A Deal with the Devil

The distorted voice echoed through the room, each word laced with quiet menace.  The air was thick with tension, heavy like the seconds before a storm.  Selene's grip on the edge of the table tightened, her pulse steady, but her mind racing. Axel was gone. Taken. And whoever was holding him had just made their first move. Victor smirked, watching Selene carefully, his fingers still wrapped around the phone. 'Now, this is interesting." Selene ignored him, her voice calm but sharp. 'Who are you?" The voice on the other end of the line chuckled, the sound low and mocking. 'Someone who knows exactly how much you hate losing." Aurora inhaled sharply beside her, her hands clenching at her sides. Damian stood still, his smirk fading slightly as his sharp blue eyes flickered toward the phone. Selene didn't flinch. 'What do you want?" The voice hummed thoughtfully. 'Straight to business. I like that." Selene's fingers flexed slightly. 'Tell me what you want." A pause. Then 'I want you to lose." The words hung in the air like a noose tightening around her throat. Selene didn't blink. 'You're going to have to be more specific." Another chuckle. 'You always need control, don't you? Always need the upper hand." The voice lowered slightly. 'Not this time." Selene exhaled slowly. 'Where is he?" The voice ignored her. 'It's funny, isn't it? How power shifts so easily. One moment, you're untouchable. The next? You're at someone else's mercy." Selene's jaw clenched. 'I don't have mercy." The voice laughed again. 'And that's exactly why this is going to be fun." Selene's patience thinned. 'I don't have time for games." Another pause. Then 'Oh, but Selene, this isn't a game. This is war." The call ended. Silence followed. Aurora let out a shaky breath. 'Who the hell was that?" Selene didn't answer immediately. Her mind was already moving, piecing together the possibilities, sorting through the enemies she had made, the people who wanted her broken. Victor leaned back slightly, his smirk widening. 'It seems you've made new enemies." Selene's voice was cold. 'You wouldn't happen to know anything about this, would you?" Victor exhaled, shaking his head in amusement. 'As much as I'd love to take credit, this isn't my style." Selene didn't trust him, but right now, Victor wasn't the immediate threat. Damian crossed his arms, his expression unreadable. 'If they took Axel, they want leverage. That means they need something from you." Selene's gaze flickered toward him. 'And what do you suggest?" Damian smirked slightly. 'You know exactly what I'm going to say." Selene's lips curled. 'Find them first." Damian chuckled. 'Exactly." Aurora exhaled, her golden eyes still clouded with worry. 'What if we don't find them in time?" Selene's gaze darkened. 'Then I burn down everything until I do." Victor chuckled. 'Oh, now that's a threat I can respect." Selene ignored him, turning to Damian. 'Can you track the call?" Damian shrugged. 'I can try. But if they're smart, they bounced the signal." Selene exhaled, tapping her fingers against the table. 'Then we make them come to us." Aurora frowned. 'How?" Selene smirked slightly. 'By making them believe they already won." Damian lifted an eyebrow. 'Oh, this should be good." Selene turned to Victor. 'Make an announcement." Victor tilted his head. 'An announcement?" Selene nodded. 'Tell the world that I'm stepping down from my company. That I'm done. That I've lost." Aurora's mouth parted slightly. 'Selene" Selene didn't look at her. 'They said they want me to lose. Let's give them exactly what they want." Victor studied her, then chuckled. 'You're playing a dangerous game." Selene's smirk didn't falter. 'I always do." Victor exhaled, standing slowly. 'Fine. I'll make the call." Selene turned to Damian. 'Be ready. The moment they show themselves, we take them." Damian's smirk widened. 'Now this is getting interesting." Aurora's fingers curled around Selene's wrist. 'Are you sure about this?" Selene finally met her gaze. 'Trust me." Aurora exhaled. 'I do. That's what scares me." Selene squeezed her fingers slightly before pulling away. Victor was already on his phone, making the call.  Selene exhaled, her mind sharp. This was the moment. The shift. The trap and whoever had Axel? They were about to learn exactly what kind of war they had started. Then her phone buzzed. She glanced down. Unknown Number. Selene smirked. 'Showtime." She answered the call. The distorted voice returned, smooth and mocking. 'Well played, Selene." Selene's voice was calm. 'It's not over yet." The voice chuckled. 'No. But it will be. Soon." Then the line went dead and Selene knew they had just walked into her trap.