THE CRONOVERSE: SENOR'S BAR
Scene I: The Clash of Hearts
The dim, amber glow of Senor's Bar painted the room in hues of gold and shadow. The air was thick with the scent of aged whiskey and unspoken tensions. At a corner table, Ozors leaned forward, her fingers tightening around her glass as she fixed Liam with a gaze that burned with frustration and something far deeper.
"Liam," she began, her voice low but sharp, "let me tell you once again—leave Milani alone. She's not worth it."
Liam's jaw clenched. He ran a hand through his disheveled hair, his eyes darting to the door as if hoping for an escape. "What the hell do I do now?" he muttered, more to himself than to her.
Ozors smirked, swirling the ice in her drink. "Simple," she said, her tone dripping with a dangerous sweetness. "Marry me. Let me bear your child."
The words hung in the air like a guillotine's blade. Liam's head snapped up, his eyes wide with disbelief. "Huh? What? You're not serious, right?"
Ozors didn't blink. She leaned closer, her dark eyes locking onto his. "I am serious, Liam. To be honest, I've wanted you for a very long time. But I could never reach you—because you were always with that damn fool Milani."
A storm brewed in Liam's chest. His hands balled into fists. "Don't call her that," he growled. "Don't."
Ozors tilted her head, studying him with a mix of pity and amusement. "Hmm. So after all she's done to you, you still want her? Still cherish her?"
Liam exhaled sharply, the fight draining from his shoulders. "Yes."
Ozors laughed—a cold, hollow sound. "Then you're a bigger fool than I imagined."
For a moment, silence stretched between them, heavy and suffocating. Finally, Liam spoke, his voice softer but firm. "Listen, Ozors. I appreciate your love and care for me. But until I've seen the truth for myself, I won't let anyone disrespect her in my presence."
Ozors leaned back, her smirk returning. "Well, good luck, Liam. But know this—you'll come back to me. Whether you like it or not."
Liam stood abruptly, his chair scraping against the floor. "Think whatever you want." Without another word, he turned and strode out of the bar, the door swinging shut behind him with a finality that echoed in Ozors' hollow victory.
Scene II: The March into Shadows
Meanwhile, in the Domainverse, the air crackled with unease. Martha led the group forward, her steps quick and purposeful. "Hurry up, everyone! We're almost there!" she called, her voice cutting through the eerie silence of the winding path.
Kazo lagged behind, his eyes darting nervously. "Sir, please stop," he pleaded, grabbing Zerich's arm.
Zerich turned, his expression hardening. "What is it now, Kazo?"
Kazo swallowed, his voice dropping to a whisper. "I'm sure we're being led into a trap."
Zerich's patience snapped. "Kazo, just follow her and remain quiet!"
But Kazo couldn't shake the dread coiling in his gut. "Why can't you see it? She's leading us into a trap!"
Zerich's eyes flashed with anger. "Kazo, if she was, I would know."
The words did little to reassure Kazo. He sighed, casting one last wary glance at Martha's retreating figure. The path ahead was shrouded in mist, and the further they walked, the heavier the air grew—with deception, with danger, with the unspoken truth that some loyalties were not what they seemed.
The dim glow of the street lanterns flickered against the cobblestone path as Martha stepped forward, her boots scuffing lightly against the uneven stones. The air was thick with the scent of damp earth and distant smoke, a reminder of the kingdom's unrest. She crossed her arms, her sharp eyes scanning the group before her—Kazo, tense and wary, and Zerich, whose easy smile never quite reached his eyes.
Martha joined the conversation, her voice cutting through the quiet like a blade. "If I had wanted you all captured, I would have done it while you were still at the bar."
A heavy silence followed. Kazo exhaled sharply, his fingers twitching near the hilt of his dagger. "Hmmm, am not saying sorry 'cause I still don't trust you, Martha." His words were deliberate, each syllable laced with suspicion.
Martha rolled her eyes, the moonlight catching the faint smirk on her lips. "Whatever. Let's just go." She turned on her heel, her cloak swirling behind her like a shadow given life.
But Zerich wasn't ready to let the tension dissolve so easily. He stepped forward, his voice low but firm. "Listen, Kazo—even if she sets us up, I promise you we'll all come out alive."
Martha couldn't help it—she laughed, the sound sharp and disbelieving. "You? Alone? What, or how, could you possibly do to defeat the Three Kings' armies?" Her laughter echoed in the narrow alley, bouncing off the stone walls.
Zerich's smile didn't waver. If anything, it grew more knowing. "Martha, you know my name, but you don't truly know who we are… or why we're wanted. Do you?"
She hesitated, her confidence faltering for just a heartbeat. "True, I don't really know. But if I had to guess… I'd say you're all from another kingdom."
This time, it was Kazo who laughed—a rough, humorless sound. "She doesn't even know who we truly are. And here I thought she knew everything."
Zerich's grin widened. "I'll tell you who we are, Martha. But first—let me ask: why are you helping us?"
Martha stiffened. Her fingers curled into fists at her sides, her usual composure slipping. "Well, I—because of your payment, remember? You paid so I could help you all out."
Kazo's head snapped toward Zerich, his eyes narrowing. "Hmmm. How much did you give her, sir?"
Zerich rubbed the back of his neck, suddenly sheepish. "I think… probably… oh, now I remember. I gave her everything."
Kazo's expression darkened. "You can't be fucking serious."
Zerich shrugged, though his grin was unrepentant. "Sorry, Kazo. I think it was her beauty that caused it."
Kazo groaned, dragging a hand down his face. "More like your bad habit blinded you, sir."
Zerich's playful demeanor vanished in an instant. His voice dropped, a rare edge creeping into his tone. "Alright, Kazo. That's quite enough out of you."
Martha watched the exchange with amusement, shaking her head. "You two seriously are insane—and quite funny at the same time. But trust me, I'm not leading you into any kind of trap. I'd put my life on that."
Kazo let out a long, weary sigh. "Alright, Martha. For now, I'll believe you. But that doesn't mean I trust you."
Martha's smile was faint but genuine. "I know. So now… can you all follow me? And hide your faces. We're about to enter the main district of the kingdom."
The group exchanged glances before nodding in unison. "Alright, Martha."
Together, they melted into the shadows, their footsteps silent against the cobblestones as the kingdom's heart loomed ahead—a place of danger, secrets, and the unknown.
NEXT CHAPTER ✓
TO BE CONTINUED.