Chapter 12: The Enemy’s Shadow
“Keep moving,” the deep, threatening voice rumbled from the darkness of the hallway.
I couldn't see their faces, but I could tell they were nervous by the quick movements they made as I pressed myself against the wall and felt the cold marble pierce my hands. No matter who they were, they didn’t fit in here.
“What if we get discovered?” a second voice hissed sharply.
"Then we complete the task," the first one responded, frigid and resolute.
I took a deep breath, listening for their footsteps to diminish before I boldly glanced down the corridor. Two figures vanished around the corner, their motions intentional, perilous. A part of me shouted to return to the safety of my room, but curiosity, driven by fear, compelled me to follow them instead.
The magnificent Levi mansion, featuring its intricate hallways and gold-plated walls, appeared gloomier than normal, its luxury overshadowed by a subtle, hidden danger.
As I approached quietly, I caught a name that sent shivers down my back.
“Max Carter,” one of the voices said.
I froze, the name unfamiliar yet heavy with danger.
“He’s not going to wait forever,” the other added. “If Alexander doesn’t give him what he wants, we’ll be dealing with blood tonight.”
Max Carter. The name lingered in my mind like poison.
I carefully turned the corner, but the men were gone. In their place stood Vee, her sharp eyes scanning the hallway.
“Dysis?” she hissed, rushing over to me. Her hands gripped my arms, dragging me back. “What are you doing out here?”
“There were men,” I whispered, barely able to string the words together. “They mentioned someone, Max Carter.”
Vee’s expression hardened instantly. She ushered me back to my room, her movements brisk and deliberate. Once inside, she locked the door and turned to face me, her dark eyes blazing.
“Max Carter is not a name you want to hear,” she said, her voice low but intense.
“Who is he?” I asked, the fear in my voice undeniable.
“He’s Alexander’s greatest rival,” Vee replied. “A man who thrives on chaos and destruction. If he knows you’re here...” She trailed off, her lips pressing into a thin line. “This is bad, Dysis. Very bad.”
“What does he want with Alexander… or me?”
“What everyone wants, power. But Max doesn’t play fair. He’ll use anything and anyone to bring Alexander down.”
The heaviness of her words weighed down in my heart. I hardly knew Alexander, and still, the idea of being a piece in this lethal game sent chills through me.
—
Meanwhile, throughout the city, Max Carter relaxed in a leather chair, his eyes focused on the picture he held. The picture was pixelated yet distinct, Dysis on the balcony of the Levi mansion, her bold eyes gazing into the horizon.
"She’s beautiful," Max pondered, a mischievous smile appearing on his face.
“She’s trouble,” his lieutenant countered. “Levi won’t let her go easily.”
“That’s what makes it interesting,” Max said, tossing the photo onto his desk. “Alexander’s weakness has a name now.”
“You’re sure she’s important to him?”
Max chuckled. “The mighty Alexander Levi doesn’t keep anyone around unless they serve a purpose. If she’s there, she matters.”
“What’s the plan?”
Max’s grin widened, a dark glint in his eyes. “We make her ours. And when the time is right, we’ll see how far Levi is willing to go her back.”
\---
Alexander was in a less than typical attitude when he returned to the estate. His jaw was tight as he sat in his study, gazing out at the expansive estate.
John entered quietly, his expression grave. “We have a problem.”
“I’m aware,” Alexander said without turning.
“Max Carter knows about her,” John continued. “He’s already moving.”
Alexander finally turned, his icy-blue eyes colder than ever. “Then we move faster.”
“And Dysis?”
“She stays here,” Alexander said firmly. “Under no circumstances does she leave this house.”
“And if she tries?”
Alexander’s lips curved into a dangerous smirk. “She won’t get far.”
\---
In my room, sleep was impossible. Every creak of the mansion felt amplified, each sound sending my pulse racing. Vee’s words echoed relentlessly in my mind, a dark mantra I couldn’t escape. Max Carter. Alexander Levi. Two names that carried the weight of impending doom. I was pulled into a conflict I didn’t grasp, and the most frustrating part was that I had no control over any aspect of it.
The elaborate opulence surrounding me, the silk bedding, the plush curtains, the subtle golden light of the chandelier above, seemed like a trap, stunning yet constricting.
It didn’t matter how rich this prison was. The danger outside was real, and I was stuck in the middle of it.
But it wasn’t just fear that kept me awake. No matter how hard I tried, my thoughts kept circling back to him. Alexander Levi. The man who had upended my life. His presence was a storm, cold and relentless, and yet I had seen something in him tonight, a crack in the armor, a glimpse of vulnerability he desperately wanted to hide.
Was it grief I had seen in his eyes? Regret? Or was it all just another layer of his calculated game?
And yet, the thought of Alexander, the way he towered over everyone with his icy-blue gaze, the power he wielded so effortlessly, sent a shiver through me that wasn’t entirely fear. I hated that I felt anything at all for him. He was the architect of my imprisonment, but there was something about him I couldn’t ignore.
Max Carter. Alexander Levi. Two shadows looming over me, one terrifying in its mystery, the other equally terrifying in its proximity. I couldn't decide which frightened me more, the man whose eyes appeared to go right through me or the enemy's schemes against us.
I lay there for an unknown amount of time, my chest constricted with tension and my mind restless as I stared at the ceiling. Then, however, my room's door sprang open.