Chapter I6: A Line Crossed
Chapter I6: A Line Crossed
Adrian could still taste Selene on his lips. It was infuriating—how easily she had slipped into his mind, his body, his damn soul. Even now, as Leon's glare burned into him, he could feel the lingering heat in his veins, a dangerous reminder of how close he had come to losing control.
Leon, still bound but seething, spat, "You almost let her win."
Adrian turned away, running a hand through his disheveled hair. "It was a distraction. I used it against her."
Leon let out a sharp, bitter laugh. "Right. Looked more like she was using you."
Adrian clenched his jaw. He hated that Leon was right.
But before he could respond, a faint clicking sound echoed through the abandoned train yard.
Footsteps.
They weren't alone.
Selene had vanished into the shadows moments ago—but she wasn't careless. She had left someone behind.
Adrian's body tensed, flames flickering at his fingertips as he scanned the darkness.
Then—
A voice. Low, smooth, and mocking.
"Passionate reunion, gentlemen? I almost hate to interrupt."
A man emerged from the shadows. Tall. Dressed in all black, his silver eyes gleaming with amusement. Darius.
Adrian's grip on his fire tightened. "What do you want?"
Darius smirked, his gaze flicking between Adrian and Leon. "Oh, I'm not here to fight. Not yet, anyway." He tilted his head. "Selene's rather… intrigued by you. That makes you an interesting problem."
Leon scoffed. "That's one way to put it."
Adrian ignored him. "And?"
Darius stepped closer, unbothered by the heat rolling off Adrian's body. "And I'm here to deliver a warning."
He reached into his coat—slowly, deliberately—and tossed something at Adrian's feet.
A bloodstained pendant.
Adrian's breath hitched. He knew that pendant. It belonged to—
Cora.
His heartbeat thundered in his ears. He crouched, picking up the pendant with trembling fingers. The blood was still fresh.
"She fought well," Darius murmured. "But she didn't scream."
Adrian's flames erupted, roaring to life around him, turning the air scorching.
Darius just smiled. "I see you're not in the mood for mercy."
Adrian took a step forward, but Leon shouted—
"Adrian! No!"
Too late.
Darius vanished into the darkness just as an explosion shook the entire train yard.
The blast sent Adrian flying backward, his body slamming against a rusted train car. Sparks rained down around him as smoke filled the air.
Leon coughed, trying to break free from his bindings. "Damn it! Adrian, get up! We need to move!"
Adrian staggered to his feet, rage boiling in his chest.
Selene had played her game. Darius had drawn the first blood.
Now, Adrian wasn't just fighting for survival.
He was out for vengeance.
Smoke and fire filled the air. The explosion had left a crater where Darius once stood, but Adrian knew—that bastard wasn't dead. He was toying with him.
Leon coughed, shaking off debris. "We need to go, now."
Adrian's grip on Cora's bloodstained pendant tightened. His rage boiled beneath his skin, flames licking at his fingertips. "Not until I find him."
Leon cursed under his breath. "Listen to yourself. You're playing right into their hands. They want you angry."
"I am angry," Adrian growled.
"Then control it." Leon stepped in front of him, eyes hard. "Because right now, you're acting like a man with nothing to lose. And that's exactly when they'll kill you."
Adrian's flames dimmed slightly.
Leon wasn't wrong.
Selene, Darius—they wanted him unstable. Reckless. Predictable.
Taking a slow breath, he forced himself to think. Cora's pendant—a message. If she was dead, they would have paraded her body in front of him. Which meant—
"She's alive," Adrian said, his voice steadying.
Leon blinked. "You sure?"
"Darius wants me to chase him. If she was really gone, he'd have made sure I saw it happen."
Leon exhaled, relieved. "Then we find her."
Adrian nodded, his fire cooling—but inside, his rage never left.
No more playing by their rules.
It was time to change the game.
Elsewhere…
Selene traced a finger along the map in front of her, her violet eyes glowing faintly.
"He's getting smarter," she murmured.
Darius leaned against the desk, arms crossed. "Pity. I was enjoying pushing his buttons."
