Dark sat at the edge of the windowsill in the highest tower, the breeze rustling through his hair. 

    He worried at his bottom lip, fidgeting with a pocket watch like it was a pendulum. It clicked under each flick of his fingers but did nothing to ail his racing thoughts.

    Being here, in this tower-room, reminded him of the night before Mark had first attacked the manor. He remembered standing before this very window, gazing out just like he was now, his mind at unease.

    His red eyes lazily trailed towards the neighborhood of houses in Centauri Park, watching a few Evolveds walk to and fro. A few children played in the park, displaying their powers.

    How could I have done this? he thought.

    The stopwatch thudded against his palm, and he squeezed it, his jaw tensing.

    A series of knocks clipped through the door. Dark shook himself out of his thoughts, gazing out the corner of his eye when the door creaked open.

    "Xilef told me to check up on you," said Equinox, gently shutting the door behind her. Dark huffed and gazed back out the window, eyeing the forest this time. "He told me you shouted at him."

    Dark scoffed. "He was getting on my nerves."

    Equinox smiled, gaze going soft. She walked forward, heels gently clicking on the stone floor. Another cold breeze blew in from the open window, chilling the room.

    "You really love Mark..." said Equinox. "Don't you?"

    A muscle in Dark's jaw twitched, and his fingers flexed over the pocket watch in his grip. Equinox took a few more steps forward.

    "I sent him off to Antinstine," said Dark quietly, "knowing that he was unprepared."

    Equinox stayed silent, letting the Tear Stealer speak.

    "No matter how much we've planned, he may as well be... he—"

    Dark cursed and shook his head, unable to finish the sentence. After a while of silence, he gave a pained laugh.

    "Look at me..." he breathed, eyes downcast. "All worked up over a human."

    "Not just any human," said Equinox. She slid off her shoes and set them aside, stepping onto the windowsill and sitting next to Dark. "Mark... he's the key to a different world." She glanced over at Dark. "A better one."

    Dark managed a smile at that. "Every second, I think about Cibil's visions," he said softly. "So far, everything's come true, but... not exactly the same."

    Dark trailed off, turning his head away from Equinox. "She showed me... a future. With Mark." His voice wavered then, his emotions getting the best of him. Equinox rested a hand on his shoulder.

    "That's good, though, isn't it?"

    Dark scoffed out a laugh, though his lips quivered. He hastily rubbed at his nose, trying to suppress the quiver in his voice.

"In one of the visions," he said, "Mark and I are standing on the very top of Antinstine's mansion." He swallowed thickly, clenching the pocket watch in his hand. "We're gazing out over the city... and the lights are the most beautiful I've ever seen."

He shakily exhaled, closing his eyes. "It's nighttime, so it's hard to see... but when I glance over at Mark, he..." He swallowed, breath catching. "He has blood all over him."

Equinox shuddered when he said that. "But... he's alive, though. That's what matters, right?"

Dark breathed hard, shaking his head. "Me, knowing these segments of the future... it changes things. Like I said, the visions Cibil had given me didn't happen exactly as I'd seen them the first time."

He swallowed. "And... if that's true for the rest of them—" He clutched the pocket watch so hard his knuckles turned white, and some of the vials of water in the room began to vibrate.

"Then who's to say Mark won't die?"

Equinox's brows furrowed, and she wrapped an arm around Dark's shoulders, pulling him in close. "Then we'd find a Necromancer," she said, hushing him to try and calm him. She glanced over at the bottles in the room, noticing that they'd stilled in the slightest. "They'd resurrect Mark from the dead, save him—"

"He'd never return the same," said Dark, shaking his head.

Equinox gently sighed, running her hand up and down Dark's shoulder. The fabric of his robe felt soft beneath her fingertips.

"Worrying like this, Edwards..." she said softly. "It does nothing but make you weaker. It's hurting you—inside and out."

Dark sighed, carefully shrugging off Equinox's arm. "I know that. It's just..."

Equinox nodded. "I understand." She eyed Dark, examining his features. After a while, Equinox spoke up.

"Even if the vision did change, Edwards," she said, standing up, "I know you'd do everything in your power to protect Mark."

Dark gazed out at the forest, quiet.

"With you watching over him? Trust me." Equinox smiled. "Mark is far from dying."

Dark glanced over his shoulder, watching as Equinox put on her shoes. Another breeze blew through the room, and when Equinox shivered, Dark couldn't help but chuckle.

"Thank you," he said softly.

Equinox smiled. "There's nothing wrong with worrying," she said. "But don't bottle it up, alright? We're all here if you need to talk. Xilef especially."

"I'll keep that in mind," said Dark, turning back towards the view. Equinox nodded and opened the door, gazing over her shoulder.

