The sun had barely risen when Celina stood at the window, looking out at the distant city below.
She had always felt disconnected from the world outside, as though she were a spectator in a play that she didn't quite belong to. But now, after everything that had happened, it felt like she was finally inside the story. Only, the ending was still uncertain, and she wasn't sure which side she was meant to be on.
The soft click of footsteps behind her made her turn, and Darius appeared in the doorway, his dark eyes studying her with quiet concern.
"Still no word from Ivy?" Celina asked, her voice hoarse.
"No," Darius replied, stepping closer. "She's gone off the radar. We're on our own now."
Celina's heart skipped a beat. Ivy had been the only one who knew more about Lenora and Cale's movements. Without her, they were blind, stumbling in the dark.
"We're not safe, Darius," Celina said, turning to face him. "Cale is playing a game with us. He knows exactly what to say, what to do, to make me doubt myself. He said we're not so different. But I don't want to be like him."
Darius stepped toward her, his expression unreadable, but his hand reached out to touch her arm. His fingers brushed against her skin, sending a shock of electricity through her, but it wasn't just from the touch.
It was the weight of his words that followed.
"I know," he said softly. "And you won't be. You're not like him, Celina. Don't let his games make you think otherwise."
She looked up at him, the conflict in her eyes clear. "You're saying that now, but what if he's right? What if I'm just another part of his plan? My father's plan."
"Your father's plan was never to make you his weapon," Darius said, his voice low and firm. "It was to protect you. To keep you safe. But he couldn't have known this. No one could have predicted what would happen."
Celina clenched her fists at her sides. "I don't want to be some pawn in a game I never chose to play. But Cale keeps coming at me like he knows exactly how to break me. What if I can't fight him? What if he's right, and I'm just... broken?"
"You're not broken," Darius said, his voice rising slightly. "Celina, I've seen you fight. And you don't just survive. You fight for what you want."
Her heart raced. He was so close now, his presence overwhelming. The air between them thickened with unspoken words. The space that had always existed between them had been shrinking, ever since that night in the vault. Since the moment he'd touched her hand, grounding her in a way no one else had.
"I'm afraid," she whispered, her voice trembling. "Not of dying, but of losing myself. Of becoming something I don't recognize."
"You're afraid of losing control," Darius said. "Of the power inside you."
"Because it's dangerous," she said bitterly. "It's already hurt someone."
He stepped closer, his eyes locking onto hers. "It's not the power that's dangerous, Celina. It's the people who want to control it. Who want to manipulate you."
She swallowed hard, her throat dry. "What if I can't control it? What if one day I hurt you, or someone else?"
"You won't," Darius said firmly, his voice a promise. "You'll learn to control it. And if you ever lose control, I'll be there to stop you. We will be there."
His words, simple yet intense, struck deep within her. The weight of them—of him—pressed against her chest, as if he were already claiming a place she wasn't sure she was ready to give.
The sound of a ringing phone cut through the air, sharp and jarring.
Celina jolted, breaking their gaze, and Darius quickly pulled his phone from his pocket. His eyes scanned the screen for a moment before his face hardened.
"It's Ivy," he said, his voice tense.
Celina's heart leaped into her throat. "Is she okay?"
"I don't know," Darius said, pressing the phone to his ear. "Ivy?"
The silence stretched for a moment as he listened intently. Celina could barely breathe, every instinct screaming that something was wrong.
"Where are you?" Darius demanded suddenly, his hand gripping the phone tighter. "What happened? Ivy, Ivy, answer me!"
The line went dead with a click, and Darius cursed under his breath, his knuckles white.
"She's been compromised," Darius said, his voice a mix of frustration and worry. "They've found her."
"What do we do?" Celina asked, her pulse racing. The fear that had been coiling in her chest now expanded, suffocating her.
"Get your things," Darius ordered, his voice sharp. "We leave in five minutes."
Celina didn't hesitate. She grabbed her bag and began to pack quickly, her hands shaking, her mind running through every worst-case scenario.
But it was only when she reached the door that Darius stopped her.
"Celina," he said, his voice softer now, a quiet plea. "Trust me. We're getting Ivy back."
She nodded, her heart pounding in her chest. "I trust you."
Darius's eyes held hers for a long moment before he gave a brief nod. And then, without another word, they were out the door.
The car ride was tense, the streets passing by in a blur as Darius navigated through the city's back alleys, avoiding the main roads. Celina sat in the back seat, her thoughts racing, a thousand different scenarios running through her head.
Ivy had been more than just an ally. She had been their source of information, the one who had guided them through the labyrinth of Lenora's plans. If Ivy was gone, they would be blind. And Cale… Cale would be one step closer to finding her.
"Where are we going?" Celina asked, her voice tight.
"We're meeting someone who can help us," Darius said, his jaw set. "Someone who owes me a favor."
Celina didn't ask any more questions. She knew better than to question Darius when he was focused. And right now, he was as focused as she'd ever seen him. He wasn't just determined to find Ivy. He was determined to protect her. And that meant everything.
They arrived at a rundown building on the outskirts of the city, a place Celina had never seen before. Darius parked the car in a dark alley, and they got out, moving quickly but silently toward the entrance.
Inside, a man sat behind a desk, his back turned to them, a cigarette dangling from his lips.
"Darius," the man said without turning around. "I didn't expect you."
"I need information," Darius said, his voice low but commanding. "Ivy's been taken."
The man's shoulders stiffened. "Who did it?"
"I don't know yet. But we're running out of time."
The man finally turned to face them, his face grim. "Then we need to move fast."
Darius looked at Celina, his eyes dark. "Are you ready?"
Celina took a deep breath. The air was thick with tension. But she wasn't backing down. Not now. Not ever.
"I'm ready," she said, her voice unwavering.