Selene smirked. "Oh, don't worry. He'll break soon enough." She leaned closer, her voice like silk. "We just have to apply the right pressure."
Darius raised a brow. "And what would that be?"
Selene's smirk widened.
"His heart."
Adrian's mind raced as he and Leon slipped through the ruins of the train yard. He wasn't going to play into Darius's hands. If they wanted him to chase, he would do the opposite.
"They expect me to act on emotion," Adrian muttered.
Leon shot him a look. "Aren't you?"
Adrian clenched his fists. "Not anymore." He lifted Cora's pendant, running his thumb over the dried blood. "Darius gave me this for a reason. It's a message—but also a lead."
Leon nodded. "Then what's the play?"
Adrian's eyes glowed. "We make them think they're winning."
Elsewhere – The Obsidian Spire
Cora's head throbbed as she stirred awake, her wrists still bound. The cold air in the underground cell sent shivers down her spine.
She wasn't dead.
But she knew what this meant. They wanted something from her.
The door creaked open.
Selene stepped inside, her violet eyes gleaming with amusement. "Awake already? Impressive."
Cora glared. "Go to hell."
Selene chuckled, circling her like a predator. "I've been there, darling. It's not as bad as they say."
Cora yanked at the chains. "What do you want?"
Selene knelt beside her, voice soft yet laced with danger. "You're leverage."
Cora's stomach twisted. "Leverage for what?"
Selene's smirk deepened. "To break Adrian."
Back to Adrian…
Adrian sat at the edge of a rooftop, watching the city below. Leon stood beside him, tense.
"Explain this insane plan one more time," Leon said.
Adrian's flames flickered between his fingers. "They expect me to rush in blind. So instead, I let them think they have me."
Leon raised a brow. "And how do we do that?"
Adrian exhaled. "By walking straight into their hands—on our terms."
Leon swore under his breath. "You're crazy."
Adrian smirked. "No. I'm done losing."
This time, he wouldn't be the prey.
He would be the hunter.
Adrian stood at the edge of the rooftop, looking down at the sprawling city. The Obsidian Spire loomed in the distance, a towering fortress of dark glass and steel—Selene's domain.
Leon exhaled sharply beside him. "You really think walking into their hands is a good idea?"
Adrian didn't answer immediately. His eyes burned with resolve. "It's the only way to get close to Cora without them expecting it."
Leon muttered a curse. "You better have a damn good backup plan."
Adrian smirked. "I do."
Without another word, he stepped off the ledge—and vanished into the night.
Inside the Obsidian Spire…
Cora's wrists were raw from the metal cuffs, but she refused to let pain slow her down. If she was here, Adrian would come for her.
She just didn't know if that was a good thing.
The door to her cell creaked open, and Selene sauntered inside, eyes gleaming with dark amusement. "You're tougher than you look."
Cora glared. "Spare me the compliments."
Selene chuckled. "Very well. Let's get to the point." She leaned in, voice dripping with wicked satisfaction. "Adrian is already coming. And when he does…" She paused, watching Cora's reaction. "He'll be mine."
Cora's heart pounded. "You're lying."
Selene's smirk widened. "Am I?"
The door suddenly slammed open, and a guard rushed inside. "My lady—he's here."
Selene's expression shifted to something dangerous.
"Well then," she murmured. "Let's go greet our guest."
Meanwhile…
Adrian strode into the heart of the Spire, his fire barely restrained beneath his skin. Guards surrounded him, weapons raised, but he didn't slow down.
A man stood waiting—Darius. His silver eyes gleamed with amusement. "Brave. Or incredibly stupid."
Adrian smirked. "You talk too much."
Before Darius could react, Adrian's flames erupted, sending shockwaves through the chamber.
He wasn't here to surrender.
He was here to burn it all down.
—
The moment Adrian's flames ignited, the entire Spire trembled. Heat surged through the hall, walls cracking from the sheer force of his power.
Darius barely had time to react before Adrian lunged, fist engulfed in fire.
BOOM!
Darius blocked, but the impact sent him skidding backward, boots screeching against the stone floor. He grinned, eyes gleaming with excitement. "Now that's more like it."
