When you see this symbol—💎—play the song above! Or play a song from my playlist 'X AMANI' ;)      

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They left the mansion and boarded the limousine alone. Just the two of them—Antinstine and Mark—with the driver closed off by a tinted window.

Memories flashed in the back of Mark's head: the night he and Dark went to X Amani, the night he first saw Antinstine, and the night when everything—for the second time—had changed.

Mark sat in the middle of the seats, now, where Cibil had sat that first ride back to the mansion. Antinstine sat in the same spot—right by the door—closer to Mark than he liked.

The golden gates and the tall hedges of the mansion peeled away as they drove towards the City, which glimmered like a star despite the darkening sky. Noise began to swell around them—honking cars, blaring music, and shouting people—but Antinstine paid no mind to their surroundings. His eyes pierced into Mark's with a ferocity that had his skin burning.

"It's your choice of dinner tonight," said Antinstine, "Celebrity Killer."

A muscle in Mark's jaw twitched, and he gazed at Antinstine through the corner of his eye. He didn't like the way he said his alias like a pet name. Sure, he enjoyed the silent pact killers had—a small, shared nod; a lingering glance; that swelling air of pride when a killer recognized another. But this... this left a sour taste on his mouth.

Mark huffed and wrung his hands together. "I'm not up to going back—"

Home, he nearly said, but he quickly stopped himself.

"—to the humans," Mark said instead, clearing his throat.

Antinstine rose a brow and draped his arms over his seat, studying Mark's features. His hunched frame and the tightness of his features... how his knuckles would turn white when he squeezed his hands together. Anti tilted his head.

"Are you nervous?" he muttered.

Mark blinked, and he stared at Anti in disbelief, suddenly offended.

Nervous?

In all his years of killing, he'd never been nervous. Nervousness meant worry about the kill. It meant doubt in his own skills that the murder wouldn't come through.

Nervousness was for amateurs.

Mark dug his nails into his palms and glared at the floor. "It wouldn't be worth it," he said firmly. "Going to a human city."

Antinstine's lips curled into a grin, and his eyes flashed. "Who said we were going to one?" he hummed. Mark blinked, and when he glanced over, Antinstine was leaning forward, face too close to his.

"No use wasting our time on some simple human," he breathed, gazing at Mark through his lashes. "I thought we'd go bigger."

Mark breath caught, and he leaned away. Dread crawled up his throat.

"What do you mean, exactly?" he said.

The limousine slowed to a halt, and it was only then that Mark realized the floor and the walls of the vehicle pounded with a feral drum. Music swelled in his ears, louder now, rattling like an omen.

Mark looked out the tinted window to find the source, and his face paled.

There, in the trashed street, glowed the bright, neon sign.

X Amani.

———

Xilef sat across from Dark in the carriage, staring at him with crossed arms. Neither of them spoke, letting the sounds of the village fill the space between them. The thud of hooves, the creak and rock of the carriage, the occasional murmur of Evolveds walking by. It would have been peaceful—relaxing, even—but the faint buzzing in their earpieces reminded them of why they were there in the first place.

Dark stared out the window, lost in thought, his fingers loosely hooked on the curtain. The village began to fade, and the dirt road smoothed into stone. Once the first lights and buildings of the City came to view, a dread gnawed at his stomach, and he pulled away from the window as if he'd been burned. The curtain fell back down and swallowed the inside of the carriage in darkness.

Xilef's eyes glinted.

He pulled back the curtain on his side and gazed at the City, letting the vibrant lights stream in. Dark turned his head to hide his face from the glow.

"You used to hate this place," said Xilef quietly. The City swelled with life, bursting with music, color, and noise. He dropped the curtain. "But you miss it now."

Dark didn't move.

"As much as I loathed it," he said, "it was still home to me."

Xilef studied him for a moment, then lifted the curtain again, watching the buildings flit by. He lost himself in the swirling colors and noise, the chaos highlighting his face. His eyes seemed to glow despite being black voids.

"How much have you told Mark?" he muttered, gazing at the groups of Evolveds walking to and fro on the sidewalk or in the streets. Dark hummed in question.

"About yourself," he said. He glanced at Dark through the corner of his eye, studying him. "About your life."

Dark turned towards him. His face was harder to see from where he sat, but his eyes still gleamed bright and red. They glimmered with an emotion Xilef couldn't quite place. Even his aura simmered with uncertainty.

"Not... much," Dark muttered after a while. He held his hands in his lap and sighed. "Not a thing, really."

Xilef hummed, and he rested his head against the side of the carriage, gazing out the window. Skyline lights dazzled in his eyes.

"Then how can you say you love him?" he breathed.

