The Brotherhood Of The Damned.

7:52 PM.

The air outside Fang & Flame felt heavy, thick with the weight of choices I wasn't ready to make. Time was running out, each second a hammer against my skull, pushing me toward a decision I wasn't sure I could handle. My phone buzzed in my pocket—a reminder of the impending deadline. Eight o'clock. Only eight minutes left.

I glanced at Lawrence, who stood a few steps behind me, his arms crossed. His face was unreadable, but I could see the tension in the set of his jaw. Every instinct in me screamed to listen to him, to turn away from whatever Conrad had in store. But the gnawing curiosity, the desperate need to understand what Conrad wanted with me, refused to let go.

Lawrence's voice broke the silence, low and stern. "You don't have to do this, Kyon. It's not too late to walk away."

I swallowed hard, trying to ignore the growing sense of dread pooling in my stomach. "If I don't show up, he'll come after me anyway. He's not the type to let this slide."

Lawrence's expression darkened. "You think he'll just let you walk away? That's exactly what he wants you to believe. He's playing you."

Sia, standing beside me, shifted uncomfortably, her eyes flickering between Lawrence and me. "We don't have time for this," she said, voice tight. "If we're going to do this, we need to decide now."

Her words felt like an echo of my own thoughts. Time wasn't on our side. And the more it dwindled, the harder it became to think clearly.

Varvaya's warnings churned in my mind. "Conrad is old. He will test you in ways you aren't prepared for. If you show weakness, it's over. If you lose focus, it's over. If you agree to his terms… you're as good as dead."

Yet here I was, stuck between options that all felt like losing plays.

The clock on my phone glowed mockingly. 7:53 PM.

I ran a hand through my hair, my thoughts racing. "I don't see any other option. If I face him now, maybe I can get some answers. Maybe I can figure out what this is all about."

Lawrence's eyes burned with frustration, and for a moment, I saw something else there—fear. "You're not ready for this, Kyon. You've never faced anyone like Conrad before. He doesn't just play the game. He rewrites the rules. And once you're in his world, there's no easy way out."

I clenched my fists, feeling the faint hum of my Flux stirring beneath my skin. I wanted to believe I could handle this. I wanted to believe that I had something Conrad wanted, that I could turn the tables. But deep down, I knew the truth.

"I don't have a choice, Lawrence." My voice was quiet, but the words felt like a confession. "I have to know what he wants from me."

Lawrence's gaze softened, but the worry never left his eyes. "You're not just putting yourself at risk, Kyon. You're dragging everyone around you into this. I'm telling you, this isn't just about you anymore. It's about all of us."

The weight of his words hit me harder than I expected. For the first time, I felt the full responsibility of my decision pressing down on me. If I went to Conrad, it wouldn't just be my life on the line. I was putting Sia, Lawrence, and anyone else I cared about in danger.

Sia placed a hand on my arm, her touch grounding me. "I'm not going anywhere, Kyon. If we're walking into a trap, we're doing it together."

Her words—simple, yet so full of loyalty—made my chest tighten. I wanted to protect her, to keep her safe from all this madness. But she was right. She wasn't backing down. And in a way, neither was I. The clock was ticking, and we were running out of time.

7:55 PM.

Lawrence's voice dropped to a whisper, but it carried the weight of an entire history of warnings. "Conrad doesn't just command respect. He demands it. He's not like the others, Kyon. You think you can stand tall in front of him, but I promise you, he'll try to break you. He doesn't just take power—he makes it his own. And if he's interested in you, it's not just because of what you are. It's because of what you could be. You have no idea how dangerous that is."

The truth of his words sank deep, and I could feel a cold sweat breaking out across the back of my neck. For all my bravado, all my desire to walk into that meeting with my head held high, I knew Lawrence was right. Conrad wasn't just powerful—he was ancient, far older than anyone I had met. And he would see me for what I was. But would he care about what I could become?

I shook my head, trying to push those thoughts away. "I can handle it. I have to handle it."

