The room was unrecognizable.
Shards of glass littered the floor, mixed with splinters of wood and overturned objects. The walls were laced with dark cracks, as if something had tried to claw its way out from within the very matter itself.
The air was heavy.
Thick with the smell of ash and smoke.
It was the same place…
But warped.
As if reality had been stretched until it cracked.
A place suspended between two worlds.
At the center of the room stood a dark mass.
An unstable form, made of shadow and black mist, undulating slowly as if the darkness itself were breathing.
And between what faintly resembled two hands…
It held a man suspended above the floor.
Its shadow fingers were wrapped around his throat.
Yet the man didn't seem particularly concerned.
His feet swayed lightly in the air.
And despite the pressure crushing his windpipe, an amused gleam shone in his hazel eyes.
— You could have killed her.
The entity's voice resonated through the room.
Deep.
Layered.
Like several voices speaking at once.
The man managed a smile despite the grip.
— But I didn't…
He coughed slightly.
— And I had no intention of doing so.
The hold tightened abruptly.
The air left his lungs in a brutal gasp.
— You're playing with something you don't understand…
Killian rolled his eyes.
— Could you… stop… strangling me… for two seconds?
He inhaled with difficulty.
— It's rather hard to be funny under these conditions.
The entity did not loosen its grip.
A silence passed.
Then Killian sighed.
— Fine.
He raised his hands.
And grabbed the dark shape squeezing his throat.
For a fraction of a second…
The shadow seemed to tremble.
As if weakened by that simple contact.
The grip gave way.
Killian landed back on his feet with a dull thud.
He rubbed his throat, grimacing slightly.
— Wow…
He breathed in deeply.
— I almost thought you were actually going to kill me.
His tone was unmistakably sardonic.
The black mist rippled, irritated.
— As if a simple hold could kill a parasite like you.
Killian laughed softly.
— Parasite?
He raised his hands, feigning offense.
— Hey. This so-called parasite is the one you came to for help.
The shadows around the entity shuddered.
— You nearly ruined everything I've worked for.
Killian shrugged.
— I did what I had to do to find her.
— You put her in danger.
Killian tilted his head slightly.
— Minor technicality.
The air in the room vibrated.
— It was not a technicality.
Killian ran a hand through his hair.
— Look…
He glanced around.
— I was perfectly happy tanning under the gorgeous Los Angeles sun…
He sighed.
— When you decided to drag me into your little apocalyptic obsession.
The entity's voice cracked like a whip.
— I didn't force you.
Killian burst out laughing.
— Seriously?
He shook his head.
— A choice? My ass, Élias.
The reaction was immediate.
The room shook violently.
The cracked windowpanes rattled.
— You are forbidden from calling me that!
Killian smiled.
A slow smile.
Provocative.
— Oh, my apologies.
He raised his hands.
— Does it bother you when someone uses your real name?
The mist around the creature churned furiously.
— It is no longer my name.
Killian crossed his arms.
— Oh, so we're into reinvention now?
He thought for a second.
— What do you want then?
He made a vague gesture.
— Lord of Darkness? Grand Architect of Chaos?
He shrugged.
— Or my personal favorite: Mr. Speaks-Only-In-Riddles.
A deep rumble filled the room.
The walls vibrated.
— You would do well to show more respect.
The voice turned glacial.
— Don't forget that I made you.
This time, Killian stopped smiling.
His gaze hardened.
— No.
He moved slowly toward the entity.
— The one I owe something to…
His voice dropped lower.
— Is my creator.
He held his eyes fixed on the shadow.
— And you… are not.
The silence that followed was heavy.
Almost electric.
Then the entity spoke.
Colder than ever.
— You owe me respect for what I offer you.
Killian sighed.
— Respect isn't bought.
He raised his eyes toward the creature.
— And my reward is more than earned.
His smile returned.
But this time, it was darker.
— Given everything I've sacrificed to be here.
He paused.
Then added calmly:
— And trust me…
His eyes glinted faintly.
