CHAPTER 60
(CONTINUATION)
The palace no longer felt like home.
It felt watched.
---
Selene walked beside Brian in silence as they moved deeper into the inner corridors. The guards they passed did not relax at their presence.
If anything—
They looked more alert.
More suspicious.
---
Brian finally spoke, his voice low.
"This is not normal."
---
Selene didn't slow down.
"No," she said calmly. "It is worse than not normal."
---
They turned into a quieter hallway.
Less crowded.
But somehow heavier.
---
Brian stopped walking.
Selene took two more steps before noticing.
She turned.
"…What is it?"
---
Brian's eyes were fixed ahead.
On a servant.
Standing still.
Too still.
---
"Do you see that?" he asked quietly.
---
Selene followed his gaze.
The servant stood near a pillar, holding a tray.
Head slightly lowered.
Not moving.
Not blinking.
---
"Yes," Selene said.
---
Brian frowned.
"She has been standing like that since we entered this corridor."
---
Selene studied her carefully.
Then began walking toward the servant.
Slow.
Measured.
---
"Selene—" Brian warned softly.
---
She didn't stop.
---
The servant lifted her head slowly as Selene approached.
Their eyes met.
---
For a brief second—
Something felt wrong.
---
Selene spoke first.
"You have been standing here for quite a while."
---
The servant smiled.
Too quickly.
"Yes, my lady."
---
Selene tilted her head slightly.
"Waiting for someone?"
---
"Yes."
---
"For who?"
---
A pause.
Then—
"For you."
---
Brian stepped forward instantly.
"What did you just say?"
---
The servant's smile didn't fade.
---
Selene's gaze hardened slightly.
"You do not know me."
---
The servant tilted her head.
"But I do."
---
That was enough.
---
Brian moved closer.
"You need to come with us."
---
The servant didn't move.
---
Instead—
She whispered softly.
"You smell different."
---
Silence dropped.
Cold.
---
Selene's eyes sharpened instantly.
"…Different how?"
---
The servant leaned in slightly.
"Not like them."
---
Brian grabbed her arm immediately.
"Enough."
---
The tray fell to the ground with a loud crash.
Guards turned instantly at the sound.
---
But before anyone could react—
The servant's body stiffened.
Then twisted unnaturally.
---
Selene stepped back quickly.
"What—"
---
The servant let out a low, distorted sound.
Not human.
---
Her eyes—
Changed.
---
Golden.
Feral.
---
"Brian—" Selene's voice dropped.
---
"I see it."
---
The guards rushed forward.
Weapons drawn.
---
But the "servant" smiled.
Wide.
Unnatural.
---
"You are late," it said.
---
And then—
In a blink—
It broke free.
---
Too fast.
Too strong.
---
A guard lunged—
The creature slammed him into the wall before he could react.
---
"Stop it!" Brian shouted, drawing his weapon.
---
Selene didn't hesitate.
"Do not kill it!" she ordered sharply.
---
Brian glanced at her.
"Why not?!"
---
"Because we need answers!"
---
The creature laughed.
"You think you can hold me?"
---
It moved again—
Faster than before—
But this time Brian intercepted it.
Their clash echoed through the corridor.
---
Steel met strength.
---
Brian gritted his teeth.
"This is not human—"
---
"I told you," Selene said sharply.
---
More guards arrived.
Surrounding them.
---
The creature looked around.
Still smiling.
Still calm.
---
"You are all so afraid now," it said.
---
Selene stepped forward slightly.
Her voice steady.
"You are inside the palace."
---
The creature nodded.
"Yes."
---
"How many of you are here?"
---
It chuckled.
"Enough."
---
That answer hit harder than any attack.
---
Brian pushed it back slightly.
"Answer properly!"
---
The creature's gaze shifted to him.
"…Or what?"
---
For a second—
Silence.
---
Then Selene spoke.
"If you wanted to kill us, you already would have."
---
The creature tilted its head.
"Smart."
---
Selene continued.
"So you are here for something else."
---
The smile widened.
"Very smart."
---
Brian glanced at her.
"What is it saying?"
---
Selene didn't look away from it.
"It is not here to fight."
A pause.
"It is here to watch."
---
That realization changed everything.
---
The creature leaned back slightly.
Relaxed.
As if surrounded by enemies meant nothing.
---
"You are beginning to understand," it said.
---
Selene's voice dropped.
"What do you want?"
---
The creature's eyes gleamed.
---
"To remind you…"
A pause.
"That this palace is no longer yours."
---
Before anyone could react—
It moved again.
---
Not attacking—
Escaping.
---
It leapt past the guards—
Through the corridor—
Gone.
---
Just like that.
---
Silence filled the space.
Heavy.
Shaken.
---
Brian lowered his weapon slowly.
"…What just happened?"
---
Selene didn't answer immediately.
---
Her eyes were still on the empty corridor.
---
Then she spoke.
Quietly.
"They are already inside."
---
A pause.
---
"And they are not hiding anymore."
---
Brian exhaled slowly.
"This is bad."
---
Selene nodded once.
"No."
A beat.
"This is war."