Starting this week, I'll also be posting every Wednesday! (I'll be experimenting with the best times to post then, but I'll post an announcement a few minutes to an hour before each update).

This is the first time that I'm doing twice a week updates, so please bare with me!

I will ALWAYS post on Sunday, though :)

Hope you enjoy!

Mark numbly entered his newly-cleaned room and lingered in its center, staring through the single window in the darkness. Behind him, the Tear Stealer lingered, black robes fluttering at his feet.

    "So, I..." Mark's brows furrowed, his fists clenching as he swallowed harshly. "So I have no say in this?" He swallowed, hating the sound of his voice in the tiny room. His body trembled. "This is what you meant by keeping me, wasn't it... you don't want to kill me because you— you want to use me."

    He turned around, meeting red eyes, and Dark sighed, closing the door behind them with a faint click. The room became a few degrees dimmer without the lights in the hallways, casting shadows across their faces.

    "There's no point arguing," said Dark firmly.

    He stared evenly at Mark, red eyes gleaming in the darkness, and the human searched for words, hands flailing and mouth bobbing for an answer.

    "Y-you want me to kill Antinstine," said Mark, staring heatedly at the Tear Stealer, ignoring him. "One of the most feared Evolveds in America." His chest tightened, and he threw his hands in the air, desperation in his eyes. "I—I can't even fight you guys, so how am I supposed to kill the strongest Evolved—"

    Dark stepped forward, and Mark drew back, swallowing thickly. A domineering aura bled through the Tear Stealer, his robes practically bristling with him.

    "When it comes to my family," said Dark, voice low and growling, "I will do anything—anything—to keep them safe." He rose to his full height, towering over Mark. "And if it means sending you to the Other Side, I will not hesitate to go through with it."

    Mark shuddered, breaths shallow. "Just because I'm a human doesn't mean you can throw me out like trash," he spat, voice shaking. "Y-you can't just—use me to your own benefit! If you made a deal, then you have to go through with it—!"

    "Bullshit," yelled Dark, and Mark flinched, breaths uneven. "You know nothing—"

    "How am I supposed to know anything?" he shouted, throwing his arms in the air. Dark leaned away from the outburst. "I'm a goddamn human—not an Evolved like you! How am I supposed to learn how you guys work, o-or know what abilities you have, or what sides you're on—when there's been nothing out there for me to learn from? You give us nothing—absolutely nothing! You hide in the shadows, prey on us, kill us—"

    "That's not us—"

    "Then clarify it!" cried Mark. "How the hell are we supposed to know a thing when you don't tell us anything?! You can't just assume that humans know all about Evolveds!" He huffed, scoffing and glancing aside with a fiery gaze. "For all I know," he hissed, "Antinstine could be the good g—"

    "Don't even start—"

    "Then explain," Mark ordered. His shoulders heaved, breaths heavy. The Tear Stealer drew back, jaw set tight, and Mark's lip quivered, voice faltering. "Explain everything." He thickly swallowed, shaking his head and forcing back the tears. "To me." He shakily exhaled. "Please."

    Dark lingered, flexing his fingers for a moment, then sighed. He ran a hand through his hair, turning to face the door—away from Mark's dejected, heated gaze.

    "Antinstine and I," he said quietly, pressing his hand against the door, "have very different... values." He dropped his hand, listening to Mark's shaky breaths through the quiet of the lightless room.

    "While I strive for peace among Evolveds, he wishes to obtain absolute power over them. Kill those who are weak— including humans— so that we'd run the world." Dark scoffed with a shake of his head. "'No weak man standing,' as he says."

    He turned around, gazing steadily at Mark, who swallowed.

    "Then why are you sending me there—a human?" whispered Mark. "He'll kill me."

    Dark shook his head, leaning against the door. "The others said the same thing," he muttered. "But if Anti really did try to kill you..." His eyes glimmered. "Well, he'd start a war." Mark gave him a face of unease, not believing a single word. "He knows better, Mark."

    Mark rested against the windowsill, hands gripping its edges.

    "And how am I going to kill him?" said Mark, staring at the Tear Stealer, dread tightening in his throat. "I don't have any abilities."

