The music of Obsidian faded behind Luna as she stepped out into the cold night air.
The street was quieter than before.
Luxury cars had thinned out, leaving only a few taxis and scattered pedestrians moving through the glowing neon lights.
Luna paused at the edge of the sidewalk.
She could still feel the weight of Brevis Draven's gaze from the balcony.
That man watched people the way hunters studied prey.
Except… something about the way he looked at her felt different.
Not just curiosity.
Interest.
Dangerous interest.
Luna exhaled slowly.
"That's exactly what I didn't need," she murmured.
She started walking down the street.
The night wind tugged at her coat while distant music from other clubs echoed faintly through the city.
But her instincts were already alert.
Someone was watching her.
Again.
This city had too many eyes.
Luna didn't turn around immediately.
Instead she kept walking calmly.
One block.
Two blocks.
The presence behind her remained.
Not clumsy like the men from the alley.
Careful.
Professional.
Luna finally stopped near a dim streetlight.
Without turning, she spoke.
"You've been following me for ten minutes."
Silence answered her.
Then a soft female voice replied.
"Impressive."
Luna slowly turned.
Selene stood a few meters away.
Her elegant black dress was now hidden beneath a long dark coat, but her cold expression hadn't changed.
Luna sighed.
"I was hoping you'd be smarter than this."
Selene tilted her head.
"And I hoped you'd stay away from him."
"Well," Luna said calmly, "we're both disappointed."
Selene stepped closer.
Her heels clicked sharply against the pavement.
"You think this is a game?"
"No."
Luna's voice remained steady.
"I think you're jealous."
Selene's eyes flashed.
"You don't understand the world you walked into tonight."
"Then explain it."
Selene smiled slightly.
But it wasn't friendly.
"Brevis Draven destroys everything around him."
Luna folded her arms.
"You sound bitter."
"I sound experienced."
The streetlight flickered above them.
Selene stepped even closer.
"You're new here. So let me give you some advice."
Her voice lowered.
"Leave this city."
Luna raised an eyebrow.
"That sounds more like a threat."
"It is."
For a moment neither woman moved.
Then Luna asked quietly,
"Why are you really here?"
Selene's smile returned.
"Because I wanted to see if you were worth the trouble."
"And?"
Selene looked her up and down.
"You're prettier than I expected."
"That's flattering."
"But you're also reckless."
Luna shrugged slightly.
"Brevis seems to enjoy that."
Selene's expression hardened.
"You think he's interested in you?"
Luna didn't answer.
That silence irritated Selene even more.
"You don't know him," Selene said.
"He doesn't get attached."
"Good."
"People who get close to him end up broken."
Luna's eyes sharpened slightly.
"Then maybe I'm not planning to get close."
Selene stared at her for a long moment.
Then she stepped back.
"Smart answer."
She turned slightly.
But before leaving she said one more thing.
"Still… if you stay in Nocturne…"
Her voice dropped colder.
"You'll eventually learn what kind of monster Brevis really is."
Then Selene walked away into the darkness.
Luna watched her disappear.
The street became quiet again.
But Luna knew something important now.
Selene wasn't just jealous.
She was afraid.
And that made Luna curious.
---
Across the city…
Inside Obsidian's private office.
Brevis Draven stood near a massive window overlooking the nightclub.
The bass of music vibrated faintly through the glass walls.
One of his guards spoke from behind him.
"Sir."
Brevis didn't turn.
"Yes."
"Selene left ten minutes ago."
"And?"
"She followed Luna."
Brevis's expression darkened slightly.
"Where are they now?"
"Separate locations. Luna is walking toward the north district."
Brevis finally turned.
"Any problems?"
"No, sir."
Brevis studied the security screen showing live footage from the street cameras.
Luna appeared briefly on one of the monitors.
Walking calmly.
Alone.
The guard hesitated before speaking again.
"Sir… there's something else."
Brevis raised an eyebrow.
"What?"
"We checked the backgrounds you requested."
"And?"
The guard shifted slightly.
"It's strange."
Brevis waited.
The guard continued.
"There's almost nothing on Luna Vale."
"Impossible."
"No records before two years ago."
Brevis's eyes sharpened.
"Nothing?"
"Different cities. Different jobs. But the information always disappears after a few months."
Brevis looked back at the monitor.
Luna had already left the camera's view.
Interesting.
Very interesting.
He slowly smiled.
"A ghost."
The guard looked confused.
"Sir?"
Brevis slipped his hands into his pockets.
"Keep watching her."
"Yes, sir."
The guard left the office.
Brevis remained alone.
His mind replayed every moment he had seen Luna.
The alley fight.
The way she handled Selene.
The calm confidence she carried.
She didn't behave like someone afraid of his reputation.
And that made her unpredictable.
Brevis liked unpredictable.
He walked toward the window again.
Below him the entire club continued moving like a living machine.
But his thoughts remained somewhere else.
With a woman who had appeared in his city like a mystery.
"Luna Vale," he murmured.
"You're hiding something."
His smile darkened slightly.
"And I'm going to find out what."