Eryx ᯓᡣ𐭩
As I sat in the classroom, my mind kept circling back to the brief encounter earlier. The girl who had bumped into Cassian-the same one I had seen Evelia step in for yesterday. She seemed nervous, out of place, and I couldn't help but wonder what had drawn her into this mess. But more than that, I couldn't stop thinking about Evelia.
I stared blankly at the front of the class, but my thoughts were miles away. Evelia had looked right at me, her eyes as cold as I remembered. There was no mistaking the disdain she held for me, not that I blamed her. What happened between us, between our families, was complicated-painful. And now, after all this time, she was back, and nothing between us had been resolved.
A sharp nudge brought me back to the present, and I turned to see Cassian leaning toward me, a sly grin on his face. He wasn't looking at me, though-his eyes were fixed on the girl who had just walked in and was now sitting next to Evelia.
"What's with you?" I asked, frowning as I noticed the way he was staring at her.
Cassian chuckled, still not looking away. "That girl... the one who ran into me just now. She's something, isn't she?"
I followed his gaze, watching as the girl nervously glanced around, clearly uncomfortable in the crowded classroom. She had a vulnerability about her that was almost palpable, the kind that drew people like Cassian in.
"What, you interested in her or something?" I asked, my tone sharper than I intended.
He finally tore his eyes away from her to look at me, still smirking. "Interested? Maybe. She's new, fresh. You saw how she clung to Evelia. It's like she's looking for someone to protect her." His grin widened, the predatory edge in his voice unmistakable. "I could be that someone."
I felt a surge of irritation, though I wasn't sure why. Maybe it was because Cassian always treated people like they were toys for his amusement, or maybe it was because he was too focused on this girl when there were bigger things at play-like Evelia being back.
"Don't get any ideas, Cass," I warned, my voice low. "She's not worth the trouble."
He raised an eyebrow at me, clearly surprised by my tone. "Trouble? Since when do I shy away from trouble, Eryx?"
I didn't respond, just narrowed my eyes at him. Cassian was the type who thrived on challenges, on pushing boundaries just to see how far he could go. And right now, it seemed like he had found his latest target, just like I'd find mine.
But my mind wasn't on the girl, not really. It was on Evelia, on the way she had looked at me with that cold, unreadable expression. She was back, and that changed everything. Whatever game Cassian thought he was playing, he had no idea of the real stakes.
"Just don't do anything stupid," I muttered, more to myself than to him. I wasn't sure if I was talking about him or about what I was planning.
Cassian just shrugged, clearly not taking my warning seriously. "Relax, Eryx. I'm just having a little fun."
I watched as his gaze returned to the girl, that smirk still playing on his lips. I clenched my jaw, forcing myself to stay focused. I couldn't let Cassian's antics distract me. Evelia was my priority now.
꒷꒦︶꒷꒦︶ ๋ ࣭ ⭑꒷꒦
Evelia ᯓᡣ𐭩
Sitting across from the in the cafeteria, I absentmindedly stirred the coffee in front of me. The noise of the room faded into the background, leaving just the two of us in this bubble of uneasy quiet. She was picking at her food.
I watched her for a moment, my gaze lingering on her blonde hair, the way it fell in soft waves over her shoulders. There was something about it that felt... familiar. My thoughts drifted again, and I found myself thinking of someone I hadn't allowed myself to think about in a long time.
"What's your name again?" I asked, more to pull myself out of the reverie than anything else.
She looked up, surprised by the question, as if she hadn't expected me to break the silence. "Rhea," she said quietly, offering a small, tentative smile.
"Rhea," I repeated, letting the name settle in my mind. My eyes traced the strands of her blonde hair once more. They reminded me of...
I caught myself before the thought could fully form. There was no need to go down that path. But still, the connection was there, a faint thread tugging at something deep inside me.
Blonde hair. It was such a small thing, really. I quickly shook the thought off, pushing it back to that corner of my mind where I kept all those old memories.
Rhea was watching me now, her eyes wide and uncertain, as if she could sense that I was thinking about something important, something I didn't want to share. I gave her a small nod, more to reassure her than anything else.
"You remind me of someone," I said, my voice almost too soft to hear over the hum of the cafeteria. But I didn't elaborate. There was no point in dragging her into the past, into the complicated mess that was my life.
