Kyon’s First-Person Point Of View.

  The psychic plane was unlike anything I had ever experienced. It wasn’t a place, not in the way the real world was. It had no walls, no ceiling, no air. Just an endless expanse of shifting shadows and whispers, a space where thoughts had weight, where emotions shaped the very ground I stood on.

  And in front of me, Elijah Gerard stood perfectly at ease, as if this was his domain.

  His voice, when it came, was smooth, amused—almost indulgent.

  "You are very bold, young man. To think you would try to establish a mind link with Compulsion. Taking a risk like this right under Conrad's nose. You are becoming more and more interesting by the minute."

  He was entertained by my audacity. That was good. It meant he wasn’t immediately pushing me out.

  "I need your help," I said, keeping my tone measured.

  Elijah tilted his head slightly. I could feel the hum of his presence, the weight of his mind pressing against mine, testing the strength of my link. He could crush me in an instant if he wanted. The fact that he hadn’t meant he was at least willing to listen.

  "My help? Interesting."

  I pushed forward. "I wish to strike an alliance with you. As the saying goes, the enemy of my enemy is my friend. I need your help in order to take down Conrad."

  There was a beat of silence, then—laughter. Low, rich, filled with something I couldn't quite name.

  "You assume much, Mr. Bashega," Elijah mused. "I'm quite baffled. Why would you think Conrad is an enemy of mine?"

  I had anticipated this question. Elijah wasn’t a fool. He wouldn’t just take my word for it.

  "Because he is imposing himself in your city," I said evenly. "From what I understand, you built this city. Brick by brick. And yet here you have an interloper who undermines your authority."

  Elijah's expression didn’t change, but I could feel the flicker of something beneath the surface. Interest? Amusement? Contemplation?

  "That is quite the interesting statement, Mr. Bashega. But let's not forget that the reason this ‘interloper,’ as you so colorfully put it, is here… is because of you."

  I felt a pulse of pressure against my mind, not an attack but a reminder. He wasn’t wrong.

  "We both know this isn't my fault," I argued, keeping my voice steady. "I'm just a kid who came here to better himself for the sake of his family, not to get myself involved in this tug of war."

  Elijah chuckled softly. "And yet here you are."

  The space around us shifted slightly, the psychic plane warping with the weight of his words. I held my ground.

  "Conrad doesn’t just want me dead," I pressed on. "He wants control. Of me. Of Flux. And if I’m right, of your city too. You think he’ll stop with me?"

  Elijah’s eyes gleamed, sharp and calculating. "What an interesting gamble you’re playing."

  I had to make him see it. I had to convince him that helping me was in his best interest.

  "If Conrad gains control of me, he'll have leverage. Over Flux. Over Vampires. Over everything. Do you really think he’ll just sit back and let you continue running things your way?"

  Elijah considered me for a long moment.

  Then, a slow smile spread across his lips. "You do realize you are offering me an incomplete deal, don’t you?"

  I frowned. "Incomplete?"

  "You ask for my assistance, my resources, my protection, even. But what do I gain in return?"

  My stomach twisted slightly. I had expected this, but it didn’t make it any easier.

  I forced myself to meet his gaze. "You gain the one thing Conrad wants most."

  His amusement deepened. "And that is?"

  I took a slow breath.

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  "Me."

  The air around us seemed to still.

  Elijah’s expression remained unreadable, but I could feel the shift in the conversation. The weight of my offer settling between us.

  "Go on," he said, his voice softer now.

  I pressed forward. "I don’t need protection. I don’t need someone to fight my battles for me. But if you back me against Conrad, if you give me the resources I need to stand on my own… then you’ll have something even more valuable than control over this city."

  His eyes glinted. "And what would that be?"

  I let my voice drop, let the truth settle in the space between us.

  "A Daywalker who wields Flux."

  Silence.

  It stretched between us, taut and heavy.

  And then—Elijah chuckled. "Now that is interesting."

  The shadows around us pulsed, shifting with the weight of his thoughts.

  I had no idea if he would accept my offer.

  But at the very least—he was listening.

  And that was more than I could have hoped for.

  Elijah’s gaze was unwavering, the weight of his presence pressing down on me even in this formless space. Then, without warning, the psychic plane shifted.

  One moment, we were suspended in an endless void of shadow and thought—the next, we stood inside a lavish study, bathed in the warm glow of firelight. Rich mahogany bookshelves lined the walls, filled with ancient tomes, while the scent of old parchment and burning wood filled the air. A leather armchair sat by the crackling fireplace, and Elijah leaned against its back, entirely at ease.

  I took a step forward, glancing around in mild surprise. "You changed the landscape?"