"Join us for dinner tonight, will you?" she said. "Focaria's been quite upset you haven't been eating her meals the past few days."

Dark chuckled at that, looking over his shoulder. "Fine," he said, voice playful. "Make sure she doesn't make those dreadful truffles or I'm not coming."

Equinox snickered. "No promises," she said. "Remember what I said, Edwards."

Dark nodded, and with that, Equinox shut the door, leaving him alone once again.

———

Antinstine picked at the dirt under his fingernails, eyeing them with utmost boredom. He sat with his body draped over the throne in his bedroom, legs crossed and hanging over the edge.

    There were two other Evolveds in the room.

    Cibil sat near the large window, gazing out at the city, while Prada stood in front of Antinstine, writing down his requests in a tattered, thin journal. The ink was red like blood.

    "Antinstine," said Prada, pulling his finger away from the journal. "What you're doing here will break history—an admirable feat, no doubt—but—"

    Cibil turned from the window, casting Prada a warning glance through her blindfold. Antinstine took no notice, sitting up in one fluid motion.

    "Once we get rid of the Tear Stealer," said Antinstine, "everything else in the plan will go smoothly."

    He leaned forward for the notebook, and Prada wearily obeyed, handing it over with his puppet-like movements. Antinstine's nails dug into the binding carelessly, flipping through the worn, yellowed pages.

    Anti's eyes caught over one of the notes.

    "This is wrong," he said, pointing at one of the many bullet-points. He handed the journal back, and the markings on Prada's face couldn't help but flutter in irritation.

"Well... maybe, Antinstine, but—"

Anti stood up, glaring at Prada and walking forward.

"I have been planning for this moment ever since that godforsaken day, Prada," spat Anti. Electricity sparked behind his eyes. "Are you doubting me?"

"No, Antinstine—"

"Then I want you to listen carefully. The both of you." He gazed over his shoulder to look at Cibil.

"Druid will come here tomorrow," he said firmly. "She will read Viper's mind, and we'll get every ounce of information we can on Dark's pathetic lair. We will memorize his people, their weaknesses, the way they live—and kill them. One by one, do you hear me?"

Prada's fingers twitched behind his back. "Yes, sir."

Antinstine stared at the foreseer. "Cibil?"

She stood her ground. "Who's to say Viper won't get revenge?"

Antinstine blinked, then burst into laughter, clutching his stomach. Cibil flinched, swallowing back her frustration. "R-revenge?" he cried laughing. "Please, Cibil! After what Syl and Ox will do to him, he'd be far from functional."

He snickered, shaking his head to himself. "Speaking of Viper," he said, looking at Cibil, "you have a tour to give him. Make him feel more at home."

He gave a sickening smirk, waving a hand in dismissal. "Both of you, out. I'll see you again when Druid comes."

Cibil forced herself to nod, and she made her way out the door, Prada following. When the door closed, they both sighed. Prada shook his head.

"I can't believe—"

Cibil shushed him, grabbing his arm and pulling them away from Antinstine's hallway. They found a more quiet place in the mansion, their footsteps echoing as they walked.

"I know," said Cibil, gazing over their shoulder and up ahead to make sure they were in the clear.

"You're surprised too," said Prada, looking down at Cibil. "I thought you would've known someth—"

"Just because I can see the future doesn't mean I know everything," said Cibil. "I mean, it's impossible."

"I wouldn't say that."

"Well, I'm too young," she snapped. "And this, well—" She shook her head, smoothing down the lines of her satin dress, then took a deep breath.

"Sometimes," she said, "people make choices that not even fate can predict. My ability focuses on the bigger picture, Prada... And, from what I've already told you..."

He lapsed into a quiet and nodded. "His plan will fail."

Cibil nodded. "We can't interfere until I say so. One slip-up and we could change thousands of lives."

Prada stopped in the middle of the hall, and Cibil looked over her shoulder, examining him.

"Viper..." muttered Prada. "That's not his real name, is it?"

Cibil wavered. "What do you mean?"

Prada gave a weary smile, stepping forward and gazing down at Cibil through caring eyes. "Don't worry, Cibil. No matter who he really is, I made a vow that I wouldn't hurt him."

Cibil huffed in relief, her brows furrowing beneath her blindfold. "Then... how did you..."

"His blood," is all Prada said. They started walking again, and the noise of the mansion began to fade back into life.

"I trust you, Cibil," said Prada quietly. "If a human is what it takes to save our City, then I will protect him until the deed is done."

Cibil smiled at that, and she grabbed Prada's hand, squeezing it softly. "One week," she said.

Prada nodded, placing a hand over hers. "One week."

Thank you so much for reading! What are your thoughts?

Have a wonderful day,

Kass xoxo