Eva

  As she came to, Eva was hit with a wave of pain and a smell that made her stomach roil. She gagged, her eyes watering from the stench of rotting flesh. The shackled chains painfully digging into her wrists, she realized, were bound to the tile floor beneath her. Groaning, she pushed to her knees despite the motion aching her ribs.

  The faint glow of candles scattered around her was the only light in the darkness of the room.

  The twelve hearts arranged around her seemed to loom in the dim light, each one carefully spaced between candles and shimmering vials. The sight made her blood run cold.

  All at once, Eva's memories came flooding back. Simon's frantic text, sneaking past Monroe, Dante's failed rescue, and the Vocia's horrifying screeching face.

  The room was a blur, but she took in the massive clock face dominating one wall, its gentle tick-tock a jarring contrast to the carnage surrounding her. A curved bank of windows let in a warm glow, but it was tainted by the darkness that seemed to seep from every corner of the room.

  Outside, the lights of the Bay Bridge twinkled like stars, and the dark waters of the San Francisco Bay glimmered in the distance.

  The city's nightlife hummed softly through the windows.

  She realized she was still downtown, close to her family's shop. The anger and fear simmering inside her threatened to boil over, but she forced herself to focus. She had to escape.

  With a surge of adrenaline, Eva pulled at the chains, but they bit deeper into her skin. She gritted her teeth, determined to break free. The sound of snarling and destruction came from another room, making her pause but she refused to give in to her panic. Not yet.

  Closing her eyes, Eva took a deep breath, steadying herself against the panic that threatened to overwhelm her. When she opened her eyes again, she quickly scanned her surroundings, taking in the empty space that might have been a living room if it had any furniture.

  A partial wall separated her from what looked like a kitchen, the countertops and sink were just visible through the gap. The walls around her were marred by deep scratches, the paint smudged and stained with rust-colored streaks that Eva desperately hoped were just paint.

  As she pulled at the chains binding her wrists, the metal bit into her skin, making her hiss in pain. She froze, her heart racing, as she waited to see if the noise had attracted any unwanted attention.

  Again, she turned to try and assess her options when she noticed a dark figure exiting the hallway behind her.

  As he walked into the room, she was struck by the man's imposing presence. His pale face was chiseled, with sharp cheekbones and a jawline that seemed carved from stone. His intense gaze was piercing, and his short, thick raven hair gelled back stylishly.

  The black rune tattoos on his neck seemed to writhe like living shadows, standing out starkly against his pale skin.

  He was dressed in all black, from the fitted slacks to the button-up shirt with its chest open, revealing more of the dark tattoos that adorned his skin. A deep burgundy cloak billowed behind him, its folds like a dark wingspan.

  After all the creatures that had come after her, there was something unsettlingly ordinary about him. He looked like he could have been her parents' age, late fifties possibly, but the menacing air that surrounded him made him seem older, more... worn. His nose was slightly crooked as if it had been broken at least once, and his eyes seemed to bore into her with unspoken intensity.

  Where his black button-up shirt was open at his chest, he'd carved fresh symbols. The crimson runes layered on top of each other like overlapping graffiti fighting to be seen. They looked similar to the ones she'd seen on some of the things in her parents' bunker but most were identical to the ones etched deep in the tile circling her.

  "Ah, Sleeping Beauty, finally awake." His thin hands clasped together with a chuckle that was somehow both sinister and musical. "Now we await her prince's arrival."

  Despite her first thought being to beg for her life, she didn't, knowing it would be a waste. Whoever was behind this had finally caught her.

  Eva raised an eyebrow, her gaze flicking over the man's unassuming features.

  "You're not… who I expected," she said, her voice laced with skepticism. “Where's the one who's been pulling the strings?”

  The man's smile grew wider, his eyes glinting with amusement. "Am I not monster enough for you?" he asked, his voice low and smooth.

  So it him. Eva's eyes narrowed, her voice dripping with disdain. "I thought you'd be… more?"

