Lena's POV
The morning light streamed through the window, casting a golden glow on the floor of my apartment. I should have felt comforted by it, but all I could focus on was the dull throb in my head. I woke up on the couch, still wrapped in the blanket I'd been clinging to the night before. My limbs were sore, like I'd been in a fight I didn't remember.
My mind drifted back to the events of the previous night— the men who had attacked me, the way they had spoken about the mark on my wrist, and the sudden appearance of Seraphina Moon. I still couldn't wrap my head around what she had said. She called me "the key," but to what? And then the prophecy—what was it, and how was I tied to it? And Asher… My thoughts kept returning to him. His form, his eyes that glowed with something ancient, something powerful.
But something else lingered, too— a feeling I couldn't quite shake. I could still feel the sting of their hands on me, the way my body had reacted under the pressure of their violence. But worse was the gnawing sensation deep inside, the sense that something else was wrong. My head felt fuzzy, like my thoughts were slipping through my fingers, and no matter how hard I tried to catch them, they wouldn't stay.
I sat up slowly, pushing the blanket off my legs, and tried to steady my breathing. The floor beneath me felt too solid, the air too thick. But just as I was about to get up, I heard a loud knock on the door.
I froze.
Who could it be? My mind raced. I didn't want to answer, but I knew it wasn't going away.
The knock came again, louder this time.
"Lena?" The voice on the other side of the door was familiar—Tobin's voice.
I sighed in relief, my shoulders slumping as I realized I wasn't about to face more danger. Tobin was one of the few people who knew the real me— my best friend since childhood. He was the one who'd been there when I needed someone to talk to, and I trusted him more than anyone.
I stumbled to the door, still not fully awake.
When I opened it, Tobin stood there, his dark eyes filled with concern.
"Lena, what happened?" he asked, his voice low and worried. "I tried calling you all night. You never answered."
I stepped back to let him in, not sure how to explain. There was so much I hadn't told him, so much I couldn't. The supernatural attacks, the witch, the strange connection I had with Asher. How could I even begin to explain?
"I'm fine, Tobin," I said, forcing a weak smile, though I could feel my heart racing. "I just… had a bad night. Nothing to worry about."
He didn't buy it. He never did when it came to me.
"You're lying," he said, his voice flat. "You look like you've been through hell. What happened? Where's the dog?"
I hesitated for a moment. Asher. I had almost forgotten. He had been there the night before, fighting off the men who'd attacked me, but now there was no sign of him. I felt a pang of worry deep inside.
"I—" I stopped, realizing I couldn't give him an explanation. Not yet.
Tobin stepped inside, glancing around the room. "Look, I get that you don't want to talk about it, but something's off. You've been acting strange lately, Lena. Your emotions— it's like you're in another world sometimes, like you're not even here."
"I'm here," I said quickly, but even I could hear the way my voice faltered.
Tobin narrowed his eyes. "You're not. Something's going on, and I'm not stupid enough to think it's just your imagination."
I opened my mouth to argue, but before I could say anything, a sudden sharp pain shot through my wrist.
The pain in my wrist hit me suddenly, like a sharp shock of electricity running through my veins. I gasped and grabbed my arm, my teeth gritted as the pain grew stronger. It wasn't just the sting—it felt like something was pulling at me from inside, like the mark on my wrist was alive, trying to send me a message.
Tobin stepped closer, his face full of concern. "Lena, what's going on? What is that?"
I didn't know how to explain it. The mark—why did it feel like it was alive? A feeling I couldn't shake settled in my chest, like something important was happening, something I needed to understand. Then it hit me. I wasn't just feeling my own emotions anymore. I could feel his. His pain. His desperation.
Asher.
The thought hit me hard. I wasn't just connected to him; I was feeling everything he was going through. His pain, his struggle—it was all inside me, like I was living it with him. It was overwhelming, like nothing I'd ever experienced before.
Tobin's voice broke through my thoughts. "Lena, please, what's happening?"
