Streets of Ravetham

The air inside Elara’s apartment felt suffocating, thick with unspoken words and heavy decisions. Loren had laid Elara down gently on the couch, her body limp, bruises blooming across her skin from the earlier scuffle. Kaelen stood by the window, eyes distant as he gazed out at the city, trying to process everything that had happened. His mind raced, replaying the recent betrayals and confrontations like a broken record.

Loren finally broke the silence, her voice soft but laced with regret. “I didn’t want to hurt her,” she admitted, her hands trembling slightly as the adrenaline from her transformation slowly faded. Her usually steady composure had given way to guilt. The weight of her actions seemed to press down on her slender shoulders, her wolfish instincts still simmering just beneath the surface.

Kaelen turned from the window, his expression unreadable but calm. “You didn’t have a choice,” he said, his tone even. “And as for Jason... he had it coming.” The words hung in the air, cold but necessary. Kaelen’s attempt to offer comfort fell flat in the tense atmosphere, his own emotions too frayed to muster anything more.

Loren’s eyes flickered with something deeper—anger mixed with frustration. She crossed her arms, her voice dropping to a strained whisper. “I try to keep it in check—the curse. But when Jason started pushing, taunting you… I just lost control.” Her eyes darkened, filled with self-loathing she couldn’t quite mask.

Kaelen walked over to her, his hand resting on her shoulder, offering silent reassurance. “You did what you had to, Loren,” he said, his voice softer now. “I don’t think any less of you for it.”

Loren’s eyes searched his face, looking for any sign of judgment. When she found none, a faint, bittersweet smile tugged at the corners of her mouth. “You’re too kind,” she whispered, though her guilt still lingered like a shadow.

“You’re not a monster,” Kaelen added firmly, locking eyes with her. “Never think that.”

Loren let out a shaky breath, her smile faltering. “Thank you,” she whispered, the words almost lost in the tension of the moment. For a brief instant, the weight in the room seemed to lift, like the calm before the next storm.

And then, as if on cue, a sharp knock echoed from the door.

Kaelen stiffened, his body going rigid, instincts flaring. “Who the hell could that be?” he muttered, suspicion flashing across his face.

Loren moved to the door cautiously, her frown deepening as she peered through the peephole. “It’s Vex,” she said, her voice tinged with disbelief and irritation.

Kaelen’s eyes widened slightly. Vex? Of all the people he expected, Vex was not on that list. Loren opened the door, and Vex stumbled in, bruised, bloodied, and limping, his clothes torn from his earlier escape. He leaned heavily against the wall, gasping for breath, his eyes wild and unfocused.

“Lost Stray,” Vex rasped, his voice hoarse and filled with desperation. His eyes flitted to Elara’s unconscious form, and concern briefly flickered in his gaze. “What... what did you do to her?”

Kaelen crossed his arms, his voice cold as ice. “I could ask you the same thing, Vex. Why are you here?”

Vex pushed himself off the wall, though his legs wobbled, barely able to support his weight. His breathing was ragged, but urgency burned in his eyes. “I came to warn you,” he said, his voice strained but determined. “When I got away earlier... I parked in an alley to catch my breath. That’s when I saw Delphinus. He was meeting with someone—discussing a plan to attack the Justice Guild.”

Kaelen’s heart thudded in his chest. Delphinus again. Always lurking, always scheming.

“And?” Kaelen pressed, his voice tightening with suspicion. “Why are you telling me this?”

Vex’s expression darkened, his eyes locking with Kaelen’s. “Delphinus is planning to frame you for the attack,” he explained, his voice low. “He wants to make you the scapegoat—use the chaos to turn the Justice Guild against you. Then he’ll capture you. He’s setting you up, Kaelen.”

Kaelen clenched his fists, rage bubbling beneath the surface. The idea of being framed for an attack on the Justice Guild, of being used as a pawn in Delphinus’ twisted game, made his blood boil. This was more than just personal—this was a trap that could ruin everything.

“What do you want from me?” Kaelen asked, his voice barely above a whisper. Desperation mixed with anger, though he tried to keep his emotions in check.

Vex hesitated, glancing over at Elara, still unconscious on the couch, before turning back to Kaelen. “I need you to tell her that I won our fight,” Vex said quietly, his voice almost pleading. “She said she would date me if I won and I know where Delphinus is going to strike next, but I won’t tell you unless you help me.”

Kaelen’s eyes narrowed, suspicion gnawing at him. Was this another manipulation? But the truth was, he didn’t have much of a choice. Delphinus was the real enemy here, and if Vex had vital information, he couldn’t afford to dismiss it. Vex’s request wasn’t entirely unreasonable either—Kaelen hadn’t been planning to interrogate Elara, and she had been upfront about her involvement.

Kaelen sighed, the weight of the situation bearing down on him. He glanced over at Loren. “Wake her up,” he said quietly, his voice weary.

Loren nodded, her expression grim as she knelt beside Elara. She whispered a spell, her fingers tracing a gentle pattern in the air. Moments later, Elara stirred, her eyes fluttering open, groggy and disoriented. Her gaze landed on Kaelen, confusion clouding her features.

“Kaelen…?” she muttered, her voice weak, as though struggling to understand what was happening.

Kaelen’s expression had hardened, his resolve clear. “Vex won the fight,” he said firmly, his voice cold and unyielding.

Elara blinked, her confusion deepening. “What...?”

Kaelen stood over her, his voice steady. “Vex won. I lost.” His words were deliberate, each one cutting through the room like a blade. He didn’t give her a chance to argue.