  "More?" he repeated, his eyes glinting with amusement. The man's laughter was like a low, menacing purr. "Your kind always did want than they deserved. But I'll give you credit, you're more... spirited than expected.”

  He took a step closer to Eva, his movements fluid and almost serpentine.

  “What do you want from me?” Despite her heart pounding in her chest, Eva's voice remained steady and firm. She refused to back down, even with her growing sense of unease.

  He'd killed some of her friends and put the people she cared about most in danger. Despite Dante's lesson on fist-fighting demons, she was so furious she felt she could take this middle-aged white man.

  He looked at her as if she were stupid, piercing blue eyes going cold. "Oh, I think you know exactly what I want from you. For two millennia, I've waited for this exact moment. I've bided my time and, finally, all my dedication, all my patience, will be rewarded.”

  The man's words sent a chill down Eva's spine. Two millennia? What could he possibly want from her that was worth waiting that long? She tried to keep her expression neutral, but her mind was racing with questions.

  "You're… not human, are you?" she asked, her voice barely above a whisper.

  "No, child," he said, his voice dripping with condescension. "I am the epitome of evolution. While you, child, are merely a key to unlocking true potential. A being of pure, unadulterated power."

  She was positive he was a Caster. Monroe had told her what they were capable of, that they were often obsessed with gaining power and control. And she suspected that this Caster was after one thing.

  "You want the necklace," she said her voice firm.

  The man's eyes flicked to the necklace around her neck, and for a moment, Eva saw a glimmer of something like longing on his face. But then, his sly smile returned. "And what's inside you. That spark of Kaos’, however, muted it may be.”

  Eva's confusion deepened, her mind struggling to understand what the man was talking about. She’d learned that humans were created by Kaos, just like Darkling’s. But humans didn't have any essence inside them, no magic. That was what made them human.

  Eva's face scrunched as the man's words sank in.

  “You're crazy," she said, her voice laced with disdain. "I'm human. I don't have any spark of Kaos."

  "Ah, but that's where you're wrong, Keeper.” The man's smile grew wider. “You see, I've been searching for you for a very long time. Tracking your lineage, studying the intricate web of bloodlines that have hidden Lilith from me for so long. Your family should have relocated, Eva. After the fire, I knew Dante's involvement wasn't a coincidence.”

  She'd still been looking for an escape while he spoke, knowing that as long as he was ranting about his master plan like a lunatic he wasn't killing her. She knew she just had to keep him talking until she could figure out what to do. Or at least until Dante could find her. He'd promised her. And she had to believe he'd stay true to his word.

  But at the mention of her parents and the fire her attention snapped back to the Caster.

  “The fire that night was just the beginning. Dante's actions set off a chain reaction, one that led me straight. To. You. And now, the consequences of his meddling will be... catastrophic.”

  As he spoke, the man's long, dark robe billowed behind him like a shadow. With careful precision, he navigated between the bloody hearts and lit candles, his eyes never leaving Eva's face. He stepped into the circle, his movements deliberate and calculated, as if savoring the moment. The air seemed to thicken with energy as he drew closer, his presence suffocating. Finally, he stood before her, his black-stained fingers reaching out to claim her.

  "But the best part?" he asked, his eyes glinting with anticipation. Before she could move away, he snatched her face in his chilled grasp, forcing her to meet his gaze. She moved with him, coming up on her knees when he pulled her more than she'd expected. "Watching that halfbreed bastard finally take his last breath."

  The man's sinister laughter was like a cold wind, sending shivers down Eva's spine again.

  "You can't kill Dante.” Her nose scrunched at the foulness of his breath filling her senses. She tried to snatch her face from his grasp when the words came out more mumbled than defiant but his tight hold remained, revealing he was stronger than his thin frame appeared. "It's not possible."

  While she'd seen Dante bleed, he had the blood of a Primordial. She'd read last night they were immortal. Even though he was half human, killing him wasn't possible, was it?

  His face dropped down to hers and she held her breath, unwilling to breathe in more of his toxic scent. "Watch me."