I opened my mouth to speak, but before I could say anything, I saw a shadow move past the window. A cold voice rang out from outside.
"I've been looking for you, Lena."
The door slammed open, and a tall man stepped into the room. He had a commanding presence, dark eyes that looked straight through me.
"I know your value," he said, his voice smooth and cold. "And I've come to collect."
The man's eyes looked over to me, calculating, like he could see right through my defenses. His lips curled into a smirk, though it didn't reach his eyes. "I'm Darius Nightshade," he said, his tone almost casual, like we were old acquaintances. "I'm sure you've heard of me."
He took a slow step forward, and my heart hammered in my chest. "Where is Asher?" he asked, his gaze never leaving mine.
I didn't trust him. Something about the way he spoke made me uneasy, like he already knew too much. I shook my head, keeping my voice steady. "I don't know where he is."
The truth was, I didn't. I hadn't seen him since last night. But I wasn't about to tell him that. I didn't trust this man—or his intentions.
Darius took another slow step toward me, his boots making a faint echo on the wooden floor. The air between us thickened with tension, and I instinctively stepped back, though there was nowhere to go. His eyes tracked my every move, like he was savoring the fear he'd just stirred up.
"I'm Darius Nightshade," he said, his voice smooth, but there was a bite to it—an edge that sent a chill down my spine. His smirk lingered, but it wasn't friendly. "I'm sure you've heard of me."
I couldn't place it, but there was something about the way he said his name that made the hairs on my neck stand up. I felt like I should know who he was—like I had somehow crossed paths with him before, even though I couldn't remember ever meeting him.
His eyes narrowed as he took in my hesitation. His gaze was calculating, almost as if he could see the thoughts swirling in my head, the doubt, the confusion, the fear.
"Where is Asher?" His voice dropped slightly, becoming colder, sharper. It wasn't a request. It was a demand.
I swallowed hard, my pulse racing in my throat. I couldn't tell him the truth. I didn't trust him, and something in my gut told me he wasn't just asking out of curiosity. His intentions weren't as innocent as they seemed.
"I don't know where he is," I said, the words coming out more confidently than I felt. I looked at him directly, trying to keep the unease from showing on my face.
Darius stepped closer, his presence almost suffocating now, and my breath hitched. The way he looked at me—it wasn't like he was just speaking to another person. It felt like he was speaking to something he knew was hidden beneath the surface, something he wanted to expose.
"You're lying," he said softly, almost amused. His smirk deepened, but there was no warmth in it.
I stiffened. "I'm not lying," I said, though I wasn't sure if I was convincing myself more than him.
He tilted his head slightly, studying me as if I was some puzzle he was determined to solve. "You're looking for him too, aren't you?" His voice was deceptively gentle, but his eyes were sharp, piercing.
I didn't answer. My hands clenched at my sides, and my heart hammered in my chest. I couldn't admit that I was as lost as he was. I couldn't admit that I was just as desperate to find Asher.
The room felt smaller now, more suffocating. Darius was still standing too close, and I had no idea what he was capable of. But one thing was clear—he wanted something from me. I just didn't know what.
"You can stop pretending you don't know," Darius continued, his voice low. "I know you're connected to him, whether you want to admit it or not." His gaze never wavered, like he was digging into my soul with his words.
I couldn't shake the feeling that if I told him anything, I'd be making a mistake.
"I don't know where Asher is," I repeated, more firmly this time. I couldn't trust him. Not now, not ever.
Darius watched me for a moment longer, the silence stretching between us. Then, he finally took a step back, his expression unreadable. He didn't believe me, I could tell. But for now, he seemed content to let me have my little lie.
"I'll find him," he said softly, his eyes locking onto mine one last time. "And when I do, we'll talk again. But know this, Lena—you don't get to keep secrets from me forever."
The words hung in the air, dark and threatening. And with that, he turned and walked toward the door, his presence lingering long after he left.