Run: 2026-02-19-01KHTR4RHNTZJ0M0DHAMSWPGP1

The buzzer at Eva’s flat rang shrilly, cutting through the din of the curry house below. Aurora, known as Rory to her friends, paused mid-sentence, her eyes narrowing as she stared at the intercom. Her heart skipped a beat. She glanced at the stack of research notes scattered across the coffee table, then at her friend Eva, who was curled up on the couch with a cat named Ptolemy purring contentedly on her lap. Eva raised an eyebrow. “You expecting someone?” Rory shook her head, her black hair swaying. “No. Maybe it’s just a delivery or something.” She stepped towards the intercom, her fingers hovering over the button. A moment of hesitation, then she pressed it. “Yeah?” “Rory?” The voice was deep, unmistakably familiar, and it sent a chill down her spine. Her hand dropped to her side. “Lucien?” “Open the door, please. We need to talk.” She exchanged a troubled look with Eva. “I don’t know—” Just then, Ptolemy leaped off the couch, meowing loudly. The tabby darted towards the door, as if sensing the tension in the air. Eva’s eyes widened. “Whatever’s going on, you shouldn’t leave it unresolved. Let him in.” Rory sighed, her resolve crumbling. She pressed the button to unlock the door. “Fine. Five minutes.” The lift’s ding signaled Lucien’s arrival. The door creaked open, and there he stood, tall and impeccably dressed in a tailored charcoal suit. His heterochromatic eyes—amber and black—were as striking as ever. His platinum blond hair was slicked back, and he held an ivory-handled cane that rattled the air with a hint of danger. “Thanks for letting me in,” he said, his voice smooth but edged with tension. He stepped inside, and Ptolemy circled his legs, meowing curiously. Rory folded her arms, her face a mask of cool indifference. “What do you want, Lucien? It’s late.” He closed the door behind him, his eyes scanning the cluttered flat. “I know. I wouldn’t have come if it wasn’t important.” Eva stood up, Ptolemy still nestled in her arms. “I’ll give you two some privacy. Be careful, Rory.” “Thanks, Eva.” She shot her friend a grateful smile as Eva left, closing the door softly behind her. The silence that followed was electric. Lucien’s gaze met Rory’s, and she felt a familiar stir of emotions—attraction, anger, and a tangle of unresolved feelings. She cleared her throat. “So, what is it?” He took a step closer, the cane tapping the floor in rhythm. “Rory, we need to address what happened. We can’t keep avoiding each other.” She bristled. “Avoiding each other? You’re the one who disappeared for months after—” “After what, Rory?” He cut her off, his voice rising. “After what happened in Avaros? After you nearly got yourself killed? I had to leave. It wasn’t safe for either of us.” Her eyes flashed with anger. “Safe? You left me to clean up your mess. You disappeared without a word, and I was left to deal with the consequences. Do you have any idea how much I struggled?” Lucien’s face softened, his heterochromatic eyes reflecting a mix of guilt and regret. “I know. I should have stayed. But I had to protect you. The demons were after me, and I couldn’t risk—” “Risk what? Your life? What about mine?” She took a step back, the memories flooding back in vivid, painful detail. “You made choices, Lucien. Choices that hurt me. I can’t just pretend like it didn’t happen.” He reached out, his hand hovering near hers, but she flinched away. “I’m sorry. I truly am. I never wanted to hurt you.” Rory’s anger simmered, but underneath it, she felt a familiar warmth, a pull she couldn’t ignore. She sighed, her shoulders sagging. “Why are you here, Lucien? What do you want from me now?” He took a deep breath, his expression serious. “I need your help. There’s something happening in the supernatural underworld, and I can’t handle it alone. I need your skills, your intelligence, and your—” “Your what?” she interrupted, her voice laced with sarcasm. “Your trust? Because that’s something you lost a long time ago.” His eyes softened, and he took another step closer. “I know I lost your trust. But I’m asking you to give it another chance. I’ve changed, Rory. I’ve been doing some soul-searching, and I’ve realized that I can’t keep living my life the way I used to. I need to do better. I need to be better.” She studied him, her heart racing. There was a sincerity in his tone that she hadn’t heard before. “What’s happening, Lucien?” He hesitated, then nodded. “There’s a new player in the underworld. Someone powerful, with ties to Avaros. They’re stirring up trouble, and it’s only a matter of time before it escalates. I need someone I can trust, someone who can help me navigate this mess.” Rory’s mind raced. The thought of diving back into the supernatural world was daunting, but the idea of working with Lucien again, despite everything, was both enticing and terrifying. She looked into his eyes, searching for any sign of deceit. “What’s in it for me?” He took a deep breath. “Your safety. Your peace of mind. And a chance to right the wrongs of the past. I can’t promise it’ll be easy, but I can promise that I’ll do everything in my power to make it right.” She bit her lip, torn between her anger and her curiosity. “And if I agree, what happens then?” He smiled, a genuine, warm smile that made her heartbeat quicken. “Then we start a new chapter. Together.” Rory’s resolve crumbled, and she let out a sigh. “Alright, Lucien. But this time, no more secrets. No more disappearing acts. We’re in this together, and we face the consequences together.” He nodded, his relief evident. “Deal. Thank you, Rory.” She stepped closer, the tension between them palpable. “Let’s get to work, then. But first, you need to tell me everything. Leave nothing out.” Lucien’s eyes sparkled with a mix of gratitude and something more. “I will. I promise.” Ptolemy, the tabby cat, meowed as if in approval, and Rory couldn’t help but smile. As she looked into Lucien’s heterochromatic eyes, she knew that this was a journey she had to take. Whether it would lead to redemption or further complications, only time would tell. But for now, they had each other, and that was a start.