The words cut through the air—sharp and raw. Dark's breath hitched as if he'd been stabbed in the gut. He stared at Xilef—searching his features—but there was no emotion there. Just the blackness of his eyes as they stared out the window, and the monotonous expression he always wore.

Dark opened his mouth to speak, but Xilef cut in.

"If Cibil never showed you the visions," he said, "would you have still loved him?" He glanced over at Dark then, and when they met eyes, the tension between them tightened. "If she never showed you what happened... if you were never prepared for him..." His gaze never wavered. "Would you?"

Dark swallowed, and he huffed out a half-laugh. "If this is about us..."

Xilef dropped the curtain and leaned forward. "Would you?"

Dark searched the other's gaze, eyes flitting back and forth. His brows furrowed. "I... can't answer that," he said quietly. Xilef gave him an imploring gaze, leaning closer, and Dark sighed.

"I treated him differently with the knowledge of the visions," he admitted. "But... even so, I..." His brows furrowed. "I fell in love for who he is—human or not—as a person."

Xilef hummed at that. He lingered there for a moment, searching Dark's face, then leaned back, lifting the curtain and staring out the window. He pressed a finger to his earpiece.

"Eyes," he said, voice withdrawn. "Status."

Their earpieces muffled with static, and then Konray's voice came through the devices.

"They're heading to X Amani," she said with a smile in her voice. "Damn, I'm glad I tapped those lunky guards. They've been chattering—Anti this, Anti that. Celebrity Killer, 'n shit."

Xilef's eyes narrowed, his lips curling in distaste with Konray's upbeat attitude. Dark ran a hand through his hair and cursed under his breath.

"You're sure?" breathed Dark.

"Correct," came Eyes' voice.

Dark cursed again. "It'll attract too much attention going there," he said. "We'll have to look around outside." He looked up at Xilef, eyes alight. "Can you find Mark's aura?"

Xilef fell silent, but gave a firm nod.

🎶 * * 💎 * * 🎶

When the limousine doors shut behind them, Mark flinched.

Evolveds streamed in and out of the club, dressed in scanty partywear. Music thudded so loud it practically knocked the doors down, and even the ground pulsed with the beat, scattering pebbles in their wake. Lights flashed through the windows, blinding.

Mark swallowed, trying to keep himself contained.

"Well," breathed Antinstine, his blue and green eyes shining against the lights. "Are you ready?"

He looked down at him, and Mark couldn't help but shudder. Antinstine's gaze was cold and sharp like glass, cutting into him. He didn't wait for an answer. A smirk curled on his lips, and he walked ahead.

Mark glanced back, hoping for an exit, but the limo was already gone.

Street empty.

He took a deep breath, exhaled, and followed after Antinstine.

They slipped past Evolveds—some stopping to point at them—and once they went into the club, the music collided into Mark with such force that had him winded. The bass rattled through his chest, heavier than his heartbeat. Lights dazzled and glared from all directions, highlighting shadows of swimming bodies. All Evolveds.

Mark gave a shuddering breath, arm brushing against Antinstine's. The music thrummed through his feet, his body—pulsing in his head until it throbbed.

Antinstine's hand slid up Mark's arm, and he gripped his shoulder tight. Mark's breath hitched.

"Well?" came his voice again. It took Mark a moment to hear him. Antinstine's lips brushed against his ear, his breath hot; even with the music, Mark could hear the low gravel of his voice. "Who are we choosing?"

Mark's eyes darted around, the room spinning around him. Everything blurred together, glinting and moving with such ferocity that it stunned him.

Antinstine's fingers dug into his shoulder—a warning—and Mark pointed. Panic flared in his chest. He couldn't choose—didn't want to choose—not an Evolved—

Antinstine looked far off, where a line of booths sat. Mark hoped to god he wasn't pointing at anyone, but when he glanced at Antinstine, his eyes were glittering, and his lips were parted. He ran his tongue over his fangs.

"I like you more everyday, Viper," he said in his ear. "She looks like a challenge."

Mark breathed hard, and a group of bodies parted to reveal an Evolved sitting at a table. She was tall and elegant, with horns curling from her head in a menacing arch. Under the flashing lights, it looked like her skin shifted colors; maybe it did without the lights.

Either way, she was a giant, and she looked terrifying.

Antinstine stepped forward. Mark caught him by the arm and pulled him back. A jolt of energy went up his arm, but he held on tight.

"These people," shouted Mark, staring Anti in the eye. His features looked more menacing under the club ambience. "Aren't they on your side?"

Antinstine blinked at him, as if surprised by the question, but the expression relaxed into a smirk. He leaned forward, nose brushing against Mark's.

"When you were human," he breathed, "you killed your own kind." His eyes went half-lidded. "Didn't you? Celebrity Killer?"

