Chapter 17: Threads of Fate
Adrian had never thought an office job could feel dangerous. Yet every time Leah walked past his desk, the pendant under his shirt pulsed faintly, like it was whispering secrets he couldn't hear. He tried to ignore it, burying himself in spreadsheets and project briefs, but the relic refused to stay quiet.
Leah noticed.
"You're distracted," she said one afternoon, leaning against his desk with a cup of coffee. "You keep zoning out. Is this job already boring you?"
Adrian forced a laugh. "Just adjusting. Long week."
She studied him, sharp eyes narrowing. "You're hiding something."
The words hit harder than he expected. He opened his mouth to deflect, but she was already walking away, leaving him with the uncomfortable realization that Leah saw more than most.
That evening, Adrian sat in his apartment, pendant glowing faintly in his hand. He thought about Elias's warning: "Trust is risk. Isolation is death." Leah wasn't just a colleague. The relic was reacting to her. That meant she was connected somehow. But was she ally or enemy?
The next day, the office buzzed with chatter about a client presentation. Adrian and Leah were assigned to work late, preparing slides and data. As the hours dragged on, the building emptied until only the two of them remained.
Around midnight, Leah stretched, rubbing her neck. "I need air," she said. "Come on."
They stepped outside into the quiet street. The city was restless even at night, but here, in the shadow of the office towers, it felt strangely still. Adrian shoved his hands into his pockets, pendant warm against his chest.
Leah glanced at him. "You ever feel like this city has… layers? Like there's something underneath all the noise?"
Adrian's heart skipped. "What do you mean?"
She shrugged. "I don't know. Just a feeling. Like there's more going on than people realize."
The pendant pulsed harder. Adrian swallowed, fighting the urge to tell her everything. He wanted to trust her, but Elias's warning echoed in his mind. Truth is a weapon.
Before he could answer, a sound cut through the night — footsteps, deliberate and heavy. Adrian froze. Leah turned, eyes narrowing.
A figure stepped from the shadows. Tall, cloaked, aura sharp. Adrian's stomach dropped. Another hunter.
The man's gaze locked on Adrian. "The relic," he said. "Hand it over."
Adrian's chest burned. He clenched his fists, Qi stirring. But before he could move, Leah stepped forward.
"Back off," she said, voice steady.
The man laughed. "You? Stay out of this."
Leah's eyes glowed faintly. Not silver like the woman from the alley, not sharp like Elias's. Softer, golden, but unmistakable. Adrian's breath caught. She wasn't ordinary.
The hunter lunged. Adrian moved instinctively, pendant flaring, Qi flooding his veins. Leah moved too, faster than he thought possible. Her strike was precise, her aura sharp, her presence undeniable. Together, they met the attack head-on, fists glowing faintly in the dark.
The alley became chaos — blows, light, the hum of Qi clashing. Adrian staggered, ribs aching, but Leah was there, steady, fierce. She fought like someone who had trained, someone who knew the hidden world.
Finally, the hunter snarled, retreating into the shadows. "You're not ready," he hissed. "But you will be. And when you are, others will come."
Silence returned. Adrian stood trembling, chest heaving, pendant glowing faintly. Leah turned to him, eyes still faintly golden.
"You're not the only one carrying secrets," she said quietly.
Adrian stared at her, mind racing. The pendant had been right. Leah wasn't ordinary. She was part of this world.
And now, there was no going back.