With a flick of his wrist, shadows burst from his fingers, tendrils coiling like vipers. They clashed against Adrian's flames, dark swallowing light in an instant.
Adrian gritted his teeth. Darius was strong. But not unstoppable.
He surged forward again, twisting his body mid-air. His foot connected with Darius's ribs, a sickening crack echoing through the chamber.
Darius coughed, stumbling back—but his grin never wavered. "You think you're winning?"
Adrian didn't answer. Because winning wasn't the goal.
Getting to Cora was.
Inside the Cells…
Cora could feel the ground shaking beneath her feet. He's here.
She yanked at her chains, panic and hope warring in her chest. If Adrian was fighting, then that meant he was close.
The door slammed open.
Selene stepped inside, her face unreadable. "Well, this is unexpected."
Cora narrowed her eyes. "You didn't think he'd come for me?"
Selene sighed. "Oh, I knew he would. But I expected him to be… more rational."
She lifted a hand, and suddenly, Cora's chains snapped open.
Cora stumbled forward, confused. "What—?"
Selene smiled—but there was no warmth in it.
"I'm letting you go."
Cora froze. "…Why?"
Selene stepped closer, her voice a whisper. "Because Adrian needs to feel true despair."
Before Cora could react, Selene shoved her forward, straight into the chaos of the burning Spire.
Back to Adrian…
Darius wiped blood from his lip, chuckling. "You really think this fight matters?"
Adrian's eyes blazed. "You're stalling."
Darius grinned. "Maybe. But you should be more worried about what's happening behind you."
Adrian's heart stopped. Cora.
He whirled around—just in time to see her figure falling from the upper level.
His breath hitched. No.
Without thinking, he launched himself forward.
The battle, the flames, the pain—none of it mattered anymore.
The only thing that did…
Was catching her.
—
Adrian moved faster than he ever had before. The world blurred around him as he lunged forward, flames bursting beneath his feet to propel him toward Cora's falling form.
He had to reach her.
Cora's eyes widened as she saw Adrian coming—saw the desperation in his face. He's coming for me.
Her heart pounded. But was he fast enough?
The ground below was a chasm of flames and shattered stone. If she hit it—
No. He wouldn't let that happen.
At the last second, Adrian reached out—
And caught her.
They tumbled mid-air, Adrian twisting his body to shield her as they crashed onto a weakened platform. The stone crumbled beneath them, but his flames erupted just in time, softening the impact.
They hit the ground hard—but they were alive.
For a moment, neither of them moved.
Then—
"Adrian…" Cora whispered, her fingers clutching his shirt.
He exhaled sharply, arms still wrapped around her. "I've got you."
Above Them—Selene Watches
From the upper balcony, Selene tilted her head, watching the scene unfold with mild amusement.
"Well, well. He really does love her," she mused.
Darius wiped the blood from his chin, smirking. "And that's exactly why he's going to lose."
Selene's violet eyes gleamed. "Time to end this."
She raised her hand—and the entire Spire trembled.
Back to Adrian & Cora…
Adrian pulled Cora to her feet, still holding onto her as if she might disappear. "Are you hurt?"
She shook her head. "No. But Adrian, this is a trap—"
BOOM!
The ground beneath them exploded.
Adrian barely had time to react before black chains erupted from the shadows, wrapping around his arms and legs, dragging him down.
Cora screamed. "No!"
He struggled, flames surging—but the chains didn't burn.
Darius's laughter echoed through the chaos. "Did you think we didn't prepare for you?"
Adrian's eyes blazed as he fought against the restraints, but something was draining him—his strength, his fire.
Selene stepped forward, smiling. "This is what happens when you care too much, Adrian."
Cora's breath hitched. "Let him go!"
Selene's gaze flicked to her, an eerie calm in her expression. "No. But you, my dear…"
She lifted her hand.
And suddenly—Cora felt something inside her shatter.
Her vision blurred, her legs gave out. A strange warmth spread through her chest—something awakening.
Adrian's heart pounded. "Cora?"
She gasped, eyes glowing faintly—a power stirring within her.
Selene's lips curled. "Ah. There it is."
Adrian's blood ran cold. What did they do to her?
