The Midnight Key

The night air felt heavier than before. Not from the lingering presence of the hunter, nor from the quiet tension in the room.

It was her.

Rena had gone still again, her silver eyes wide but blank. The moment of awareness—of whatever ancient presence had stirred within her—was gone, leaving only the quiet rise and fall of her tiny chest.

But the weight of her words had not left the room.

"They locked me away."

Rene sat frozen, still holding the child. Her heart was hammering, her mind racing through everything she had ever known about magic, about curses, about souls.

Nothing explained this.

Nothing could.

Nyra was the first to move, sheathing her blade but not stepping any closer. "She wasn't talking like a child."

Adrian nodded. "Because she wasn't."

Adriel exhaled sharply, his gaze flicking between Rena and Rene. "We don't have time to sit here. We need to find Selene now."

Lucien, however, didn't move.

He was still watching Rena, golden eyes unreadable.

Rene clenched her jaw. "You know something."

Lucien smirked, but this time there was no amusement in it. "Oh, I know plenty. But this? This is interesting."

Nyra shot him a glare. "Enough games. Tell us what you know."

Lucien sighed and stretched, as if debating whether to indulge them. Then, with an almost lazy shrug—

"I know that when something is locked away, it's for a reason."

Silence.

Lucien leaned forward, resting his chin in his hand. "Think about it. If this soul—whoever they were—was powerful enough to be banished forever, then ask yourself…" His smirk sharpened. "Why did they create it in the first place?"

Rene's breath caught in her throat.

Because he was right.

Someone had made this soul.

And then someone had feared it enough to try and erase it.

But it hadn't been erased.

It had found a way back.

And now it was inside her baby sister.

A slow, terrible realization formed in Rene's mind. "They're going to come for her."

Lucien's grin widened. "Oh, they're already looking."

Adrian and Adriel shifted slightly, their cold gazes turning toward the window. They didn't need to say anything.

They could feel it too.

Rene's grip on Rena tightened. "We're leaving. Now."

Nyra nodded. "Where?"

Rene exhaled. "Selene."

Lucien's laughter was quiet, amused. "Good luck finding her."

Rene turned to him. "Then help us."

Lucien tilted his head, as if considering it. "What's in it for me?"

Adriel's silver light flickered between his fingers. "Not getting killed when the next one comes."

Lucien chuckled. "Fair point."

Then, without warning, he stood and clapped his hands. "Alright then! Let's go find the one woman who knows all the things no one else should know."

Nyra rolled her eyes. "You could've just said yes."

Lucien winked. "Where's the fun in that?"

Rene didn't wait for their banter. She adjusted Rena in her arms and headed for the door.

Because if they didn't find Selene first…

Then whoever had locked away this soul—whoever had banished it—would find them instead.

And this time…

They wouldn't send a hunter.

They'd send something worse.

To Be Continued…

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