Abigail stirred slowly, the warmth of the hearth still flickering in her mind as she blinked awake. The room was dim, the firelight casting playful shadows that danced along the walls, but it was the weight beside her that anchored her in reality. She blinked again, her mind struggling to shake off the remnants of sleep, but the moment her gaze landed on Dimitri, consciousness hit her like a cold wave.
She was in his chambers.
The realization hit with a rush of embarrassment, flooding her cheeks with warmth. Memories of the previous night flickered in and out, the mark on her wrist, the tension in the air, and finally, the ease of falling asleep against him. She hadn't intended to fall asleep; she had meant to keep her guard up, to maintain her distance. But the calm that enveloped them had lulled her into a vulnerability she hadn't anticipated.
Abigail pushed herself upright, the soft fabric of the chair shifting beneath her. She took a moment to gather her thoughts, the remnants of the mark still haunting the edges of her consciousness. But physically, she felt fine—no lingering pain, no throbbing pulse against her skin. Just the faint echo of the mark, a reminder of the night before.
Guilt pricked at her as she glanced at Dimitri, his features softened in sleep, the shadows of the room highlighting the sharp angles of his face. He looked peaceful, a stark contrast to the storm of emotions she had seen in him the night before. For a moment, she considered the strange comfort of being near him, the quiet moments they had shared. Then, the thought of slipping away before he awoke took hold.
She rose carefully, the chair creaking slightly beneath her. Steeling her breath, she moved with deliberate caution, avoiding the worn floorboards that she knew creaked underfoot. Each step felt like a tightrope walk, the air thick with the tension of unspoken words and unresolved feelings. She reached the door, her hand hovering over the handle, when the sudden urge to glance back at him caught her.
He was still asleep, the fire casting a gentle glow on his face. It felt wrong to leave without a word, but the weight of their shared silence was too heavy for her to bear. She turned the handle and stepped into the corridor, the cool air hitting her like a splash of cold water.
But just as she took her first step, she collided directly into something solid.
"Watch where you're going," a voice snapped, sharp and cutting through the quiet of the morning. Abigail stumbled back, blinking in surprise as she looked up to meet Lena's icy stare.
Lena stood before her, arms crossed, an expression that shifted from shock to hostility in an instant. The tension was palpable, a silent war brewing in the space between them.
"What are you doing here?" Lena's voice dripped with suspicion, her gaze flicking to the door behind Abigail, then back to her. "You shouldn't be in Dimitri's chambers."
Abigail's heart raced, the embarrassment of being caught in such a vulnerable position crashing over her like a wave. "I—"
"Don't bother," Lena interrupted, her voice cold as steel. "I know he let you stay. I saw you."
The accusation hung in the air, heavy and suffocating. Abigail swallowed hard, trying to muster a response, but the words wouldn't come. Lena stepped closer, her presence commanding, and Abigail felt the weight of her scrutiny.
"You think you can just waltz in here, take his time, and then leave without a word?" Lena's tone was laced with venom, and Abigail could feel the hostility radiating off her in waves. "You're mistaken if you think this will end well for you."
"What do you mean?" Abigail asked, her voice barely above a whisper, the bravado she had been trying to muster crumbling under Lena's piercing gaze.
Lena's lips curled into a smirk, one that sent a chill down Abigail's spine. "You're not the first to think they could charm their way into Dimitri's good graces. But trust me, it doesn't work that way. You're not as special as you think."
The words stung, but Abigail held her ground, refusing to let Lena see her falter. "I'm not trying to charm anyone," she replied, her voice steadier than she felt. "I came here for answers, not games."
Lena laughed, a cold, humorless sound that echoed in the corridor. "Answers? You think you'll find them here? You're playing a dangerous game, Abigail. You have no idea what you're up against."
Abigail's heart quickened, the weight of Lena's words pressing down on her. "What do you mean?" she pressed, desperate for clarity, for any insight into the web of power that surrounded her.
Lena stepped closer, her expression shifting to one of calculated malice. "Today's trial won't be like the others. You may think you're safe, that you've got Dimitri's favor, but I assure you, you won't survive it. Not with the mark you carry."
Abigail's breath caught in her throat, the implications of Lena's words sinking in. "What are you saying?"
"It's simple," Lena said, her voice low and dangerous. "You're marked for something far worse than you can imagine. And I intend to make sure you don't make it through the day."
The weight of Lena's threat pressed down on Abigail, and for a moment, the world around her faded, leaving only the sharp clarity of reality. She had stepped into a game far beyond her understanding, and Lena was not just an opponent; she was a predator.
"Why?" Abigail managed to ask, her voice trembling slightly. "Why would you want to see me fail?"
Lena's expression hardened, her eyes narrowing. "Because you're a threat to everything I've built. You think you can just walk in and take what's mine? You have no idea how much I've sacrificed to be where I am. I won't allow you to ruin it."
Abigail took a step back, the corridor feeling smaller as Lena's words closed in around her. "I'm not trying to take anything from you," she said, her heart racing. "I'm just trying to survive."
Lena chuckled darkly, the sound echoing in the quiet space. "Survival isn't as simple as you think. In Nocturna, it's a game of power, and right now, you're holding nothing but a losing hand."
Before Abigail could respond, Lena stepped aside, her gaze lingering on the door to Dimitri's chambers. "I suggest you tread carefully, Abigail. You may find yourself in a position you can't escape from."