Cora gasped as heat surged through her veins—an unfamiliar, terrifying energy awakening inside her. It was unlike anything she had ever felt before—raw, primal, and unstoppable.
Her body trembled as violet flames erupted from her skin, swirling chaotically like a storm. The chains binding Adrian shattered from the sheer force of the energy pulsing through the air.
Adrian's eyes widened. This wasn't normal fire.
Selene's smirk deepened. "Ah… finally. It's waking up."
Cora clutched her chest, struggling to breathe. "What… is this?"
Selene stepped forward, her expression unreadable. "You really thought you were just some ordinary girl, didn't you?" She tilted her head. "Poor thing."
Adrian moved instantly, grabbing Cora's arm. "Don't listen to her—"
BOOM!
A wave of violet fire exploded outward, forcing Adrian back. His arms burned where the flames had touched him—but they weren't ordinary flames. They felt… alive.
Cora staggered, staring at her own hands in horror. "What's happening to me?"
Darius chuckled from the shadows, watching in amusement. "This is even better than I expected."
Adrian's mind raced. They had planned this.
Cora wasn't just a hostage.
She was the real weapon.
The Truth Revealed
Selene circled Cora like a predator. "That power inside you? It's been there all along, buried deep, waiting to be unleashed."
Cora shook her head. "No… I—"
Selene's voice softened, almost sympathetic. "You were never just an ordinary girl, Cora. You are the key to everything."
Adrian clenched his fists, stepping in front of Cora protectively. "You're lying."
Selene's smirk didn't fade. "Am I?"
She lifted her hand—and Cora's flames responded.
The violet fire twisted in the air, bending toward Selene as if obeying her. Cora gasped, trying to pull it back—but it wouldn't stop.
Adrian's heart pounded. Selene was controlling it.
"Let her go," he growled.
Selene laughed. "Oh, Adrian. I don't need to take her." She met his gaze, her violet eyes gleaming. "She's already ours."
Cora suddenly screamed, her flames surging again. Her body felt like it was tearing apart, her mind drowning in the overwhelming power.
Adrian lunged toward her—
But Cora's eyes snapped open, glowing with the same violet hue as the flames.
Her voice echoed, layered with something not entirely human.
"I remember now."
Adrian froze. "Cora?"
Selene's smile widened.
Cora turned toward him, her gaze filled with something ancient—something not her own.
And then, in a whisper that sent chills through Adrian's spine, she said—
"You shouldn't have come for me."
Adrian's breath caught in his throat.
Cora's voice—layered, cold, and filled with something inhuman—sent a chill down his spine. Her violet eyes locked onto him, a flicker of recognition buried deep beneath the foreign power that now controlled her.
She had changed.
But he refused to believe she was gone.
"Cora," he said firmly, taking a step forward despite the heat radiating from her body. "You're still you. Fight this."
Cora's expression remained unreadable. Then, slowly, she lifted her hand.
The violet flames surged toward him.
Adrian barely had time to react before the fire engulfed him, burning hotter than anything he had ever faced. His own flames flickered in response, but they weren't enough.
Pain lanced through his body.
But he didn't move.
Didn't fight back.
Instead—he pushed forward, through the fire, through the agony, reaching for her.
"Cora!"
She hesitated. Just for a second.
And that second was all he needed.
Adrian grabbed her wrist, his hand trembling from the heat. "Come back to me."
Her eyes widened slightly.
But then—
Selene snapped her fingers.
Cora screamed as the violet flames surged again, this time violently enough to shake the entire Spire. The fire shoved Adrian backward, sending him crashing into the stone wall.
Blood trickled down his forehead.
Darius laughed from the shadows. "Pathetic."
Selene, however, looked almost pleased. "She's waking up."
Adrian gritted his teeth. No. He wouldn't let them take her.
He forced himself to stand, pain screaming through his body. His vision blurred, but he focused on her.
Cora's body trembled, her face twisting in pain. The violet flames still surrounded her, but deep within them—he could see it.
The real her.
"Cora," he whispered. "I know you're in there. I know you're scared."
She flinched.
Selene's smile faded slightly.
