"Thank you for being here, Lewis. I just need a break from demons, angels, magic, and whatever else is new," I said, slumping against the mirrored wall of the studio.

Lewis chuckled, dropping down beside me and throwing an arm around my shoulders. "No problem. But you sure practicing with Keller qualifies as a break? Feels like walking into another kind of chaos to me."

I laughed despite myself. "You're not wrong, but it's not like I had a choice. The audition board paired us, and it's too late to change partners now."

Lewis gave me a pointed look. "Still, Keller Matthews? You deserve better. He's the definition of bad news."

I waved him off. "I know, trust me. I don't need the highlight reel—he lives rent-free in my memory. But I'm a professional. I can handle a few hours of rehearsing with him without setting the studio on fire."

Lewis snorted. "I wouldn't put it past you at this point. You've got a knack for drama these days."

Before I could respond, the studio door opened, and Keller walked in, his usual cocky grin plastered across his face. He scanned the room and immediately zeroed in on me and Lewis.

"Look who brought backup," Keller teased, his voice carrying that familiar edge of arrogance. "You worried about dancing with me, Red?"

I rolled my eyes and stood, brushing off Lewis's arm. "Not at all, Keller. But if you want to make this easy, we can stick to the routine and skip the commentary."

"Where's the fun in that?" he shot back, tossing his bag into the corner and stretching lazily.

As Keller and I started warming up, the faint buzz of Lewis's phone cut through the room. He glanced at the screen and groaned softly.

"Everything okay?" I asked.

"Yeah, just work," he said with a sigh. "They're short-staffed and need me to come in."

"You can go if you need to," I said, a bit reluctantly.

Lewis hesitated, his protective instincts kicking in. His gaze flicked from me to Keller, narrowing slightly. "You sure you're good here?"

I nodded. "I'm fine. It's just dancing."

He didn't look convinced, but after a beat, he nodded. "Alright. Text me if anything comes up, okay?"

"I will," I promised.

With a final look at Keller, Lewis grabbed his things and headed out. As the door clicked shut behind him, Keller's grin widened.

"Now it's just us," he said, stepping closer with that all-too-familiar smirk.

I squared my shoulders and raised my chin, refusing to let him get under my skin. "Let's get to work.

The studio pulsed with the haunting melody of James Bay's Let It Go, the notes swirling around me as I stood across from Keller. His hand extended toward me, a smug smile playing on his lips. Reluctantly, I placed my hand in his, determined to get through this dance without letting him worm his way under my skin.

Keller moved with his usual confidence, the arrogance radiating off him like heat. His hand slid to my waist as we stepped into the first movements, his grip firm and unnecessarily familiar. I resisted the urge to pull away, focusing instead on the choreography. It was just a dance, a necessary evil to make it through this audition.

"You've gotten better," he said, his voice low as we moved in sync. "But then again, you were always amazing on your feet, Red."

I clenched my teeth at the nickname, the one he used to wield like a weapon. It didn't sound affectionate—it sounded possessive, like a claim he thought he still had on me. But he didn't. Nobody made me feel alive the way Marax did with his dangerous charm, or Zarach with his quiet, consuming intensity. Keller was nothing but a shadow of my past.

We spun together, the movement forcing me closer to him, his hand pressing against the small of my back. "You're stiff," he commented, smirking as his thumb brushed deliberately against my skin. "Loosen up a little, Athena."

"I'm fine," I said sharply, meeting his gaze with as much defiance as I could muster. But his smirk only grew, the challenge in my eyes clearly encouraging him.

The music swelled, and Keller dipped me low, his face hovering far too close to mine. "You always did have that fire," he murmured, his voice dripping with false admiration. "No one else has ever come close to matching it."

I resisted the urge to roll my eyes, pushing back into the choreography with as much force as I could. He caught me, of course, his hands steady as he guided me into a turn. His touch lingered too long, and I had to fight the urge to shove him away.

"You're incredible, Red," he said as the chorus hit, his tone softening like he thought he could break through my walls. "You and I, we're unstoppable."

I snapped my head toward him, glaring. "Stop it, Keller. It's just a dance."

His laugh was quiet, amused. "You keep telling yourself that," he said, his hands tightening slightly on my hips as we moved together. "But I can see it, you know. That spark. You still feel it."

I didn't respond. I couldn't trust my voice not to betray the irritation boiling inside me. Every step, every movement, I reminded myself why Keller was the past. The intensity I felt when I was with him was nothing compared to what ignited between me and Marax—or the steady, grounding connection I shared with Zarach. Those two men, for all their flaws and otherworldly chaos, were the only ones who truly saw me for who I was. Keller couldn't hold a candle to them.

The song hit its final notes, and we moved into the closing pose. Keller's hands gripped my waist, and his face was far too close to mine. His smirk softened into something that might have been genuine—if I didn't know him better. "You're amazing, Athena," he said, his voice low and intimate. "You always were."

I pulled away the second the music faded, reaching for my water bottle and putting as much distance between us as I could. "It's just a dance," I said coldly, turning my back to him.

