out of reach. I've seen you somewhere before, haven't I?"
Lyra's smile was cool, almost amused, but her eyes glinted with a hint of something deeper. "I'm not as memorable as you think, Lysander. Shadows can be deceptive, after all."
Mordrek's thoughts raced. *Shadows. She knows more than she's letting on. But now's not the time for questioning her. Not when the Ascendancy is closing in.*
Lysander's sharp gaze turned back to Mordrek. "You've aligned yourself with her. But I wonder, Mordrek... can you trust her?" His words were a challenge, his voice smooth, his confidence unshaken. But there was something beneath the surface, a hint of suspicion he wasn't willing to voice outright.
Mordrek, ever the schemer, didn't rise to the bait. "Trust is a luxury I don't afford easily, Lysander. You should know that."
Lysander's eyes flickered to the door as his operatives readied themselves for whatever would come next. He raised a hand, halting them. "This isn't a fight you want, Mordrek. Not yet. Surrender the artifact, and we can come to an arrangement."
Mordrek studied Lysander carefully. The man exuded authority, but his wariness around Mordrek was evident. He's not as certain as he pretends to be.
"You think this is a game, don't you?" Lysander said, his voice low, almost contemplative. "But you haven't yet grasped the true power we're dealing with." He paused, letting his words linger. "The Void."
The mention of the Void stirred something within Mordrek, but he didn't show it. He had no intention of letting Lysander see his surprise. So they know. They've found a way to use it.
Lysander's gaze darkened, though only for a moment. "You've been dabbling in forces you can't control. But we've unlocked the potential—harnessed the Void's true power. And it will change everything."
Mordrek's expression remained neutral, but his mind was racing. The Ascendancy has figured it out. If they control the Void...
The silence stretched, thick with the weight of unspoken threats. Lysander was careful, always careful with his words, as if testing the waters before striking. He knew Mordrek was no fool. And Mordrek, for his part, could feel the tension crackling in the room, the way every word seemed loaded with consequences.
Kaelyn spoke, her voice strained. "If the Ascendancy controls the Void... what does that mean for us?"
Lysander's gaze flicked to her, almost as if he hadn't expected the question. He straightened slightly, his voice turning cold. "It means you've already lost. You'll see soon enough how powerless you truly are in the face of what's coming. All because you refuse to relinquish the artifact."
Mordrek's lips curled into a sardonic smile. "Is that what you think? You've overestimated your position, Lysander. And you'll find out soon enough."
Lysander's eyes narrowed, a flash of something darker passing through them. "We'll see how long you can keep that bravado, Mordrek. The Ascendancy doesn't fail."
Mordrek's voice was calm, but each word was steeped in menace. "You'll learn what happens when you push the Forsaken too far."
As the operatives filed out, Lysander lingered for a moment longer, his eyes shifting between the group. But there was a hint of uncertainty in his expression now, a flicker of doubt. Mordrek had managed to rattle him.
"Remember this," Lysander said before turning to leave, his voice carrying across the room. "There is always a price to pay for defiance. You'll learn that soon enough."
With that, the room was left in silence, the tension thick in the air. Mordrek's thoughts were already calculating the next move, but a sense of urgency began to build. The Void was a power too dangerous to ignore. If Lysander had truly unlocked its potential, they were running out of time.
Lyra stepped closer, her voice soft but urgent. "The Ascendancy won't stop. Not now."
Mordrek nodded, his eyes narrowing. "I know. We don't have the luxury of hesitation."
But as he looked at the others—Kaelyn, Lyra—he couldn't help but wonder. How far can I push before they all break?
---
Words of the Forsaken
"Power is an illusion built on trust—trust that can be shattered with a whisper. Betrayal is the price for climbing too high. But when the time comes to fall, remember: it's not the fall that matters. It's who you take with you." ~ Modrek