"You told me once," Adrian continued, voice hoarse, "that I was the only person who ever made you feel safe."
Cora gasped.
The fire flickered—just for a second.
Adrian took another step forward, ignoring the pain. "You are not their weapon. You are not their pawn."
Her breath hitched. Her fingers twitched.
And then—
The flames exploded outward.
Selene's eyes widened.
Darius's smirk vanished.
Adrian stood his ground, heart pounding.
When the fire cleared, Cora stood there—her violet flames still burning, but her eyes filled with something new.
Determination.
Clarity.
Control.
She turned toward Selene, her expression fierce.
"You don't own me," she said, her voice no longer layered—no longer controlled.
Selene's gaze darkened. "…Interesting."
Darius sighed, cracking his knuckles. "Well. Looks like we're doing this the hard way."
The air grew heavy with dark energy.
Adrian moved to stand beside Cora. "Are you with me?"
Cora turned to him, the violet flames dancing around her fingers.
She smiled.
"Always."
Cora stood tall, the violet flames swirling around her in a perfect, controlled storm. The fear in her eyes was gone—replaced by certainty.
Selene's smirk faltered.
Darius let out a low whistle. "Well, that's unexpected."
Adrian, still bruised and bloody, felt a surge of relief as he looked at her. She was back.
But the battle wasn't over.
Selene took a slow step forward. "Do you really think you can control it?" Her voice was almost amused, but there was a sharp edge to it. "You were born for this power, but power without guidance is just chaos."
Cora lifted her hand, and the violet flames obeyed—flowing smoothly around her fingertips, no longer wild, no longer unstable.
She met Selene's gaze, her voice steady.
"I'm not afraid of it anymore."
Selene's expression darkened.
Adrian moved beside Cora, his own flames flaring to life. "Looks like your little experiment backfired."
Selene exhaled slowly, as if disappointed. "Such a shame."
Then—she vanished.
Cora barely had time to react before Selene reappeared behind her, a dagger in hand, aiming straight for her heart.
Adrian's eyes widened. "CORA!"
But Cora didn't flinch.
She turned at the last second, catching Selene's wrist mid-air. The violet flames surged through her palm and into Selene's body, sending a shockwave rippling through the room.
Selene's eyes widened in genuine shock.
For the first time—she looked afraid.
Cora tightened her grip, her flames digging into Selene's very essence. "You've spent your whole life trying to control others," she said, her voice calm. "How does it feel to lose control yourself?"
Selene screamed as the violet fire consumed her.
Darius cursed under his breath. "Damn it." He lunged toward them—but Adrian was faster.
He blocked Darius's path, flames roaring. "You're not going anywhere."
Darius grinned. "Fine by me."
And then—the real fight began.
Selene's scream echoed through the chamber as Cora's violet flames consumed her. The once-mighty woman, who had manipulated fate itself, now struggled against the fire—her body trembling, her power crumbling.
She fell to her knees, her face twisted in pain. "This… isn't possible."
Cora loomed over her, the flames in her hands steady and completely under her control. "You spent your life trying to own others." Her voice was quiet, almost pitying. "But you never truly understood power."
Selene gasped, her strength failing. "You—"
BOOM!
A sudden explosion rocked the Spire. Darius had moved.
In the blink of an eye, he was behind Cora, his blade aimed at her back—
Adrian intercepted him.
Their flames collided in a blinding explosion of red and black fire. The force sent shockwaves through the chamber, shaking the walls.
Darius grinned as he locked blades with Adrian. "You're fast." His eyes gleamed with madness. "But not fast enough."
Adrian growled. "You talk too much."
He struck.
A searing blast of golden fire erupted from his palm, point-blank, catching Darius off guard. The impact sent the man crashing into the far wall, flames licking at his body.
Cora turned, eyes wide. "Adrian—"
But Adrian staggered. Blood dripped from his mouth, his body barely holding together after everything.
Darius, despite the damage, laughed as he pulled himself from the rubble. "Damn," he muttered, wiping his mouth. "I almost felt that one."
Adrian glared at him. "You'll feel the next one."
But before either of them could move—
The entire Spire trembled.
Selene, though weakened, lifted her head—and smiled.
