Whispers of the mind

The hotel room was dimly lit, the curtains drawn shut to conceal her presence. The only sound was the faint hum of the air conditioner and the slow, measured breathing of the man lying unconscious on the couch.

Elena sat in the chair across from him, arms folded, her knife resting on the table within reach. She had no idea who he was, why he had followed her, or what he wanted—but she would find out soon enough.

She had checked him for weapons earlier. Aside from a silver ring on his left hand and a thin chain around his neck, he carried nothing of note. But that didn't mean he wasn't dangerous. His movements during their fight had been calculated, almost predictive, as if he knew what she was going to do before she did it.

Her gaze flickered to the clock on the nightstand. 1:43 AM.

She exhaled, rubbing her temple. This was not how she expected her night to go. After sneaking into Calezer, she had booked this hotel under a false name, hoping to stay unnoticed. But not even an hour after she arrived, this man had been tailing her through the streets. It was as if he had been waiting for her.

A sudden shift in the air made her snap back to attention.

The man groaned softly, his fingers twitching before his eyes fluttered open.

Elena immediately reached for her knife. "Don't move."

The man let out a slow breath, his gaze focusing on her. Instead of panic or confusion, his expression was calm. Almost amused.

"Not exactly the warmest welcome," he murmured, stretching his arms. "Though I suppose I deserved it."

Elena narrowed her eyes. "Who are you?"

He sat up, rubbing the back of his neck. "Adrian."

She didn't lower her knife. "Adrian who?"

He smirked. "Just Adrian."

She wasn't in the mood for games. "You were following me."

"Observing," he corrected. "There's a difference."

Her grip on the knife tightened. "Start explaining. Now."

Adrian exhaled and leaned back, his gaze steady. "Calezer is not safe for you, Elena. You think you came here to gain strength, but you've walked into a battlefield far more dangerous than you realize."

She stiffened at the mention of her name. "How do you know who I am?"

He tilted his head. "Because I've known about you for a long time."

A chill ran down her spine, but she refused to let it show. "That's not an answer."

He studied her for a moment, then slowly raised his hand. "Let me show you."

Before she could react, a strange sensation crept into her mind. It was as if invisible fingers were flipping through her thoughts, sifting through her memories. Panic surged inside her.

What the hell—?!

She forced herself to focus, trying to shut him out. But Adrian smirked.

"You're strong," he murmured. "Most people don't notice when I enter their minds."

She shoved him out with sheer willpower, breaking the connection. Her head throbbed, but she ignored it. "You're a mind reader."

"And a hypnotist," he added. "But I prefer the term mentalist."

Elena glared at him. "That doesn't explain why you were following me."

Adrian leaned forward, resting his elbows on his knees. "Because I needed to warn you. Staying in Calezer is a mistake. There are people here who will hunt you down the moment they realize who you are."

She folded her arms. "And I'm supposed to just take your word for it?"

He smirked. "No. That's why I'm giving you proof."

He reached into his jacket pocket and pulled out a folded piece of paper. He placed it on the table and slid it toward her.

Elena hesitated before picking it up. As she unfolded it, her breath caught.

It was a copy of one of the pages from her father's diary. But this one had markings on it—hidden messages written between the lines in a language she didn't recognize.

Her eyes snapped back to Adrian. "How did you get this?"

"I translated it," he said simply.

Her heart pounded. For years, she had tried to decipher her father's diary, only to be met with dead ends. And now, this stranger was claiming he had the answers?

She shook her head. "Why should I trust you?"

Adrian's gaze darkened slightly. "Because your father trusted me."

Elena stilled.

"What?" she whispered.

Adrian leaned back. "Before your parents died, they made a promise."

Her fingers curled around the paper. "What kind of promise?"

He hesitated before finally saying, "That one day, you and I would meet. And that you would be my wife."

Silence.

Elena let out a sharp, disbelieving laugh. "You're joking."

"I'm not." His voice was calm, steady. "It was an arranged alliance, meant to secure your safety."

She stood up abruptly, her chair scraping against the floor. "You expect me to believe that my father promised me to a stranger?"

"Not a stranger," Adrian corrected. "An ally. Someone who would protect you when the time came."

Her pulse was racing. "And you just conveniently decided not to mention this until now?"

"I didn't want you to think I was forcing anything," he said simply. "I'd rather you trust me on your own."

She shook her head, still reeling. "No. This is insane."

Adrian sighed. "I understand why you'd think that." He gestured to the paper in her hand. "But the truth is right there. Your father left behind messages only a few people could read. I can help you decipher them."

Elena looked down at the paper, doubt swirling inside her. She had spent years searching for answers. If Adrian was telling the truth… this could be the key she had been looking for.

But could she really trust him?

She exhaled sharply. "I need time."

Adrian nodded. "Of course. But don't take too long. The people hunting you… they're closer than you think."

Elena clenched her jaw. She hated that he was making sense.

As she turned toward the window, Adrian spoke again.

"Elena."

She paused but didn't look back.

"Be careful," he said softly. "You're playing a game where the rules are already stacked against you."

She didn't reply. But deep down, she knew he was right.

And that terrified her more than anything.