Run: 2026-02-19-01KHTQVGNE3BP2DBCVVSYBEKEP

Aurora Carter stood frozen, her hand grasping the door handle as if it was the only thing holding her upright. The knock at the door had been unexpected, the sudden jolt of Lucien Moreau's presence a shock to her system. It had been months since they'd last spoken, the memory of their parting still a raw wound. She pulled the door open, and Lucien stood before her, his heterochromatic eyes locked onto hers with an unnerving intensity. The platinum blond hair, usually slicked back, was mussed, as if he'd run his hands through it repeatedly. A faint crease between his eyebrows deepened as he took in her appearance. Rory's grip on the door handle tightened, her knuckles white as she struggled to find her voice. "Lucien." A small, enigmatic smile played on his lips. "Aurora." The air was heavy with unspoken words, the weight of their complicated history hanging between them like a challenge. Rory's mind reeled as she stepped aside, allowing him to enter. As he passed her, the scent of his cologne wafted through the air, transporting her back to the nights they'd spent together, their bodies entwined. She closed the door behind him, the sound echoing through the small flat like a punctuation mark. Ptolemy, Eva's tabby cat, watched from the windowsill, tail twitching as Lucien moved into the room. "What brings you here?" Rory asked, trying to sound nonchalant despite the turmoil brewing inside. Lucien's gaze swept the cluttered space, taking in the stacks of books and research notes that covered every available surface. His eyes lingered on a particularly dusty tome, a faint hint of amusement dancing on his lips. "I see Eva's... enthusiasm remains unchanged," he said, his voice low and smooth. Rory's eyes narrowed, her defensiveness prickling at the mention of her friend's name. "What do you want, Lucien?" He turned to face her, his expression unreadable. "I need to speak with you about a matter of some importance." The words hung in the air, heavy with unspoken meaning. Rory's instincts screamed at her to be wary, to keep her guard up, but her curiosity got the better of her. "What kind of matter?" Lucien's eyes seemed to bore into her very soul as he replied, "One that requires your particular... skills." Rory raised an eyebrow, her mind racing with possibilities. She knew Lucien well enough to understand that he wouldn't show up unannounced unless the situation was dire. The memory of their last encounter, the hurt and anger that had driven them apart, threatened to surface, but she pushed it down, focusing on the present. As they stood there, the tension between them grew, until it felt like a living, breathing entity in the room. Rory became aware of the small crescent-shaped scar on her left wrist, a childhood accident that seemed to throb with a newfound significance. "Fine," she said finally, breaking the silence. "Tell me more." Lucien's eyes never left hers as he moved closer, his voice dropping to a low, urgent whisper. "It's about the demon attacks in the East End. I have reason to believe they're connected to a larger plot, one that could put the entire supernatural community at risk." Rory's eyes widened as the implications sank in. She'd heard whispers of the attacks, but she'd had no idea they were connected to something bigger. As Lucien continued to speak, his words painting a picture of a sinister plot, Rory found herself drawn into the mystery, her mind racing with possibilities. But beneath the surface, she was aware of the unresolved tension between them, the attraction that still simmered, waiting to boil over. As the conversation flowed, the air seemed to vibrate with unspoken words, the past and present colliding in a way that left Rory breathless and unsure of what lay ahead.