Cora froze. Something was wrong.
Then—a pulse of black energy erupted from Selene's chest.
Adrian's breath caught. No.
Selene, even on the verge of defeat, had been stalling.
She had one last move left.
"I told you," she whispered, her lips curling. "You don't know what you're dealing with."
And then—
The entire world cracked apart.
A deafening crack split through the air. The entire Spire trembled as Selene's black energy surged outward, twisting reality itself.
Adrian and Cora staggered as the floor beneath them fractured, the walls rippling like they were caught in a storm.
Selene's body was changing—her form flickering between her normal self and something darker, something ancient. Her smile widened, eyes glowing an unnatural black.
"You thought you were in control?" Her voice echoed with layered tones. "You thought this was your victory?"
Cora clenched her fists, the violet flames in her hands burning fiercely. "I'm done listening to your games."
She lifted her hand—and the fire obeyed.
Selene's grin faltered as the violet flames surged forward, wrapping around her like chains. This time, they didn't just burn—they bound her.
Cora's eyes flashed. "You don't own me. And you never will."
Selene screamed.
The chains of fire constricted, pulling her essence apart. The black energy she had unleashed fought back, trying to break free, but Cora didn't waver.
Adrian, breathing hard, stepped beside her. "End this."
Cora met his gaze.
Then—with a final push—she tightened the chains.
Selene's scream shattered into silence.
The darkness imploded, pulling inward, folding in on itself. Selene's body twisted, disintegrating into nothingness.
And then—
She was gone.
The Aftermath
The Spire stilled. The air, once thick with Selene's power, grew eerily quiet. The cracks in the walls stopped spreading.
Cora took a shaky breath. "It's over."
Adrian, exhausted, let out a slow exhale. "Not yet."
Because across the room—Darius was still standing.
Despite the destruction, despite everything, he let out a low, almost amused chuckle. "Huh." He cracked his knuckles. "Guess it's just me now."
Adrian's body protested, but he forced himself to move. "Then let's finish this."
Cora stepped forward too, her violet flames still burning. "Together."
Darius smirked. "Well… bring it on."
Darius rolled his shoulders, shaking off the debris from the collapsed Spire. Despite the chaos, despite Selene's fall, he looked amused.
"Selene's gone, and yet, you're still here," he mused, his gaze flickering between Adrian and Cora. "I should've expected this. You're both too stubborn to die."
Adrian lifted his blade, flames licking along its edge. "You're the last thing standing between us and the end of this war."
Cora's violet fire burned brighter. "And we're done playing."
Darius smirked. "Good."
Then—he vanished.
Adrian barely had time to react before a fist slammed into his ribs, sending him skidding across the stone floor.
Cora turned, but Darius was already behind her. His dagger sliced forward—
She caught it with her bare hand.
Violet flames surged up her arm, consuming the blade as her eyes locked onto his.
Darius hesitated.
That was his first mistake.
Cora didn't flinch. She twisted his dagger from his grasp and drove her knee into his gut, sending him staggering backward.
Adrian was already back on his feet. "You're fast," he muttered, wiping blood from his lip. "But you're not faster than both of us."
Darius laughed, breathless. "You really think—"
Adrian was already moving.
He swung his blade in an arc, flames roaring to life—Darius barely dodged, but Cora was already there, trapping him in a ring of violet fire.
He spun to escape—
And met Adrian's fist instead.
The impact sent Darius crashing into the stone.
For the first time—he looked shocked.
Cora didn't give him a chance to recover. She lifted her hands, flames building, ready to finish it.
But then—
Darius grinned.
"Ah," he exhaled, wiping the blood from his mouth. "I was wondering when you'd push me this far."
Adrian's expression hardened. "What are you talking about?"
Darius slowly stood, something shifting in the air around him.
Then—his eyes turned black.
Cora's breath caught.
Adrian's grip on his sword tightened.
Darius wasn't just strong.
He had one last transformation left.
And they might not be able to stop it.
What's Next?
Darius's final form—something far more terrifying than expected.
Cora and Adrian must work together to counter his ultimate power.
A shocking revelation about Darius's true purpose.