[A Face He Never Expected]
Andrew's pulse stopped.
The man standing in the doorway smirked, his familiar sharp features half-hidden beneath the hood. His deep-set eyes held the same mocking amusement they always had—like he was two steps ahead of everyone else.
A face Andrew hadn't seen in years.
A face that should have been dead.
"Reed?" Andrew's voice barely came out.
The smirk widened. "Took you long enough."
Celia and Kieran exchanged glances, hands subtly moving toward their weapons. The tension in the room thickened.
Andrew shook his head. His heart hammered.
He had watched Reed die.
A blade through the chest. Blood on the stone.
There was no way—**no way—**he could be standing here.
And yet, Reed stepped inside, completely at ease, like he belonged there. Like nothing had changed.
"You look like you've seen a ghost," he said.
Andrew swallowed hard.
"Maybe I have."
[The Explanation]
Silence stretched between them, heavy with unsaid words.
Kieran was the first to break it. "I take it you two know each other?"
Andrew still couldn't wrap his head around it. "We were in the same unit. Before."
Reed chuckled. "Yeah. Before everything went to hell."
Celia's sharp gaze flicked between them. "And what exactly are you doing here?"
Reed sighed, rubbing the back of his neck. "Would you believe me if I said I came to save your asses?"
Kieran snorted. "Not in the slightest."
Reed's smirk faded slightly. He glanced at Andrew. "I heard the Black Hand was moving. Figured they'd come for you first."
Andrew tensed.
"How do you know about them?"
Reed hesitated for the briefest second.
Then, he exhaled. "Because I used to work for them."
The air in the room shifted.
Andrew's stomach twisted. Celia's eyes darkened.
Kieran let out a low whistle. "Well, that's a fun little secret."
Reed held up his hands. "Before you start sharpening your knives, I'm not with them anymore. Let's just say I outlived my usefulness."
Andrew's jaw tightened. "So why come back?"
Reed's expression hardened. "Because you're in deeper than you think. Malakar isn't just after you, Andrew. He's making his move. And when he does? This city will burn."
[The Black Hand's Next Move]
Celia leaned against the table, arms crossed. "Start talking."
Reed's gaze flickered. He seemed to be weighing his words carefully.
"They're not just hunting you," he said. "They're securing power. Recruiting. Killing anyone who might stand in their way."
Andrew frowned. "And what does Malakar want with me?"
Reed's jaw clenched. "You really don't know?"
"Enlighten me."
Reed sighed. "You're the last missing piece."
Andrew stiffened.
"The mark on your wrist isn't just a symbol," Reed continued. "It's a key. One of the few that can open the Dominion Gate."
Kieran narrowed his eyes. "The Dominion Gate is a myth."
Reed shook his head. "It's real. And Malakar wants to unseal it."
Andrew frowned. "What's behind it?"
Reed's voice dropped. "Something that should've stayed locked away."
The words sent a cold shiver down Andrew's spine.
Celia's expression was grim. "How long do we have?"
Reed exhaled. "Days. Maybe less."
Andrew's fists clenched.
So that was it.
Malakar wasn't just after him.
He was after power.
And if he got it?
Nothing would stop him.
[A Dangerous Proposition]
Reed crossed his arms. "So, here's the deal. You can sit here and wait for Malakar to rip the city apart—or you can come with me."
Andrew narrowed his eyes. "Where?"
Reed's lips curled into a smirk.
"To the one place Malakar doesn't control yet."
Celia raised an eyebrow. "And that would be?"
Reed turned toward her.
"The Shadow Market."
The room fell silent.
Kieran let out a low whistle. "Well, that's a terrible idea."
Andrew frowned. "What's the Shadow Market?"
Celia sighed. "A lawless underground network. Assassins, smugglers, rogue mages—if it's illegal, you'll find it there."
Reed grinned. "And it's where we'll find the only people willing to stand against Malakar."
Andrew wasn't convinced. "And what makes you think they'll help?"
Reed's expression darkened.
"Because Malakar is hunting them, too."
Andrew exhaled slowly. He glanced at Celia and Kieran.
This was insane.
Walking into the heart of the Shadow Market was asking for trouble.
But if Reed was right—
They didn't have another choice.
Andrew clenched his fists.
"Fine," he said. "Let's go."
Reed grinned. "Knew you'd see reason."
[The Descent into Darkness]
They moved quickly, slipping through Blackmere's winding streets under the cover of night.
The entrance to the Shadow Market wasn't through some grand gate or hidden passage. It was below.
Reed led them to a forgotten well in the ruins of an old district. Without hesitation, he grabbed the rusted iron ladder and descended into the darkness.
Andrew exchanged a glance with Celia before following.
The deeper they went, the colder it became.
The air was thick with damp stone, old blood, and the faint scent of burning incense.
Finally, they emerged into a cavernous space, dimly lit by glowing runes carved into the rock.
And the moment they stepped forward—they were surrounded.
Figures emerged from the shadows. Weapons glinted in the low light.
Andrew tensed, heart pounding.
Then, one of them stepped forward.
A woman, draped in dark robes, her silver eyes locked onto Andrew's wrist.
She smiled.
"The Shadowmarked has come at last."
[The War Begins]
Andrew barely had time to react before the woman raised her hand.
The runes around them flared to life.
A circle of energy ignited beneath his feet.
Andrew staggered back—but the power gripped him, held him in place.
Celia reached for her weapon—but Reed stopped her.
"No sudden moves," he muttered.
The woman stepped forward, her silver eyes glowing.
"Tell me, Shadowmarked," she said, voice like silk.
"Are you ready to embrace your destiny?"
Andrew's blood ran cold.
Something about her words sent a deep, primal fear through his bones.
Because for the first time—he felt it.
A power stirring deep within him.
And it wasn't just his.
Something else was awakening.
Something old.
Something hungry.
Andrew clenched his fists, jaw tightening.
Because whatever was happening—
There was no turning back now.