Catarina had never been afraid of the dark.But that night, something inside her trembled, not with fear, no, but with anticipation.
She had promised her nanny she'd be home early.She had lied, of course.Ever since she had seen Sylus again, lying had become as natural as breathing.Not for pleasure, but because it felt like there were two versions of her: the one the world saw, and the one he awakened inside her.
This time, he had invited her.A "dinner among friends," he had said.
But when she entered the restaurant, she realized it would be just the two of them.Suddenly, all her courage seemed to crumble.
He stood to greet her.Black suit, loosened tie, silver eyes.Catarina felt her legs turn to cotton.
He was no longer the same man from the café.This was someone colder, more distant, almost dangerous.
- You came.- You asked me to.
A faint, almost imperceptible smile curved his lips.
He pulled out her chair and sat across from her.Silence settled, broken only by the rain tapping against the window behind him.
She spoke to fill the void, but he barely listened.And when he finally looked at her, it was as if everything else disappeared.Everything except her.
They dined slowly.Every phrase felt measured, every gesture calculated.And yet, there was this tension, this invisible line between them, ready to snap.
When he placed his hand over hers, she felt as if the world had stopped.Light, almost trivial.But enough to make her cheeks flush, enough to make her forget who she was supposed to be.
- You should go home, he said in a low voice.- And if I don't want to?- Then you'll make a mistake.
She smiled, provocative.
- And if I like mistakes?
He stared at her for a long moment.Then he stood, paid the bill without a word, and handed her his jacket.
- Come.
The car moved through the night, rain scattering like sparks across the windows.Catarina watched the city lights fade, hypnotized.Sylus remained silent.Too silent.
Until he suddenly said:
- You shouldn't play this game.- Play what?- Make me believe you know what you're doing.
She was about to answer, but he parked the car.Not in front of her home.In front of a building she didn't recognize.
Her heart raced.She could have said no.She should have said no.But instead, she followed him.
The apartment was spacious, minimalist, almost impersonal.Light walls, the scent of wood and whiskey.
He removed his jacket and draped it over a chair.
- Want a drink?- Only if you drink with me.
He studied her for a long moment.Then poured two glasses.
They drank. Slowly.Words became whispers, silences turned into confessions.
And when he brushed her cheek with his fingertips, she knew she would never turn back.It wasn't a passionate kiss.It was something more dangerous.A silent vow.A slow, conscious fall.
The next morning, when she woke, he was gone.On the table, a note:
"Do not look for me."
She smiled.Not because she would obey.But because she knew she would see him again.
Sin now had a face.And it wore his.