Rose's grip tightened on her coffee cup as she stared at the woman in front of her. Sylus's sister? The resemblance was undeniable—the sharp features, the confident demeanor. But while Sylus's intensity had a magnetic pull, Elena's carried a sharp edge, like a blade concealed in silk.
"What game are you talking about?" Rose asked cautiously, trying to mask her unease.
Elena smirked, swirling her tea with deliberate slowness. "Oh, come on, Rose. You're smarter than that. Sylus doesn't let just anyone get close to him, and yet here you are, tangled in his world. Haven't you noticed how quickly things are changing around you?"
"I'm just here to work," Rose replied evenly, though her mind raced.
Elena raised an eyebrow. "And yet, you've caught his attention—and someone else's, too, it seems." Her eyes flicked to Rose's bag, where the note still sat, crumpled and forgotten.
Rose's stomach dropped. "How do you—"
"You're not as discreet as you think," Elena interrupted. "And whoever sent that note? They're just the beginning."
Before Rose could question her further, Elena stood, smoothing her coat. "A piece of advice, darling: don't trust Sylus too much. He may have his charms, but his secrets are far darker than you realize. And Lucas?" She leaned in, her voice dropping to a whisper. "He's not here by coincidence. Ask him about Vienna."
With that, Elena walked away, leaving Rose sitting in stunned silence. Vienna? What did that mean?
---
The café felt suffocating after Elena left. Her words clawed at Rose's mind.
"You don't belong in this world, but Sylus keeps you close. Ask yourself why."
It wasn't as if Rose needed Elena to tell her this. She had always known, deep down, that this world Sylus inhabited—dangerous and enigmatic—wasn't hers. She didn't understand the rules, the stakes, or why she was being dragged further into it.
But the bond she felt with Sylus—it wasn't something she could ignore. She'd written about it in her notebook just the night before, unsure if the words were meant to soothe her own confusion or to prepare herself for the inevitable.
"He's a mystery I can't unravel, and I know I shouldn't try. But there's something about him—something I can't let go of."
The page had ended with a question: What happens when it's time to leave?
Now, as she walked home, clutching her bag tightly, that question weighed heavier than ever.
---
Later That Night:
Rose sat on her couch, staring at the crumpled note in her bag. She had read it over a dozen times, trying to decipher its meaning.
"Careful, kitten. Trust no one—not even him."
Was it Sylus who sent it? It didn't feel like his style. But then, who was it? And why were they warning her about him?
Her phone buzzed on the table, and she froze. Another message, again from an unknown number:
"You're not part of this game, Rose. Leave before it's too late."
Her chest tightened. She knew she didn't belong in this world. But leaving wasn't so simple—not anymore. Not with Sylus.
Her thoughts drifted to Lucas. She had sensed there was more to him than met the eye, and now Elena's cryptic mention of Vienna made her wonder just how deep his connection to Sylus ran.
Rose hesitated before picking up her phone. Calling Lucas felt like crossing a line she couldn't come back from. But she needed answers.
With a shaky breath, she dialed.
---
Lucas's Perspective:
Lucas Hart was halfway through his second whiskey when his phone rang. He raised an eyebrow, seeing Rose's name flash on the screen.
"Well, well," he murmured, answering on the second ring.
"Rose," he said, his tone light yet curious. "What a surprise. To what do I owe this rare honor?"
There was a long pause. When Rose finally spoke, her voice was quieter than he'd ever heard it. "I… I need to ask you something."
Lucas's playful smirk faltered. "Go on."
"What's your connection to Sylus?" she asked, her voice trembling. "And what's Vienna?"
Lucas stilled, the question striking a nerve. "Who told you about Vienna?"
"Elena," Rose admitted. "She said I don't belong in this world. And now, someone's been sending me notes and texts, warning me to leave. I need to know what's going on."
Lucas sighed, setting his glass down. "Meet me at the bar on 5th Street in an hour. I'll explain what I can. But, Rose..."
"Yes?"
"This isn't a game you can walk away from so easily."
---
The Bar Meeting:
The bar was dimly lit, its quiet hum of chatter a stark contrast to the chaos in Rose's mind. Lucas was waiting for her in a corner booth, his usually relaxed demeanor replaced by something more serious.
"Rose," he greeted, gesturing for her to sit. "I wasn't expecting you to call me, let alone bring up Vienna."
She hesitated before sitting down, clutching her notebook tightly against her chest. "I wasn't expecting to call you either," she admitted. "But I didn't know who else to ask."
Lucas studied her for a moment. "Why not ask Sylus?"
Rose bit her lip. "Because… I don't want to hurt him. And I feel like knowing the truth will change everything between us."
Lucas leaned back, a flicker of understanding crossing his face. "Ah. So it's already started."
"What's started?" Rose asked, her voice rising slightly.
"The bond," Lucas said simply. "You might not belong here, but you're tied to him now. Whether you like it or not."
Her heart sank. He's right. She'd felt it for weeks—this inexplicable connection to Sylus. And now, she was trapped between wanting to leave and not wanting to shatter the fragile thread that held them together.
"Tell me about Vienna," Rose said, forcing herself to focus.
Lucas hesitated, then leaned forward. "Vienna was where it all started. For Sylus, for me, for the game. It was also where it all went wrong."
Before he could continue, his phone buzzed. He glanced at the screen, and his expression darkened.
"What is it?" Rose asked, her grip tightening on her notebook.
Lucas turned the phone toward her, revealing another message from the unknown number:
"Stop. She doesn't need to know. Not yet."
Rose's blood ran cold as her thoughts spiraled.
Who's behind all this? And why does it feel like leaving this world might be harder than staying?
--