She seemed to sense that the conversation wasn't meant to go any further, so she just nodded, the tension in her shoulders easing slightly. "Thanks for letting me sit with you," she said after a moment, her voice grateful but still tinged with nerves.
"It's fine," I replied, my tone neutral. I didn't want her to think too much of it. I was just... being civil. That was all.
I sipped my coffee as we sat in silence for a while longer, the unspoken words hanging between us.
Rhea fidgeted with her fork, her eyes darting around the bustling cafeteria. "You know," she began, trying to sound casual, "I've heard a lot about your family. They're famous, right?"
I looked up from my coffee, startled by the sudden shift in conversation. "Yes, I guess you could say that. My father is well-known in certain circles. Why do you ask?"
Rhea shrugged, trying to mask her curiosity. "Just heard some things. People talk, you know? I'm interested in how different people live."
"Interesting," I said, though my mind was already shifting gears. "What about your family? What's your background?"
Her expression shifted to one of slight discomfort. "I live with my adoptive parents. They adopted me when I was a baby. I've never met my biological parents, so I don't really know much about them."
My heart skipped a beat. Her words hit me with the force of a revelation. The shock of the realization left me momentarily speechless. Could she
be- her.
I kept my expression neutral, carefully hiding the whirlwind of emotions behind a calm facade. "I see," I said, trying to keep my voice steady. "It must have been difficult not knowing about your biological family."
Rhea nodded, a shadow of sadness crossing her face. "It's been tough sometimes. But my adoptive parents are great. They've given me a good life."
I tried to keep my focus on her, despite the chaos of thoughts racing through my mind. I needed to gather more information discreetly. It would be unwise to judge too fast. For now, I would observe, collect data, and strategize.
꒷꒦︶꒷꒦︶ ๋ ࣭ ⭑꒷꒦
Eryx ᯓᡣ𐭩
In the heart of the night, on the streets, where only the brave dare to strive.
The night air was thick with the smell of burning rubber and gasoline, the roar of engines reverberating through the crowded lot. This was my territory-the underground world of illegal car races where the stakes were high, and the thrill was unmatched. Cassian and I had been coming here for years, and I knew every inch of this place like the back of my hand.
We had just pulled in, the headlights of my car cutting through the sea of people gathered around the starting line.
As we stepped out of the car, the energy of the night hit me full force. The music blaring from nearby speakers, the distant screech of tires as a race began, the laughter and shouts of the spectators-it was all part of the scene. But tonight, something felt different, and it wasn't long before I realized why.
Out of the corner of my eye, I spotted her-Evelia. She was standing near one of the cars, her arms crossed as she listened to some guy who was clearly trying too hard. He was leaning in a little too close, his smile a little too cocky as he spoke to her. I couldn't hear what he was saying, but the look on her face told me all I needed to know. She wasn't impressed.
I felt a strange tug in my chest, something that was both familiar and unwelcome. Seeing Evelia here, in my world, threw me off balance. This was the last place I expected to run into her, especially not like this, with some random guy practically drooling over her.
Evelia, to her credit, didn't seem fazed. She met the guy's advances with the same cool, detached demeanor I remembered so well. When he leaned in a little closer, she didn't hesitate to shut him down, her voice cutting through the noise with a sharp edge. I couldn't help but smirk.
But that didn't stop the unease from gnawing at me. I wasn't used to feeling protective, especially not over someone like Evelia. We had history, sure, but it wasn't exactly the kind that made me want to play the hero. Still, seeing that guy hover around her like a vulture made my fists clench at my sides.
Cassian, always observant, noticed my distraction and followed my gaze. "Well, well," he drawled, a grin spreading across his face. "Look who decided to join the fun tonight. Evelia Allis, in the flesh."
I didn't respond, my eyes still fixed on her. She must have sensed the attention because she glanced up, her eyes narrowing slightly as they met mine. For a brief moment, the rest of the world seemed to fade away, leaving just the two of us in a silent standoff.
But then the spell was broken by the group of girls nearby, who had noticed Cassian and me. They were whispering among themselves, giggling and casting not-so-subtle glances in our direction. I was used to it-Cassian and I had always attracted attention when we came here. But tonight, it felt more like an unwanted distraction.
