The abandoned ballroom reeked of mold and blood.
Selena stood in the center of the shattered marble floor, boots crunching over broken glass and bullet casings. Moonlight spilled through the collapsed ceiling, painting her figure in silver. Her gloves were already off.
"Come out, Corvus," she said coldly. "You wanted me here. I'm here."
Clapping echoed through the shadows.
From the balcony above, a figure stepped into the light—tall, lean, dressed in sleek black like a raven carved from smoke. His hair was silver-white, long and wild, and his eyes glowed with sharp amusement.
"Still so dramatic, Nyx," Corvus purred. "I missed that."
"I didn't."
He leaned against the rusted rail. "You're not hard to bait these days. I just had to whisper a name."
Her eyes narrowed. "Elias."
A slow smirk. "So it's true. The infamous Lady Nyx is playing house with a flower boy. That explains your sudden softness."
She didn't respond. Didn't need to.
Corvus tilted his head. "What would he say if he knew the real you? The bodies you've buried. The names you've erased."
Selena's jaw clenched.
"I wonder," he mused, "what his family would say when I send them your sins, printed and pretty—gift-wrapped with ribbons."
That did it.
Her coat hit the ground in one motion. The blade was in her hand before he finished blinking.
Selena launched up to the balcony with a practiced leap, body moving like a shadow with purpose. Corvus barely dodged her first swing, laughing as he flipped back onto the floor below.
Their fight was brutal. Beautiful.
Steel clashed under broken chandeliers, each movement calculated chaos. She struck low—he countered high. He swept her legs—she slammed a knee into his ribs. They moved like they'd done this before.
Like they'd danced this dance a hundred times.
"You're distracted," he hissed, cutting her shoulder.
"You talk too much," she growled, landing a punch to his gut.
Corvus stumbled. Smiled.
Then pulled a hidden knife and slashed her side deep.
She gasped. Stumbled.
Blood soaked through her black suit.
"Softness doesn't suit you, Nyx," Corvus said, stepping back. "It's going to get you killed."
She stood tall despite the pain, crimson eyes glowing.
"Then you'll die first."
Corvus vanished into the night, injured but grinning.
Selena stood alone, bleeding, breath heaving. Her hand pressed against her side, blood soaking through her glove.
That's when her communicator crackled.
Ryn's voice came through, worried. "Selena, status?"
"I'm fine."
"That wasn't the question."
She ignored it. Eyes fixed on the shadows where Corvus had disappeared.
"He knows about Elias," she murmured. "He's going after him."
Silence.
Then Ryn said quietly, "Get back to him. Now."
Selena nodded once, grabbed her coat, and disappeared into the storm.