— When I have what I want… you'll be the least of my problems, Élias.
The mist around Élias contracted.
As if that single name had awakened something inside him.
---
The silence fell again.
Heavy.
Unstable.
Killian tilted his head slightly, a smile at the corner of his lips.
— Do you always react like that when someone says your name… or is it just with me?
The mist pulsed violently.
But this time—
it didn't simply vibrate.
It spread.
All at once.
Like a black tide flooding the entire room.
Killian didn't move.
— Oh… we're going full dramatic now?
The mist reached him.
And everything changed.
Killian's smile faltered.
His body went rigid.
Not outwardly.
But from within.
His fingers curled slightly.
His pupils dilated.
— …
A silence.
Then his breathing changed.
Slower.
Heavier.
— You forget your place.
Élias's voice had grown even colder, almost unreal. It no longer came solely from the room.
It came from within him.
From everywhere.
Killian tried to move.
Nothing.
A muffled laugh escaped him against his will.
— Seriously… ?
But his voice was no longer entirely his own.
A slight displacement.
As if two intentions were layered over each other.
— Always so… intrusive.
The mist pulsed.
Deeper.
And this time—
Killian dropped to one knee.
Just one.
But enough.
The floor cracked under the impact.
His jaw clenched.
— You can resist…
Élias's voice turned glacial.
— But not indefinitely.
A shiver ran through Killian's body.
His fingers trembled.
Then slowly closed.
As if someone else were testing his movements.
— Interesting…
he murmured.
But it was no longer quite him speaking.
The pressure increased.
Invisible.
Crushing.
Then—
it vanished.
All at once.
Killian gasped sharply, stepping back.
His hand pressed against his chest.
His gaze darkened.
— Happy now?
No immediate response.
But something resembling a smile formed on what could loosely be called the entity's face.
Then—
— She is not like the others.
Killian remained still, catching his breath.
This time, he didn't joke.
— Yes. I'd noticed.
— No.
The room seemed to contract.
— You haven't understood anything.
A silence.
Then—
— She should not exist.
Killian narrowed his eyes.
— An anomaly?
— A mistake.
The word fell.
Heavy.
Ancient.
— A mistake that even this world should not have tolerated.
A faint smile returned to Killian's face.
— And yet… here she is.
The mist undulated slowly.
— Yes…
— And that is precisely why she interests me.
Killian crossed his arms.
— I'm listening.
The silence stretched.
As if even Élias hesitated to go further.
— What you saw…
— Those images…
— What you felt…
Her resistance.
Her energy.
— That was only a fraction of her power.
Killian's eyes widened slightly, then he tilted his head.
— So you're certain… that she's the one you need.
The silence stretched.
Longer this time.
Heavier.
As if something, beyond even Élias… was listening.
Then—
— I don't "believe" anything.
His voice had changed.
Lower.
More ancient.
— I recognize what belongs to me.
A shiver swept through the room.
Killian didn't move.
— This power…
The mist contracted slightly.
— I spent centuries tracking it.
— Losing it.
— Watching it disappear… again and again.
Killian's gaze hardened slightly.
— Until her.
A silence.
Then—
— So no…
A murmur.
Cold.
Absolute.
— There is no doubt.
A shiver swept through the room.
— She is a mistake… but also a key, said Killian.
— Exactly.
— And you want me to bring her to you so that—
— No, he said flatly.
A silence.
— Given the trouble you've caused, that won't be possible for now.
— She is under protection.
A pause.
— And it's one of your old acquaintances.
Killian's expression shifted.
More attentive.
More dangerous.
— So what am I supposed to do?
— Not much, for now.
A shiver swept through the room.
— It's my turn to play.
Killian tilted his head slightly.
— Planning another little visit inside her mind?
A silence.
Then—
— I have no choice.
The mist undulated slowly.
— And thanks to what I was able to see inside your mind…
A faint tremor moved through the air.
— It will be easier.
---