AUTHOR POV
A soft knock sounded at the door.
The man's head snapped toward it, his face instantly changing from casual menace to alertness. He glanced at the creature, ensuring the silencing wall around the room was still active, then moved to the door with slow steps.
He opened it a bit, taking a peep.
A young woman in a dark hoodie stood outside, her face partially hidden by the hood. She glanced nervously down the empty corridor before whispering,
"It's done. Mara would deliver the message to Crystal exactly as you wanted, she has started small conversations with her."
The masked man's eyes gleamed with satisfaction.
"Good. And Serena and Aliyah?"
"They took the bait. Left the room angry, just like you predicted. They're heading toward the east wing now."
He
