Page 48 of Unseen Eye
“Eva!” he exclaims, wincing in pain. “I knew you’d be okay. Inever had any doubts,” he adds with a lopsided smile, his red hair streaked with black from the hellhound’s blood.
“Hey, Emmet,” I reply with a smile, trying to lighten the mood. “Glad to see you’re in one piece. Well, sort of.”
Emmet attempts to laugh, but Leigh gently presses him back down. “Don’t move,” she instructs.
“I’ll be fine once Lady Leigh finishes with me,” Emmet says, managing a grin despite his pain.
I kneel beside him, offering my hand for him to squeeze. “You’re a tough one, Emmet. Just hang in there a little longer.”
Leigh’s magic weaves through the wound with precision, mending the torn flesh. I watch in awe as the chaos of the battlefield fades away, focusing solely on my friend’s recovery. As Leigh’s healing light dims, Emmet’s breathing steadies, and some color returns to his cheeks, leaving only a thin silver scar.
“You’re going to be just fine,” I assure him, squeezing his hand one last time before standing up.
The guilt begins to surge again as I wander aimlessly. More people died because of me. Emmet almost died because of me. Tears burn at the back of my eyes, but I refuse to let them fall. I need to focus, to reflect on what I’ve learned. The first gate is open, unleashing creatures straight from the abyss.
As I seek a secluded spot away from the carnage, I take a deep breath, trying to steady myself. I think back to Callon—his fearless stand against the shadow warden, a man whose strength and resolve had cut through the chaos. I want to embody that strength, but right now, I’m just a girl struggling to keep it together in a world that’s spinning out of control.
I’m unsure how long I stay there, lost in thought. Eventually, I hear footsteps and turn to see Callon and Izzy approaching. Callon’s cold façade has returned, but his eyes, as blue as ever, pull me in, sharp and piercing, as if seeing right through me.
“Hey,” Izzy says softly, her usual pep subdued. Her eyes,usually so bright, are now shadowed by the weight of the aftermath.
Callon nods in acknowledgment but remains silent for a moment, his gaze fixed on me like he’s weighing something important. “Eva,” he begins, his voice low and serious, “I’m giving you a choice. And I’m sorry, but you don’t have long to decide.”
A knot tightens in my stomach, and a cold shiver of uncertainty gnaws at my resolve. “What choice?” I manage to ask, my voice trembling slightly despite my attempt to remain composed.
“You can stay here,” