Chapter 10: Hidden Teeth

ERDEM

I stood in my office reviewing security protocols when Konstantin entered with his morning report.

"The wine steward from last night has requested a replacement access card," he said. "Claims his was damaged during the accident with Rauf."

I looked up sharply. "Damaged how?"

"He's not certain. He says it might have been stepped on during the chaos, or the magnetic strip was compromised. Either way, it's not functioning properly."

"Was anyone near him during the incident? Anyone who might have had access to the card?"

Konstantin consulted his tablet.

"Several guards, two servants and... Hendrix was standing approximately three feet away when the steward unlocked the wine storage."

"Hendrix didn't touch the card?"

"Not according to surveillance. He was visibly shaken, pressed against the wall, appeared to be in shock from witnessing the violence."

"Appeared to be," I repeated. "Show me the footage."

Konstantin pulled it up on the office screen, and we watched together.

Hendrix stood near the service entrance, his face pale, his hands trembling. The wine steward rushed past him, fumbled with his card, entered the code, grabbing ice and rushed back.

Hendrix never moved, but his eyes...

"Pause it here," I said, pointing to the screen. "Zoom in on his face."

Konstantin complied, and I studied Hendrix's expression in that frozen moment.

His eyes weren't watching the violence. They were watching the steward's fingers.

Clever boy, you didn't steal the card, you stole something better-the access code itself.

"Change all security codes in the service corridors," I ordered, but I changed my mind. "Not now, and I want to know the moment Hendrix tries to use that stolen code."

"You want him caught in the act?"

"I want to see where he goes, what he's looking for, what's important enough to risk his life." I smiled coldly. "Don't stop him, Konstantin. When he ever reaches wherever he's trying to go, I'll be waiting."

HENDRIX

That evening, during the shift change when surveillance was lightest, I made my move.

I'd spent days memorizing guard rotations, camera angles, and the layout of the service corridors i'd glimpsed during my brief moments of supervised movement through the estate.

I waited until the guard outside my door changed position, then used the thin piece of wire I'd hidden in the bedframe to pick the lock on my glass cage.

Liora taught me. "Always have a way out," She'd say. "Even if you never use it, always know you could."

The lock clicked open, and I slipped into the corridor, moving quickly toward the service entrance I'd identified.

The keypad glowed softly in the dim light. I entered the code: 7-4-1-9-2-8.

The lock clicked, the door opened.

Too easy, this is too easy.

But I was already moving, already inside the service corridor with the door closing silently behind me.

The corridor was narrow, utilitarian, designed for servants and maintenance rather than family. It smelled of cleaning supplies and old stone, and the only light came from emergency fixtures spaced every twenty feet.

I moved forward, following the mental map I'd constructed from overheard conversations and glimpsed layouts, heading toward what I hoped was the lower level where records might be kept.

I reached a junction where the corridor split in three directions and paused, trying to orient myself-

A hand grabbed my shoulder and spun me around, slamming me against the concrete wall hard enough to knock the breath from my lungs.

ERDEM

I'd been waiting in the shadows of the junction for exactly eight minutes, watching Hendrix move through the corridor .

No hesitation. No uncertainty. He knows exactly where he's going.

Or thinks he does.

When I grabbed him, I felt him tense to fight before his training kicked in and he forced his body into submission.

Too late. I felt the instinct.

I pinned him against the wall, not gently, my hand at his throat, my body blocking any escape.

"Going somewhere?" I asked quietly.

His eyes went wide with shock, and I saw real terror of being caught.

"I-I couldn't sleep," he stammered, his voice shaking. "I was having nightmares about the dinner. I just needed to walk-"

"So you picked the lock on your door, stole an access code from my wine steward, and entered a restricted corridor?" I tightened my grip slightly. "That's your explanation? Nightmare, seriously?"

"I didn't steal anything," he said, voice shaking. "I just-I remembered the code from watching him enter it. I wasn't trying to steal-"

"Seriously." the word was almost gentle. "You watched that keypad with absolute focus."

I used my other hand to grip his chin, forcing him to maintain eye contact.

"You're not haviny nightmares, Hendrix. What are you doing here?"

I stared dead into my eyes.

"Information," he said quietly. "I was looking for information about this house, about whether you're planning to kill me or keep me. I just wanted to understand what's going to happen to me."

"And you thought you'd find this information in the service corridors? In the maintenance passages?" I leaned closer. "Really?"

He didn't answer.

The fact that he was stupid enough to think that with all the cameras in the house, he will do anything, and  I wouldn't notice him was overwhelming. It's really interesting to me.

 I just like the fact that there's someone that can come into my house to challenge me, almost openly.

I released his throat but didn't step back, keeping him cage against the wall with my body.

"You know, if you tell me what you want I might help you." I said.

"Why would you help me?"

"Because I'm curious and you're more interesting than most of the people in my house." I smiled. "Because I want to know what drives someone to infiltrate a Devil's estate all for information that won't lead you anywhere."

"I can't," I whispered. "I can't tell you-"

I laughed. "Hendix, you are really something, standing in my house and in my face telling me you can't tell me. Do you know I have every reason to punish you but I choose not to?"

I finally stepped back, releasing him from the cage of my body.

"Think about it. Think about whether you want to keep playing this game alone, keep sneaking and hoping you don't get caught. Or whether you want an ally who can actually get you where you need to go."

I turned to leave, then paused.

"And Hendrix? Remember this the next time you pick my locks, that this is my house and I can kill you if I want to."

I left him in the corridor, and he stood there shaking.

KONSTANTIN

I watched the confrontation through the corridor's hidden camera, my concern growing with every word.

He's offering alliance to help Hendrix instead of punishing him.

This is worse than attachment. This is investment.

I pulled out my phone and sent a message:

Erdem caught his toy in restricted corridor, instead of punishment. He offered to help find whatever he's searching for. Recommend immediate intervention.

The response came quickly:

Do not intervene. This is exactly what I need, let him offer help. When his true mission is revealed, the betrayal will be devastating. Continue surveillance.

I stared at the message, understanding slowly.