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  He released her face and she fell back to her knees with a wince she tried to stifle. "You sound psychotic."

  The man's laughter returned, louder and more menacing than before.

  "Psychotic?" he repeated, his eyes wild. "I'm merely determined. Lilith and I will bring about a new era of domination, and Neth will tremble at our feet."

  He reached out and grasped Eva's chin again, his fingers digging deep into her skin. “Tartarus and son will be cast into the void; their names will be erased from existence, their legacy reduced to nothing.”

  A shrill beeping pierced the air, making Eva flinch.

  Her eyes flashed with defiance and she was finally able to snatch her face from his. A triumphant smile took her lips at the fire alarm suddenly going off. "Dante will stop you."

  The man's gaze flicked to the alarm above them, a pleased smile spreading across his face. With a wave of his hand, the alarm in their space fell silent, although the distant sound of sirens still echoed through the building.

  "Oh, I'm counting on it," he said, his amused tone confusing her. "Our guest of honor should be here shortly."

  Eva's thoughts spiraled into darkness as she realized the truth.

  "You need Dante," she said slowly.

  The man's smile grew wider as he clapped his hands slowly with sarcasm. "Bright you are.”

  He glided to the podium, his long cloak unfolding behind him. With a flourish, he flipped through the pages of a worn leather book, the sound echoing through the room. The man's blue eyes sparkled as he produced a torn yellowed page, its edges just as worn and faded as the one Dante had brought over earlier.

  Eva’s heart sank with the realization it was probably the missing half.

  "How do you have that?" The words spilled out before she could contain them, laced with a mix of outrage and fear.

  The man smirked. "You've all played your parts well. Predictable. It was easy to pull the strings of children. Dante, however, I hadn't expected him to actually take the contract. Babysitting some Keeper pet was beneath him, but it made it easier to track you both."

  Eva's anger boiled over, her words laced with venom. "If you're going to kill me, just get it over with."

  "Don't be so quick to die, darling. The comet is nearly in position." The man chuckled, his eyes glinting with sadistic pleasure before he glanced out the window. His gaze lingered on the bay before returning to the book. "The alignment of celestial bodies will soon be complete."

  “My family will stop you.” She just had to keep him talking until Dante could find his way to her.

  The man's eyes widened, and his amusement grew.

  "You mean the ones who betrayed you?" A fervent gleam ignited in his gaze as the crystal at Eva's neck flickered to life. He looked out toward the bay again before sneering at her. "I'll make sure your brother's treachery is rewarded... before Lilith takes his head.”

  One of her brothers? Eva's face contorted in a snarl as she wrestled with her chains.

  "You're a fucking liar," she hissed, her eyes blazing with anger.

  He ignored her, and when he began his chant from the book, her pendant started a steady glow.

  Despite the putrid stench of rotting hearts and blood filling her nostrils, Eva's focus remained fixed on escape. Ignoring the searing pain in her wrists and the ache in her knees from kneeling on the hard floor, she pulled at the cold, heavy chains binding her wrists, the metal biting into her skin. As she strained against the chains, her toes curled against the icy floor, the chill seeping into her bones.

  If Dante was going to do something, he'd better be quick about it; there was only so much stalling she could do. With his murmured chant, her crystal grew brighter at her chest. What started off as a slow hum like a heartbeat grew into a bright sapphire blue illumination.

  From somewhere in the building, the loud popping of gunshots echoed through the room, making her flinch. They sounded close, maybe on a lower floor, and she knew Dante was finally making his move. With renewed desperation, she pulled at the chains, hoping to at least loosen the bolts.

  The man's sinister smile spread across his face, eclipsing the relief that had begun to wash over her.

  "Right on time," he whispered with amusement.

  Had they really played right into his hand?

  Before she could get discouraged, the skylight above her to the right shattered, sending jagged shards of glass crashing down around her. She put her head down, protecting her face from the falling debris.

  Dante dropped from the skylight, his sword crashing down into her chains and freeing her from the floor. He landed in a crouch before her, his chest still heaving with exertion and his eyes locked onto hers.

