Lenna leaned against the wooden counter of the inn, her thoughts drifting far beyond the dim room. The flickering lanterns cast faint shadows, filling the silence with an eerie stillness. It was a quiet night, but her mind was anything but quiet.
Her life had begun in a tiny village nestled far to the east, a place surrounded by green hills and clear streams, where the worst thing to worry about was a bad crop or a particularly cold winter. She could still remember the warmth of her family, the laughter shared around the fire, the simplicity of it all. It felt like a lifetime ago.
That life ended abruptly the day the raiders came. A band of thieves, savage and merciless, tore through the village like a storm. She remembered the shouts, the fear, the chaos. Her parents had been among those who tried to fight back, but it was hopeless. In the end, the raiders left a trail of destruction in their wake. Most of the villagers were slaughtered, others captured and sold off like cattle. Lenna had been one of the "lucky" ones, nabbed and hauled off to be sold into slavery.
She drifted from one place to another, passed between hands that valued her only for her looks and her willingness—or lack of choice—to work. A few rich investors took a particular liking to her, while others used her as a maid, a convenient fixture in their households. She learned quickly how to survive, how to read people, how to play along until the time was right. When she finally managed to kill her last slaver and escape, she thought maybe she could finally be free.
But freedom was a fragile, fleeting thing. Killing a wealthy man wasn't something that went unnoticed, and before long, she had a bounty on her head. She ran for years, her life a blur of shadowy alleys, narrow escapes, and endless nights of hiding. Just when she thought she was safe, her past would catch up to her, dragging her back into a nightmare she could never seem to escape.
Eventually, she found herself at The Hollow Pit, a place where no one asked questions and everyone had something to hide. It was here that she met her now-former boss, Gregor Vale. He had offered her protection in exchange for her loyalty, promising her a safe place to lay low as long as she did his dirty work. At the time, it had seemed like a small price to pay.
For years, she had done his bidding, luring in travelers, stealing from unsuspecting guests, even ending lives when the coin was right. She'd become numb to it all, going through the motions to survive, her dreams of a different life long since buried. The inn became her base, a place to lure profitable individuals in and, if necessary, end their journeys in the dark of night.
Then, last night, everything had changed. She had met him.
Taurus, with his fine clothes, calm demeanor, and an air of mystery that had intrigued her from the start. Handsome, yes, but there was something else, something she couldn't quite name. She'd thought he was just another fool passing through, ripe for picking. But he'd surprised her—his confidence, his skill, his strength. He'd offered to take down Gregor and his men in exchange for information, and while she had agreed, she hadn't actually expected him to survive.
But he had. He'd slaughtered them all with frightening ease, showing a level of power and control that left her speechless. And as if that weren't enough, he'd come back and handed her five gold coins, the largest sum she'd ever held in her life. When she'd asked him why, he'd simply shrugged and said it was part of their deal—something extra for telling him about the club and her now-dead boss.
She sighed, brushing her fingers over the coins still lying on the counter. She'd expected him to leave without a second thought, but he'd confirmed he'd be staying at the inn another night. He'd mentioned that once he gathered enough information, he'd be moving on, leaving the Hollow Pit behind.
A strange tightness settled in her chest at that thought, and she found herself biting her lip, her fingers tightening around the coins. She hadn't felt this way in years—unsure, nervous, almost… hopeful? But hope was a dangerous thing. It had no place in a life like hers.
As she looked around the quiet inn, she pondered her options. She could keep working as a receptionist here, maybe pick up Gregor's old business and try to make a life out of the scraps he'd left behind. But it wasn't a real life. The Hollow Pit was a dangerous, cruel place, and without Gregor's protection, she was nothing more than a target. Eventually, someone else would try to take what little she had, and she'd be right back where she'd started—alone, running, barely scraping by.
Her gaze drifted up the staircase, where Taurus had disappeared to his room. A faint blush crept onto her cheeks as she thought of him. He was clearly more powerful than anyone she'd met, and despite his cold demeanor, he'd kept his word and even offered her more than she'd bargained for. She couldn't help but wonder if maybe… just maybe, there was a way out of this life. A chance for something different, something better.
But she quickly shook the thought away, letting out a low, tired sigh. What was she even thinking? Taurus was just passing through, another traveler with his own agenda. And yet, as she stared at the five gold coins in her hand, she couldn't help but feel the stirrings of something unfamiliar, a faint glimmer of possibility that refused to die.
For years, she had known only survival, and she had learned to live with that. But now, with a future uncertain and an undeniable spark of interest in the mysterious man who had so effortlessly changed her life, Lenna found herself at a crossroads.
Did she dare to leave, to follow him and see where this new path might lead? Or would she remain here, bound by fear and habit, watching as her life passed her by?
With one last glance up the staircase, Lenna shook her head and looked down, clutching the coins tightly. She didn't know what tomorrow would bring, but for the first time in a long time, she allowed herself to hope.