22. Zephyr

22

ZEPHYR

The strain in Adelaide's tower room has just kicked up a notch. The air is thick with magick and fear. I can taste it on my tongue, sweet and intoxicating. The Strix circling outside the window are a threat, but they're also an opportunity. An opportunity to show Adelaide exactly what I'm capable of.

I walk towards her, my movements smooth and intimidating. She tenses up, her eyes widening as she watches me approach. She's cautious, and rightfully so.

"You want to know what you're up against, Little Dollie?" I purr, my voice low and seductive. Dark energy snaps the air around me, shadows dancing at my feet. "Are you sure you can handle it?"

Adelaide takes a step back. The fear in her eyes is mesmerising, but there's curiosity. Desire, even. It sends a thrill through me.

"I'm not afraid of you," she says, but her voice trembles slightly.

I lean in closer, my lips nearly brushing her ear. "You should be," I whisper.

The others in the room fade into the background as I focus entirely on Adelaide. I can feel her rapid heartbeat and smell the adrenaline coursing through her veins. It's heady.

"We feed on fear and pain and desire. We can shape reality itself," I murmur, shadows swirling around us. "Bend light and darkness to our will. Your mind, your very soul, are playthings to us."

I reach out, trailing a dark shadow along her jawline. She flinches. "Such a delicate little thing," I muse. "So fragile. So, tempting."

"Zephyr," Corvus's voice cuts through. "That's enough."

I ignore him, my focus entirely on Adelaide. "Do you want to see more, little one?" I ask, my voice seductive. "Do you want to know what true power feels like?"

Adelaide swallows hard, conflict clear in her eyes. Fear wars with curiosity, caution with desire. It's a delicious sight.

"I..." she starts, then stops, licking her lips nervously.

I lean in closer, my lips almost brushing hers. "Just say the word," I whisper. "I can show you wonders beyond your wildest dreams. Or horrors that will haunt you for eternity. The choice is yours."

In a fleeting moment, it's just the two of us. Her eyes flutter shut, and there's a magnetic pull between us, my power beckoning to something within her. A small part of her craves to surrender to the darkness. Her longing is mouthwatering.

But then she opens her eyes, and reality rushes back. "No," she states firmly. "I won't be a part of that."

I step back. A slow, wicked smile spreads across my face. "Are you sure about that, little one?" I ask. "Because I think a part of you is very curious."

Adelaide glares at me, her fear morphing into anger. "You're right," she spits. "I am curious. Curious about how to protect myself from manipulative bastards like you."

Her words sting more than I care to admit, but I don't let it show. Instead, I laugh, the sound dark and rich. "Oh, Adelaide. You can try to resist all you want. But we both know the truth. The darkness calls to you. And sooner or later, you'll answer."

"That's enough, Zephyr," Zaiah says, stepping between us. "We have more pressing matters to deal with right now, in case you forgot."

I step back, my eyes never leaving Adelaide's. She's shaken, but there's a fire in her eyes that wasn't there before. It's intriguing.

"Of course," I say smoothly, turning to face the others. "The Strix. Any ideas on how to deal with our little pest problem that doesn't involve me going out there and annihilating them all in a massacre worthy of the darker places than MistHallow?"

"Seems pretty fucking dark here to me," Adelaide mutters, making me smile. Then she raises her voice. "If you can kill them, what are you waiting for?"

"The Strix aren't just any supernatural assassins," I say. My voice is low, but it carries an undercurrent of power that demands attention. "They're ancient creatures, born of shadow and malice. They feed on fear."

"Like you," she hisses.

My eyes fix on Adelaide's. "In many ways, they're not so different from the Dark Fae. We understand each other, you might say."

Adelaide's brow furrows. "You mean you could control them?"

I laugh, the sound rich and dark. "Control? No, little one. The Strix bow to no one except their master."

"I don't want anyone to die, even if they are trying to kill me!"

"And that is where you need to change, Adelaide. Don't you see that it is you or them? There is no negotiation."

Before she can answer, there is a loud bang, and we all turn to the windows. The Strix are being dealt with efficiently by the Order of the Crimson Shadow. "Took them long enough," I murmur.

"No shit," Ignatius agrees. "Excuse me, duty calls." He grins, and with a swipe of his hand, he uses magick to open the window, and then he turns into a firebird, flying for the opening and hurtling to the ground.

"What the hell?" Adelaide screeches as she rushes up to the windows. I reach out and slam the window closed as a Strix spots his opening and dive bombs straight for us.

"Not today, arsehole," I mutter as it slams into the protective glass.

"Ah!" Adelaide screams as it then explodes, flesh and feathers splattering over the glass in all directions. "What is this? What the fuck is this place?"

"This, Adelaide, is the world you've stepped into. Dark, dangerous, and utterly captivating."

Adelaide stumbles back from the window, her face pale. "I didn't sign up for this," she whispers.

"Oh, but you did," Corvus interjects, his voice surprisingly gentle. "The moment you accepted your place here, you became a part of this world. For better or worse."

I watch as Adelaide processes this. The fear in her eyes is slowly being replaced by something else - determination, perhaps. Or resignation. Either way, it's fascinating to witness.

"So, what now?" she asks, her voice stronger than before. "How do we stop these... Strix?"

"We don't," Zaiah says, stepping forward. "The Order will handle them now. Our job is to keep you safe and figure out who sent them."

Adelaide nods slowly, then turns to face me. "And what about you?" she asks, her eyes narrowed. "Are you going to help or just continue to try to scare me?"

I can't help but smile at her boldness. "Oh, Little Dollie. I'm always helping. You just might not like my methods."

She rolls her eyes, but I catch the slight shiver that runs through her body. She's affected by me, whether she wants to admit it or not.

And that… is progress.