Chapter 8: Into the Abyss

The air between Ivy and Celeste thickened, charged with an unspoken tension. Ivy’s mind was a storm of questions, but fear kept her mouth shut. The way Celeste spoke, the certainty in her voice, made it clear she wasn’t bluffing. This wasn’t someone Ivy could dismiss or ignore. She was part of whatever shadowed world Lorne had dragged her into.

“I don’t trust you,” Ivy said finally, her voice firm despite the tremor in her chest. “Why should I believe anything you say? For all I know, you’re working with him.”

Celeste tilted her head, a wry smile curling her lips. “I don’t blame you for doubting me. But if I wanted to hurt you, do you think I’d bother knocking?” Her violet eyes flicked to the doorframe. “I’d already be inside.”

A chill ran down Ivy’s spine. The way Celeste said it—calm, matter-of-fact—made Ivy believe her. She swallowed hard, gripping the edge of the door as if it were the only thing keeping her upright.

“What do you want from me?” Ivy asked again, her voice quieter now, almost pleading.

“To give you a choice,” Celeste said simply. “I don’t care what you decide—whether you fall into Lorne’s arms or fight tooth and nail to escape him. That’s your business. But you should know what you’re up against before you make that choice.”

“And what exactly am I up against?” Ivy demanded, her frustration bubbling to the surface. “Because right now, all I know is that my life is falling apart and he’s at the center of it.”

Celeste’s gaze softened, though her expression remained serious. “Lorne isn’t just a man, Ivy. He’s… something else. Something powerful. And that power comes with enemies—enemies who won’t hesitate to use you to get to him.”

Ivy’s stomach dropped. “Enemies?”

Celeste nodded. “You’ve seen the way he moves, haven’t you? The way he’s always a step ahead, always in control. That’s not just skill or charisma. That’s his nature. Lorne belongs to a world that operates on different rules, a world where strength and cunning are the only things that matter. If you’re part of his life, even on the edges, you’re a target.”

Ivy’s legs felt weak, and she leaned against the door for support. It was one thing to feel Lorne’s pull, to wrestle with the confusion and attraction he stirred in her. But this—this was something else entirely.

“Why are you telling me this?” Ivy asked, her voice shaking. “What’s in it for you?”

Celeste’s lips pressed into a thin line, and for the first time, Ivy saw a flicker of vulnerability in her eyes. “Because I’ve been where you are. I know what it’s like to stand on the edge of his world, unsure whether to jump or run. And I know what happens when you make the wrong choice.”

Her words hit Ivy like a blow. There was pain in Celeste’s voice, a rawness that made Ivy’s heart ache even as fear gripped her. Whoever Celeste was, whatever role she had played in Lorne’s life, it had left scars.

Before Ivy could respond, Dorian’s voice called from behind her. “Ivy? Who are you talking to?”

Panic flared in her chest. She glanced over her shoulder to see Dorian standing at the edge of the living room, his phone in hand, his brow furrowed with concern.

When she turned back to Celeste, she was gone.

Ivy gasped, stepping out into the hallway and looking both ways, but it was empty. There was no sign of Celeste, no sound of footsteps retreating. It was as if she had vanished into thin air.

“Ivy?” Dorian’s voice was closer now, his hand resting gently on her shoulder. “Are you okay? Who was at the door?”

Ivy turned to him, her heart racing. She wanted to tell him the truth, to let him in on the chaos that was consuming her life. But the words caught in her throat. What could she possibly say? That a woman with glowing violet eyes had appeared out of nowhere to warn her about the man who had invaded her thoughts and dreams?

“It was nothing,” she said finally, forcing a weak smile. “Just a mistake.”

Dorian didn’t look convinced, but he didn’t press. “You sure?”

She nodded, stepping back into the apartment and closing the door behind her. “Yeah. I’m fine.”

But she wasn’t fine. Not even close.

As Dorian returned to the couch, Ivy sank into a chair across the room, her mind racing. Celeste’s words echoed in her ears, haunting her.

“Lorne isn’t just a man.”

She thought of the way he always seemed to know where she was, the way his presence seemed to fill a room even when he wasn’t physically there. She thought of the strange energy she felt whenever he was near, like the air itself crackled with tension.

He’s not just a man.

Ivy didn’t want to believe it, didn’t want to admit that there was more to Lorne than she had realized. But deep down, she knew the truth. She had felt it from the moment she met him.

The question wasn’t whether she believed Celeste. The question was what she was going to do about it.

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