Alex stood in the brightly lit playroom of Mount Sinai's pediatric oncology ward, trying not to look like a man whose entire future hinged on preventing charity.
Victoria knelt on the colorful rug, surrounded by half a dozen kids in wheelchairs and hospital gowns.
She was reading from a worn copy of Where the Wild Things Are, doing all the monster voices with theatrical growls that made the children shriek with laughter.
One little boy with an IV line taped to his arm reached out and tugged her sleeve when she paused for dramatic effect.
"Again, Miss Vicky. Do the roar again."
Victoria, ice queen of New York's hidden underworld, obliged with a perfectly terrifying roar that sent the kids into delighted chaos.
Alex felt his jaw clench.
[ Evil Differential Update. Victoria -320. Genuine emotional engagement with vulnerable children + impending seven figure donation. Host +15. ]
[ 24 Hour Negative Clock. 18 hours, 22 minutes remaining until point transfer and pain penalty.]
He leaned against the doorframe, arms crossed, pretending to be the dutiful assistant while his mind screamed.
This was not the woman who, in the novel, dissolved a man's shadow and left him screaming in eternal darkness. This was disturbingly wholesome.
A nurse approached him with a clipboard. "Mr. Reed, the foundation director wants to thank Ms. Blackwell personally. Could you—"
Alex spotted opportunity. On the nurse's belt hung a small jade talisman. Standard hospital ward protection against minor spirits.
Nothing powerful, but definitely supernatural contraband in a children's ward.
He smiled politely. "Of course. One second."
As he stepped forward, he brushed past the nurse, fingers deftly unhooking the talisman. No one noticed.
[ Evil Act Detected. Theft of protective artifact from medical facility. +30 points. ]
Reward Unlocked. Shadow Whisper. Basic. Subtle emotional suggestion through shadows. Range 10 feet. Cooldown 5 minutes.
A cool tingle spread through his veins, like ink in water. He tested it immediately, focusing on the nurse's shadow stretching across the floor.
You didn't feel anything missing. Everything is fine.
The nurse blinked, patted her belt, frowned for half a second, then shrugged and walked away.
Alex exhaled.
Victoria finished the story, closed the book, and stood. The kids groaned in protest.
"I'll be back next week," she promised, ruffling the nearest boy's hair. "With better monsters."
The mothers and nurses looked at her like she'd hung the moon. Alex wanted to vomit or applaud. He wasn't sure which.
In the hallway outside, away from little ears, she turned to him.
"Arrangements complete?"
He nodded. "Check wired. Press release drafted for tomorrow. Anonymous, as requested. You're officially the city's most mysterious philanthropist."
Something soft flickered across her face. Gratitude. Satisfaction. It vanished quickly.
"Good. Let's go."
They rode the elevator in silence. Alex's phone buzzed. Confirmation from his contact.
Cassian Lockwood had taken the bait.
A public post on the supernatural society's encrypted forum. A toast planned tonight to absent friends who prefer hiding behind checks rather than facing their betters.
Tagged Victoria directly. Already two hundred reactions. Shares spreading like wildfire.
Perfect.
Back at Blackwell Tower by late afternoon, Victoria disappeared into her office. Alex lingered in the outer suite, monitoring the fallout on his phone.
The messages poured in.
"Is the Blackwell heiress really sitting this one out?"
"Heard she's gone soft. No appearance at Lockwood gala equals admission of weakness."
"Cassian's going to roast her in the opening speech. This'll be delicious."
He refreshed every thirty seconds, waiting for the explosion.
It came at 5:47 PM.
Victoria's office door flew open. She stormed out, eyes practically glowing with cold fury, shadows writhing along the edges of her silhouette like living smoke.
"Reed."
He stood quickly. "Yes, boss?"
"My dress for tonight. The black one with the obsidian inlay. Have it sent to the penthouse. Car at eight."
Alex kept his face neutral. "We're attending the gala after all?"
Her smile was razor thin. "Cassian Lockwood seems to think I'm afraid of him. I intend to correct that misconception. Personally."
[ Evil Differential Update. Victoria -80. Intent to dominate and humiliate rival. Current total -240. Progress detected. ]
[ 24 Hour Clock. 12 hours, 15 minutes remaining. ]
Alex bowed his head slightly. "Understood."
Inside, he was grinning like a maniac.
Phase one complete.
8:00 PM sharp, the black Rolls pulled up outside his building.
Alex stepped out in a tailored tux. Midnight fabric, subtle shadow runes stitched into the lining for minor concealment. He carried a slim silver case. Tools of the trade.
The rear door opened. Victoria waited inside, a vision in black silk and sharp edges. The dress clung like liquid night, neckline plunging just enough to weaponize distraction. Diamonds glinted at her throat. Cursed ones, if you knew where to look.
She didn't speak as he slid in beside her. The partition rose. The car pulled away.
For five minutes, silence ruled.
Then, "You knew about Cassian's post."
Not a question.
Alex met her gaze. "I monitor the forums. Standard procedure."
"You could have warned me earlier."
"Would you have listened?"
Her eyes narrowed. "Don't push it, Reed."
He let a small smile show. "Just saying. You wanted distance from the old games. I respected that."
She studied him, something unreadable in her expression. "And now?"
"Now you're back in the game. Where you belong."
Victoria looked away, out at the city lights streaking past. "Careful. That almost sounded like approval."
Alex shrugged. "Someone has to keep you sharp."
The corner of her mouth twitched. Almost a real smile. Then it vanished.
The car slowed outside the Lockwood venue. A private ballroom beneath the Waldorf Astoria, warded and soundproofed for the supernatural elite.
Paparazzi flashed outside the main entrance, but their car took the discreet side ramp.
Valets in tailored uniforms opened doors.
Alex stepped out first, offering his hand. Victoria took it. Her skin cool, grip firm. For a moment, their eyes locked.
"Stay close tonight," she murmured. "I may need someone to hold my drink while I ruin a man's evening."
He squeezed her fingers once. "Always."
They walked up the marble steps together.
At the top, Cassian Lockwood waited. Tall, blond, smug as sin in a white tuxedo jacket. His smile was all teeth.
"Victoria Blackwell," he drawled loudly enough for nearby guests to hear. "I'd almost given up hope. Thought you'd decided charity was safer than facing actual competition."
Shadows stirred at Victoria's feet, rippling outward like spilled oil.
Cassian's smile faltered for a fraction of a second.
Victoria's voice was velvet over steel. "Cassian. Still compensating with your father's money, I see."
Laughter rippled through the onlookers.
Cassian flushed.
Alex felt the system sing.
[ Evil Points Gained. Victoria +120. Public intimidation plus social dominance. Current total -120. ]
[ Progress. Deficit halved. Momentum building.]
They swept past Cassian into the ballroom. Crystal chandeliers, blood red roses, the scent of old money and older magic.
Somewhere deeper inside, beneath velvet ropes and armed wards, the auction waited.
And with it, the sealed Grimoire of Abyssal Tongues.
Alex scanned the crowd, senses tingling.
Victoria leaned close, breath warm against his ear.
"Find me the cellar key. And the most expensive bottle of Bordeaux they have."
Her voice dropped to a whisper only he could hear.
"Tonight, someone is going to have a very unfortunate accident."
Alex's pulse raced. With fear. With excitement. With something dangerously close to desire.
He smiled.
"As you wish, boss."