Chapter 22 – The Lion's Den
The wind was still.
Not a single branch stirred in the endless stretch of forest surrounding Lindenhall Estate. The iron gates loomed before Adrian and Evelyn, their intricate black metalwork glinting under the dim moonlight.
To the outside world, this place didn't exist.
No records. No blueprints. No signs of security.
But Adrian knew better.
Lucien Calloway was a man who never left himself unprotected.
Evelyn adjusted the strap of her holster. "No patrols. No cameras. Either he's gotten careless or—"
"He wants us to walk in," Adrian finished. His grip tightened around his silenced pistol.
A trap.
Of course it was a trap.
Lucien had always been three moves ahead of the world.
But tonight, Adrian wasn't the same boy who once followed his orders.
Tonight, he was coming for blood.
He gave Evelyn a single nod. "We move."
And with that, they slipped into the shadows.
---
The Infiltration
Adrian picked the lock on the side gate in less than six seconds. The estate grounds stretched before them—a vast expanse of untouched gardens, statues of forgotten gods, and the distant glow of an ancient manor.
Lindenhall had once belonged to European royalty. Now, it belonged to a ghost.
Adrian led the way, moving low through the hedges. His footsteps were silent, his every movement calculated. No alarms. No guards.
It was wrong.
Lucien's world had always been built on control. And control meant layers of protection.
This place was too open.
Too easy.
Evelyn felt it too. She whispered, "We shouldn't be here."
Adrian didn't answer. His focus was locked on the entrance to the manor. Massive oak doors, flanked by carved pillars of stone. The same doors he had walked through as a boy.
The same doors that once led him to believe Lucien was a savior.
Now, they led to the truth.
Adrian exhaled slowly. Then, he pushed them open.
---
The House of Lies
The interior of Lindenhall was untouched by time.
Dark mahogany floors stretched beneath a grand chandelier. Firelight flickered from the massive stone hearth. Paintings of men long forgotten lined the walls.
And at the center of it all—
A table.
Set for two.
Adrian's jaw locked.
Two glasses of whiskey. Two seats. A place already waiting for him.
Evelyn's fingers curled around the grip of her gun. "He knew we'd come."
Adrian stepped forward, scanning the room. No sounds. No movement.
Just the weight of something unseen pressing down on them.
Then—
A click.
Adrian spun, gun raised—
A voice. Calm. Unhurried.
"Still predictable, I see."
Lucien Calloway stepped into the light.
---
Face to Face with the Devil
He hadn't aged a day.
Same tailored suit. Same raven-black hair slicked back. The same piercing blue eyes Adrian had once looked up to.
Lucien poured himself a drink, moving as if they were old friends. As if he hadn't stolen years of Adrian's life.
"You made it further than I expected," Lucien mused, lifting the glass to his lips. "Then again, you always did exceed expectations."
Adrian didn't lower his gun. "I should kill you where you stand."
Lucien smirked. "And yet, you haven't."
Evelyn stepped beside Adrian. "You put him through hell. You locked him in Blackgate. For what?"
Lucien set his glass down. "Because he needed to break before he could be rebuilt."
Adrian's heart pounded. "Rebuilt into what?"
Lucien's eyes darkened. "Into what you are now."
Silence.
The fire crackled in the hearth, casting twisted shadows across the room.
Evelyn whispered, "You wanted him to escape?"
Lucien's smirk returned. "I needed to know if he was ready."
Adrian's grip on his gun tightened until his knuckles turned white. "You turned my life into an experiment."
Lucien exhaled, almost bored. "You never saw it, did you? You were never the victim. You were the investment. The culmination of years of work. And now, you've proven me right."
Adrian's pulse roared in his ears.
This wasn't just about Orion's Circle. This wasn't just about Blackgate.
Lucien had been shaping him from the beginning.
"You stole my life," Adrian growled.
Lucien took a step forward. "I gave you a new one."
Adrian snapped.
One second.
His gun fired.
Lucien moved.
The bullet missed by an inch.
Lucien's smirk widened. "Still too emotional."
Suddenly—a rush of movement.
Doors burst open. Armed men flooded the room.
Adrian and Evelyn spun, backing toward the fireplace. Outnumbered. Surrounded.
Lucien exhaled, shaking his head. "I told Selene you weren't ready yet. A shame."
Adrian's mind snapped to full focus.
No escape. No backup.
Lucien smiled. "I think it's time we fixed that, don't you?"
And with a flick of his wrist—
The world went dark.