Betrayals Etched in Blood

It took me a moment to process what he had just said.

"Have we met before? I can't recall when," I asked, my voice barely above a whisper.

Adam stood still, studying my face with an almost amused calm. "I had no idea your memory was so poor," he replied coolly.

I finally turned to look at him fully, the confusion knitting my brows. "What are you talking about?"

"Do you recall the unexpected attack on Devana? I served as your knight in shining armor," he said smoothly. "And now, if you're willing to talk, let's take this conversation to my office."

The elevator chimed, and he pressed the floor button. The ride was silent but tense, like a bowstring pulled taut. When the doors opened, I stepped out first, but I could feel him just behind me too close for comfort. The rhythmic click of my heels echoed down the corridor, followed closely by his deliberate steps.

As I entered his office, a rush of cold air from the central AC hit me, bringing a chill that settled between my shoulder blades.

I walked ahead, his footsteps echoing behind me like a ghost. I couldn't stop my mind from racing.

Could it be? Was it really him?

When we entered his office, I stood in the center of the room, struck by the sheer presence it held. The floor-to-ceiling windows let in the city's late-afternoon light. The black leather furniture, the polished obsidian-topped desk, and the glass wall showcasing ancient maps of forgotten kingdoms all whispered power and danger.

"You..." I breathed. "It was you. I looked for you that day. After you saved me."

When I finally turned to face him, it was as if I had been blind before.

The same eyes.

Those piercing, ocean-deep eyes that had haunted my dreams. How could I not have seen it earlier? My breath caught.

"It was you," I murmured. "I looked for you after the attack. I searched everywhere that day."

He gave a lopsided smile. "I know. I'm good at hiding."

The realization washed over me like a crashing wave. My heart pounded unnaturally fast, and the room spun slightly. A cold sweat broke across my forehead, and my legs threatened to give out from under me. I stumbled backward and reached out instinctively, catching the edge of the couch's armrest before collapsing onto it.

Without a word, Adam moved to pour me a glass of water from the side table. When he handed it to me, our fingers brushed and in that fleeting second, a spark crackled at the point of contact. A faint, glowing ember of light flared between our skin.

I jerked my hand back, staring at him, wide-eyed.

"What is this?" I asked breathlessly.

Adam looked down at the fading spark and nodded, almost to himself. "It's your energy… trying to awaken," he said. "You've suppressed it for so long. You should practice before it gets too strong to control."

He turned away, walking toward his desk. I watched him, still breathing heavily, trying to make sense of everything.

He was hiding something. I could feel it.

"Adam," I began, steadying my voice. "I am on a path… a dangerous one. Whether it's revenge against the heavens or a way to break this curse, I'm done living forever in this endless loop. I can't keep watching people die around me."

He turned back to me, arms crossed, leaning slightly on the desk. "Revenge against the heavens is not a battle you walk into lightly. Reaching Heaven's Gate alone would take power beyond imagination. And the curse… it's irreversible."

"Why must our people suffer for a sin they didn't commit?" My voice cracked slightly. "Why must I bear the cost of that transgression?"

"I'm ready," I continued. "I've trained for centuries. My father could control air I believe I inherited that gift. I've studied every record I could find. The crimson moon—when it rises again, I'll be ready."

At that, Adam walked to a drawer in his mahogany desk and pulled out a wrapped stack of papers aged and brittle wrapped in a brown cover bearing the emblem of Devana.

"This is the last copy of the original prophecy," he said, placing it on the table before me. "I took it from the royal library… before everything fell."

My hands trembled as I unwrapped it. The scrolls smelled faintly of age and dust, like memory made paper. Devani script the sacred language of the realm flowed across the parchment like an incantation.

I scanned the lines, heart sinking.

It was exactly what the Saint had once declared in the throne room. My father… he had known all along.

"You knew?" I asked, my voice breaking.

Adam looked away. "Your father knew," he said bitterly. "He could've told the ministers. Warned the people. Prepared us all.But instead, he hid it. For you."

He turned, rage simmering in his voice as he punched the nearby wall. "He was a coward. A traitor to his people."

I flinched. I wasn't ready to hear that. But deep down, I couldn't deny the possibility.

Adam spun toward me, eyes blazing. "You are his blood—his only heir. If there's justice left for Devana, maybe it starts with your death."

"What?" I recoiled.

"He saved you. Built a sanctuary. He could have done the same for others. He chose you. Why?" Adam demanded, stepping toward me with fire in his gaze.

"I was a child," I whispered. "I didn't know. I didn't ask to be chosen."

"But he did!" Adam shouted. "He was the king. He had a duty."

I had no words. He was right. My silence was my only answer.

We stood in the thick, heavy quiet. Only the hum of the air conditioning filled the room.

"I think I need time… to process this," I finally said.

"And you think you can just walk away?" Adam's voice dropped into a low, dangerous tone. "What of the punishment you deserve?"

I turned sharply. "You sound just like the heavens punishing me for something I didn't do. You think I was spared? I live every day in torment. I would've gladly died with my people rather than carry this weight alone."

Without waiting for another word, I stormed out of his office.

The sky outside had turned coppery-red as the sun dipped behind the skyline. I drove with white-knuckled fists, barely seeing the road. I didn't realize I was crying until the city lights blurred through my windshield. My grip on the steering wheel was white-knuckled. The rage, the sorrow it boiled beneath my skin.

At one point, I pulled over to a deserted patch of road, stepped out, and screamed into the night. My voice cracked against the stars. I hadn't screamed like that in centuries.

By the time I reached my apartment, the door was ajar.

I pushed it slowly. A cold gust of air met me as I stepped inside.

My home had been turned upside down. Drawers ransacked, clothes strewn everywhere, shattered porcelain from my kitchen littered the floor. My laptop was gone. My study table cracked. But the strangest thing nothing else of value had been taken.

They weren't here for theft.

They were looking for something.

I sank onto my bed, stunned, eyes scanning the chaos. Whoever did this… they wanted the pendant. My father's soul pendant.

A sudden knock made me jump.

Nathan.

He stood at the door, concerned.

"Are you alright? Was this a robbery?" he asked.

"It looks that way. But only my laptop is missing," I replied, forcing calm.

"Want me to call the police?"

"No. I'll handle it."

He stepped closer and wrapped his arms around me. I froze for a moment, then let him hold me.

"I was worried about you," he murmured.

A shadow loomed behind him. Adam.

He stood at the door, his gaze piercing. I met his eyes, and inexplicably, I felt guilt surge through me. I pulled away from Nathan.

"What happened here?" Adam asked coolly.

"Someone broke in," I said flatly.

"You should stay with me tonight," Nathan offered quickly.

Before I could answer, Adam interjected. "As your employer, I recommend you use the guesthouse. It's safer and closer to work."

"I'm fine," I said. "I'll find a hotel."

Nathan looked disappointed but nodded. "Call me if you need anything."

He left reluctantly.

"I think you should go too," I told Adam.

"Thank you for checking on me."

"You're not safe," Adam said. "Someone is targeting you."

"I can't die," I replied. "And I can protect myself."

I turned to pack a bag, but Adam followed me into my room.

"Don't be stubborn. Whoever did this—they may not be able to kill you, but they can torture you."

I spun on him. "You think I'm weak? I've survived centuries."

Frustrated, he lunged to grab my hands. In a blink, I threw him across the room. He hit the wall with a crash.

He stood slowly, eyes wide with shock. "You've unleashed your abilities."

I was panting, heart pounding, but for once, I felt a ripple of pride.

"I guess I have."