Crimson Reign

Chapter 2: His Name, MyPulse

“I didn’t fall in love. I stepped into fire and forgot how to leave.”

We didn’t speak as we moved across the rooftops—two shadows gliding through the sleeping city, like ghosts who never learned how to rest. Kael moved like he knew the path by heart. I followed without asking why. That should’ve scared me.

It didn’t.

The wind was cold against my skin. My blood was still warm from the kill. But all I could feel was him. His presence. His silence. His storm. We landed on the roof of an old cathedral—forgotten, burned out, and half-swallowed by vines. It stood like a broken crown in the middle of the city. Fitting, I thought. Kael sat on the edge, legs hanging over the side like it was nothing.

“Still with me, Ruinmaker?” he asked, voice low. I didn’t answer. Just sat beside him.The city stretched below us—tired, loud, alive. We watched in silence as the red lights flickered over empty streets. He passed me a cigarette. I didn’t take it.

“I don’t smoke,” I said.

He chuckled. “Didn’t peg you for clean.”

“I’m not,” I said. “I just like to feel what I burn.”

He turned his head, watching me like I was a story he wanted to finish. “Why did you come with me?” he asked. I stared at the horizon. “You didn’t ask me to stay. You asked me to walk into the fire with you.”

“And?”

I looked at him then—really looked.

His jaw was bruised. His lip cut.

But his eyes?

His eyes looked like they’d seen galaxies die and still wanted more.

“And I was curious what kind of man would smile while he’s burning,” I said. There was a pause. Heavy. Electric. Then he said, “You know, I’ve watched you from a distance before.” I stiffened. “You’re lucky I don’t kill stalkers.” He smiled, unbothered. “You never noticed me because I didn’t want you to.”

“Why now?”

Kael leaned forward, elbows on his knees, face half-lit by the glow of the city. “Because something’s wrong with the world,” he said. “Something bigger than us. Something old.” I waited. “There’s a prophecy,” he added. “One that says two immortals will rise from ruin and remake the city in blood or light.” My breath caught. Just for a second.

“And you think that’s us?” I asked, cold.

“I know it is.”

I stood, suddenly angry. “You brought me here for a prophecy?”

“No,” he said, standing too. “I brought you here because the moment I saw you, I knew I couldn’t survive what’s coming alone.” He stepped closer. No games now. No smirks. Just truth. “I don’t want to control you, Eris. I don’t even want to save you. I just want you beside me when the world falls apart.”

And there it was.

Not a confession.

Not a trap.

Just… real.

And that scared me more than any prophecy ever could.

Because I knew what I was.

What I could do.

What I had done.

Love doesn’t survive people like me. It gets swallowed. But maybe—just maybe—he wasn’t asking for love. Maybe he was asking for war.

And I could give him that.

So I said, “Alright. I’ll stand with you.” Kael’s lips curved. But it wasn’t a smile. It was something heavier. Sadder. Deeper. “Good,” he whispered. “Because they’re coming.”

My heart didn’t race.

It roared.

Somewhere far below, a sound cracked through the night. Like bone breaking. Like the sky splitting open. Something ancient had woken up. And it was coming for us both.

This was no longer just a game of fire and flirtation.

This was a war. And we had already lit the match.