AI Aurora Carter's fingers hovered over the peephole, her heart pounding in her chest. The pounding on the door had grown incessant, an unwelcome echo through the quiet flat. She had been up half the night poring over ancient scrolls, only to wake to this jarring interruption.
Taking a breath, she slid back the three deadbolts securing the door and turned the handle. Aurora opened it a crack, immediately coming face-to-face with a pair of intense heterochromatic eyes — one amber, the other a deep, fathomless black. The man's gaze held her for a moment, sending a ripple of recognition through her. It was Lucien. Of course, it would be.
"Rory," he said, his voice like smooth velvet over gravel. The use of her nickname, a childhood familiarity, sent a chill down her spine. He hadn't called her that in years.
Aurora's mouth went dry as she took in the sight of him. Lucien looked every bit the debonair half-demon she remembered, his sleek platinum hair slicked back, wearing an expensive charcoal suit that accentuated his tall, lean frame. His ivory-handled cane — a dangerous weapon in disguise — hung casually by his side.
"It's quite the welcome," he continued, his voice laced with amusement. "Locking me out in the cold. I'm hurt, truly ."
Aurora glared at him, her heart racing as much from the sight of him as from her annoyance. "I wasn't locking anyone out, I was sleeping. And you certainly didn't call ahead."
Lucien smirked, that familiar mischievous tilt to his lips sending a pang of mingled attraction and irritation through her. "Sorry to ruin your beauty sleep, ma belle. I rather hoped you'd invite me in. It's urgent."
She bit back a retort, stepping aside to let him in. The scent of his cologne, something rich and mysterious, teased at old memories. As he stepped over the threshold, Ptolemy, her tabby cat, meowed loudly in protest, clearly unsettled by the visitor.
"You're a hard woman to track down these days," Lucien remarked as he looked around the cramped flat, taking in the piles of books and scrolls with a raised eyebrow. "This is rather cozy."
"I've been busy," Aurora replied curtly. It was none of his business that she had buried herself in research, trying to make up for lost time and learning all she could about the supernatural world she had recently discovered existed. "What do you want, Lucien?"
Leaning his cane against the wall, he brushed invisible dust from his shoulder. "That's more like it. Direct as ever, are we? I need your help, Rory."
Aurora's eyes narrowed . "My help? With what?"
"There's a job I can't do solo. I need someone with your particular talents."
"And what talents would those be?" She crossed her arms, her gaze steely. She wasn't going to make this easy for him.
"Your quick mind, your resourcefulness," he said, his gaze unwavering . "And let's not forget your charming way with trouble. We complement each other rather well, after all."
Aurora scoffed, remembering how well that 'complement' had turned out the last time. "We haven't spoken in over a year, Lucien. And the last time we worked together, I nearly died."
He flinched, his amber eye flickering with something akin to guilt. "I know, and I'm sorry for that. I've come to make amends. And to offer you a significant sum for your talents."
Sighing, Aurora turned away, running her fingers through her shoulder-length black hair. Ptolemy jumped onto the windowsill, his green eyes fixated on Lucien, mirroring Aurora's own skepticism. "Why should I trust you?" she asked. "You've always operated by your own rules."
"Because I'm here, aren't I?" Lucien replied, stepping closer, his voice softening. "Despite our...complicated history, I've come to you, asking for help. Not many can navigate the Netherworld as well as we did as a team. And I need that again."
Aurora's chest tightened as she remembered the rush of shared danger, the thrill of discovering the supernatural world together. Lucien's presence awakened something deep within her, an itch she couldn't quite scratch. "And if I say no?"
"Then I'll be worse off and you'll miss out on a substantial payday," he said with a shrug. "But I'm hopeful. We have a common enemy now, Rory. Someone connected to your abusive ex."
Aurora stiffened, her fingers involuntarily brushing over the small crescent-shaped scar on her wrist, a relic of her past with Evan. "What does this have to do with him?"
"This job will take care of him for good," Lucien promised, his voice low. "A chance to settle debts and move forward unburdened. You'll even the score and earn a generous fee. Win-win."
A rush of conflicted emotions left Aurora breathless. She wanted to say no, but the prospect of finally closing that dark chapter of her life pulled at her. "I'll need time to consider this," she said, her voice steady.
Lucien nodded, understanding flashing across his face. "Of course. Take your time. But don't take too long. Darkness is stirring, and time is not on our side."
He turned to leave, his footsteps echo ing on the hardwood floor. Aurora's hand shot out, stopping him with a touch to his arm. "Are you sure we'll be safe?" she asked, her breath catching in her throat.
He turned back, his eyes boring into hers, blazing with a fierce intensity. "As sure as we can be. But any mission has its risks. That's the nature of our game, is it not?"
"It is," she conceded.
A brief, charged silence hung between them, heavy with the weight of unspoken words and shared memories. Aurora's fingers still lingered on his arm, their bodies close enough to feel each other's warmth. Lucien's eyes flickered to her lips, and for a moment, she thought he might kiss her. Her heart pounded, longing and dread waging war within her.
Then, with a soft curse, Lucien broke the spell, stepping back and shaking his head. "I'll give you some time. But I need your answer soon. There's a lot at stake here, Rory. For both of us."
"Give me a day," she said, her voice hoarse. "I'll consider it."
He smiled, a ghost of his old charm returning. "One day it is. But prepare yourself, Rory. If you take this job, it'll change everything."
With one last glance, Lucien strode out of the flat, leaving Aurora alone with her turbulent thoughts. Ptolemy jumped back onto her lap, rubbing his head against her in silent comfort. She stroked his soft fur, trying to calm the storm of emotions churning within.
Could she trust him? Could they truly work together again after everything? Aurora knew the answer would shape the future of her newfound magical life. And perhaps, just perhaps, her heart.