Roman

om skyscrapers reflected off the glass-but they meant nothing to me. In my mind, another scene played-flames de

e past that made me-and a

ing the air, my parents' blood pooling below my feet. I never forgot that day. I never forgot ho

ife-but a

I picked it up without ta

you r

lm yet laced with hesita

re our

doubt: "Is this necessary? There are other ways. We could negotiate.

ction in the glass. Hesitation? Mercy

cending to a lethal whisper: "Peace? You think I reached this powe

ilence before he s

a lash tearing through the air. "Anyone who oppos

on turned to

u. Or I'll find so

en the subdued repl

rn?" he asked, his

settle here." I but

wants to know you. He might be an enemy, prep

strangers and rivals cur

ew enemy. No one in this world c

ut

as I

reflection in the glass. My past was a chain of battles

your enemies-it's making them afr

still rang

ave to be the shadow that terrified everyone. But she didn't understan

he... even she bowed t

od I've been harsh, cynical, viol

ild again. A man unlike mysel

know. I never cared for women. Treated them as tools,

t ignore. Whenever she smiled, I saw

e wasn't ordinary. She remind

moving shadows. As if she belonged in that world more than she a

her background. I had to confirm. I had to uncover

y chair, grabbed my phone, and called my

line... and on her older

. There was a puzzle beneath her. And I wou

rembled-almost as if it felt my rage, or my helplessness a

r something else? Somethin

ock at the door. I didn't answer. No need

shoulders like a waterfall of fire. She wore a black silk dress that barely concealed her curves. In her hand

she called my name slo

nside wasn't that cold. She was part of this fi

the glass on the table. Then she leaned ov

whispered, her fingers

e seeing you alone, drowning in

eyebrow with

e to comfort

eductress smile-part

s more beautiful than blood and weapo

ythm I couldn't hear-but she seemed to play it with her feminine essence. I didn't mov

d closer, and sat on the edge of the opposite

hing tonight..

mind-but left nothi

my thoughts-her defiant face, that untr

coldly, pulling N

moment, then ste

at the door and gave me a lo

nzo. And I'm not the one

ng behind a thick silence-and a lin

ence. My hea

ne appear in

into the part of me th