The alley behind the café was silent.
Too silent.
The noise of the street—cars, voices, footsteps—had completely vanished the moment Adrian followed Evelyn through the back door.
The fog was thicker here.
It crawled along the brick walls and pooled around their feet like pale water.
Adrian looked back toward the café entrance.
The door they had just exited was gone.
Not closed.
Gone.
Only a solid brick wall stood where it had been.
His stomach dropped.
"…Okay," he said slowly.
"That's new."
Evelyn didn't seem surprised.
She walked deeper into the narrow alley, her blade still in hand.
"Stay close," she said.
Adrian quickly followed.
"Wait—hold on," he said. "You're not just going to explain anything?"
"No."
"That's reassuring."
They reached the end of the alley.
Another wall.
No exits.
Adrian frowned.
"Evelyn… there's literally nowhere to—"
She placed her hand against the bricks.
For a moment, nothing happened.
Then the wall rippled.
Not cracked.
Not opened.
Rippled.
Like the surface of water.
A faint silver symbol appeared beneath her palm, glowing softly before fading again.
The bricks dissolved into swirling mist.
Adrian's jaw slowly dropped.
Behind the wall was a staircase descending into darkness.
Cold air flowed upward from below.
Evelyn stepped toward it.
Adrian hesitated.
"You want me to go down there?"
Evelyn looked over her shoulder.
"If you want to stay alive."
Adrian sighed.
"Fantastic."
He followed her down the staircase.
The moment his foot touched the first step—
The world changed.
The fog vanished instantly.
The air felt heavier.
Older.
Adrian blinked as the staircase opened into a massive underground corridor.
But it wasn't part of the London Underground.
Not even close.
The walls were made of ancient stone blocks, carved with symbols similar to the one burned into his palm.
Dim lanterns lined the corridor, glowing with soft blue light.
The tunnel stretched far into the distance.
And people were everywhere.
Adrian froze.
Some wore long coats similar to Evelyn's.
Others carried strange weapons—spears, blades, even firearms etched with glowing markings.
Everyone moved with purpose.
And more than a few stopped to stare at him.
Evelyn walked forward confidently.
Adrian hurried to catch up.
"…Where are we?"
She didn't slow down.
"The Veil."
Adrian looked around again.
"This is under London?"
"Yes."
"And people just… live down here?"
"Work," Evelyn corrected.
"What kind of work?"
Evelyn stopped walking.
She turned toward him.
Her expression was serious.
"Keeping things like those creatures you saw today from reaching the surface."
Adrian's chest tightened.
"You mean monsters."
"Yes."
Adrian ran a hand through his hair.
"This is insane."
A few nearby hunters glanced in their direction, clearly curious.
Evelyn lowered her voice.
"You woke something last night."
"I didn't mean to."
"That doesn't matter."
They continued walking deeper into the corridor.
The tunnel eventually opened into a massive underground chamber.
Adrian's eyes widened.
The cavern was enormous.
Buildings had been constructed inside it—stone structures connected by bridges and walkways.
Lanterns hung from iron cables stretched across the cavern ceiling.
The place looked like a hidden city.
Hunters moved through the streets, some carrying injured creatures or strange artifacts.
Others were returning from what looked like combat patrols.
Adrian stared in disbelief.
"This place is real…"
Evelyn crossed her arms.
"Very."
A tall man standing near the entrance noticed them approaching.
He wore a dark uniform coat with silver insignia on the collar.
His eyes landed on Adrian immediately.
"Cross," he said.
Evelyn nodded slightly.
"Commander Hale."
The man's gaze shifted toward Adrian.
His expression hardened.
"And who's this?"
Evelyn hesitated for half a second.
Then she answered.
"Problem."
Commander Hale frowned.
"I figured that much."
His eyes moved to Adrian's hand.
To the mark.
The moment he saw it—
His entire posture changed.
Silence fell between them.
"Where," Hale said slowly, "did he get that?"
Adrian looked down at his palm instinctively.
"I don't know."
Hale's gaze snapped back to Evelyn.
"You brought him here with that thing active?"
"We didn't have time," she replied.
Hale rubbed his temple.
"This is bad."
Adrian looked between them.
"Could someone please explain what's happening?"
Hale stepped closer.
For a moment, Adrian felt like he was being examined by a soldier deciding whether he was dangerous.
Then Hale spoke quietly.
"That mark on your hand," he said, "is not just a seal."
Adrian swallowed.
"Then what is it?"
Hale's expression darkened.
"It's a prison."
Adrian felt his stomach twist.
"For what?"
For several seconds, Hale didn't answer.
Instead, he looked at Evelyn.
"You're sure?"
Evelyn nodded once.
"I saw it activate."
Hale exhaled slowly.
Then he looked directly at Adrian.
"The thing inside that seal…"
His voice dropped to a grim whisper.
"…once nearly destroyed this city."
Adrian felt the blood drain from his face.
The voice inside his mind suddenly stirred again.
Soft.
Amused.
"Ah… how nostalgic."
Adrian's heart skipped.
The voice continued.
"It seems they still remember me."
Adrian whispered under his breath.
"…Who are you?"
Inside his mind, the entity laughed quietly.
A deep, ancient sound.
Then it answered.
"My name… is Nyxar."
And across the chamber—
Commander Hale suddenly drew his weapon.
Pointing it straight at Adrian.
"Step away from the boy," he ordered Evelyn.
Adrian's eyes widened.
"What—?"
Hale's voice echoed through the cavern.
Cold.
Deadly serious.
"Because if that seal truly contains what I think it does…"
His finger tightened on the trigger.
"…then he might already be the most dangerous thing in London."