    Dark's red eyes glimmered, his face stoic and drawn back. "We have four weeks," he said softly, yet his voice was still firm. "That gives us enough time to plan and for us to... educate you, so to speak."

    Mark thickly swallowed, accepting his fate. He leaned forward, gaze unwavering from the Tear Stealer's red eyes. "How can you even trust me?" he tested, eyeing Dark's unreadable features. "I tried to kill you."

    Cibil's name rang in Dark's head again, and he lingered, mulling over an answer. He carefully inhaled. "Mark," he breathed, "when I spoke with the foreseer... she—"

    He stopped himself, unable to bring himself to say it. Mark shook his head, waiting for him to continue.

    "She what?"

    "I have to go," said the Tear Stealer, opening the door. "We'll talk more tomorrow."

    Mark jumped to his feet, stepping forward. "Wait, what—?"

    Dark halted as he closed the door, lingering, then glanced over his shoulder. They met eyes again, that electricity thrumming in the air, and he said quietly:

    "I trust you."

    Mark blinked, brows furrowed in confusion, and the door shut before he could say another word. He reached for the door and tugged on the handle, surprised to feel it fling open, and jumped out into the hallway.

    "Dark—!"

    He glanced down the halls, left, right, straight ahead, but he was gone, no robes in sight. Mark cursed, stamping his foot on the ground and slamming the door shut.

    "What did I get myself into," he hissed, tugging at his hair. He shook his head, chest tightening. "God, why am I such an idiot?"

——— 

Xilef met Dark's eyes calmly as he entered his room, hands folded and pressed against his lips as if in prayer. His legs were crossed beneath his desk, black voids for eyes glimmering.

    "So?" asked Xilef, voice low and quiet. "Are you sure about this?"

    "Four weeks," breathed Dark with a nod, sitting at the edge of Xilef's bed. "We have enough time."

    "But can he mimic our manners? Our speech?" He motioned his hands. "The way we carry ourselves?"

    "He's confident in his killing," said Dark, unclipping his robes and settling them onto the bed. Xilef's eyes lazily followed the black fabric. "We'll work around that." He gazed down at the ground and sighed, his fingers tightening in the sheets.

"It's going to work," he said softly.

    "Is it because of Cibil?" asked the Aurist, standing from his seat and joining Dark's side, the weight shifting on the bed. When he didn't receive an answer, he tilted Dark's chin up with a delicate finger, staring him in the eye. "She showed you more than what would happen... didn't she."

    Dark nodded. "Only glimpses," he whispered. "But she... she isn't on anyone's side." He faltered in Xilef's touch. "That's what makes it so unnerving."

    Xilef processed his words, eyes running over the lines in the other's face. "We still have to be careful," he said. "She could have given you just enough as a ploy."

    "Antinstine will die," said the Tear Stealer firmly, though his voice was a mere whisper in the room. "Though it's not entirely clear whether Mark will be his end or not."

    "Dwelling on the future is stressful for the mind," said Xilef as he leaned closer, breath fanning over Dark's face. "You need to relax for a night."

    Xilef leaned in, lips brushing against Dark's, but he pulled away, gently pushing Xilef's hand down.

    "No," said Dark softly. "Not this—" He motioned to the space between them. "Anymore."

    Xilef's eyes glimmered, and he frowned in the slightest, disappointed with the response. "You aren't with Mark, yet," he tried reasoning, but Dark carefully stood and picked up his robes, draping them over his arm.

    "Perhaps another time," Dark said, bowing his head in the slightest. "I'll retire to my rooms, now." He gazed at Xilef, their eyes locking, and turned away. "Good night, Xilef."

    "Night," he replied, watching the Tear Stealer leave his quarters to his own room. His eyes glimmered with distaste, and he clenched his jaw, resentment brewing towards Mark. He scoffed, glancing aside with furrowed brows.

    "Cursed human," he spat.

Is that a subplot I smell...?

Also, I just wanted to give a big thank you to everyone reading this story! I honestly didn't expect many people to read this—especially after being gone for so long—but you've surprised me as always! :) Again, thank you so, so much for your support and all of your kind comments. Sometimes I'll read over them and I'll have the widest smile on my face. I'll even look insane bc I'm so giddy 😂

I hope you have a wonderful day, and keep being you!

Kassian <3<3