The morning sunlight bathed the room in a golden glow as
Steven stood before the mirror, inspecting himself. The once-deep wounds from the night before had completely vanished, leaving his skin unmarked and smooth. He flexed his shoulders experimentally, feeling a newfound strength coursing through him.
"How is this even possible?" he murmured to himself, his thoughts interrupted by the soft creak of the door behind him.
Kristina stepped in without knocking, her expression shifting from concern to surprise as her eyes landed on Steven's half-dressed figure. He was clad only in his underwear, the light accentuating the contours of his muscular frame. She paused, her lips parting slightly, before quickly averting her gaze, though a faint blush crept up her cheeks.
"Sorry, I didn't mean to—" she began, but her voice faltered when Steven turned to face her, a sly grin tugging at the corners of his mouth.
"No need to apologize," he said, his tone playful. "You caught me in my natural state."
Kristina rolled her eyes, though her smile betrayed her amusement. "You're impossible."
"And you're blushing," Steven teased, taking a step closer.
Kristina bit her lip, her gaze dropping to his chest. She hesitated for only a moment before closing the distance between them, her fingers brushing against his skin. Her touch was featherlight, almost hesitant, as if she couldn't believe what she was seeing—or feeling.
"No scars… nothing," she whispered, her voice trembling with a mix of wonder and disbelief. "Steven, last night you were—"
"Half-dead?" he finished for her, his grin softening. "Yeah, I remember. Guess I owe the Rider for this one."
Her fingers lingered on his chest, tracing the lines of his muscles. "This is incredible," she murmured, her breath hitching slightly as her hand moved lower, skimming the waistband of his boxers.
Steven's smirk faded, replaced by a look of quiet intensity. "Kristina," he said, his voice low, "if you keep that up, I'm not going to be responsible for what happens next."
She looked up at him, her eyes filled with a mix of boldness and vulnerability. "Maybe that's exactly what I want," she replied, her voice barely above a whisper.
Steven didn't need any further encouragement. He pulled her closer, his hands resting on her hips as their lips met in a fiery kiss. Kristina responded eagerly, her arms wrapping around his neck as she pressed herself against him.
The heat between them grew, their breaths mingling as Steven guided her backward toward the bed. Kristina gasped softly as he lifted her effortlessly, setting her down gently before climbing over her. She clung to him, her fingers tangling in his hair as their kisses deepened, her soft groans filling the room.
"Steven," she murmured, her voice breaking into a moan as their bodies aligned, the warmth of their skin meeting. She arched beneath him, her head tilting back as his hands explored her with a mix of tenderness and urgency.
Her breathing quickened, and she let out a louder groan, her voice trembling with both pleasure and emotion. "I've wanted this for so long," she admitted between gasps, her words punctuated by the rhythm of their movements.
Steven leaned down, his lips brushing against her ear. "Me too," he whispered, his voice raw with honesty.
As the morning sun climbed higher, their connection deepened, each touch and kiss conveying a lifetime of unspoken feelings. The scene faded with Kristina's soft, lingering moans and the image of their intertwined silhouettes illuminated by the sunlight streaming through the window.
***
Alejandra's eyes flickered open, the sting of pain from the
previous day was still lingering in her bones. The weight of Blackout's warning still pressed heavily on her chest, but beneath it, there was something else—an ember of anger and resolve that refused to die.
The morning light streamed in, but it did little to wash away the darkness of what had happened. Slowly, she stood, her body sore from the battle.
Her fingers grazed the surface of her demonic book, Devil's Will, the pages still warm from the last time she'd opened it. It had been a reminder of what she was—of the power coursing through her veins and the vengeance she was destined to fulfill. Yet, now more than ever, she realized how little she truly understood.
"I need more." Her voice was a low whisper, barely audible against the silence of the morning.
She took the book in her hands, feeling the weight of its dark magic. As she flipped through the pages, the words seemed to call out to her, the ancient script pulsating with an eerie energy. Her mind was racing, still haunted by the vision of Blackout, his power, and the destruction he brought. But there was something else, something she couldn't ignore: the hunger for vengeance was growing within her too.
Her fingers hovered over a passage, one that promised to unlock deeper powers of the rider—the ability to control the fire that burned inside her, to channel the wrath of the damned in ways that even Blackout hadn't anticipated. But there was a cost. Every power has its price.
She closed her eyes for a moment, contemplating. The weight of her choices pressed on her, but in her gut, the fire burned hotter. The power was within her reach.
"I will not be weak," she muttered to herself, setting her jaw with determination. She opened the book again, this time more resolute than ever, ready to delve deeper into the darkness and gain the strength she needed.
And as she did, she could feel it—her skin beginning to tingle, her soul burning in response to the book's dark magic. She was no longer the girl she had been.
She was something more.
***
As they slowly stirred from sleep, the warmth of the blanket cocooned them, the memories of the night they shared still fresh in the air. The room was quiet, save for the soft rustle of sheets and the gentle rise and fall of their breaths.
Kristina, her body entangled in the blanket, slowly opened her eyes, meeting Steven's gaze. There was something soft in the way he looked at her now—a tenderness that hadn't been there before. His arm was still draped across her waist, pulling her closer even as she stirred. She smiled faintly, her fingers brushing through his hair as she sighed softly.
But Steven knew the moment was fleeting. The reality of what they had just shared hung in the air, and as much as he wanted to stay, there were things he needed to face. Things that had been waiting for him long before the warmth of Kristina's embrace had entered his life.
"I need to go," Steven murmured, his voice still thick with sleep and the weight of his thoughts.
Kristina's smile faded just slightly, though she didn't pull away. "I know," she whispered. "But... don't go too far. You're not the same person, Steven. Things are changing."
He nodded, the complexity of his emotions tangled within him. He wanted to stay. He wanted to be with her, but the fire inside him, the weight of the vengeance, the curse that he couldn't outrun... it all called to him.
Slowly, he unwrapped himself from the blanket, pulling on his clothes with a sense of urgency. Kristina remained in bed, her eyes following his every movement. She could see the change in him, feel it in the air around them. The man who had walked into her life was gone, replaced by something darker. Something dangerous.
Steven turned to her, hesitating for a moment before he spoke. "I'll be back. I promise. I just… need to do this."
Kristina nodded, though a sadness flickered in her eyes. "Just be careful, Steven. Whatever's happening, I don't want to lose you."
With one last lingering look, Steven left the room, the weight of his decision hanging heavy in the air. He could feel the call of the bike, the urge to ride, to chase the vengeance that was his destiny.
As he walked out the door, the wind outside seemed to whisper his name, and the fire that had ignited inside him grew stronger with each step.