Mark huffed as he snapped the man's neck with all the force he could muster, falling against the wall as the man's body thudded to the floor. He ran a hand through his hair, fingers burning and sore, and gave a small, breathless chuckle.

The image of the Tear Stealer faded from his mind as he stared at the dead body, bringing him back to reality. Three weeks had passed since his last sighting of the Evolved, and ever since, he'd been trying to catch sight of him in other places. No one out-of-the-ordinary had showed; only civilians going about their days.

The bloodlust in Mark's veins pumped harder by the day, his mind and hands eager to kill. He'd resorted to random people—nobodies on the street. The desire to kill the Tear Stealer—someone so powerful, so known—send thrills of anticipation down his spine.

Mark panted, pulling his knees up to his chest and staring at the body with half-lidded eyes. Scum. He'd resorted to killing scum.

He collected himself, standing and brushing himself off.

"Soon," he huffed to himself, stepping over the body and leaving it there. "Soon."

———

Three weeks before, the Tear Stealer returned to X Amani, listening to Antinstine's orders concerning the deal. He rode in a carriage, the driver a different man, and soaked in the cacophony of the city. A weight beared down on his chest.

The carriage slowed to a halt in the decimated street, five minutes before nine o'clock. Dark thanked the driver and headed into the barricade of music and people, heading straight for the stone door. As he approached, the door swung open, and Anti exited, scorn in his eyes at the sudden pound of electricity assaulting his person. The bodyguard joined his side, and Anti made eye contact with the Tear Stealer.

They exchanged a look, and the three of them left the club, Anti a few steps ahead of them. Dark made sure to watch every single one of Antinstine's movements.

Once they exited the pounding club, Anti took a deep breath of the cold, fresh air, sighing aloud.

"The electricity in there is terrible," he groaned, running a hand through his hair. "I don't see how anyone deals with it."

"You could go somewhere else," muttered Dark, and Anti sent him a glare.

"Don't even start," he snapped. "You've no idea of the pain you put in me."

The Tear Stealer bristled, and the three of them stood on the edge of the curb, waiting. Anti's foot tapped on the floor in both irritation and impatience, his surroundings irking him. Minutes later, a black limousine pull up, and the doors opened from the inside, displaying a rich, leather interior.

Anti clambered in first, eager to get away from the noise, and Dark followed suit, the bodyguard behind him. Anti and the bodyguard sat at the front of the limo, backs turned towards the driver, while Dark sat at the very end, facing them from afar. The door shut on its own, the vehicle thrumming with life, and began to drive. Dark and Anti maintained fierce eye contact the entire way, no word or sound getting in between them. Only the vague noise from the bustling city passed through.

Twenty minutes later, still uninterrupted, the limousine pulled to a halt, and Anti was the first to break the eye contact. Shuffling sounded in the driver's area, and the doors slid open.

Antinstine exited, then the guard, and Dark reluctantly pulled himself from his seat to follow. The mansion instantly greeted them, looming over with golden arches and buttresses. Its size boasted that of a small town, grandiose and ornate.

The Tear Stealer bristled in his place, the sight of it like an insult to his own home. Antinstine seemed to notice, but didn't point it out, allowing himself a secret smirk.
They headed up to the tall, arching doors, opening to find glossy, marble floor and glittering walls. Chandeliers hung from the ceiling, casting everything in a brilliant light, banning shadows from even the most hidden corners.

The bodyguard eyed the Tear Stealer, and Anti waved a hand in dismissal.

"We're good," he said, and the bodyguard hesitated for a moment, obeying and turning away to one of the (probably) millions of rooms. Dark eyed Anti, face tight and shoulders drawn back.

Anti turned his multi-colored gaze to Dark and smirked, tilting his chin with the slightest air of hubris. "Come on," he said simply. "Let's meet Cibil."

The Tear Stealer's jaw tightened, and Anti led the way through his excessively-elaborate home. Glittering gold, ornate mirrors, paintings of Evolveds—he lived through absolute riches, and it was all because of his power.

Dark's red-soled heels clicked on the marble flooring, which had been polished so cleanly that his reflection shimmered back up at him. A few other Evolveds passed by them, all on Anti's side, sending the Tear Stealer wide-eyed or hateful looks. He ignored it all, focusing on the Evolved before him with utmost concentration.

The hallways began to lacken in their rich lustre, speaking more of a rustic home. Carpet now hugged the floor, swirling designs accentuating its figure. Simple doors lined the halls—bedrooms.

They passed through the hallway, turning through an opening, and an enormous room yawned before them, aching and breathing with history and age. The floors were made of a pristine, brown oak, opening up the room. Upon standing at the foot of it, it felt like the room were the size of the mansion itself. To their left, rustic curtains were tucked away to reveal the tall windows that reached the ceiling in arcs.

