55. The attack

[Carys]

“We meet again, belladonna…” Ruin’s voice tensed up every fiber in my body. The song that slowly picked up pace in the background did nothing to diffuse the darkness that lurked in his greeting.

My hand involuntarily went over my cleavage. Ruin’s gaze dipped to my hand over my chest, and a subtle smirk appeared on his face.

“Indeed…” Kian held my wrist and pulled me behind himself. He walked in front of me, sliding his hand in his suit’s inner pocket. He pulled out a black king of clubs card between his fingers. “I had been waiting… eagerly to see you again, Ruin.”

A sudden apprehensive gravity fell in the entire hall and I wasn’t the only one to feel it. The music stopped and the dying candle flame burst into bolder, more violent flames, filling the hall with blinding light.

“Ruin?”

“Oh, my god.”

“Someone call the hunters!”

“Inform the Guild!”

The crowd scurried away from around Ruin.

“Oh, dear… what’s going on here?” Illumi hovered near the balcony. “I heard someone say Ruin