Mark's hand twitched over Antinstine's arm. He smirked and brushed him off, standing up straight.

"Come on."

Antinstine walked towards the Evolved, and Mark swallowed, his heart pounding in his chest.

He couldn't kill an Evolved.

He wearily followed, his legs beginning to tremble.

He had wanted to kill Dark—the infamous Tear Stealer—but he was ignorant then. Now that he knew how they worked, what they were truly capable of—he didn't have any intention of killing them. (Other than Antinstine, of course).

Antinstine slid into the booth beside the woman, and Mark swallowed. There was no turning back now.

Mark walked forward, but Antinstine met his eyes. He made a subtle gesture with his hand: stop.

Mark didn't need to be told twice.

Antinstine flicked his eyes to the sea of bodies, and Mark swallowed, forcing himself to obey. He realized then what the other was trying to do. Antinstine was the lure—the bait. Once the Evolved bit, he would take her somewhere quiet and leave the rest to Mark.

If he were with Ethan, in a bar of humans, he would have been impressed.

Mark grabbed a drink from a nearby table and slipped into the dancing bodies, forcing himself to blend in and sway with the beat. He sent glances towards Antinstine and the woman, body tense. He couldn't hear them, but he could see their lips moving; Antinstine was the embodiment of arrogance and flirtation. His smirk never wavered, and he would lean in close at just the right moments; the woman would blush blue.

It made Mark sick.

His fingers tightened around the glass, his jaw tightening.

A hand brushed up his back.

"You're tense," sang a voice. Red lips brushed up his neck, and he whirled around, meeting eyes with a woman. She rose a thin, perfect brow. "Let's dance, hm? Loosen you up."

Mark shot a glance towards the table; Antinstine was still advancing on the woman.

"I'm fine," Mark managed out. The woman stepped closer and ran her hands up his chest.

"Relax," she sang, eyes half-lidded. She grabbed Mark's drink and set it aside, pushing him further into the sea of bodies.

"Look, I'm flattered—"

Her hand hooked on his waist, and she began to sway against him, hair cascading around her shoulders.

"I'm Scarlet," she hummed, her eyes flashing red. "How about you, sugar?"

Mark glanced over at the table, struggling to see. He caught a glimpse of horns, green hair—but they were separating ways. Then Antinstine was heading his way with a sigh and furrowed brows. The prey didn't take the bait.

Scarlet's hands at his waist suddenly felt like an opportunity.

He had an idea.

Mark gazed down at Scarlet with a newfound energy and hummed, slipping further into the character of Viper. He snaked a hand around her waist and pulled her close.

"I'm Viper," he said. "Say..." He leaned in close, and Scarlet's lips parted, eager. "How about you and I go somewhere quiet?"

It was just a suggestion—not an order—and yet her eyes still glazed over. It surprised Mark. He almost forgot he had the ability—but when the spell began to break, he forced himself to focus.

"You'll come with me," he breathed, careful with his wording. "Right?"

It was a quiet command—barely audible—but Scarlet's eyes glazed over nonetheless. Mark realized that, as long as he was directing the command, the energy, towards his target, then they would still fall under his spell. They didn't need to hear him.

It delighted him in a sick, twisted way.

He passed it as the excitement before the kill.

"Yeah?" Mark prompted, influenced by the energy buzzing all around him. The music seemed louder now—swelling, echoing in his ears. A primal beat urging him to kill.

Scarlet's lips curled into a drunken smirk, and she nodded, leaning into his body. "Yeah," she hummed.

Mark gazed into her eyes. Despite the flashing lights, he could still see a fight deep within her—the life behind the glaze. She may have wanted to go with Mark either way, but her mind still resisted the spell. It was only natural.

Antinstine sidled up to them, rose a brow at the woman, then at Mark. Viper only smirked, eyes going half-lidded; he pulled Scarlet into his side and stared at Anti when he spoke.

"Scarlet," he crooned. "Let's go, hm?"

She nodded, and Mark rose a brow at Antinstine. Anti seemed to swoon then, his lashes fluttering—and he barked out a relieved laugh. His body visibly relaxed.

"You sly bastard," he chuckled. He glanced around the dancing bodies, then flicked his hands to motion 'follow me.'

Antinstine led the way, his presence parting a path through the chaos of bodies. Mark followed with Scarlet at his waist, who was still in a daze. Whenever she was close to breaking out of it, he would whisper a few commands in her ear to keep her under.

His mouth began to tingle.

Antinstine led them to a darker part of the club. He pushed open a metal door, and a gust of wind blew over them. When it shut behind them, it echoed with a clang. The music cut out and muffled, but the ground still pounded. The sudden quiet was alarming.

