Chapter Twenty-Five: A Cage of Shadows

The fog curled around them, thick and suffocating, as Leon carried Elena away from the town's dim lights.

She had stopped struggling—for now. Fighting him head-on wasn't working. If she wanted to escape, she needed to be smart.

Find a weakness. Find a moment.

Leon's grip was unyielding but careful, like he wasn't holding a prisoner, but something more delicate.

Elena clenched her teeth.

She hated that.

Finally, after what felt like an eternity, the fog thinned, revealing an old stone house on the outskirts of town.

Not a mansion, not some eerie castle. Just a house.

That almost made it worse.

Because it was real. Grounded. It didn't scream "monster's lair," but something far more insidious.

A cage disguised as a home.

Leon carried her inside without a word. The heavy door swung shut behind them with a soft click.

Elena tensed.

She was trapped.

A Dangerous Game

Leon finally set her down, his hands lingering just a second too long before he stepped back.

Elena didn't run.

Not yet.

Instead, she turned slowly, taking in the space.

It was… surprisingly normal. Bookshelves lined the walls. A fireplace crackled in the corner. It felt like someone actually lived here.

That unsettled her more than if it had been a dungeon.

She turned to Leon, who watched her in silence.

"What do you want from me?" she asked, her voice steadier than she felt.

Leon exhaled softly, something flickering behind his gaze.

"I want you to stop digging," he said.

Elena's heart pounded. So he really was hiding something.

"I can't do that."

Leon studied her for a long moment. Then, almost too quiet to hear, he murmured,

"You don't understand what you're getting into."

Elena swallowed. The way he said it—it wasn't a threat.

It was a warning.

She folded her arms, lifting her chin. "Then explain it to me."

A shadow of a smile touched Leon's lips.

"You wouldn't believe me."

"Try me."

Silence stretched between them.

Then, finally, Leon moved.

Not toward her, but past her, to the fireplace. He reached for something on the mantel. A small, silver object.

He turned it over in his fingers before glancing back at her.

"I'm not who you think I am," he said quietly.

Elena's breath caught.

There was something in his tone—something ancient.

Something not quite human.

A chill ran down her spine.

She wasn't sure if she wanted the truth anymore.

But it was too late to turn back now.