Valeria's POV
The first light of dawn crept over the skyline, casting an ethereal glow on the mist that clung stubbornly to the city streets. It felt like an omen, an unnerving hush blanketing the world. I watched the sunrise from my window, arms wrapped around myself as I sank into the heaviness of my thoughts. Behind me, Adrian lay asleep, his face softened by dreams. He looked so untroubled, so peaceful—yet in my chest, anxiety twisted like a serpent, coiling tighter with each passing second.
Our fragile alliance with Nyx hung over me like a shadow. I had reached out to him out of desperation, knowing full well the dangers that came with trusting someone like him. There was a darkness in his gaze, a possessive hunger that unsettled me more than any threat the Elders could pose. And yet, revealing the full extent of Nyx's obsession to Adrian felt like a betrayal, an acknowledgment of a danger I wasn't ready to voice.
The sound of footsteps—soft but intentional—broke through my thoughts, and I turned to see Adrian still deep in sleep. The knocking at the door was low, like a heartbeat echoing through the silence. I slipped from the bed, careful not to disturb Adrian, and moved to the door. Opening it, I found Nyx standing there, cloaked in shadows that seemed to cling to him like a second skin.
"Nyx," I greeted, keeping my voice steady, though his presence sent a familiar chill racing down my spine.
His eyes glittered with dark amusement, scanning me with an intensity that made me feel exposed, as if he could see the questions I dared not voice. "Am I disturbing you?" he asked, a faint smirk pulling at the corner of his mouth.
"No," I said, keeping my tone clipped, guarded. "But this isn't the best time."
"Time," he echoed, a glint of mockery in his gaze. "You seem to think that you can control it, Valeria. Me, as well. But we both know better." He took a step closer, his presence overwhelming, like a storm held at bay. "I wonder if you truly understand what you've asked of me. There's a price to everything."
I lifted my chin, meeting his gaze unflinchingly. "Name your price."
A shadowed smile played on his lips. "Oh, Valeria… I already have everything I want. The game has only just begun."
His words hung heavy in the air, laced with a dark promise I didn't want to consider. Nyx's gaze lingered on me, his eyes tracing my face with a hunger that was palpable, unnerving. He was close enough that I could feel the cold energy radiating from him, the kind that made the hair on the back of my neck stand up.
I held my ground, my voice cold. "We have a deal, Nyx. Don't forget that."
"Deals…" He chuckled, the sound low and smooth, like velvet brushing against steel. "Yes, but deals come with conditions—binding ones."
Without another word, he turned and melted back into the shadows, leaving me alone with the echo of his laughter. I took a moment to steady my breathing, willing away the shiver that had settled deep in my bones before slipping back into the room.
---
Adrian's POV
I woke to find Valeria already dressed, her silhouette framed against the window. Sunlight slanted through the blinds, casting her in a halo of gold that softened the harsh lines of tension etched into her face. I'd seen it before, the way her eyes grew distant whenever she mentioned Nyx. There was a guardedness in her expression now, one that made me feel like I was grasping at shadows.
"Couldn't sleep?" I asked, voice still rough from sleep as I moved to stand beside her.
She glanced at me, her eyes weary but grateful. "There's… a lot on my mind." Her voice was barely a murmur, laced with a vulnerability I rarely glimpsed in her.
I took her hand, brushing my thumb over her knuckles in a silent promise. "Whatever it is, we'll face it together."
Her lips curved into a faint smile, though something about it felt fragile, like glass held together by sheer will. "Nyx isn't like the others," she said, her tone carefully measured. "He has his own rules, his own… limits."
My gaze sharpened. "You mean he has his own agenda," I replied, unable to shake the image of the way Nyx looked at her, his gaze laced with something darker than mere alliance.
For a moment, something flickered in her eyes—something close to fear, though it disappeared as quickly as it had come. "He's helped us so far. That's all that matters," she replied, a hint of finality in her tone.
But I wasn't satisfied. I'd seen enough in my own world to recognize obsession, and Nyx's gaze was far from impartial. He looked at her as though she were a treasure to be claimed, a prize he'd fight and kill for. A part of me burned with an unfamiliar fury at the thought, but I kept my silence, knowing now wasn't the time to press her.
---
Later that Day
We ventured deeper into the city, into a hidden network of underground passageways that connected our world to something far older, darker. The smell of damp stone and earth filled the air, mingling with an undercurrent of magic that was as thick and tangible as smoke. Creatures lurked in the shadows, their eyes gleaming with a feral curiosity as they watched us pass.
Valeria led the way, her every step radiating confidence, her presence demanding respect from the beings around us.
Finally, we stopped before a door guarded by a creature whose form seemed to shift and flicker, as if it couldn't fully decide on its shape. Its eyes, however, were fixed on Valeria, brimming with an unsettling reverence.
"Lady Valeria," it greeted, bowing low, its voice a deep rumble that echoed off the walls. The creature's gaze slid to me, and I felt a ripple of unease at the way it sized me up, its expression unreadable.
"We're here for information," Valeria said, her tone sharp and unyielding. "On Nyx."
The creature's eyes glinted with something that might have been amusement. "Nyx is not a name we invoke lightly, Lady Valeria. But I will grant you passage." It stepped aside, revealing a room bathed in dim light, the air thick with the scent of parchment and ancient herbs.
We moved inside, and Valeria's gaze swept over the countless scrolls and tomes that filled the shelves. Her fingers brushed over a scroll lined with symbols I couldn't decipher, her expression intense.
"This," she murmured, lifting the scroll for me to see. Her eyes held a fierce glint, one that spoke of determination and defiance. "It's a binding spell, strong enough to hold even Nyx if necessary."
Relief surged through me, a sense of reassurance at the idea of containing the threat Nyx posed. But before I could speak, a slow, mocking laugh filled the room, low and rich, dripping with arrogance. My blood turned to ice as I turned to see Nyx leaning against the doorframe, watching us with a look of amusement.
"Did you really think you could bind me, Valeria?" he asked, his tone laced with disdain. "A clever notion, but futile. I am beyond your control."
Valeria's eyes narrowed, her stance unyielding. "We had a deal, Nyx. I expect you to honor it."
Nyx's gaze softened, his smile darkening. "Oh, I intend to honor it, my dear Valeria. But do not think for a moment that I will be tamed." His eyes flicked to me, and for a moment, the room seemed to darken, his presence filling every corner, pressing down on me like a suffocating weight. "And you, human… so eager to challenge me. So willing to throw yourself into danger for her."
I met his gaze, my jaw set, refusing to be cowed. "always!."
For a moment, Nyx's smile slipped, his eyes flashing with something dangerously close to fury. But he masked it quickly, his gaze shifting back to Valeria, as though I were nothing more than an insect beneath his notice. "Careful where you place your loyalty, Valeria," he murmured, his voice low and taunting. "It may cost you more than you realize."
With a final, lingering look, he melted back into the shadows, leaving us in a silence that felt thick and oppressive. Valeria turned to me, her eyes alight with resolve, the spark of defiance that had drawn me to her blazing brightly.