The door rattled as heavy footsteps approached from the other side. Sylus's hand shot up, motioning for Rose to stay back. Lucas pressed his back against the wall, his gun drawn, eyes sharp and calculating.
The air in the room thickened, heavy with anticipation. Time seemed to stretch as the seconds dragged on, the sound of the footsteps growing louder, until it was impossible to ignore.
A moment later, the door exploded inward, splintering the frame as two figures in dark tactical gear stormed in. Their movements were fluid, rehearsed-dangerous. Their faces were obscured by masks, their weapons aimed directly at Sylus.
"Hand her over," one of them demanded, their voice cold and distorted by a modulator. "This doesn't have to get messy."
Sylus's expression darkened, and he stepped forward, positioning himself in front of Rose as though he was a shield. "You're already in my territory," he said, his voice low and lethal. "That's messy enough."
Before the intruder could respond, Sylus was a blur of motion. In the blink of an eye, he disarmed the first attacker with a single, precise strike. The weapon clattered to the floor, and without missing a beat, Sylus launched a vicious kick to their chest, sending them crashing into the wall.
The second attacker lunged forward, but Lucas was faster. A gunshot rang out, the bullet grazing the intruder's arm. They staggered, dropping their weapon with a sharp hiss of pain.
"Rose, move!" Lucas barked, his eyes locked on the chaos unfolding before them.
Rose's legs felt rooted to the floor, her heart pounding in her chest as she watched Sylus fight. Every move he made was deliberate, calculated, his movements both brutal and elegant-a predator completely in control.
"Kitten!" Sylus's voice cut through her daze, snapping her back to reality. His gaze flicked over his shoulder, his eyes blazing with intensity. "Go! Now!"
She hesitated for a heartbeat, but something in his commanding tone broke through her paralysis. She darted into the kitchen, ducking behind the island as the sounds of the fight escalated behind her. The walls shook with the force of the violence-fists connecting, furniture shattering, curses filli he air.
Her phone buzzed again in her pocket. Against every instinct screaming for her to stay hidden, she pulled it out, fingers trembling as she read the message:
Clock's ticking, Rose. Choose your side.
Her blood ran cold, the weight of the message sinking into her chest like a stone. Whoever was watching knew exactly what was happening-and they were making sure she knew it. A chill crawled up her spine as she glanced around the kitchen, her mind scrambling for any escape or weapon she could use.
Then, as if the world had paused, the sounds from the living room suddenly stopped. It was too quiet-eerily so.
Rose peeked out cautiously, her breath catching in her throat as she saw Sylus standing over the two unconscious attackers. His chest heaved with exertion, a thin trail of blood trickling from the corner of his mouth, but his expression was calm, almost indifferent.
Lucas holstered his gun, his eyes narrowing at the shattered door. "We need to move. More will be coming."
Sylus nodded once, his eyes flicking to Rose. He wiped the blood from his lip with the back of his hand, his gaze softening. "Rose," he said, his tone gentler now. "Are you okay?"
She nodded shakily, her fingers still gripping her phone like a lifeline. "Who were they?"
"Hunters," Lucas answered grimly. "The Consortium's foot soldiers. They're just the beginning."
Sylus took a step toward Rose, his presence calming in the chaos. "We need to get somewhere safe," he said, his voice low and reassuring. "You'll get your answers, kitten. But not here."
Rose's mind raced. She could feel the weight of everything-the danger closing in, the secrets left unspoken, the growing certainty that her life would never be the same again. But when she met Sylus's eyes, something in her settled. Despite everything, despite the uncertainty, she trusted him. For now.
"Okay," she said quietly. "Let's go."
As they left the apartment, the city outside felt unnervingly still. Sylus and Lucas kept Rose between them, their movements swift and purposeful as they navigated through darkened back alleys and side streets, avoiding the main roads where they might be spotted. The tension in the air was palpable, and every shadow seemed like a potential threat.
Where are we going?" Rose asked, her voice barely a whisper.
"To someone who can help," Sylus said, his tone flat but urgent. "Someone who knows more about Vienna than either of us."
Rose's curiosity flared, but she kept her questions to herself. "Who?" she pressed.
Lucas glanced at Sylus, then back at Rose. "A ghost," he said cryptically. "Someone the Consortium thinks is dead."
The words sent a chill through her, and she had no chance to ask more. A shadow flitted at the corner of her vision, and before she could react, a figure stepped out of the darkness, blocking their path.
"Going somewhere?" the man drawled, his voice smooth and mocking. He was tall and lean, dressed in a sharp black suit, his pale eyes gleaming with amusement as he surveyed them.
"Dorian," Sylus growled, his body going rigid.
The man smirked, his gaze flicking to Rose. "You must be the infamous Rose Kylie. You've caused quite the stir, my dear."
Rose instinctively took a step back, but Sylus caught her hand, his grip firm and steady. "Stay behind me," he murmured, his voice low but commanding.
Dorian tilted his head, his smile widening. "Relax, Sylus. I'm not here to fight. Not yet, anyway. I just came to deliver a message."
"And what's that?" Lucas asked, his tone dripping with suspicion.
Dorian's eyes never left Rose, his smirk deepening. "Tick-tock, little rose. Vienna waits for no one."
Before anyone could respond, Dorian turned, slipping back into the shadows like a ghost. The silence that followed was thick, oppressive, leaving the air heavier than the night around them.
Rose's grip tightened on Sylus's hand, her heart pounding in her chest. "What does he mean?" she asked, her voice barely above a whisper, trembling with uncertainty.
Sylus didn't answer immediately. His eyes softened, but there was a storm behind them-a storm of anger, regret, and fear. "It means we're running out of time," he finally said, his voice barely a growl.
Rose's mind spun with the weight of his words, but before she could ask more, Sylus motioned for them to keep moving. As they vanished into the darkness, Rose couldn't shake the feeling that the storm was coming-and this time, she wasn't sure they would survive it.