The morning light was different now. It was harsh, demanding, like the sun itself was trying to send a warning. Elias stood at the window of the penthouse, his hands pressed against the cool glass, his eyes fixed on the horizon. The city below was waking up, but there was something wrong with the way the shadows fell. They were too long, too dark, stretching across the streets like grasping fingers.
He could feel it in his bones. The Shadow Beyond the Shadow was growing inside him. It had been weeks since he had absorbed it, and at first, he had thought he could contain it. But it was stronger than he had anticipated. It was pushing against the edges of his consciousness, trying to break free.
You cannot hold me forever, the Shadow Beyond the Shadow whispered. I am ancient. I am eternal.