  Though behind his sexy smirk, she could see the worry that had been in his eyes earlier at her apartment. And the night of the Serpaxos attack.

  Dante whispered for her to run before standing and turning his sword on the man who'd stopped his chanting. Eva wasted no time obeying, despite the glass cutting into the soles of her feet as she stood. The shards dug deep, making every step feel like a thousand needles piercing her skin.

  Behind her, she heard Dante call the man a bastard.

  "I knew I should have decapitated you when I had the chance." He spat angrily.

  The man taunted Dante, his voice filled with malice. "Always so quick to anger and a step behind, Tartarus spawn."

  Before she reached a door that didn't sound like a demon was making the room its playpen, she heard the sound of two swords clashing against each other. She glanced back for only a second to see the two men fighting, their blades flashing in the dim light.

  For a moment, she almost stayed, her heart pounding with fear for Dante. But there was literally nothing she could do to help. She was untrained, powerless, bound, and barefoot.

  So she followed Dante's instructions, her eyes scanning the doors for an exit. She flung open the first door, hoping against hope, but it only led to a very destroyed bedroom that smelled even worse than the massive room she'd just fled. The stench of death and decay hit her like a punch to the gut, making her stomach roil.

  There were deep scratches in the walls and all the furniture, like a wild animal had been unleashed. At least ten dead bodies were piled on top of each other in the corner, their eyes frozen in terror. Eva nearly gagged at the sight of their mauled carcasses, two of them appearing to be small children.

  Tears filled her eyes, and a scream formed in her throat that she unsuccessfully tried to push back. She slammed the door shut, her heart racing with the horrific image.

  She thought to try another door, but it held what she was positive was a hellhound. Its snarling and thrashing made her wonder why it hadn't just burst through the walls. Maybe the man fighting Dante had it bound like she'd been.

  The huge glass elevator in the middle of the home also seemed like a terrible idea, given the chaos erupting around her. The two men fighting and crashing into walls made the space feel precarious, and Eva's recent close call with a blue ball of flame still had her heart racing. She remembered the blast of heat, the flash of blue light, and the sound of shattering glass that had followed. It was a miracle she hadn't been hit. With that risk still present, the elevator was the last place she wanted to be.

  On another level of the building, or maybe they were in an apartment – shit, she didn't know – she could hear more gunshots, the sound of a Serpaxos chittering, and the distant shouts of people. But they weren't the terrified screams she'd expected. Instead, they sounded like battle cries, fierce and determined. Dante had brought backup with him, thank goodness, and part of her hoped that it both was and wasn't her family. She didn't want them getting hurt, but she also wanted to fling herself into their arms.

  She feared what would have happened if they hadn't shown up when they had.

  Limping from the tiny shards of glass in the bottom of her feet, she made her way to another door down the hall the man had come from. It had been silent, but when she opened the door, she gave a surprised shriek from the two hellhounds on the other side, blocking the stairs.

  Her eyes met her brother's for just a split second, and her heart swelled with relief. She was glad to see he was okay, nose bandaged, but alive.

  Simon had been rounding the corner at the bottom of the stairs, also unaware of the two hellhounds by the shocked expression on his face.

  She'd known he saw her as he raised his weapon, but one of the demons blocked her path. It turned to her, and she jumped back with a shriek and profanity escaping her. Quickly, she shut the door, but it didn't need the tiny entrance. Just as the Pyropex from the alley, she saw its electric blue glow move through the floor under the door as three loud pops sounded in the hall, closer than the others.

  As she slowly backed away, afraid it would emerge and gut her, she watched the flooring crack in unnatural ways while emitting an eerie blue glow. Once she was away from the door, it emerged from the floor, not in the dramatic bursting the other had done through the asphalt but in a slow, black materializing.

  It snarled at her, the sharp quills in its back quivering loose with its reshaping. With its nose to her bloody footprints, she knew it had her scent, and any plans on escape were over for her.

