Chrollo X Neon Novels & Stories

The conference room at Reyes & Reyes felt smaller than usual. Elena sat at the head of the scarred oak table, laptop open, presentation deck frozen on the Horizon campaign mood board. Across from her, Marcus Chen- founder of the rising streetwear-meets-luxury fashion startup that had been her agency's flagship client for eighteen months, fidgeted with his phone. His usual easy confidence was gone. Replaced by a nervous energy that made the air feel charged. Lila stood by the window, arms crossed, pretending to look at the street below. But Elena knew she was listening to every word.

I take control of my wish for the future. I press my fingertips to his temples. And I dive into his mind. Deeper, deeper, I dive into the dark. I battle past the screams, the twisted memories. I vanquish the many faces of Cyrillius. I gather Neron as I plummet toward that dark center. I pull back my fist as I see it ahead. And I swing as we connect. The entire world around me explodes at the connection, and my vision flickers white, then blue, then black.

Pain flared, sharp and real. Blood fell into the bowl. Caldor nodded. “Good.” He placed his hand over mine. Our blood mixed. The air around us shifted, something ancient. The bowl began to glow faintly. Symbols formed in the blood. I felt it wrap around me. Like chains. Invisible… but real. The contract was sealed. Caldor stepped back. “It is done.”