Cassian, ever the charmer, gave them a wink and a grin, which only made them giggle louder. "Looks like we've got fans," he said, nudging me with his elbow. "But I'm guessing you're more interested in what's happening over there."
I tore my gaze away from Evelia and gave him a look. "She's just another face in the crowd, Cass. Don't make it more than it is."
Cassian raised an eyebrow, clearly not buying it. "Sure, if that's what you want to tell yourself."
I could feel the eyes on us. It was nothing new-this was the kind of attention we always drew at these races. But tonight, it felt different. Maybe it was because of Evelia. Maybe it was the way she had just brushed off that guy, and how, despite everything, her presence made the night feel more charged, more intense.
The girls nearby didn't bother to hide their interest. They were practically drooling, whispering and giggling amongst themselves as Cassian and I passed by. I caught a few phrases-"so hot," "look at his eyes," "that's Eryx DeVille, right?"-all the usual stuff. Normally, I'd ignore it, but tonight, for some reason, it grated on me.
Cassian, ever the showman, soaked it all in. He flashed them one of his signature grins, the kind that always got him what he wanted, and they ate it up. "Ladies," he said smoothly, his voice dripping with charm. "Enjoying the show?"
I barely registered the exchange. My focus was still on Evelia, even if I was doing my best to convince myself otherwise.
Cassian, noticing my distraction, gave me a light shove. "Earth to Eryx," he teased. "You've got admirers. Don't tell me you're going to leave me to handle all of this on my own?"
I gave him a half-hearted smirk. "You seem to be doing just fine."
He rolled his eyes, but there was a glint of something sharper in them, something that said he wasn't fooled by my nonchalance. "You're really off your game tonight. Let me guess-still thinking about Evelia?"
I didn't answer, which was answer enough for him.
"Thought so," he said, lowering his voice so only I could hear. "Look, if she's messing with your head, maybe you should just-"
"Drop it, Cass," I cut him off, my tone flat. "It's nothing."
He held up his hands in mock surrender, but the smirk on his face didn't fade. "Whatever you say, man. But if you change your mind, you know where to find me."
With that, he turned his attention back to the girls, who were now practically hanging on his every word. I didn't bother trying to join in. Instead, I moved a few steps away, leaning against the hood of my car, trying to focus on the race about to start.
But I couldn't shake the feeling of being watched, and I knew exactly who it was. I glanced over again, just in time to see Evelia's gaze flicker in my direction. Our eyes met for a split second, and something passed between us-something tense and unresolved.
The girls around me kept talking, kept trying to get my attention, but their voices were just background noise. I knew Cassian would keep them entertained-he always did. But I couldn't shake the feeling that, despite everything, tonight was the start of something I wasn't ready for. Something I couldn't ignore, no matter how hard I tried.
I was still leaning against the hood of my car, trying to push Evelia out of my mind, when I heard a familiar voice cut through the noise of the crowd.
"Ladies and gentlemen, we've got a special guest tonight!"
I looked up to see Jason, one of the local big shots in the racing scene, standing on top of a car with a mic in his hand. His voice boomed across the lot, drawing everyone's attention. Zane was the type who thrived on drama and spectacle, always looking for a way to stir things up. Tonight, it seemed, he'd found his target.
"We all know her name, but not many of you have had the pleasure of seeing her in action," Jason continued, a wide grin spreading across his face. "That's right, folks, Evelia Allis is back in town!"
A murmur of surprise rippled through the crowd, followed by excited whispers and curious glances in Evelia's direction. She looked as unflappable as ever, but I could tell this wasn't what she had planned for the night. Her eyes narrowed slightly, her posture stiffening as Jason continued.
"And what better way to welcome her back than with a race?" Jason's grin widened as he scanned the crowd, his gaze eventually landing on me. "And who better to race against than our very own Eryx DeVille?"
The crowd erupted in cheers and shouts, the energy suddenly charged with anticipation. My jaw tightened as I pushed myself off the car, the weight of all those eyes on me like a physical pressure. I hadn't come here to race, especially not against Evelia, but now the idea was out there, and I could see the challenge in her eyes as she looked at me.
Jason's gaze fixed on me, his smirk turning into a challenge. "So, Eryx, how about it? You up for a little friendly competition? Show Evelia how we do things around here?"
