The Sovereign's chambers loomed before her, cold and oppressive, like the man who occupied them. She stood before his desk, her posture rigid, the weight of his scrutiny bearing down on her. Her mask concealed the turmoil within, but it did little to shield her from his penetrating gaze.“You’ve been distracted,” the Sovereign said, his tone sharp and measured.Her voice was steady as she responded, “I’ve executed every task you’ve given me without fail.”“Yet your conviction wavers,” he said, rising from his chair. “I see it in your eyes, hear it in your voice. Something has changed.”She said nothing, her silence an act of defiance, though deep down, she knew he wasn’t wrong. The cracks in her facade were small but there, growing wider with each encounter.“You have forgotten who you belong to,” he continued, his voice colder now. “It’s time you remembered.”Two guards stepped into the room, their presence making her stomach twist. She knew what was coming. Resistance was pointless.
Ezekiel sat in the dimly lit study, papers strewn across the desk in front of him. Maps, lists, and dossiers—all meticulously gathered in his relentless pursuit of a way to free her. His thoughts were a storm, a mix of strategy and emotions he couldn’t suppress. Every time he thought of her—her eyes hidden behind that mask, the scars on her body—his determination only grew stronger.“Daisy,” he murmured, the name a whisper of both hope and pain.He didn’t know how long he could endure watching her suffer, trapped in the Sovereign’s web. But he knew one thing for certain: he wouldn’t stop until she was free.---Meeting with Liam had been his first step, and though he had anticipated resistance, the outright rejection still stung.“Liam, please,” Ezekiel had said, his voice steady despite the tension between them. “I need your help. She needs your help.”Liam had crossed his arms, his expression unreadable. “And what makes you think I’d trust you? After everything? After Louis?”“This
Louis sat at his desk, the dull glow of the single lamp barely illuminating the mess of papers scattered before him. Financial reports, gang operations, and troubling news about the Sovereign’s encroaching power all screamed for his attention. But his mind was elsewhere, replaying the haunting image of her—the masked figure with scars.The memory gnawed at him relentlessly. Could it have been Daisy? Or was it a cruel trick of his guilt-ridden mind? He hated himself for even entertaining the thought.He poured himself another glass of whiskey, the burn doing little to numb the ache inside him. Across the room, Natalie entered without knocking, her expression a mix of irritation and triumph.“You’re spiraling,” she said bluntly, placing a folder on his desk. “We can’t afford for you to lose control now.”Louis glared at her. “I don’t need a lecture, Natalie.”Her lips curved into a sly smile as she sat on the edge of the desk, twirling a lock of her hair. “Good, because I’m not here to
The tension between them had always been an undercurrent, simmering beneath the surface, threatening to boil over. But lately, it had become impossible to ignore. Daisy sat at the edge of the Sovereign's grand meeting hall, her eyes scanning the room as the powerful figures debated alliances and power plays. She could feel his gaze on her—intense, unwavering, and maddeningly familiar.Ezekiel was there, standing among the few who had been granted access as external advisors. His focus was razor-sharp, but Daisy could tell it wasn’t on the room's politics or the Sovereign’s plans. It was on her. Always her.After the meeting concluded, Daisy made her way through the winding halls of the Sovereign’s estate. Her steps were deliberate, echoing against the cold marble floor. She didn’t want to acknowledge his presence trailing her, but she knew he was there. He always found a way to close the distance, and today was no different.“Do you think you can avoid me forever?” Ezekiel’s voice cut
Daisy sat at the edge of a deserted rooftop, her legs dangling over the ledge as the neon-lit city sprawled below her. The air was thick with the hum of distant traffic, broken only by the occasional siren. She exhaled, her breath forming a mist in the cool night air. The trail she had left behind was deliberate—a breadcrumb she knew he couldn’t resist.He would come. He always did.But why? Why was she doing this? Each time, she told herself it would be the last. Yet here she was, waiting, her heart warring between anticipation and dread. She hated this pull he had over her, hated how his presence stirred something deep within her that she thought she’d buried forever.The faint sound of footsteps reached her ears, steady and purposeful. She didn’t need to turn around to know who it was. She closed her eyes briefly, steeling herself.“You’re getting sloppy,” Ezekiel said, his voice low and tinged with worry.She smirked, though it didn’t reach her eyes. “Or maybe I’m just testing you
The room reeked of damp cement and rusted metal, its oppressive silence broken only by the faint drip of water from a leaking pipe. Shadows flickered against the walls, cast by a single bulb hanging precariously from the ceiling. Louis sat hunched in a steel chair, his wrists bound tightly by chains that dug into his skin. Dried blood crusted on his cheek from a deep gash, a testament to the rough treatment he’d endured, yet his eyes still burned with defiance.He wasn’t afraid of them. At least, that’s what he told himself. But deep down, beneath his stoic facade, there was a small, gnawing fear—not for himself, but for those he had failed.The heavy door groaned open, its sound reverberating through the room like a warning. Louis lifted his head, squinting through the haze of pain and dim light. The rhythmic clink of boots filled the silence, deliberate and unhurried.She entered the room with a calculated grace, her black cloak billowing slightly as she moved. A sleek mask covered
