Shattered Illusions

The moment Selene struck, everything erupted into chaos. Her muscles burned as she lunged, twisting her body to break free from the guard's grasp. The surprise on their faces was brief, but it was enough. She needed seconds, just seconds, to turn the tide. A sharp elbow to the ribs of one guard sent him staggering back, gasping but she barely had time to pivot before another lunged at her. She ducked, sweeping her leg under him, knocking him off balance. He crashed to the floor, but another was already coming. Eve moved too, her chains clanking as she kicked out, striking one of her captors in the knee. The man grunted, stumbling, but his grip didn't loosen. Lucian sighed from the other side of the room, arms crossed. His expression was one of mild amusement as if he had expected this all along. Selene painted, her pulse hammering. They weren't winning. Not yet then a strong grip clamped down on her shoulder. She spun, but the impact of a fist met her stomach before she could react and pain exploded through her, forcing the air from her lungs. She hit the floor hard. Lucian's footsteps echoed toward her, slow and controlled. Selene forced herself to roll, just in time to avoid another strike. She pushed herself up, ignoring the pain, but a boot slammed into her ribs, sending her back down. Lucian crouched beside her, voice soft. 'You never learn." Selene coughed, tasting blood. She smirked despite it. 'And you never win." Lucian chuckled. 'Don't I?" He nodded, and two guards yanked her up roughly. Eve shouted something, but it was drowned in the haze of movement. Selene's vision blurred for a moment. Her body was screaming at her, but she forced herself to stand tall. Lucian exhaled. 'You had a chance to end this the easy way." Selene met his gaze. 'You talk too much." Lucian's lips curled into a smirk. He loved this game. The battle of words but Selene wasn't playing anymore. Eve struggled, still held back by the guards. Lucian tilted his head toward her. 'It's exhausting, isn't it?" Selene's fists clenched. 'What?" Lucian took a step closer. 'Caring." Selene didn't blink. She knew his tactics and she wouldn't fall for them. Lucian sighed. 'You always throw yourself into the fire for people who would never do the same." Selene exhaled. 'I wouldn't expect you to understand," Lucian smirked. 'Because I think logically?" Selene tilted her head. 'Because you think like a coward." The flicker in his eyes was brief but there. Lucian inhaled sharply, stepping back. His amusement faded slightly then he nodded and the guard holding Eve shoved her forward. Selene barely had time to react before something cold pressed against her skin, a blade. Her heart stilled but not out of fear, she was calculating. Lucian's voice was soft. 'Last chance, Selene." Selene glanced at Eve, then back at Lucian then she smiled and Lucian's expression shifted. Selene's smile was slight, but it was enough to shift the balance of the room. Lucian narrowed his eyes, sensing something had changed, though he couldn't place it yet. The guards still had their hold on Eve, but even she seemed to notice the shift. Lucian took a slow step forward, voice measured. 'What's so amusing?" Selene tilted her head. 'You think you have control." Lucian exhaled. 'Because I do." Selene chuckled softly. Lucian sighed, nodding to the guard holding the blade against her. 'Go ahead." Selene's pulse didn't waver but she didn't resist, Lucian expected fear but he got silence. The blade pressed closer. Selene exhaled, keeping her voice steady. 'You already know hurting me won't change anything." Lucian studied her for a long, quiet beat and then, he smiled. 'You think you've won something, don't you?" he murmured. Selene arched her brow. 'I think you're running out of options." Lucian chuckled, shaking his head. 'You always did talk too much," Selene smirked. 'I learned from the best." Lucian let out a slow breath, his amusement fading. For the first time since this began, he hesitated and that was when Selene moved. Her elbow snapped back into the ribs of the guard behind her, her body twisting before the blade could cut deeper. Pain sliced along her arm, but she ignored it, grabbing the wrist of the man holding her and twisting hard and the knife clattered to the ground. Eve moved at the same time, kicking backward into the shin of the guard holding her. The chaos erupted instantly. Lucian barely had time to react before Selene was on him. She slammed into him, knocking him back against the metal table, and for once, his smirk was gone. Selene's fist connected with his jaw before he could recover. His head snapped to the side and a sharp grunt escaped his lips. Lucian's guards surged forward, but Selene was already moving. She grabbed Eve's wrist. 'Run!" They barely made it to the door before more men rushed in, blocking the exit. Lucian wiped the blood from his lip, exhaling through his nose. 'You never learn, Selene." Selene painted her stance firm. 'Neither do you." Lucian sighed. 'End this." The guards lunged. Selene shoved Eve behind her ' We are not going down without a fight."