The hospital corridors were eerily quiet, the sterile white walls reflecting the dim overhead lights.
Elara sat stiffly on the bench, her fingers intertwined, while her mind replayed the events of the bombing.
Second Madam Demerin was now stable, and Lawrence had disappeared for several hours after receiving a cryptic call. The tension that lingered in the air when he left unsettled her.
She stood and was about to leave when she heard the sharp, rhythmic sound of footsteps approaching. Her heart sank. She knew that stride.
Lawrence Demerin appeared around the corner, his expression grim and his shoulders tense.
He held a thin holographic tablet in his gloved hand. His sharp blue eyes met hers, and for a fleeting moment, something unreadable passed between them.
"We need to talk," he said. His voice was low, but there was a distinct edge to it.
Elara instinctively took a step back. "I'm done talking to you," she said. "Your mother is safe. My part here is over."
