Chapter 43: Inner-Demons
The night had settled over the city, wrapping its skyline in a blanket of flickering lights and distant chatter. From the massive floor-to-ceiling window of his penthouse suite, Alex watched the neon-lit streets below, where crowds moved like an endless river, flowing through the veins of civilization, oblivious to the blood spilled just a month ago.
A glass of fine, aged wine rested in his hand, though he barely took a sip. It wasn’t the drink that occupied his mind, nor was it the luxurious life he had indulged in for the past month.
It was the contrast.
The world here was full of laughter, trivial worries, and fleeting desires—so painfully fragile that it was almost surreal. One push, one disaster, and everything these people took for granted would shatter. It had already happened once, yet they moved on, ignorant of the cracks beneath their feet.
"I admit," Alex muttered, swirling the deep red liquid in his glass, watching as it clung to the sides before slowly falling. "The vacation was fun."
And it was. The expensive meals, the lazy mornings, the mindless entertainment.
But it wasn’t him.
It felt like wearing another person’s skin, pretending to be someone he wasn’t, at least anymore.
Behind him, Nyxara lay sprawled across a velvet armchair, her silver eyes reflecting the dim golden lights of the suite. She had sensed his shift in mood long before he spoke.
She stretched lazily, her tail flicking in amusement before hopping onto the bed. "You’re overthinking again."
Alex smirked slightly but didn’t argue. He set the untouched wine on the nightstand before reaching the massive king-size bed, sinking into the plush mattress.