  She slowly backed away from the creature that stalked her with a low growl. Her hands were raised in a cautious way, like one would with a rabid dog before its attack, but her eyes still darted around the creature's massive body in hopes she'd somehow be able to find a way around. Sensing this, the intensity of its growl grew, and snapped her attention back to only its thick drool dripping from its massive mouth.

  The Pyropex stalked her backwards, towards the sound of the battle between Dante and her captor. Eva tried to carefully shuffle her feet, but the glass cutting into them again made every step feel like agony.

  "Eva! No!" Dante yelled, his voice laced with urgency. Scared, she turned to assess the new threat, but was met with his very blue eyes.

  In his distraction, her captor had stabbed Dante, the sword impaling him in the same shoulder she'd once accidentally shot him. The blade pinned him to the wall, and Eva felt the pain before she saw the cause.

  It had happened far too fast for her to react, and she realized it was the reason for Dante's distress.

  His hand was out to her, as was the other man's, who'd sent a dagger flying straight towards her.

  The blade pierced her chest with an electric sting, and she cried out, hands flying to her wound where it protruded. Her ears buzzed with a static that was both quiet and deafening at the same time. The sharp inhale of air she'd taken when hit was more painful than the initial blow. So many thoughts flooded her brain at once, but the one that rang out the loudest was:

  Her hands were instinctively on the handle, shaking with shock.

  She fell to her knees, the glass scraping her legs through her pants nowhere near as painful as the breath she was holding. She finally saw she was back in her original position. Though she didn't know why, a chuckle tried to form in her throat. Only it tasted like the copper penny her brothers once dared her to suck on, and the moment her lips parted, they released tiny sputters of red onto the white floor in front of her.

  There was a moistness to her cheeks that came from the tears she knew she was blinking away, trying to clear her suddenly blurry vision. But she couldn't move her hands from her chest to wipe them. The sharp pain burned deep inside of her when the gasp she'd been holding onto released with a gagged cry. It forced her to hold her breath again, but she failed. With each quick breath, each tight pulsing of her heart, she felt the unknown need to press into her chest.

  To stop the burn.

  To calm the painful thumping.

  She closed her eyes tight to try to focus. When she opened them, though her ears were still muted by the shrill ringing, she could see and hear the man chanting at his podium again. Her eyes closed tight again as her body tried to take in another painfully ragged breath. It only made her dizzier.

  She felt her body tilt, and before she could slump forward, strong arms were there to hold her up. Their sensation was electric where they touched the exposed skin on her shoulder.

  She forced her eyes open to see Dante's face incredibly close to hers. One of his hands held her own hands that felt shaky at her chest.

  The pain in his voice when he whispered her name, if she hadn't already been crying, it would have broken her. She never wanted to hear that anguish in his tone again.

  Slowly and gently, he moved her to her back, and she tried to gasp with the motion, but the burning in her lungs stopped her.

  From the wound on his shoulder, blood pooled, and his hair—

  She wasn't sure if she was hallucinating, but there were swirls of black dancing behind his head, making his snowy hair flutter.

  His essence, she realized.

  She forced her mouth to open, forced her hands to leave her chest as she tried to push him away, but her arms were heavy. So damn heavy. And the burning in her lungs...

  He was the missing piece. She wanted to warn him. They'd decoded that she was the key, but so was he.

  He was saying something, but she couldn't hear him. The ringing in her ears had gotten louder as the darkness started to blur the edges of her vision. The words repeated loudly in her mind, screaming at her to warn him.

  She tried to tell him… he had to leave the circle… he was the key...

  It choked out of her sticky mouth, but the pull of darkness was too strong.

  As the darkness closed in, she felt Dante's hand tighten around hers, his fingers intertwining with hers in a desperate grasp. She wanted to squeeze back, but her hand felt heavy, unresponsive. Her vision narrowed to a tiny pinprick, and her last image was Dante's face, his eyes blazing with fear and determination.

  Her last conscious thought was the searing intensity of his gaze. The image of his icy blue eyes lingered.

  They were… beautiful…