Mark looked around, blinking away the haze of music and blinding lights. They were in a large, empty street, caged in by tall buildings. The sky looked like a dark void. No stars.

"I'm impressed," Antinstine chuckled, turning around to face him. The three of them stopped in the middle of the street.

"I think you're just relieved I found someone," Mark blurted out. His own brows furrowed; his mouth opened against his control. "Looks like women still reject you no matter what your status is."

Antinstine's brows shot up. Mark blinked at himself.

Where did that even come from?

His mouth tingled with sensation, beginning to edge on pain.

"I..."

Antinstine blinked, then burst into a fit of laughter, the sound ringing in the street. "I'll let that slide this time," he hummed through narrowed eyes, but his smirk had widened. Mark wanted to wipe it off his face—it made them feel too friendly.

Mark swallowed, suppressing a wince at the pain lacing his throat. He pushed it away as anxiety.

"Are we... doing it here?" he asked, looking around the empty street. There was no sign of life around—just the dull thud of music and the occasional cheer from within the club. A gentle breeze rustled past them; it felt too calm and pleasant for what they were about to do.

Antinstine hummed, and he walked down the street, splaying out his arms. He took a deep breath of the fresh air and gave a dramatic sigh.

"Whatever you want, Viper," he said, turning around to face him. "I want to see the Celebrity Killer in action."

Mark swallowed, his throat burning and stinging. He began to grow hot under his collar.

When he killed with Dark, he felt comfortable... at ease. Dark let him go through the motions, let him lead... he stepped back to let him work. Gave Mark space. But with Antinstine, he felt too scrutinized—burning under the spotlight. It was hard to breathe.

Despite his new ability, he didn't have any control. He was a puppet dancing under the strings of Antinstine's will.

His eyes glittered.

Or was he?

"Well..." Mark glanced around and cleared his throat, trying to get the tingling out of his mouth. It only worsened. "This place feels too... clean."

Antinstine rose a brow. Scarlet began to shift at Mark's side.

"It feels staged," said Mark. "I like it when it's..."

He trailed off, studying Antinstine's features. The more he tried explaining, the more he realized Antinstine wouldn't understand.

They killed for different reasons.

While Antinstine killed for power and control and status, Mark killed for enjoyment. He enjoyed scaring the cops and the public—he enjoyed putting celebrities in their place; reminding them that they were human, just like those of lower class.

He enjoyed killing them as his trophies.

He enjoyed the struggle, the grit, and the blood.

He enjoyed his hands around their throat until the life drained from their eyes.

Mark cleared his throat and gave another look around the street.

"Here's fine," he said simply. Antinstine hummed, his eyes glittering, and Mark knew that was the right answer.

"Go on, then," breathed Antinstine, waving towards Scarlet. She was coming out of the glaze again. "I'm just here for the show."

Mark muttered another command in Scarlet's ear, and the fight faded from her eyes. His mouth began to pulse as if he'd been punched in the jaw.

He ignored it, cleared his throat, and walked forward with Scarlet still pressed against his side.

"Actually," he said softly, stopping right in front of Antinstine. His breath fanned over his collar, and Anti's ears went red. "I was hoping you'd lead me through it."

Mark stepped forward, running a hand up Antinstine's chest—and felt his heartbeat; it quickened under his touch. Anti visibly swallowed, eyes alight and searching. It had Mark's stomach churn.

As much as Anti's gullibleness was to his advantage, it still made him sick.

He pressed his fingers into Antinstine's chest and locked eyes with him, a sudden calm washing over him. He tilted his head, reveling in the flutter of Anti's heartbeat, and spoke before he had a chance to think. The words slid from his mouth as if someone else were speaking—as if this someone wanted control. Needed it.

And they would use Antinstine to get it.

"Tell me what to do," breathed Viper, voice low. He tipped his chin up, and a smirk curled on his lips on instinct. "I want to kill her your way."

Antinstine's pulse raced beneath his fingertips.

"Use my hands," crooned Viper, "and treat them as yours."

Mark couldn't believe what he was saying; this didn't feel like him. But with the look on Antinstine's face, and the electricity, the tension, crackling in the air, he had to admit—he enjoyed it.

He enjoyed it a lot.

Viper lingered there, gaze intense... and when he stepped back, Antinstine shuddered, blinking through his daze. His face was hot with color.

Viper's smirk widened, and when his mouth throbbed with pain, he welcomed it.

He enjoyed the control he had.

This chapter was so fun to write, omg. And I'm so psyched for next week's chapter, too !!

Hope you enjoyed UwU

Thank you so much for reading, and have a wonderful day!

Love,

Kass xoxo