CHAPTER XVII
I returned to Malti and Jenny, the weight of everything that had happened with Aurora pressing heavily on my heart. Sitting down with them felt like coming back to a place of safety, yet even here, in the company of my closest allies, my chest felt tight with unease. I couldn't hold it in anymore—I had to tell them. My voice trembled as I began recounting what happened, every detail of that moment when Aurora had kissed me, the warmth of her touch still haunting my skin.
Jenny's eyes widened with a sharp glint of alarm, and she immediately leaned forward, her tone stern, protective, and laced with concern.
"Nexa," she said firmly, "you need to be careful. Things here are never as they seem. People aren't who they show themselves to be, and Aurora… well, this sudden affection, this so-called 'love' she claims to feel for you, it doesn't sit right with me. Nobody falls in love that quickly—not genuinely. There's something else behind this. I can smell a conspiracy in all of this."
Her words pierced me like a dagger, not because they were harsh, but because I knew she was speaking the truth. Aurora's kiss had felt real, filled with longing, but Jenny was right—feelings like that don't just happen overnight, not in a world like ours, where deception and hidden agendas thrive in every shadow.
Malti, who had been listening silently, finally spoke, her voice calm but firm.
"I agree with Jenny," she said softly, though her eyes carried an intensity that matched Jenny's concern. "She's right, Nexa. This isn't something to take lightly. My lover works closely with people in Aurora's circle, and from what I've heard, she's planning something big. Something dangerous. She's been moving in silence, working against criminals, weaving a plan so intricate that no one can pin her down. She's clever, Nexa. Extremely clever. She's not just beautiful—she's dangerous."
Malti's words made my breath hitch. The image of Aurora flashed in my mind—her soft, enchanting features, the depth in her eyes, the warmth of her lips when they had touched mine. She didn't look dangerous. She looked… broken, vulnerable even. But Malti wasn't the type to exaggerate or spread baseless rumors. If she was saying this, then it was because she had reliable information.
I felt a deep unease settle in my stomach. Malti's voice was steady, but it carried an edge of warning.
"And Nexa," she added, leaning closer, "those murders… the ones you've been carrying out under the Devil's orders—don't think for a second that Aurora isn't aware. If she's as sharp as I believe she is, then she's already pieced it all together. She knows more than she's letting on. That kiss… it might not be what you think it was. It might not be love. It could be a distraction."
Jenny nodded, her expression grim.
"Exactly. She's a detective—a brilliant one at that. The kind of person who plays the long game. You think she's being honest, but she could be ten steps ahead of you right now. You need to wake up, Nexa. You need to see the danger for what it is."
I sat there in silence, their words weighing heavily on me. A part of me wanted to defend Aurora, to believe that the kiss had been genuine, that there had been a spark of something real in that moment. But deep down, I knew they were right. In this world, nobody was truly innocent. Trusting someone blindly could cost me everything.
And yet… my mission remained unchanged.
I sighed, finally lifting my gaze to meet theirs. "I know," I said softly. "I've thought about it too. But if I want to bring Aurora to the Devil… if I want to succeed, I have no choice but to forge an emotional bond with her. She has to trust me. She has to feel safe with me. That's the only way I can lure her into his world. You both know the rules. No one can enter the Devil's domain without their own consent. They have to choose to walk through that darkness on their own. Once they enter, though…"
I trailed off, and Jenny's face hardened as she finished my sentence for me.
"They leave only when the Devil allows it."
"Exactly." I nodded solemnly. "It's his law. Even I can't break it. The Devil may be a creature of darkness, but he's bound by his own rules. That's what makes him so dangerous—he doesn't need to chase people. He draws them in. He makes them want to enter his realm."
The thought of it sent a shiver down my spine. I had been to his world countless times. I had felt the weight of his presence, the suffocating darkness that clung to everything like a living entity. The Devil wasn't a being of flesh and blood—he was energy, raw and infinite, a shadow that had no form, no face. He didn't need one. His presence alone was enough to strip a person of their will. And yet, despite his overwhelming power, he was bound by that one rule: only those who walked willingly into his world could be trapped there.
Jenny leaned back in her chair, crossing her arms, her sharp gaze never leaving me. "And you think you can manipulate Aurora into doing that?"
I swallowed hard. "I don't think. I know I have to. There's no other way."
Malti's expression softened slightly, but there was still a trace of worry in her eyes. "Nexa… don't lose yourself in this mission. Aurora isn't like the others. She's… different. If she really is playing a game, you're stepping into dangerous territory. Be careful not to let her charm blind you. The Devil might be using you, but Aurora… she might destroy you."
Her words cut deep, because they touched on the fear I hadn't dared to say out loud. Aurora was different. She wasn't like anyone I had ever met before. There was something about her that pulled me in, something I couldn't fight. The warmth of her touch, the vulnerability in her voice—it was like a siren's call. And no matter how hard I tried to remind myself that this was just a mission, just another step in the Devil's plan… my heart wasn't listening.
But I couldn't afford to show that weakness now.
"I'll be careful," I said quietly, though my voice trembled slightly. "I know what's at stake. I won't let my emotions get in the way. Aurora will come to the Devil's world… willingly. And when she does, I'll make sure she never escapes."
Jenny's expression softened just slightly, but she still looked unconvinced. "I hope you're right, Nexa. Because one wrong move, and you won't just fail the Devil—you'll lose everything."
Malti reached out and placed a comforting hand on my shoulder. "Just remember who you are in all of this. Don't let the darkness swallow you whole. The Devil's world… it changes people."
I gave her a small, tired smile, though my heart felt heavy. "It already has."
The room fell silent after that, the weight of our conversation lingering in the air like a storm cloud. Jenny and Malti exchanged glances, their concern evident, but they didn't push me any further. They knew me well enough to know that once I made a decision, nothing could sway me.
As I sat there, lost in thought, Aurora's face floated back into my mind—the softness of her eyes, the warmth of her lips, the way her voice had trembled when she confessed her feelings for me. Real or not, those moments had left a mark on me.
But there was no room for weakness now.
If I wanted to survive in this game of shadows, I had to play my part perfectly. And that meant becoming the very thing I feared most: a weapon of the Devil's will.
To be continue....