The fog over the bridge grew heavier, curling like living silk around the steel beams and worn stone. Every breath Elena took seemed to melt into the cold air. The wound on her shoulder throbbed, but she stood her ground. Behind her, Gerard's hand rested on her arm, a silent warning.
Adrian's breathing came in sharp bursts. His eyes never left Rafe, whose form shimmered faintly in the silver light. Seraphine's dark figure leaned slightly forward, her lips curling into a smirk, as if she were watching a carefully staged play.
"You should leave," Gerard said quietly, his voice carrying weight. "This is no place for you."
"I can't," Elena whispered firmly, clutching her coat tighter. "Not now."
The tension between Adrian and Rafe seemed to thicken the air. Neither moved at first. Then Rafe's voice rang out, smooth and mocking: "You've grown careless, Adrian. Too many ghosts chasing you."
Adrian's jaw tightened. "You underestimate what I can do." His hand flexed at his side, tightening around the hilt of his blade.
The world seemed to pause before they moved. Then, in a blur of motion, the two lunged at each other. Steel rang against steel. Sparks burst under the pale moonlight, scattering briefly before fading into the fog. The clash was a storm of movement — controlled strikes, swift parries, the scrape of metal against metal.
Around them, the fog seemed to pulse with the rhythm of the fight. Elena could barely breathe, her attention fixed entirely on the duel. Each blow was a dangerous conversation, each counter a test of wills.
Gerard tightened his hold on Elena's arm. "Step back."
She shook her head, stepping closer instead. "No. I need to see this."
Adrian's eyes flickered toward her for the briefest moment — a flash of irritation, or maybe concern. Rafe noticed too, his smirk widening. "She should not be here," he said softly, almost to himself.
"That's enough talk," Adrian growled, his blade flashing again. The sound of their duel filled the bridge. Metal clashed with rhythm, a sound so sharp it seemed to cut through the fog itself.
Seraphine shifted, crossing her arms, her eyes locked on Elena. "She shouldn't be drawn to this," she murmured, almost as if testing herself.
But Elena did not flinch. Her eyes never left the combatants. Her heartbeat thrummed in her ears — faster now. Something deep within her stirred, a feeling she could not name.
The battle intensified. Adrian moved with the speed of a shadow, precise and calculated. Rafe was relentless, pressing forward with ferocity. The bridge beneath them seemed to tremble with every step. The steel railings vibrated softly with the impact of their blades.
Suddenly, Adrian stumbled, barely catching his balance. Rafe seized the opportunity, sweeping his blade with deadly precision toward Adrian's side. A sharp hiss of air cut through the night. Adrian twisted violently, but the edge of the blade grazed him. Pain flashed across his face, though he fought to mask it.
"Elena, get back!" Adrian shouted over the roar of the duel.
She shook her head. A strange calmness filled her. "No. I won't leave."
Something in her voice — or perhaps her stance — drew Gerard's gaze sharply toward her. Seraphine's smirk deepened. "This is dangerous for you," she said, stepping closer.
Elena's answer was silent. She stepped forward.
Time seemed to slow. Rafe's blade arced with deadly intent. Adrian's body shifted — but Elena moved faster. Without hesitation, she stepped into the path of the blade, her shoulder taking the full force of the strike. A sharp cry escaped her lips, pain radiating like fire through her arm.
"Move!" Gerard yelled. His voice was sharp, commanding.
Elena clenched her teeth. "I won't." Her voice rang with fierce determination. She planted her feet, her body trembling under the pressure of the strike. Steel pressed against her, and her knees threatened to buckle. Blood seeped between her fingers where she gripped her coat tightly.
Adrian's eyes widened in shock. His breathing grew ragged. With a sudden burst of movement, he pushed Rafe back, forcing him to retreat a step. The sound of clashing metal echoed through the fog.
Rafe smirked, his red eyes gleaming dangerously. "You fight for him," he said softly, almost amused. His blade pressed harder against Elena's shoulder.
Pain tore through her, but she held her ground. "Because he matters," she said, her voice firm despite the trembling of her body.
The fight around them slowed. Gerard moved closer to Elena, his hand steadying her shoulder. Seraphine's gaze never left Adrian.
Adrian's own eyes locked on Elena. For a long moment, silence fell between them, broken only by the sound of distant footsteps and the hum of the city beyond the fog.
Then Rafe suddenly stepped back, his smirk lingering. "This isn't over," he said softly, retreating into the shadows. His voice faded as he vanished.
Adrian's breathing was heavy. He stepped toward Elena, his eyes golden and intense. "Why?" His voice was low, carrying a mixture of curiosity and something softer she could not name.
Elena looked up at him, her face pale and wet from rain and sweat. "Because… you mattered."
Adrian studied her silently. Seraphine stepped closer, her voice smooth but cold: "This changes nothing. Both of you will pay for tonight."
Gerard placed a steady hand on Elena's shoulder. "This night will be remembered," he said quietly.
Adrian finally looked away, his gaze lingering on Elena for a moment longer before he spoke. "You're different. You should not be here. And yet…" He paused, as though deciding something. "Follow me, if you want to survive."
Elena's breath caught. Her mind was racing, but she nodded faintly.
The fog thickened. The night around them grew still, heavy with unseen threats. Somewhere beneath the bridge, water moved quietly, carrying away the echoes of steel, breath, and blood.
Above them, the full moon shone like a silver sentinel, witnessing a pact sealed in pain and courage. A pact that would pull them deeper into a world of darkness, blood, and fate.
They stepped into the night together — bound by an unspoken promise, their paths intertwined under the moon's cold gaze.