Timeless Decisions

Calm before the storm

Chloe's feet pounded against the cold stone floors as she fled the castle, her heart racing with a mix of anger, pain, and confusion. The confrontation with Red had left her feeling more isolated than ever. She had always been the one to stand by Red's side, yet it felt like Red had abandoned her—choosing Morgian, of all people. The sting of that realization cut deeper than she expected, and now she just needed to escape, to be alone with her thoughts.

She burst through the heavy wooden doors of the castle, the chill of the early morning air hitting her face like a slap. She didn't stop running until she was far enough away, the looming shadow of the castle behind her, hidden by the dense trees of the nearby forest. Only then did she slow down, finally collapsing onto a moss-covered rock, her breath coming in rag

ged gasps as tears welled in her eyes. She tried to push them back, but the frustration and loneliness overwhelmed her.

As she sat there, hugging her knees to her chest, Chloe didn't notice the figure approaching her from the shadows until he was almost upon her.

"Well, well, what do we have here?" a smooth, mocking voice said.

Chloe's head snapped up, her tear-streaked face meeting the piercing gaze of Zevon. He stood there, looking almost too comfortable in the eerie forest, his posture relaxed as if he were on a casual stroll. But there was something in his eyes—something calculating.

"What do you want, Zevon?" Chloe spat, quickly wiping her tears away, trying to regain her composure.

Zevon tilted his head slightly, a smirk playing on his lips. "Now, now, no need to be so hostile. I couldn't help but notice you seemed... upset. Thought I'd see if I could help."

Chloe scoffed, looking away from him. "I don't need your help. Just leave me alone."

"Oh, I'm not so sure about that," Zevon replied, his tone dripping with feigned concern. "You're feeling hurt, betrayed even, aren't you? It's clear as day. Red chose Morgian over you, didn't she?"

Chloe's heart clenched at his words. How did he know? But she refused to give him the satisfaction of acknowledging it, so she kept silent.

Zevon took a step closer, his voice lowering to a more sympathetic tone. "You've always been there for Red, yet she doesn't seem to appreciate you. She doesn't see your worth, does she? Not like I do."

Chloe's eyes flicked back to him, uncertainty creeping in. "What are you talking about?"

"I'm talking about power, Chloe. Influence. Respect," Zevon said smoothly, circling around her like a predator toying with its prey. "You've been nothing but loyal to Red, yet she overlooks you, belittles you even. Don't you think it's time for a change? Time for you to take control of your own destiny?"

Chloe narrowed her eyes at him, suspicion clouding her thoughts. "And how would you know anything about that?"

Zevon chuckled softly, stopping directly in front of her. "I've been watching, Chloe. I've seen how hard you try, how much you care. But people like Red and Morgian? They're too wrapped up in their own worlds to notice someone like you, someone who actually deserves better."

She felt a flicker of doubt, but it was quickly overshadowed by the hurt she was still reeling from. "What are you getting at, Zevon?"

Zevon's smirk widened slightly, sensing her weakening resolve. "I'm saying that you don't have to play second fiddle to anyone. With your talents and my... resources, we could accomplish great things. We could make them all see how wrong they were to overlook you."

Chloe swallowed hard, her mind racing. It was tempting—so very tempting—to just give in, to stop feeling like she was always in the shadows. But she also knew who Zevon was, knew the danger that came with aligning herself with someone like him.