  Elijah gave a satisfied nod. "Of course. You are the guest here, after all. You may have initiated this link, but I allowed you in. That means I control the space we exist in." He gestured toward the room with an air of amusement. "Would you prefer the endless abyss instead?"

  I shook my head. "No, this is… impressive."

  Elijah chuckled. "You flatter me. But truthfully, I am the one who should be impressed." He folded his arms, golden eyes studying me. "To wield both Psycho Flux and Vampire Compulsion in tandem, as you did against Faraday, is already a feat beyond most. But to use them now, in this moment, not to dominate, but to communicate effectively with me? That shows restraint. Control. Potential."

  I frowned slightly, processing his words. This wasn’t just flattery—Elijah was genuinely intrigued.

  "Are you testing me again?" I asked cautiously.

  Elijah’s lips curved into a slow, knowing smile. "Perhaps. Or maybe I’m simply curious to see how far you can go."

  "Do you believe in fate, Mr. Bashega?"

  The question caught me off guard. I wasn’t sure where he was going with this, but I didn’t expect him to just jump ship either. He was too calculated for that.

  I hesitated for only a moment before responding. "Yes. Somewhat. Back home, it's a strongly held belief."

  Elijah inclined his head slightly, as if pleased. "That’s very good. So do I. Although most older vampires—Conrad included—believe in their own power and not in the mechanisms of something far greater or so mysterious. But I, on the other hand, believe you are here in Sharman for a reason."

  A reason?

  I wasn’t sure if I liked the sound of that. It made me feel like a piece on a board, part of some game I didn’t even know I was playing.

  I kept my tone neutral. "Is that why you sent your subordinate to help me tonight, even though I was the reason you lost another?"

  Elijah smiled, slow and knowing. "Aren’t you curious about the reason why I would lend you my aid?"

  I exhaled sharply through my nose. "Why does everyone love these games?"

  He chuckled. "Because, Mr. Bashega, the game is half the fun."

  I didn’t bother masking my impatience. "Isn’t it to stop Conrad from achieving his goals?"

  Elijah’s smile didn’t fade, but it did change—something sharper curling at the edges. "Oh, that’s only part of it. But not the major reason, my dear Daywalker."

  I tensed at that. My dear Daywalker. The way he said it sent a shiver down my spine. Like he was already claiming me in some way.

  I crossed my arms. "I have been curious, though. Why did you help me tonight?"

  Elijah studied me for a long moment, his golden eyes gleaming with something unreadable.

  "Because, Kyon, you are an anomaly."

  I frowned. "An anomaly?"

  He nodded. "You walk in the daylight with the blood of the night. You wield Flux, a force of life and balance, and yet you have stepped into a world that thrives on power, control, and death. And despite everything against you, you survive. You persist. That, in and of itself, is remarkable."

  I shifted uncomfortably. "That still doesn’t explain why you helped me."

  Elijah stepped forward, his presence pressing against mine like a phantom touch.

  "Because I am interested in what you will become."

  I swallowed.

  There was something almost eerie about the way he said it. Like he was seeing something I couldn’t.

  "You think I’ll survive this?" I asked.

  Elijah’s smile widened. "Oh, Kyon. I think survival is only the beginning."

  The psychic plane shifted again, shadows curling at the edges of my vision. A deep thrumming pulse filled the space, like the heartbeat of something ancient and unseen.

  I felt something in my gut tighten.

  "You talk like you know something I don’t," I muttered.

  Elijah chuckled. "I know many things you don’t, young one. But I’ll tell you this much—tonight was a test. And you passed."

  I narrowed my eyes. "A test?"

  He nodded. "I needed to see what you would do when faced with a choice. When the odds were against you. When everything you knew threatened to collapse around you. And what I saw was… fascinating."

  A flicker of irritation sparked in my chest. "You played me."

  "Oh, don’t look so offended," he mused. "I played the board. You simply proved yourself more capable than expected."

  I clenched my jaw. "And if I had failed?"

  Elijah shrugged. "Then you would have been another cautionary tale."

  I exhaled slowly, forcing myself to keep my temper in check. Losing control here would be worse than useless.

  "So what now?" I asked.

  Elijah tilted his head. "That depends on you."

  The psychic plane around us shifted, dark tendrils curling inwards. The connection was beginning to waver—I could feel it in my bones.

  "You have a choice to make, Kyon."

  I tensed. "What choice?"

  Elijah smiled, slow and deliberate.

  "Will you be a player in this game, or merely another piece?"

  I inhaled sharply.

  The weight of the question pressed against me, more than just words—it was a challenge. A warning.

  And I knew, deep down, that whatever answer I gave would change everything.