Chapter 28
The night did not hide them.
It revealed them.
—
Raphael stood in the shadows of the lower corridor, his gaze fixed on the far end where two figures moved separately, just as described.
Unremarkable.
Unnoticed.
But not unseen.
—
"There," one of the hidden guards whispered.
Raphael didn't respond.
His eyes tracked their movements with precision.
Timing.
Distance.
Exit points.
Everything calculated.
—
"Take them separately," Raphael said quietly.
"No noise."
—
The operation unfolded swiftly.
The first man disappeared before he could react, dragged into darkness with silent efficiency. The second sensed something—just enough to turn, just enough to panic—
But not enough to escape.
—
Within minutes, both were restrained.
Alive.
For now.
—
They were brought into an underground chamber—cold, sealed, unforgiving.
The kind of place where truth surfaced whether one wanted it to or not.
—
Raphael stood before them.
Calm.
Patient.
Dangerous.
—
"You've been careful," he said.
Neither man spoke.
—
"That was your first mistake," Raphael continued. "Careful men think they're invisible."
He crouched slightly, meeting the gaze of the one on the left.
"But you were seen."
—
The man's breathing quickened.
"We—we didn't do anything—"
"Then this will be simple," Raphael replied.
—
"Who gave you the letters?"
Silence.
—
Raphael didn't push.
Didn't threaten.
—
He simply waited.
—
It worked.
—
"We don't know his name," the second man blurted out. "We never saw his face—he always wore a hood—"
"But you took his orders."
"Yes—yes, but—"
"What did he give you?"
"Money. Instructions. That's all!"
—
Raphael's gaze sharpened.
"Instructions to do what?"
—
The first man swallowed hard.
"To spread the letters… to make sure people saw them…"
"To ruin her," the second added quickly.
—
Her.
—
Raphael's expression didn't change.
But something cold settled behind his eyes.
—
"Describe him," Raphael said.
"We can't—he hid his face—"
"But not everything," Raphael pressed.
A pause.
Then—
"He had a ring."
—
Silence.
—
Raphael leaned in slightly.
"What kind of ring?"
"…Silver," the man whispered. "With a crest."
—
Raphael's voice lowered.
"What crest?"
—
The hesitation this time was heavier.
Fear deeper.
—
"…a crescent… wrapped in thorns."
—
Raphael straightened slowly.
—
He knew that symbol.
—
Inner court.
Restricted.
Powerful.
—
And connected to someone who should not have been involved.
—
Selene.
—
But before he could speak again—
Something changed.
—
The first man choked.
Suddenly.
Violently.
—
Raphael moved instantly.
But it was too late.
—
Foam gathered at the man's lips.
His body convulsed—
Then stilled.
—
"No—no, please—!" the second man cried.
—
Then—
He froze.
—
His breath hitched.
His eyes widened in terror—
As if realizing something too late.
—
And then—
He collapsed.
—
Silence.
—
Raphael stood still.
Watching.
Analyzing.
—
"…Poison," he murmured.
—
Not forced.
Not visible.
—
Controlled.
—
By the time Kael arrived—
The bodies were already covered.
—
"They spoke," Raphael said.
Kael's gaze sharpened. "And?"
"Enough."
—
A pause.
—
"The crest," Raphael continued.
—
Kael didn't need the name spoken.
—
"Selene."
—
The air shifted.
—
But without proof—
The truth remained buried.
—
And now—
So did their only witnesses.
—
The game had changed.
—
And someone had just made it clear—
They were watching.