The room was oppressive, suffused with a damp chill that clung to Daisy’s skin. Her wrists were shackled above her head, the iron cuffs biting into her flesh. She stood in the center of the punishment chamber, her cloak discarded, her back bare to the cold air. The Sovereign’s heavy footsteps echoed ominously, each step a grim promise of what was to come.“You failed me, Phantom.” His voice was devoid of warmth, each word cutting like a blade. “You, my most trusted. My most loyal.”Daisy remained silent, her chin lifted defiantly despite the weight of the accusations. She had made her choice, and she would endure the consequences.The Sovereign circled her slowly, his presence looming. “Did you think I wouldn’t notice? That I wouldn’t see the hesitation, the weakness? You let him escape.” His voice dropped, chillingly calm. “You, of all people, betrayed me.”She stiffened but didn’t speak. What could she say? He was right. She had faltered when she saw Louis, the memories of their pas
Louis stumbled through the shadowed streets, clutching his bruised ribs as he gasped for air. The Sovereign’s men had made it clear that his escape wouldn’t come easy. Blood seeped through his torn shirt, each step sending sharp jolts of pain through his battered body. But he didn’t care. There was only one place he could go, only one person who might help him make sense of what had just happened: Ezekiel.When he finally arrived at Ezekiel’s residence, he nearly collapsed at the gate. Summoning the last shred of his strength, Louis banged on the door, his bloodied knuckles leaving red smears on the polished wood.The door swung open, and Louis looked up, expecting Ezekiel’s stern gaze. Instead, he was met with the wide-eyed stares of Liam and Dandelion.“Louis?” Dandelion’s voice was sharp with disbelief.“What the hell are you doing here?” Liam demanded, his expression a mixture of anger and concern.Louis staggered inside without waiting for an invitation, collapsing onto a nearby
The room was quiet except for the rhythmic flicker of the lantern hanging from the low ceiling. Its dim light cast warm, dancing shadows over the walls, illuminating the worn furniture and the faint outlines of two figures. Daisy sat in her usual corner, her knees pulled to her chest, her face half-hidden beneath the curtain of her hair. Ezekiel was nearby, his posture relaxed as he leaned against the wall, his gaze fixed on the small cloth bag sitting between them.“You didn’t eat much last time,” Ezekiel said, breaking the silence. His voice was calm, unassuming, but there was a trace of concern in his tone. “I figured I’d bring these along.”Daisy glanced at the bag, her expression neutral. But the faintest flicker of curiosity crossed her face when she caught the familiar scent of freshly baked pastries.“Your favorite,” Ezekiel added, nudging the bag closer to her.Her lips twitched into a fleeting smile she quickly suppressed. She hadn’t mentioned her preferences in years—hadn’t
Natalie watched Louis from across the room, her eyes narrowed as he sat slouched in his chair, nursing a glass of whiskey. His injuries had mostly healed, but the emotional wounds he carried were far from mended. He barely acknowledged her presence, his thoughts clearly elsewhere.She smiled faintly, masking the bitterness that twisted in her chest. Tonight would be the night she secured her future.“Louis,” she called softly, stepping closer. Her voice was soothing, almost maternal. “You’ve been drinking too much again.”“I’m fine,” he muttered, swirling the amber liquid in his glass.“No, you’re not,” she said firmly, taking the glass from his hand. “Come sit with me.”He didn’t resist as she guided him to the couch. She handed him another drink, this one carefully prepared.As he drank, Natalie sat beside him, her hand resting lightly on his arm. “I’ve been worried about you,” she said, her tone sweet and laced with concern.Louis blinked slowly, his vision beginning to blur. “I’m
Natalie stared out the window of her lavishly decorated parlor, her fingers curled tightly around the stem of her wine glass. The late afternoon sun cast a golden glow across the room, but it did little to brighten the storm brewing inside her.The whispers had reached her ears—whispers that shouldn’t exist, whispers that sent her carefully constructed world teetering on the edge of chaos. Daisy. Alive.The name burned in her mind like a brand, fueling a mixture of fear, anger, and something dangerously close to envy. Louis hadn’t been the same since his return from the Sovereign’s clutches. He was distant, restless, his eyes constantly clouded with thought. Natalie knew where his mind wandered, even if he didn’t dare speak it aloud. It wasn’t hard to guess.Daisy.She swirled her wine absently, her mind working through the implications. If Daisy truly was alive, everything Natalie had worked for could come crumbling down. Louis had been hers for years now, tethered by duty and conven
