Chapter 30: Into the Abyss (Continued)

Lucius's body crumpled to the ground, his eyes fluttering closed. The dagger's cruel bite was evident, and Cassia felt her world tilt, the edges of her vision blurring as a wave of panic washed over her. She dropped to her knees beside him, clutching his side, the warmth of blood staining her fingers.

"Lucius," she whispered, shaking him gently, but there was no response. His breaths were shallow, each one weaker than the last. Fear clawed at her chest, tightening her throat. She couldn't lose him. Not like this.

The woman who had struck him stood over them, her cold eyes watching with amusement. "You really thought you could make it out of here alive?" she mocked.

Cassia's hands trembled as she tried to stop the bleeding, her mind racing for a solution, for something—anything—to save him. She could feel her panic rising, the weight of hopelessness pressing down on her.

But then, as though the darkness itself parted to reveal salvation, the sound of footsteps echoed from the alleyway. The woman turned, a sneer forming on her lips, but before she could react, a sharp voice cut through the tension.

"Enough."

A tall figure emerged from the shadows, his presence commanding and sure. It was Octavian. His eyes were hard, unreadable, but there was a glint of resolve in them that gave Cassia hope. Behind him were two more figures—members of the inn staff, whom Cassia had not noticed before but recognized immediately. One was the receptionist, a tall woman with a no-nonsense demeanor. The other was the cleaner, a wiry man who always seemed to be in the background, unnoticed by most.

"Octavian," Cassia breathed in relief, her voice barely audible.

Octavian's gaze shifted to her, his sharp eyes softening for just a moment before he turned his attention to the woman with the dagger.

"You've made a grave mistake," Octavian said, his voice low and dangerous. "You're interfering with things that are none of your concern."

With a swift motion, he signaled to the receptionist, who immediately stepped forward, her hand coming down on the hilt of her sword with lethal precision. The cleaner, though less imposing in stature, was not to be underestimated. He wielded a short blade with a dexterity that was almost surprising, moving in perfect synchrony with the others. Together, they flanked the woman, forcing her into a defensive stance.

The tension in the air was palpable, but Octavian's voice remained calm and steady. "Leave now, or I will make sure you never leave this city."

The woman hesitated, her eyes darting between the three of them and Cassia, who was still kneeling beside Lucius, her hands shaking as she tried to stop the bleeding. After a long moment, she cursed under her breath and turned on her heel, disappearing into the shadows without a word.

Cassia let out the breath she hadn't realized she was holding. The air felt lighter now, though her heart still raced with fear for Lucius.

Octavian stepped forward, his eyes assessing Lucius with a critical eye before turning back to Cassia. "You're lucky I found you when I did."

Cassia, still shaken, nodded mutely. She had no words. The weight of everything—the fear, the tension, the close call—was starting to catch up to her.

It was then that she remembered the Vox Dharma.

She had contacted Octavian earlier, using the small pearl that had been her lifeline in a city so full of enemies. The connection had been fragile, barely a whisper of sound on the other end. But she had taken the chance, telling him she was in danger, that they were being hunted, that Lucius was in grave condition. He had told her to hold on, that help was on the way. She had not expected him to arrive so soon, but here he was—just when it seemed like all was lost.

Cassia let out a sigh of relief, her shoulders sagging as she looked up at Octavian. "I... I contacted you. I didn't think..."

He gave her a small nod, his expression unreadable as always. "You did well," he said simply. "I wasn't far. When you used the Vox Dharma, I knew it was serious. You've got a good head on your shoulders, Cassia."

Cassia glanced at Lucius, then back to Octavian. "Is he going to make it?"

Octavian knelt beside her, inspecting Lucius's wound with a practiced eye. His face remained impassive, but his voice softened. "He'll live. For now."

Relief surged through her, though it was tempered with the realization of how close they had come to losing everything. She glanced at the receptionist and the cleaner, who were standing quietly by, their presence as steady and reassuring as Octavian's.

"Thank you," she murmured to all of them. "I didn't know what to do. I was so afraid..."

The receptionist gave her a curt nod, while the cleaner's lips twitched upward, offering a small, reassuring smile. But it was Octavian's voice that truly comforted her.

"You're safe now," he said, standing. "We'll get him out of here, but we need to move quickly. The Varro family will be looking for you, and they won't stop until they've found you."

Cassia nodded, her heart still racing but with a newfound resolve. They had been rescued, yes, but the road ahead was far from safe. The Varro family's reach stretched long, and she knew this wasn't the end of their pursuit. But for the first time in what felt like an eternity, she had a sliver of hope.

And as Octavian turned to lead the way, Cassia took a deep breath, clinging to the quiet reassurance that came from knowing she wasn't alone in this fight. The battle was far from over, but they would face it together.

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