Kyon's First Person Point Of View.
Stepping into the penthouse felt like stepping onto a battlefield—not one of blood and steel, but of power, politics, and unspoken violence. Three figures stood apart from each other, maintaining an almost perfect triangular formation. The space between them felt deliberate, measured. No one had crossed an invisible threshold, as if breaking that equilibrium would be the trigger for something none of them wanted to start—at least not yet.
Kadir stood near the massive floor-to-ceiling window, his back half-turned to us, looking down at the sprawling city below. His brown coat hung loosely over his blue T-shirt, the cane in his right hand resting lightly against the polished floor. His posture was relaxed, but I wasn’t fooled. He was listening. Watching. Calculating. The first time we met, in his vast library, he had spoken in riddles, always knowing more than he let on.
But the presence I felt now was different. The first time I had ever sensed his Mental Energy through EchoFlux, it had been suffocating—vast, immeasurable, like an ocean stretching far beyond my understanding. And right now? It was the same. Except now I realized something else. He was holding back. Like a crocodile lurking just beneath the surface, still and unassuming, waiting for the perfect moment to strike. To his left, Elijah stood near the desk, his black suit crisp, his entire posture stiff and composed.
He looked more like a high-powered CEO than a supernatural being, but his presence in this room spoke otherwise. I could feel his scrutiny without even looking directly at him. Measured. Reserved. Dangerous. And then there was Conrad. Sitting in a plush leather chair, one leg crossed over the other, he looked completely at ease. His gray suit was tailored to perfection, his dark hair swept back, and his crimson eyes gleamed with an amusement that never quite reached his lips.
The same smile he had worn earlier that evening. It was the second time I was seeing him tonight. And the first time hadn’t exactly ended on friendly terms. His gaze swept over me, taking in the disheveled state of my clothes, the slight tension in my stance. Then he laughed softly, tilting his head. “Ah, Kyon! Such a pleasure to see you again this evening.” His voice was smooth, light, almost pleasant. Then his lips curled slightly. “You look worse for wear.” I didn’t bother hiding my irritation. “No thanks to you,” I shot back. “You tried to have me killed.”
Conrad’s expression didn’t change. Instead, he placed a hand over his chest, mock offense written all over his face. “Now, now,” he said smoothly. “Why would I ever do that?” I clenched my fists. “Don’t play dumb. Your vampires attacked us. Two of them were under your direct command.” Sia scoffed beside me. “Yeah, and why is that, exactly? Why did two of your men want Kyon dead?” Conrad’s lips twitched, but his tone remained perfectly amused. “Oh, my dear, they weren’t there to harm Kyon. Quite the opposite. They were there to keep him safe.” Safe? I narrowed my eyes.
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“That’s bullshit.” “Is it?” Conrad spread his hands innocently. “Had you stayed in your room, the hunters would have been dealt with efficiently. My men were stationed nearby to ensure your safety. It was you who chose to step into danger.” I stared at him, incredulous. This was his game.
Twisting words, bending reality to fit his narrative. He didn’t even need to lie outright—he just manipulated the truth until it suited him. I exhaled sharply. “Then tell me this—how did the hunters know exactly where I was? The exact room. The exact floor.” I took a step forward, locking eyes with him. “That’s too convenient, don’t you think?” For the first time, Conrad’s smile faltered—just for a second. Then it returned, just as sharp as before. “My boy,” he mused, shaking his head. “Do you have proof?” He leaned back, crossing his legs again. “Because if this were another time, a claim like that would be cause for a formal duel. That was slander, you realize.” Sia tensed beside me. Lawrence shifted slightly. I wasn’t stupid.
That wasn’t just an idle comment. That was a warning. The unspoken meaning hung in the air—watch what you say, or you’ll be forced to back it up with blood. And then— Kadir moved. It wasn’t much, just a slight shift, the adjustment of his stance, but the air changed instantly.
And then—it hit. A wave of PsychoFlux surged outward, raw and unrestrained. The entire room shook. The massive glass windows behind him groaned under the force. The floor vibrated beneath my feet. The sheer pressure of it pressed against my skin, my bones, sinking into the very air I breathed. I had never seen Kadir fight before. I had never even witnessed him in action.
The only thing I had ever felt was that one time—the night in the library, when his aura had spread across the entire hotel like an endless tide. But now? Now, I understood something I hadn’t before. That wasn’t his full power. This wasn’t even his full power. He was still holding back. Like a predator keeping itself in check.
"This charade has come to an end," Kadir said, his voice calm despite the sheer weight of power pressing down on the room. "And as per our agreement, Kyon has walked into this room by himself. Hence, he is free to leave." His grip on his cane tightened slightly. "And he will be taking him." He didn’t clarify who we was. He didn’t need to. The silence that followed was deafening. Then— Conrad chuckled. It was soft at first, then deepened, the sound low and rich, filling the space between us.
Slowly, he leaned forward, resting his elbows on his knees, eyes locked onto mine. “Of course.” He exhaled, raising a hand as if in surrender. “I am a man of my word. If our agreement states that he is free to leave, then so be it.” He smiled. And then—his gaze shifted. To me. The air grew heavier, more suffocating, as if something unseen had latched onto my throat. “However,” Conrad mused, his tone impossibly casual, “isn’t it down to Kyon’s decision?” I stiffened.
All eyes turned to me. Kadir said nothing, but his energy remained coiled, barely restrained. Sia and Lawrence stood rigid beside me, waiting. Elijah watched with interest, still silent. But it was Conrad who held my attention. Because that expression… That gleam in his eyes… He had a final card to play. And whatever it was— It would change everything.