The Empire of Darkness

br

until we reach a massive office. Dark wood, leather chai

the door

arms. "What

his head.

oser, my pulse thrumm

ckers in his

urmurs. "You'

"I don't want to learn. I

loser. "Th

ree

here, calm, cont

ing

ate

the truth

n't

e he's

owhere e

enough. "Stay, Alba.

You don't do thing

irk. "No.

pa

voice dropping to some

otect wha

ath ca

first time

raded one mons

e will destr

l

s are cl

n fe

waiting for me to fail. The way Gabriel Moretti moves

d be te

gh to stop me from th

g is certain-thi

not stay he

filters through the hea

h. Everything about this place feels wron

stand. I won't lie in this bed a

the door ma

an answer,

br

f course

, his sleeves rolled up. He looks... untouched. Like he didn't

me, sharp and assess

ms. "Brillian

e owns the air in this room. "Get

move.

'll

. Like he's enjoying this

him. "What

"Then I'll carr

teeth. "Yo

darken.

in the closet. Of course, it's not mine-everything here is

tching the city pass by in silence. Gabriel drives like he does e

ions. I know he w

I w

ally stop, my s

restaurant. Or a meet

ouse on the outs

teps out.

down just enough to invade

mo

air is thick

he center of the room. A man sits in it,

ree

e hell i

ahead like t

use

el s

, I think-grins at

't an

he tied-up man. "He w

d turns

d-twenties, his clothes torn and stained. His breathing is shallow

?" Gabriel as

doesn'

hen takes a knif

a ste

man. He trails the tip of the blade along his th

al

espo

re's a cut, thin but deep enough to make

eizes m

" I bl

ance at me. "You don't

unds in his mouth. Like h

y myself. "He's already half-dea

pression is unreadable, but there's

rd, he stands and

igid.

you?" His voice is soft

, at the bloodied man in front of me

te

goddam

't do

't do

gaze and do the

p the