The air in the room thickened with anticipation. Aria's heart hammered in her chest as she faced Caine—her killer, her tormentor, and, yet, the source of an undeniable attraction. His gaze was as cold and calculating as ever, but something in the depths of his eyes flickered. There was more to him than the icy exterior he wore so well. And Aria was certain of one thing: he was not here by chance.
Caine stepped forward, his tall figure casting a long shadow across the room. His black cloak swished with every movement, and the tension that had been building ever since his appearance hung heavily in the air.
"You've changed," he remarked, his voice low, almost amused. "But it's still you, isn't it, Aria?"
Aria crossed her arms defensively, not bothering to mask the disdain that curled on her lips. "You seem surprised, Caine," she sneered. "I thought you'd be delighted to see me alive again. Or did you think you'd gotten rid of me so easily?"
Caine didn't flinch at her words. He was far too practiced at hiding his emotions. His lips curled into a faint smirk, but his eyes—his eyes were unreadable, as if she were a puzzle he was trying to piece together, a puzzle that wouldn't fit.
"I never expected you to come back, no," he said slowly, his eyes never leaving hers. "But I've always been good at making people like you obey."
Aria bristled at his arrogance. How dare he? She had been dead, for crying out loud, and now he stood there, acting like he had all the power. She knew better, though. Something had changed. There was a shift in her—something deep inside her, a spark of magic—and she wasn't going to let Caine continue treating her like a helpless pawn.
She stood up straighter, narrowing her eyes as she took a step forward, facing him on equal ground. "You should stop assuming things, Caine. You might find that I'm not the person you used to control."
He took another step closer, his presence imposing, but his gaze softened slightly. "Oh, I'm not assuming anything, Aria. I'm certain of one thing: you will come back to me. You always do. You've always been mine."
Aria's breath caught. He couldn't possibly believe that. She had died, after all. His obsession had killed her. But... was there a part of her that still wanted him? A small, twisted part that craved the depth of his dark gaze, the cold fire of his touch? The part of her that remembered how she had died, how he had killed her—and yet, how he'd been the only one who had ever truly seen her?
Her thoughts were racing, but she fought to keep her focus. "You can't control me anymore," she said firmly, her voice stronger now. "You killed me once, Caine. And if you think I'm just going to fall back into your grip, you're mistaken."
Caine's face flickered with something—regret? No. It was something darker. Something much more dangerous.
"Foolish," he murmured. "You have no idea what you're playing with, Aria. The world you've come back to… it's not the same. You're playing with forces you don't understand."
Aria stepped back, trying to keep her distance, but the words were starting to sink in. She could feel the magic stirring inside her, an energy she couldn't explain. It was like a storm brewing within her chest, waiting to be unleashed.
"Enough of your games, Caine," she spat, trying to push past the confusion clouding her thoughts. "What are you really here for?"
He didn't answer right away. Instead, his gaze swept over her, slow and deliberate, as if he were memorizing every inch of her. Then, his lips parted with a low, menacing chuckle.
"I'm here to remind you of something, Aria," he said softly, taking another step closer. "You're mine. And I will always find you."
Just as his words cut through the room like a blade, a surge of energy shot through Aria's hands. She gasped as a burst of fiery magic erupted from her palms, lighting up the room in a flash of gold.
Caine stepped back, his eyes wide with surprise. For the briefest moment, he seemed stunned—stunned that she had just conjured such power. But then, that familiar glint of arrogance returned to his gaze, and he smirked.
"So, it begins," he said, his voice darkening. "You think you can stop me with your little tricks? Magic will only make you more dangerous to yourself, Aria. It's too late for you to escape."
Aria's hands trembled as she stood there, struggling to control the pulse of power that surged through her veins. She'd never felt magic like this before—wild, untamed, and burning with an intensity she couldn't deny. And yet, it terrified her.
"What are you talking about?" she demanded, trying to mask the unease creeping up her spine. "What do you mean it's too late?"
Caine's smirk deepened, and for a moment, he looked almost... sympathetic.
"You've crossed the threshold," he murmured, his voice softer now, almost like a whisper. "You've unleashed the magic that was meant to be sealed. And that means you're mine—truly and completely. The magic in you... it belongs to me now. I can sense it. You don't know it yet, but you've already signed an oath you can never break."
A chill ran down Aria's spine. Her eyes widened, and she instinctively took a step back, as if trying to escape his words, but it was too late.
"An oath?" she whispered, her voice shaky. "I didn't—"
"You did," he interrupted, his eyes gleaming with a dangerous satisfaction. "It's written into the magic itself. The moment you came back to life, you bound yourself to me. And now… well, we have a whole new game to play."
Aria's mind reeled. She didn't understand. How could this have happened? How could she have bound herself to him without even knowing? The very idea that the magic could have been manipulated in such a way made her sick to her stomach. But Caine wasn't done. He never was.
"You're mine," he said again, but this time, it wasn't a claim. It was a fact, spoken with such finality that Aria felt the weight of it pressing down on her chest. "No matter how much you fight, no matter how much magic you unleash, it will always lead you back to me. You can't escape fate, Aria."
Her breath caught, a cold shiver running through her. The worst part? The small, twisted part of her didn't want to escape.
But she couldn't give in. Not to him. Not to this. She had to break free.
"Then let the game begin," she said, her voice steady despite the storm raging inside her.
The air crackled with energy as Caine took a step back, almost admiring her defiance.
"Oh, it will," he murmured, his smirk turning into something far more dangerous. "And believe me, Aria, you'll regret ever crossing me."
And just like that, he was gone. Vanishing into the shadows, leaving Aria standing in the center of the room, her hands still trembling with power.
She wasn't sure what had just happened, but one thing was clear: the oath, whatever it was, had bound her to Caine—and that would not be easily undone. But Aria was no stranger to battles. And she would fight this one to the bitter end.