The institute's corridors were eerily quiet as Alaric led Elian into his office. The tension between them was palpable, crackling like static electricity in the air. Alaric settled behind his desk, his piercing gaze fixed on Elian, who stood with carefully controlled nonchalance.
"Take a seat, Elian," Alaric said, his voice deceptively calm. "We need to talk about what happened at the hut."
Elian lowered himself into the chair, his face an impassive mask. "What's there to discuss? We were attacked, we defended ourselves. End of story."
Alaric's eyes narrowed, a predatory glint flashing in their depths. "Is it? Because from where I'm standing, there are a lot of unanswered questions. Like how you managed to take down a fully transformed Rogue while barely shifting yourself."
Elian's jaw clenched, the only outward sign of his discomfort. "I got lucky. Adrenaline does strange things in a fight."
A humorless chuckle escaped Alaric's lips. "Lucky? No, Elian. I've seen 'lucky' in battle. What you did... that was something else entirely."
The two men stared at each other, a silent battle of wills raging between them. Elian felt exposed, stripped bare under Alaric's scrutiny. He'd always prided himself on his ability to read people, to stay one step ahead. But Alaric... Alaric was a cipher, his thoughts and motivations hidden behind an impenetrable wall.
"What do you want from me, Alaric?" Elian finally asked, a hint of frustration creeping into his voice.
Alaric leaned forward, his hands steepled before him. "The truth, Elian. No more games, no more half-truths. What are you?"
The question hung in the air, heavy with implication. Elian's mind raced, weighing his options. How much did Alaric know? How much could he afford to reveal?
"I'm like you," Elian said carefully. "A Devourer. Nothing more, nothing less."
Alaric's eyebrow arched skeptically. "Are you? Because I've never seen a Devourer do what you did. Those veins, that strength... it's not natural. Even for us."
Elian felt a bead of sweat trickle down his spine. He opened his mouth to respond, but Alaric cut him off with a raised hand.
"Save your excuses," Alaric said, his voice laden with authority. "I don't need them. What I need is to know if you're a threat to this institute, to our research... to Daneris."
At the mention of her name, Elian's composure slipped for a fraction of a second. It was enough for Alaric to notice, a predatory smile tugging at the corners of his mouth.
"Ah," Alaric murmured. "So that's how it is."
Elian's fists clenched involuntarily. "I would never hurt Daneris. Or anyone else here. I'm on your side, Alaric."
"Are you?" Alaric's voice was soft, dangerous. "Because from where I'm sitting, you're a wild card. And in this game we're playing, wild cards tend to get people killed."
The threat hung in the air between them, unspoken but unmistakable. Elian felt his pulse quicken, the strange power within him stirring restlessly.
"What do you want from me?" Elian asked again, his voice barely above a whisper.
Alaric leaned back in his chair, his eyes never leaving Elian's face. "For now? I want you to stay close. I want to know every move you make, every breath you take. And if I even suspect you're a danger to this operation or to Daneris..."
He left the sentence unfinished, but the message was clear. Elian nodded stiffly, rising from his chair.
"Are we done here?" he asked, struggling to keep the bitterness from his voice.
Alaric waved a dismissive hand. "For now. But don't forget, Elian. I'm watching you."
As Elian left the office, he couldn't shake the feeling that he'd just walked into a trap of his own making.
---
Miles away, Daneris hurried down the darkened street, her footsteps echoing in the empty night. The events at the hut played on a loop in her mind, each replay bringing fresh questions and uncertainties.
A chill ran down her spine, and she quickened her pace. The sensation of being watched intensified, making the hairs on the back of her neck stand on end. Her eyes darted from shadow to shadow, searching for any sign of movement.
Suddenly, a blur of motion caught her peripheral vision. Something fast, too fast to be human, darted across the street behind her. Daneris's heart leapt into her throat, her breath coming in short, panicked gasps.
She spun around, ready to run, when a figure emerged from the darkness. A scream built in her chest, only to die on her lips as recognition dawned.
"Dr. Nyx?" she gasped, her voice trembling. "What are you doing here?"
Nyx stepped into the pool of light cast by a nearby streetlamp, his hands raised placatingly. "I'm sorry if I startled you, Daneris. I was worried about you walking home alone, especially after what happened at the hut. The nights aren't safe anymore."
Daneris felt her racing heart begin to slow, relief washing over her. "You frightened me half to death," she said, managing a shaky laugh. "I thought... I don't know what I thought."
Nyx's eyes darted to the shadows behind her, a flicker of something unreadable passing across his face. "Yes, well, one can never be too careful these days. Why don't I walk you the rest of the way home? Just to be safe."
Grateful for the company and the sense of security it brought, Daneris nodded. "Thank you, Dr. Nyx. I'd appreciate that."
As they walked, Daneris couldn't help but notice the way Nyx's eyes constantly scanned their surroundings, as if searching for hidden threats. It was both comforting and unsettling.
"Dr. Nyx," she began hesitantly, "do you think... do you think what happened at the hut was just the beginning? Are we in danger?"
Nyx was silent for a long moment, his brow furrowed in thought. When he spoke, his voice was carefully measured. "I think, Daneris, that we're on the cusp of something... transformative. Whether that's good or bad remains to be seen."
They reached Daneris's front door, and she turned to thank him. "I appreciate you looking out for me, Dr. Nyx. Truly."
He smiled, but it didn't quite reach his eyes. "Of course. We have to stick together in times like these. Goodnight, Daneris. Stay safe."
As she closed the door behind her, Daneris leaned against it, letting out a long, shaky breath. The events of the past few days weighed heavily on her, and she could feel exhaustion seeping into her bones.
Outside, hidden from view, a very different scene was unfolding.
Nyx moved with inhuman speed, pinning a shadowy figure against the wall of a nearby alley. His eyes blazed with fury, his voice a low, menacing growl.
"Did I not tell you she is mine to monitor and not you? What are you doing here?"
The creature, for it was no mere man, let out a rasping laugh that sounded like nails on a chalkboard. "Just in case you failed, cousin. Someone had to be ready to take your position."
Nyx's grip tightened, his fingers digging into the creature's throat. "Listen closely," he hissed, his face inches from the other's grotesque features. "If I ever catch you near her again, I'll rip out your spine and use it as a jump rope. Are we clear?"
The creature's yellow eyes gleamed with malice, but it nodded. "Crystal," it wheezed.
Nyx released his grip, watching as the creature slunk back into the shadows. He turned his gaze to Daneris's window, his expression unreadable.
Inside, Daneris stumbled to her bathroom, gripping the edge of the sink as a wave of dizziness washed over her. She looked up, catching sight of her reflection in the mirror. What she saw made her blood run cold.
Her veins were standing out against her skin, pulsing with an eerie, otherworldly light. Her hands trembled uncontrollably, and she could feel something stirring within her, fighting to break free.
"No," she whispered, her voice cracking with fear. "Not now. Please, not now."
She fumbled in her medicine cabinet, searching for the suppressants she always kept on hand. But as her fingers closed around the bottle, another wave of pain and nausea hit her, sending her to her knees.
The transformation was coming, stronger than ever before. Daneris curled into herself, fighting against the change with every ounce of her willpower. But deep down, she knew it was a losing battle.
Outside her window, hidden in the shadows of a nearby tree, Nyx watched. His face was a mask of concentration, his eyes never leaving Daneris's writhing form.
"Fascinating," he murmured, his fingers flying over the device's controls. "The catalyst is working even better than I anticipated."