Beneath the Veil of Shadows

Chapter 15

Elias's gaze darkened as he leaned back against the wall, arms crossed over his chest, the coldness in his gaze contrasting sharply with the warmth of the room, a flicker of something deep within his eyes. Sapphire's heart raced, feeling the weight of anticipation in the air. She could sense he was on the brink of sharing something significant, something that had shaped him into the man sitting before her.

"Alright," he began, his voice low and gravelly, a stark contrast to the softness of the flickering candlelight. "I will tell you a story. But understand this-what I share isn't just a tale."

Sapphire nodded, her heart pounding in her chest as she braced herself for what was to come.

Elias's eyes sank into the shadows, his voice a low, haunted whisper. "There is a moment when the darkness closes in, and you realize you are no longer the master of your own destiny. That was the moment I lost myself."

His face twisted, self-loathing etched on his features. "I prayed for salvation, for a way out of the hell I had created. But the devil's whispers were louder, promising power, promising protection... at a price. And I paid it, willingly, desperately."

He paused, his gaze dropping to the floor as if searching for answers buried beneath the weight of his memories.

"I remember the silence that followed the screams, the stillness that came after the chaos. That is when I knew I was gone, consumed by the very darkness I had sought to escape."

Sapphire felt a shiver run down her spine as Elias's words painted a vivid picture of despair.

"What happened?" she asked, her voice barely audible, afraid to disturb the fragile atmosphere.

Elias's gaze snapped back, his eyes cold and hard, as if he were sealing off that part of himself. "I made a deal with a man," he said, his tone detached. "He promised me power, protection... but it was a lie. He took everything from me, leaving only darkness and scars."

"What kind of deal?" Sapphire pressed, desperate to understand the depth of his pain.

Elias's expression shifted, the memories flooding back, dragging him deeper into the shadows of his past. "I was lost, wandering through a world that felt alien. I had enemies closing in, threats from every corner. This man-he approached me with an offer. He could help me rise above the chaos, help me seize control of my life."

Sapphire leaned in, her curiosity piqued, trying to bridge the chasm between them. "What did he want in return?"

Elias hesitated, the weight of the truth pressing down on him. "He wanted loyalty. Complete submission to his will. At first, it seemed like a fair trade. I thought I was gaining power, gaining a foothold in a world where I felt powerless. But as time went on, I realized the cost was far greater than I anticipated."

His voice faltered as he recalled the moment when he realized the extent of his entanglement. "He was a master manipulator, an expert in exploiting weakness. He fed me promises, each one sweeter than the last."

Sapphire could feel the anguish radiating from him, the intensity of his regret washing over her. "What happened next?" she asked softly, urging him to continue.

Elias's jaw clenched, his fists tightening at his sides. "I became his weapon. He sent me on missions-dark, violent jobs that stripped away pieces of my soul. I was good at it, too good, which only reinforced his hold over me. The more I succeeded, the deeper I fell into the abyss."

"What kind of missions?" Sapphire questioned, her heart racing as she envisioned the horrors he might have faced.

"Intimidation, retrieval, even elimination," he replied, his voice void of emotion. "I lost track of how many lives I shattered. Each time, I told myself it was for survival, for a chance to break free. But each job left me more hollow than before."