Lawrence's eyes locked onto mine, fierce with a protectiveness that I couldn't ignore. "Just don't let him get inside your head, Kyon. You're not ready for that. Don't let him see your weaknesses."

I clenched my fists, my Flux stirring faintly at my fingertips. A subtle warmth spread across my skin, a reminder of the power I barely understood. The temptation to rely on it—to let it shield me—was almost overwhelming.

But would it be enough against someone like Conrad?

The thought chilled me.

Sia nudged me, drawing my attention. Her gaze was fixed on something—or someone—across the street. "We've got company."

A woman approached, her stride deliberate and unhurried, as if the world bent to her schedule. She was young-looking, with sleek, dark hair that framed a strikingly pale face. Her tailored grey suit fit her like a second skin, the crisp lines accentuating her sharp, almost predatory presence.

Sia tensed beside me, her Flux crackling faintly in the air between us.

The woman stopped a few feet away, her crimson-painted lips curving into a smile that didn't reach her cold, calculating eyes.

"Kyon," she said, her voice smooth, like silk draped over steel.

I squared my shoulders. "Who's asking?"

Her smile widened, and it sent a shiver down my spine. "You already know who I represent."

The weight of her words hung in the air, the implication unmistakable.

"Conrad," Sia spat, her tone venomous.

The woman's gaze flicked to her, amusement flashing briefly before she returned her attention to me. "The master grows impatient. You've been summoned for eight o'clock. He does not appreciate tardiness."

Her words were measured, polite on the surface, but there was an undercurrent of menace that was impossible to ignore.

"What happens if I don't show up?" I asked, my voice steadier than I expected.

The woman tilted her head, studying me like a specimen under glass. "Then you'll learn why Conrad's invitations are not to be declined."

"Sounds like a threat," Sia said, stepping forward.

The woman's eyes flicked to her again, cold and dismissive. "It's not a threat. It's a certainty."

The air around us seemed to grow heavier, as if her very presence was leeching the oxygen from the street.

"I didn't ask for any of this," I said, my frustration bubbling to the surface. "Why is Conrad so interested in me?"

The woman's smile returned, sharper now. "The master doesn't explain himself to me—or to you. But if he's summoned you, it's because he sees potential. Don't waste it."

Her words cut through me, like a cold knife. I was running out of time. The pressure was suffocating. The clock on my phone read 7:57 PM.

Lawrence stepped forward, his tone suddenly sharp. "Tell Conrad he's wasting his time. I'm not going to let him manipulate you, Kyon. This is madness."

I turned to face Lawrence, my mind reeling. "And what do you suggest I do? Wait here and hope he forgets about me?"

His jaw clenched. "You should walk away. There are other ways to get answers. You're just handing yourself over to a predator."

I didn't have an answer. Not one that would make sense to him, anyway. I could feel my grip on the situation slipping, the pressure mounting, until it felt like I was suffocating under it. There was no way out but forward.

I looked back at the woman. Her expression hadn't changed—still calm, still unreadable. She didn't seem the type to bluff.

"Fine," I said, my voice low. "Tell him I'm coming."

The woman nodded, her smile returning to its practiced neutrality. "He'll be pleased to hear that."

She turned on her heel and walked away, her heels clicking against the pavement until she vanished into the shadows.

7:59 PM.

I turned to Sia, desperation creeping into my voice. "If I go, there's no telling what'll happen. But if I don't…"

"You think running will fix this?" Sia interrupted, her voice sharp. "He'll just come after you. After us. At least if you face him now, you might have a chance."

Her words hit harder than I wanted to admit.

Sia exhaled sharply, her shoulders relaxing slightly. "So, what's the plan?"

I shook my head. "I don't have one."

Her eyes narrowed. "We need something, Kyon. You can't just walk in there blind."

The thought of facing Conrad without a plan was terrifying, but what choice did I have?

I took a deep breath, my Flux simmering just below the surface. "We'll figure it out as we go."

"That's not exactly comforting," Sia muttered.

"It's all I've got," I admitted.