The crowd turned to look at me, their eyes filled with anticipation. Cassian raised an eyebrow, clearly interested in how I'd handle this.
I pushed off the hood of my car and walked over to Jason, trying to keep my voice steady. "You know I don't back down from a challenge."
Jason shrugged, a playful glint in his eyes. "It's all in good fun, man. Besides, it's not every day we get to see a Allis on the track. It'd be a shame to miss it."
I glanced over at Evelia, who was now standing with an air of cool detachment, her gaze fixed on the ground. She looked calm, almost indifferent, but there was a sharpness in her eyes that made me wonder what she was thinking.
Taking a deep breath, I approached her. "So, Evelia, are you here to race or just to watch?"
She looked up at me, her expression guarded. "Why not. One race, one Winner."
Jason clapped his hands, clearly pleased with the interaction. "Looks like it's settled then. Let's see what you've got, Eryx. Show us if the Allis's are as good as they say."
I looked back at Evelia, who was already heading toward her car. There was a determination in her step that I recognized all too well. It was the same kind of drive that had once made us rivals, and now it seemed like it was going to be reignited.
As the crowd buzzed with excitement and speculation, I tried to shake off the tension and focus on the race ahead. Tonight was going to be more than just a race. It was going to be a showdown, a chance to confront the past and see where things stood.
The starting line was electric with anticipation, the crowd's cheers echoing around us as Evelia and I prepared for the race. Jason was practically bouncing with excitement, his eyes gleaming with the thrill of the spectacle he had orchestrated.
I slid into the driver's seat of my car, the familiar hum of the engine comforting as I revved it up. I stole a glance at Evelia, who was getting into her own car-a sleek, aggressive-looking machine that suited her well. Her expression was a mask of concentration.
The countdown began. "Three, two, one-GO!"
The engines roared to life, tires screeching as we launched forward. The cars leapt off the line, the initial burst of speed pushing us back into our seats. The night air rushed by, the world around us blurring into a streak of lights and shadows.
I focused on the road ahead, trying to maintain control as I navigated the twists and turns of the track. Evelia's car was a dark shape in my peripheral vision, close enough that I could sense her presence but not enough to see her clearly.
The track was challenging, but I knew it well. I pushed my car to its limits, weaving through tight corners and accelerating on the straights. I could hear the roar of the crowd, their shouts blending with the sound of the engines, but I kept my attention fixed on the race.
As we rounded a particularly sharp turn, I saw Evelia's car pull ahead slightly. I gritted my teeth and pushed harder, trying to close the gap. It was clear that she wasn't just racing for the win-she was racing to prove something. Her driving was precise, controlled, and aggressive, matching my every move.
The final stretch was approaching, and the finish line was in sight. I could see Evelia's car ahead of me, her headlights cutting through the darkness like twin beacons. I gave it everything I had, my car surging forward in a desperate bid to overtake her.
But Evelia's determination was stronger than I'd anticipated. As we crossed the finish line, her car edged ahead, and I could see the triumphant look on her face as she pulled into the winner's circle.
The crowd erupted in cheers, their excitement almost deafening. I skidded to a stop and climbed out of my car, walking over to where Evelia was already standing, her expression a mixture of relief and exhilaration.
"Well done," I said, trying to keep my tone even despite the sting of defeat. "You earned it."
Evelia looked at me, her gaze steady. "Thanks. You were pretty good yourself."
There was a brief, charged silence between us, the intensity of the race still hanging in the air. The crowd's cheers seemed distant now, the only thing that mattered was this moment-this acknowledgment between us.
Jason came over, clapping both of us on the back. "That was one hell of a race! You both gave the crowd a show."
I nodded, trying to shake off the lingering frustration. "Yeah, it was something."
Evelia's eyes flickered to Jason, then back to me. "Looks like the night's still young," she said, her voice carrying an edge of challenge. "But for now, I've got a win to celebrate."
With that, she turned and walked away, the crowd parting to let her through. I watched her go, a mix of admiration and something else swirling inside me.
As Jason started talking to the crowd, pumping up the energy for the next event, I found myself lost in thought. Evelia had beaten me fair and square, and that in itself was a statement. But it was more than just the race-it was a reminder of the unresolved past between us, and of the fact that she wasn't going to back down from anything.
As I watched her disappear into the crowd, I knew one thing for sure: this was far from over.