"There she is," said Anti, breaking their long silence. Dark turned his eyes towards the center of the gigantic room, finding a young girl. A silk, pastel blue gown flowed down her lithe figure, ghostly on her pale, porcelain skin.

"Cibil," said Antinstine as they approached, and she turned her head, white-blonde hair falling over her shoulders. A pale blue blindfold hung gently across her eyes.

"Antinstine," she greeted, willowy fingers gathering in her lap. She gazed at the Tear Stealer, lightly bowing. "Edwards."

The Tear Stealer bowed his head in return, unsure if the girl could see his gesture.

"Now, you remember why Dark is here," said Anti. "Only answer when you're ready."

Cibil gave a pale, thin-lipped smile. "I'm ready now," she said. "I can already sense what he wants to ask." She turned to him. "He has many questions... but something keeps him from such curiosity."

Anti rose a brow at that, and Dark shot him a look.

"Well, go on," teased Anti. "Why don't you ask away, Dark?" He grinned, fangs gleaming. "If that's alright with you, of course," he said to Cibil. The girl mimicked his grin.

"I'd love to," she said, a sadistic lilt to her voice. Dark clenched his jaw, and Anti lightly hit his shoulder, urging him to get on with it.

Dark took a deep breath and sighed, staring at where Cibil's eyes would be. "There is a human who plans to kill me," he said carefully, trying to ignore Anti's sweltering presence at his side. "I'm sure you can see him now."

Cibil gently lifted Dark's hand, holding it in both of her own. She nodded.

"I want to know when he'll attack," continued the Tear Stealer.

Cibil's fingers gently traced Dark's fingers as she looked into the near future, her touch cold. A silence fell over them, permeated only through her soothing hums. Suddenly, her finger stopped, and cold bled into Dark's hand at the contact. A vision.

"He'll attack in three days," she said. Anti shifted in his place, ready to leave now that the favor had been made, but she continued. "He's going to sneak in through the window—in one of the empty quarters." As she spoke, vague flashes of the future echoed in the back of Dark's head, faintly showing what Cibil could see, but not the full picture.

She began to trace the outline of Dark's hand again, this time backwards. "Upon knowing this information, your position is no longer in bed, but in the main hall. Standing in waiting to set your eyes upon the human." There was a flash of him standing next to Xilef.

A smile graced Cibil's lips, and the Tear Stealer leaned forward in the slightest, his attention sharp on her words and reactions.

"You're eager," she whispered, "even now."

A thrum pulled through Dark's chest, and he pulled away. Cibil, a step ahead of him, tightened her grip on his hands before he could even move. The Tear Stealer bristled, and Cibil's smile widened, enjoying the control she had over the High Evolved.

"You're fond of him," she said, fingernails threatening to dig into his skin. "He will become something great in your future—"

"That's enough," said Dark, blocking the next flash. His jaw tightened when Cibil didn't let go. Anti stepped forward, but Cibil sent a glance at him through her blindfold.

She leaned forward, her presence fluttering with lust at her newest vision. Her brows rose, and she licked her lips; Dark could feel it, too, and it made him uneasy.

"His tears taste sweet," she whispered, breath fanning over Dark's face. He swallowed, eyes widening at the flash of the last sight he expected to see, both repulsed and intrigued. Before he could make full sense of it, Cibil let go of him, and he huffed out in relief. Anti rose a brow at Cibil, then looked over at Dark, whose face gained a red hue.

"What the hell just happened?" he asked, voice cutting. Cibil's smirk widened.

"I let him have some hope," she said, teeth gleaming white beneath supple lips. Dark refrained from glaring at her, and Cibil folded her hands in her laps innocently.

"Don't worry, Edwards," she muttered. "I'm eager for what happens."

The Tear Stealer collected himself, glancing away. "Thank you," he said quietly. Anti met his gaze, and they shared a nod. Anti gave his own thanks before leading Dark out of the large room, taking them back the way they came.

"Whatever she showed you," said Anti with a grimace, "I don't like it."

"Trust me," snided Dark, lower belly thrumming at the thought. "I didn't either."

Despite his words, something in his chest tugged in resistance, telling himself he was lying. He shook his head, and they stopped at the main doors.

"Remember," said Anti, aura threatening. "In one month, you give me one of your people."

Dark's jaw twitched, and he nodded, gaze intense. "One month," he echoed. "I'll see you then."

Anti grinned, fangs gleaming, and waved a hand. "Have a terrible night," he bid, and Dark rolled his eyes, pushing through the enormous doors and exiting the grand mansion. He took a deep breath, looking up into the night sky, and let the vision fragments swarm his head.

And as he fully embraced the visions, his eyes flew open and he gasped for air, clutching a hand to his racing chest, eager and surprised for what was to come.

Thank you so much for reading!

Have a great day,
Kassian 🖤