Louis stumbled through the shadowed streets, clutching his bruised ribs as he gasped for air. The Sovereign’s men had made it clear that his escape wouldn’t come easy. Blood seeped through his torn shirt, each step sending sharp jolts of pain through his battered body. But he didn’t care. There was only one place he could go, only one person who might help him make sense of what had just happened: Ezekiel.When he finally arrived at Ezekiel’s residence, he nearly collapsed at the gate. Summoning the last shred of his strength, Louis banged on the door, his bloodied knuckles leaving red smears on the polished wood.The door swung open, and Louis looked up, expecting Ezekiel’s stern gaze. Instead, he was met with the wide-eyed stares of Liam and Dandelion.“Louis?” Dandelion’s voice was sharp with disbelief.“What the hell are you doing here?” Liam demanded, his expression a mixture of anger and concern.Louis staggered inside without waiting for an invitation, collapsing onto a nearby
The room was oppressive, suffused with a damp chill that clung to Daisy’s skin. Her wrists were shackled above her head, the iron cuffs biting into her flesh. She stood in the center of the punishment chamber, her cloak discarded, her back bare to the cold air. The Sovereign’s heavy footsteps echoed ominously, each step a grim promise of what was to come.“You failed me, Phantom.” His voice was devoid of warmth, each word cutting like a blade. “You, my most trusted. My most loyal.”Daisy remained silent, her chin lifted defiantly despite the weight of the accusations. She had made her choice, and she would endure the consequences.The Sovereign circled her slowly, his presence looming. “Did you think I wouldn’t notice? That I wouldn’t see the hesitation, the weakness? You let him escape.” His voice dropped, chillingly calm. “You, of all people, betrayed me.”She stiffened but didn’t speak. What could she say? He was right. She had faltered when she saw Louis, the memories of their pas
The room reeked of damp cement and rusted metal, its oppressive silence broken only by the faint drip of water from a leaking pipe. Shadows flickered against the walls, cast by a single bulb hanging precariously from the ceiling. Louis sat hunched in a steel chair, his wrists bound tightly by chains that dug into his skin. Dried blood crusted on his cheek from a deep gash, a testament to the rough treatment he’d endured, yet his eyes still burned with defiance.He wasn’t afraid of them. At least, that’s what he told himself. But deep down, beneath his stoic facade, there was a small, gnawing fear—not for himself, but for those he had failed.The heavy door groaned open, its sound reverberating through the room like a warning. Louis lifted his head, squinting through the haze of pain and dim light. The rhythmic clink of boots filled the silence, deliberate and unhurried.She entered the room with a calculated grace, her black cloak billowing slightly as she moved. A sleek mask covered
Daisy sat at the edge of a deserted rooftop, her legs dangling over the ledge as the neon-lit city sprawled below her. The air was thick with the hum of distant traffic, broken only by the occasional siren. She exhaled, her breath forming a mist in the cool night air. The trail she had left behind was deliberate—a breadcrumb she knew he couldn’t resist.He would come. He always did.But why? Why was she doing this? Each time, she told herself it would be the last. Yet here she was, waiting, her heart warring between anticipation and dread. She hated this pull he had over her, hated how his presence stirred something deep within her that she thought she’d buried forever.The faint sound of footsteps reached her ears, steady and purposeful. She didn’t need to turn around to know who it was. She closed her eyes briefly, steeling herself.“You’re getting sloppy,” Ezekiel said, his voice low and tinged with worry.She smirked, though it didn’t reach her eyes. “Or maybe I’m just testing you
The tension between them had always been an undercurrent, simmering beneath the surface, threatening to boil over. But lately, it had become impossible to ignore. Daisy sat at the edge of the Sovereign's grand meeting hall, her eyes scanning the room as the powerful figures debated alliances and power plays. She could feel his gaze on her—intense, unwavering, and maddeningly familiar.Ezekiel was there, standing among the few who had been granted access as external advisors. His focus was razor-sharp, but Daisy could tell it wasn’t on the room's politics or the Sovereign’s plans. It was on her. Always her.After the meeting concluded, Daisy made her way through the winding halls of the Sovereign’s estate. Her steps were deliberate, echoing against the cold marble floor. She didn’t want to acknowledge his presence trailing her, but she knew he was there. He always found a way to close the distance, and today was no different.“Do you think you can avoid me forever?” Ezekiel’s voice cut
Louis sat at his desk, the dull glow of the single lamp barely illuminating the mess of papers scattered before him. Financial reports, gang operations, and troubling news about the Sovereign’s encroaching power all screamed for his attention. But his mind was elsewhere, replaying the haunting image of her—the masked figure with scars.The memory gnawed at him relentlessly. Could it have been Daisy? Or was it a cruel trick of his guilt-ridden mind? He hated himself for even entertaining the thought.He poured himself another glass of whiskey, the burn doing little to numb the ache inside him. Across the room, Natalie entered without knocking, her expression a mix of irritation and triumph.“You’re spiraling,” she said bluntly, placing a folder on his desk. “We can’t afford for you to lose control now.”Louis glared at her. “I don’t need a lecture, Natalie.”Her lips curved into a sly smile as she sat on the edge of the desk, twirling a lock of her hair. “Good, because I’m not here to