Beneath the Surfaces
The tension inside the room was heavy, thick with the weight of silence. Selene sat on the cold floor, her back resting against the smooth concrete wall, her mind sharp despite the exhaustion clawing at the edges of her thoughts.
Lucian thought this would break her, that isolation would weaken her resolve but he had underestimated her before, and he was doing it again.
Her body ached from the stiffness of remaining in one place for so long, but she refused to show weakness. This was a battle of endurance, not just survival. If she gave in now, she would even begin.
The lock on the door clicked. Selene straightened, keeping her expression blank as the heavy steel door swung open and Lucian stepped inside.
He didn't rush, didn't demand anything. He moved like a man who had already won, and that alone made Selene more determined to prove him wrong.
'You look tired," Lucian observed, his voice smooth, almost soft. Selene lifted her chin. 'And you look predictable."
Lucian chuckled, stepping further into the room. The door remained open behind him, but she knew better than to see it as an opportunity. There were guards just beyond that threshold, even if she made a move now, she wouldn't get far.
Lucian folded his hands behind his back, his gaze steady. 'You're wasting time, Selene." Selene arched her brow. 'Is that what this is? A countdown?" Lucian exhaled, shaking his head. 'I gave you a chance to make this easy," he murmured. 'But you're choosing the difficult path."
Selene didn't flinch. 'You're mistaken if you think this is a choice." Lucian's lips twitched slightly as if her resistance amused him. 'Everything is a choice." Selene held his gaze. 'Then you've already made yours."
Lucian's expression didn't change, but something in his posture shifted. She wasn't breaking, wasn't bending either and that frustrated him more than he let on.
A tense silence filled the room before he finally sighed. 'Very well." He turned toward the door, but before stepping out, he glanced back at her. 'You can sit in here as long as you want," he said smoothly. 'But the longer you resist, the worse it gets for the people you care about." Selene's stomach tightened, but she didn't react.
Lucian studied her for a moment longer before stepping outside letting the door click shut behind him, sealing her inside once more.
After some hours or maybe days, time blurred in the absence of windows, of anything to mark its passage then the sound of footsteps.
Selene tensed, listening as they stopped just outside the door, and a second later, the lock disengaged and the door swung open, but it wasn't Lucian standing there. It was Eve
Selene's pulse spiked as Eve stepped inside, her expression unreadable.
'Lucian let you in here?" Selene asked, carefully keeping her voice steady. Eve closed the door behind her, exhaling softly. 'I convinced him." Selene studied her carefully, something was different.
Eve's shoulders were tight, her hands clasped in front of her as if she was holding something back. Selene's stomach turned. 'What did he do?" Eve hesitated. Selena rose slowly, her pulse hammering. 'Eve." Eve finally met her gaze. 'He gave me a choice." Selene's breath stilled.
Eve swallowed hard. 'He wants your loyalty, Selene, and if he can't get it from you…" She exhaled sharply. 'He's going to take it from me." Selene's fingers curled into fists. 'No." Eve stepped closer, lowering her voice. 'I can handle this but you need to start thinking ahead."
Selene's jaw tightened. 'You expect me to just sit here and let him use you as leverage?"Eve's gaze darkened. 'You don't have a choice." Selene shook her head. 'That's what he wants us to think."
Eve's eyes searched hers, desperation flickering beneath the surface. 'Then prove him wrong." The weight of those words settled deep into Selene's chest.
A knock at the door cut through the moment. Eve turned, her expression hardening. 'I have to go." Selene's breath came sharp. 'Eve–" Eve hesitated for a fraction of a second before stepping back. 'Don't let him win." The door opened, and she was gone.
Selene stood frozen, her thoughts racing. Lucian was shifting the game and if she didn't act soon, she wouldn't be the only one paying the price.