Run: 2026-02-17-01KHMPGQ6GF02XK1GFNEM18SAT

The door creaked open, its three deadbolts having been hastily unlatched, and Eva's bright, inquiring gaze faltered for a heartbeat as she took in the figure standing in the dimly lit corridor. "Lucien?" The name escaped her lips in a mix of surprise and caution, her hand instinctively grasping the doorframe as if ready to slam it shut. Lucien Moreau, resplendent in a tailored charcoal suit that seemed impervious to the late evening's disheveling effects, flashed a polite, if somewhat guarded, smile. "Eva, darling. Might I come in?" His deep, melodious voice, tinged with the unmistakable lilt of his French heritage, filled the narrow corridor, making the space feel even more confined. Eva's eyes narrowed, her mind racing with the implications of Lucien's unannounced visit. Her gaze darted to the side, ensuring she was alone in the doorway before stepping aside, her movements economical. "I suppose you'd better." Her voice was a careful blend of neutrality and wariness, a far cry from the warm, effusive greetings she usually reserved for him. As Lucien entered, his sleek, platinum blond hair caught the soft glow emanating from the flat, accentuating the sharp planes of his face. His heterochromatic eyes, a jarring yet captivating combination of amber and black, swept the cluttered room, immediately locating the figure seated on the couch, surrounded by scattered books and notes. Aurora "Rory" Carter, Eva's closest friend, looked up from the dog-eared paperback she was reading, her bright blue eyes locking onto Lucien with a mixture of curiosity and a hint of apprehension. "Lucien," Rory said, her voice devoid of the warmth it once held for him, a subtle undercurrent of tension evident beneath her composed façade. "Rory," Lucien returned, his eyes lingering on her for a moment before he turned back to Eva. "I see I've interrupted. My apologies." "Not at all," Eva replied, her tone light, though her eyes betrayed a flicker of concern. "We were just... discussing a case study for Rory's Pre-Law course." The attempt to sound nonchalial fell flat; the air was thick with unspoken questions and unresolved tensions. Lucien's gaze drifted back to Rory, his expression unreadable. "I see. Well, in that case, might I have a word with you both? It's a matter of some... delicacy." He paused, the slightest hint of his demon heritage flickering in the depths of his eyes, a reminder of the complexities that often accompanied his visits. Ptolemy, Eva's inquisitive tabby cat, chose that moment to weave between Lucien's legs, rubbing against his tailored trousers before leaping onto the back of the sofa, where it watched the proceedings with wide, unblinking eyes. Rory set her book aside, a calculated movement, and rose from the couch, her straight shoulder-length black hair falling around her face like a curtain. "Let's hear it, then." Her cool-headed demeanor was a thin veil over the turmoil that Lucien's presence inevitably stirred within her. Without waiting for an invitation, Lucien moved further into the room, his ivory-handled cane, a constant companion, clicking softly against the floor. He stopped beside the small, cluttered dining table, his eyes meeting Rory's in a silent challenge, the air between them heavy with the weight of their complicated past. "I've received information regarding a potential threat to your safety, Rory," Lucien began, his voice even, though the amber in his eye seemed to flicker with an unspoken intensity. "A certain individual from your past has been inquiring about your whereabouts." Rory's face remained a mask of composure, but Eva, attuned to her friend's subtleties, noticed the almost imperceptible tightening around her mouth. "And who might that be?" Rory asked, her voice crisp, betraying none of the unease that Eva knew she must be feeling. Lucien's gaze never wavered. "Evan. It seems your abrupt departure from Cardiff has piqued his interest." The room plunged into a weighted silence, the only sound the soft hum of the downstairs curry house and Ptolemy's gentle purring. Rory's bright blue eyes, usually so vibrant, dulled momentarily, a shadow from her past looming large once more. Eva stepped forward, a protective instinct kicking in. "What makes you think he's a threat, Lucien?" Lucien's smile, when it came, was mirthless. "Let's just say Evan's... antics have attracted the wrong kind of attention. I believe it would be prudent for Rory to be cautious, at the very least." Rory, her composure regained, moved closer to Eva, a silent understanding passing between them. "I can take care of myself, Lucien. I've been doing just fine in London." "Indeed, you have," Lucien agreed, the faintest glimmer of something like pride flickering in his eyes before he continued, "However, I also have information that might interest you, Eva. A development in the Avaros realm that could have... repercussions for those of us living in the shadow of both worlds." Eva's interest was instantly piqued. "Go on." As Lucien began to outline the details, his voice weaving a complex tapestry of alliances, power struggles, and ancient histories, the atmosphere in the room shifted. The underlying tension between Lucien and Rory still simmered, a potent reminder of unresolved feelings and unspoken regrets, but for now, it was relegated to the background, overshadowed by the pressing concerns of the supernatural underworld they inhabited. Yet, as they listened, their faces illuminated only by the soft glow of the lamps, it was clear that tonight's unexpected visit was merely the beginning of a complicated dance, one that would inevitably force Rory and Lucien to confront the past they had left unresolved, and the feelings they had never fully extinguished.