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He chuckled behind me, leaning against the mirrored wall like he owned the place. "Whatever you say, Red. But we both know the truth."

"I'm not having this conversation with you," I snapped, spinning around to face Keller. My voice was sharp, my patience worn thin by his relentless smugness. "Quit with the flirting. We ended ages ago for a good reason."

Keller's smirk returned as I tried to walk past him, but he stepped in front of me, his presence overwhelming and intrusive. His gaze dropped to mine, intense and heavy with memories I didn't want to revisit.

"You know," he started, his voice dropping an octave as he edged closer, "you can try to act all high and mighty now, but we both know the truth, Athena."

I rolled my eyes and moved to sidestep him, but he was faster, pinning me against the wall with one hand resting near my head, his other hand lightly brushing my arm.

"You remember, don't you?" he whispered, his breath warm against my skin. "All those nights. The way I made you scream my name. The way no one else could even come close to making you feel like that."

My jaw clenched, and I glared at him, refusing to let his words worm their way under my skin. "Back off, Keller."

"You won't find it again," he said, his voice tinged with a confidence that turned my stomach. "What we had—that fire—that connection... You'll always compare everyone to me. And no one will measure up."

I laughed bitterly, the sound harsh and cold. "You're right," I said, sarcasm dripping from every word. "No one will measure up to you—the liar, the cheat, the emotional abuser."

His smirk faltered for a second, but he recovered quickly, though his eyes darkened. "That's not fair—"

"Not fair?" I cut him off, my voice rising. "You think it's not fair that I bring up all the other girls you slept with? Or the times you made me feel like I wasn't enough? Or maybe it's not fair that I finally realized you were the worst thing to ever happen to me?"

His jaw tightened, the smugness in his expression replaced by something harsher, more defensive. "You weren't exactly perfect either, Athena."

I snorted, shaking my head. "The difference is, I never betrayed you. I never made you feel small. And I never pretended to love you while looking for the next girl to screw."

The silence between us was deafening, his usual arrogance shattered as my words hung heavy in the air. I pushed past him, this time without resistance, and grabbed my bag.

"This dance?" I said over my shoulder, my voice firm. "It's nothing more than a means to an end. And when it's over, so are you."

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Why on earth did I walk here? The rain was relentless, slamming against the pavement in heavy sheets and soaking me to the bone. The sky hung low with dark, churning clouds, a deep, menacing grey that mirrored the storm brewing inside me. The wind howled through the streets, biting against my skin like icy needles, making me shiver uncontrollably.

I couldn't stop replaying the argument with Keller in my head, every word stoking the flames of my anger. My fists clenched at my sides as I stomped through the rain, too furious to think clearly. My thoughts had swallowed me whole, and before I knew it, I had wandered off course.

When I finally looked up, I realized the familiar streets had been replaced by narrow, shadowy alleys. The buildings around me seemed taller, more foreboding, their windows dark and uninviting.

"Great," I muttered under my breath, glancing around for a landmark to reorient myself. The alley ahead was dimly lit by a single, flickering streetlamp. Trash cans were overturned, their contents scattered across the ground, and the sound of dripping water echoed eerily around me.

I hesitated, a twinge of unease creeping down my spine. The air here felt...different. Heavier.

A shiver ran through me, not from the cold this time, but from the creeping sensation that I wasn't alone.

I spun around, my heart pounding as I saw him—Beleth—standing in the shadows of the alley, flanked by a few other demons, their eyes glowing with malice. His twisted grin sent an icy chill crawling down my spine. The rain beat relentlessly against my skin, but it did nothing to wash away the dread that washed over me.

"Athena," Beleth purred, his voice smooth like poison, "just the girl I wanted to see."

I rolled my eyes, crossing my arms tightly over my chest. "I'm getting tired of you, Beleth," I said, trying to sound braver than I felt. "Don't you have anyone else to stalk?"

His laugh echoed through the alley, dark and mocking, sending another cold shiver through the air. "Oh, Athena," he cooed, stepping closer, his eyes glinting with amusement and malice. "Are those your last words before I rip you apart?"

My pulse quickened, my body instinctively tensing as I glanced at the demons behind him. Their predatory stares made it clear that they were ready to act, but something about the way Beleth looked at me—the casual cruelty—sent a surge of anger through my veins.

"You won't get the chance," I spat, my voice sharp, though I could feel my hands tremble at my sides.

Beleth's grin widened, his dark eyes narrowing. "We'll see about that." He flicked his wrist, the air around us thickening with an oppressive, suffocating force.

I refused to back down, even though my heart was racing and my breaths were coming in shallow gasps. "I'm not afraid of you, Beleth."

He chuckled, the sound low and sinister. "Oh, you should be."

As Beleth's demons charged forward, their eyes burning with malevolent energy, the air around me seemed to vibrate with their power. One of them, a hulking figure covered in blackened, charred skin, raised a hand, sending a burst of fiery energy straight toward me. Another demon, smaller but with claws that glowed like molten metal, slashed at the air, sending jagged shards of ice hurtling toward my face.

I couldn't let myself be overwhelmed.

