CHAPTER THREE

Dwindling light streamed softly through the windows of Nectar it was treacherous. Whispered tales of people lured into traps by anguished cries flashed in my mind. Judging from the way she looked and the pure terror in her pleas, this wasn't the case. I reached for the door, but it didn't open.

The Seraph's security system had synced with the vehicle's environment. If I wanted out, I would have to manually bypass it. I wasn't sure how smart that would be. What if by trying to be a savior, I plunged myself and Amalthea into danger? The woman began making her way around the car, stumbling on bare feet.

Indecision warred within me. Apart from that one moment in the woods all those years ago, the brutalities of the night had always been distant spectacles. I'd driven past the occasional skirmish between vagrants or witnessed the ruthless efficiency of the Enforcers in action, but they never directly entangled me.

Now, the safety of distance and detachment had evaporated. I glanced around, trying to see who this woman was fleeing from as I reached for the door again. Thea chose that moment to jump forward. She barked and landed in the passenger seat, the sheer force making the car's interior vibrate.

"What is it?"

I followed her stare to an alleyway, grabbing the steering wheel again as two masked men emerged. One had his face concealed with a garish clown mask, while the other opted for a more understated balaclava. Before I could process the sight, the terrified woman screeched and began to sprint away. The man in the clown mask exhibited surprising speed, quickly closing the gap between them.

He grabbed her by the hair and swung her around as if she weighed nothing. Feeling the need to do something, I slammed my foot down on the accelerator and aimed the car just right to clip him, overriding the braking mechanism. I couldn't get out to save the woman without endangering myself, but maybe this small act might give her a chance.

"Hang on, Thea!"

The impact jolted through the vehicle. I gripped the steering wheel tightly as the Seraph self-navigated. In my peripheral vision, I saw him lose his grip.

Thankfully, he seemed to have taken the brunt of the hit. His body rolled a few feet away, while the woman, though disoriented, tried to crawl to safety. The Seraph's collision sensors immediately reported the impact. I checked over the vehicle diagnostics, relieved the car's reinforced front panel only had a minor dent where it had made contact. The damage would be mostly superficial and barely noticeable.

The roar of an engine reached my ears, and I quickly pulled to the side of the road, granting passage to an oncoming Enforcer vehicle that seemed to emerge out of nowhere. The large utility SUV zoomed past, and the unmistakable crack of gunfire shattered the air. The suddenness of it sent a fresh burst of adrenaline pumping through my veins. I dared a glance in the rearview mirror and was met with a chilling sight. The Enforcers executed both men with brutal precision, their bodies crumpling to the ground.

My heart dropped when they turned their weapons on the woman.

She raised her arms in a desperate gesture of surrender, but it changed nothing. They gunned her down without hesitation. She collapsed beside her assailants, her body lying still and lifeless on the pavement. I jerked the Seraph away from the curb and took off before I became their next target, a sick feeling settling in my stomach. The streets of this city held no mercy for anyone.

I could barely breathe until I finally passed through the barrier gates of my community. I pulled into my driveway, the familiar sight of home bringing a small semblance of comfort. Parked safely, the glow from the city's towering skyscrapers painted distant, silhouetted horizons.

Ophelia's Pulse sat in front of me, its familiar boxy shape oddly bringing another level of comfort. I shut the Seraph down, the gentle hum of its engine transitioning to silence. It felt as if I had been sucked into some twisted dream. The rhythm of my heart was the only tangible evidence of my existence at this moment until Thea nudged my arm, her warmth cementing me in reality.

A sad laugh bubbled up from my chest.

"What a night," I whispered, stroking her soft white fur. Taking a deep breath, I finally pushed open the door, the cool night air wrapping around me like a shroud. I crept inside with Thea, not wanting to rouse anyone from sleep. The lights in our home were dimmed, a silent testament to the lateness of the hour. I tiptoed up the stairs and was almost past Ophelia's room when the door creaked open, revealing her sleep-messed auburn hair, the tight ringlets in a disarrayed mess.

"Hey," she whispered, stepping out into the hallway.

"Hey," I responded, tired but welcoming her company.

She followed me and Thea to my room, her footsteps feather light on the plush hallway runners. Once inside, I closed the door, and the weight of the day seemed to settle between us.

"You look like you've had a rough night," she noted, her eyes sharp.

I sighed before recounting my strange encounter with Aidoneus, sparing her the details of what happened on my way home.

As the story poured out, I watched her expression shift from curiosity to disbelief, and then concern. She crossed her arms and worried her lower lip. "I thought Mom was being her usual paranoid self, but after what happened in the plaza, this doesn't sound good, Kore."

I sighed and removed the clip from my hair. "I know. I'm not sure what to make of it all, honestly."

"Well, waiting around to see if anything else happens isn't the way to go about things. So, what are we going to do about it?"

"We? We aren't going to do anything. I'll figure it out."

She took a step forward, her eyebrows pulling together in concern. "Kore, you can't just—"

"No," I interrupted, holding up a hand to stop her from saying anything else. "I don't want you dragged into this any more than you already would be just by being my sister. None of you. Promise you won't tell Mom and Dad. It'll only make things more complicated."

For a moment, she hesitated, clearly torn.

"Effie."

"Okay, fine. I won't say anything. But this conversation isn't over. Get some sleep."

She gave me one last concerned look and left the room, granting me some privacy. I moved to my grand armoire and grabbed some night clothes before I stepped into my attached bathroom. I started the shower, letting the steam fill the space as I shedded my uniform and got in. The warm water felt like an embrace as it cascaded down, helping ease my tension.

When I was done, I brushed my teeth and started my final skincare routine. I looked into the mirror, the warm light illuminating my features. My heritage was evident in the tanned complexion I bore, a contrast to my stormy blue-grey eyes. My dark brown hair, damp from the shower, reached to the center of my shoulder blades. I usually threw it up in a clip or styled it in a loose braid to keep it off my face. And then there was the mark on my lower right jaw, faint but noticeable. It had an odd shape to it.

Grandma used to apply a cream to lighten it when I was younger, telling me it was a burn scar. As I got older, I began to doubt the truth of that. I had no recollection of burning my face in such a way. It made me wonder why she wanted it hidden. My parents never denied or confirmed what she claimed, and we rarely discussed the mark at all anymore.

I emerged from the bathroom, the warm steam from my shower dissipating behind me . Amalthea had already made herself comfortable on the area rug beside my bed, her soft breathing serving as a gentle reminder of her unwavering presence . Picking up my NyxPhone from the bedside table, I sent Ezra a brief goodnight message. It was more for appearances than anything else. If we really were being monitored, I needed to keep up the facade of our usual relationship.

I switched off the lights and climbed into bed, but sleep was elusive. Aidoneus' unexpected visit to my job and the scene I had witnessed on my way home played repeatedly in my mind, mingling with my already swirling thoughts.

As I pulled the covers closer, I tried to push away the unease lingering in my chest.