04 - His Existence

The night air was crisp when Elise slipped through the concealed entrance of their hideout. The torches lining the stone walls flickered, casting jagged shadows as she moved swiftly through the narrow corridors. She had managed to avoid most of the watchmen, but there was one person she couldn't escape.

Her heart was still pounding from the chase, the remnants of Vael's voice lingering in her mind like a haunting whisper. "Run, kitten. Let's see how long it takes before you come back to me."

She clenched her fists, pushing the thought away as the sight of Elysium's towering walls came into view. The base stood strong, hidden within the ruins of an old fortress, a place that had become her home, her sanctuary. But tonight, it felt suffocating.

The moment she stepped inside, she was met with hushed voices and wary glances from those still awake. They knew she had left, but none dared question her. Not yet.

"Elise."

She barely had time to curse before Soren emerged from the shadows, arms crossed, his sharp blue eyes locking onto her like a predator that had caught its prey. He wasn't fooled by her nonchalant stride, nor the way she subtly shifted her stance to keep distance between them.

"Mind telling me why you slipped away from the guards?" he asked, his voice even, but laced with something dangerous. Concern? No, something darker. Suspicion.

Elise exhaled through her nose, feigning indifference. "They were slowing me down. I work better alone."

Soren's gaze dropped, his keen eyes catching the edge of the bandage wrapped around her neck. Her pulse quickened, but she forced herself to remain still.

"And that?" His voice was softer now, but no less intense.

Elise tilted her head slightly, feigning confusion. "A scratch."

Soren took a deliberate step closer, his height forcing her to tilt her chin upward. "Did you meet him?"

The words sent a ripple of something cold through her veins. He didn't say Vael's name, but he didn't need to. Elise met his stare, her lips parting just slightly-then closing. A beat of silence passed.

"No," she lied.

The word tasted bitter, but she swallowed it down. Not yet. Not until she was sure. Until she had him in her grasp. Vael had to die by her hands. No one else's. No one could touch him but her.

Soren studied her, his gaze searching, but if he saw through her deception, he said nothing. Instead, he exhaled sharply and gestured to the bandages. "Let me see."

Elise stiffened. "It's fine. Just a small scratch."

"Elise-"

She took a step back, the movement quick and decisive. "I said I'm fine."

Soren's jaw tensed, frustration flickering in his expression. His hands clenched at his sides as if restraining himself from reaching for her. "Damn it, Elise. You can barely stand. Let me help you."

"I don't need help," she snapped. The words came out sharper than she intended, but she couldn't afford to let him get too close. Not now.

His eyes darkened, the usual teasing glint gone. "You're bleeding through the damn bandage. That's not a scratch."

Elise forced a smirk, feigning amusement. "Since when did you turn into a medic?"

Soren let out a low, humorless chuckle. "Since I started picking up after your recklessness."

For a moment, neither of them spoke. The tension between them was thick, unspoken emotions simmering beneath the surface.

Finally, Soren ran a hand through his hair, exhaling sharply. "Fine. If you start dropping dead, don't say I didn't offer."

Elise turned on her heel and left before he could press further, the weight of his gaze heavy on her back. She barely made it to her chamber before her fingers dug into the bandage at her throat, where Vael's mark burned beneath the fabric.

She should've killed him. Right then and there. But she hadn't. And now... now it was personal.

Sleep did not come easily.

Elise tossed and turned, but the moment her eyes closed, the nightmares took hold.

She was back in the dark. The scent of blood and smoke filled the air, thick and suffocating. Chains clattered as she crawled, fingers grasping at the damp stone floor, her voice hoarse from screaming. A blade hovered over her chest, its tip pressing against her skin. She pleaded, her breath shallow, her body trembling. "Please-please-"

The sword drove into her.

Pain. Blinding, searing pain. Her world tilted, her heartbeat slowing. A shadow loomed above her, but before her vision blackened completely, another figure emerged-a man, his voice cutting through the chaos like a lifeline. "Not yet."

Then everything faded.

Elise woke with a gasp, bolting upright, her heart hammering against her ribs. The room was dark, save for the faint glow of moonlight filtering through the narrow window. Sweat dampened her skin, her breath ragged. Her fingers brushed against the mark on her neck, and a sharp sting coursed through her.

Shaking off the lingering terror, she reached for the pitcher of water beside her bed and took a long, steadying sip.

She couldn't stay here.

Her mind raced, replaying every detail of her encounter with Vael. She needed to know more. Something deep inside her, a gnawing instinct, told her there was more to him than just a name whispered in the underworld. She had to go back.

Slipping into her gear, she fastened her weapons, wrapping her cloak tightly around her shoulders. The Elysium base was quiet, the few members still awake preoccupied with their tasks. It wasn't hard to slip away unseen.

The moment she stepped beyond the walls, the sensation hit her.

Someone was watching her.

Elise's muscles tensed as she continued walking, making it seem as though she hadn't noticed. But her pulse quickened. Who? Soren wouldn't have followed her-not yet. And it wasn't Vael. His presence was different. This was something else.

She took a sharp turn into an alley, her senses on high alert. The shadows stretched, dark and unyielding. When she turned to check-nothing. No movement. No sound.

Her gut twisted.

Then-a sharp kick landed against her back.

She stumbled forward, barely catching herself as she twisted, daggers already in hand. But there was no time to process, no time to react-

Because her attacker was already moving again.