Instinctively, I raised my arms, focusing every ounce of energy into a barrier. The air around me shimmered with an ethereal glow as the force field materialized.

The fire and ice collided with the shield, splintering against it, but I held strong, my body tensing with the effort of maintaining the protective shield. The demons snarled in frustration, their attacks bouncing harmlessly off the barrier.

Beleth's smile faded slightly, but his confidence remained unwavering. "Not bad, but it won't save you forever."

I didn't need forever. Just enough time to turn the tide.

Pushing past the exhaustion that tugged at me, I reached deep inside, tapping into the earth magic I'd been practicing on my own. It had been slow, frustrating work—connecting with the elements, learning how to channel them—but tonight, it felt like I was finally beginning to get a grasp on it.

A deep, primal hum thrummed in the air as the ground beneath my feet rumbled. Without warning, the earth split open in front of me, and massive vines shot up from the cracks, their thick, twisting limbs wrapping around the demons in an instant.

The plants seemed to pulse with energy, their tendrils pulling tight, constricting around the demons' limbs, their movements slowing as they struggled to break free.

The smaller demons screamed as they were entangled, their claws futilely scraping at the vines.

The hulking demon that had attacked me with fire snarled, trying to tear his way free, but the vines only seemed to grow tighter. The thick, green stems hissed as if they were alive, their sharp thorns digging into their skin, pinning them in place.

Beleth's eyes flashed with rage as he watched his demons being restrained.

"You want to rip me apart, Beleth?" I said, my voice steady despite the adrenaline coursing through my veins. "You'll have to get through my magic first."

The vines around the demons squeezed tighter, and they let out panicked, strangled cries. Beleth's lips curled in a vicious sneer, but he knew better than to continue this fight for now.

The demons squirmed beneath the tightening grip of the vines, their cries growing more frantic as they struggled to free themselves. But their efforts were futile—my earth magic was holding them fast. I had them cornered, trapped, and I was determined to end this fight before it went any further.

I focused all my energy into the vines, feeling their roots dig deeper into the earth beneath us, pushing through the soil like they were alive, pulling the demons' movements to a halt.

I watched as one by one, the demons slumped, their bodies twitching violently before they went still, their life force drained by the very magic they'd underestimated.

A sick satisfaction bubbled in my chest, the rush of power flowing through me. I wasn't just surviving—I was winning.

But just as I allowed myself a moment of victory, the air around me grew heavier, and I could feel the ground beneath my feet shift. The wind picked up, swirling in a violent gust.

My force field began to flicker. My grip on the magic was weakening. And there, standing among the fallen demons, was Beleth, his cold, calculating eyes fixed on me.

"No!" I shouted, raising my hands to reinforce the barrier, but it was already too late. The moment I faltered, the barrier shattered. It was like a crack in glass—one moment solid, the next, fragmented.

Before I could react, Beleth was on me. His claws, sharp as knives, shot out like lightning, and before I knew it, one hand was wrapped around my neck, lifting me off the ground with terrifying ease. His grip was like iron, and his claws dug deep into my skin, tearing through the fabric of my shirt, biting into my flesh.

I gasped, my breath cutting off, my vision beginning to blur as he squeezed tighter, his presence suffocating. "You're nothing, Athena," he hissed, his voice like nails on a chalkboard. "I'm going to watch you die, and there will be no one to stop me."

I tried to focus, tried to push back, but the pain was overwhelming. The power within me—it was all swirling out of control. I needed to stop him.

Suddenly, something inside me snapped.

In a flash, I reached up, gripping both sides of his skull. He snarled, trying to shake me off, but I held firm. The power inside me—hellfire, earth, water, everything—began to surge through me. It burned through my veins like molten lava, crackling and furious.

"Send Satan a message," I choked out, my voice hoarse with the pressure on my neck.

Beleth sneered, his grip tightening, but the words seemed to strike a chord in him. He leaned in closer, his lips curling into a dark, twisted smile, ready to end it. "You think you can—"

Before he could finish, I released everything I had left inside me.

A torrent of magic exploded from me, blasting into his head, pushing every ounce of power I had deep into him. It was a violent, searing surge of energy—hellfire, lightning, raw, untamed magic that coursed through my fingertips and into his skull.

The blast was immense. His eyes widened in shock as my magic ripped through him. His body trembled under the force, his claws loosening just long enough for me to finally break free from his grip.

The explosion of energy continued to ravage him. He let out a guttural scream, trying to fight back, but he was losing. The power I'd summoned was too much for him. He wasn't strong enough to withstand the full force of my magic.

In that moment, everything around me went quiet—my pulse roaring in my ears, the world spinning, the air thick with the aftermath of my attack. And then, with a final cry of pain, Beleth crumbled.

His body spasmed, his eyes rolling back, his claws shaking as the magic I'd channeled through him destroyed him from the inside out.

His body fell to the ground with a sickening thud, lifeless.

I collapsed to my knees, panting, my throat raw from where he'd squeezed, my hands shaking from the sheer force of what I had just done. The air felt thick and charged with residual magic, but it was still. Silent.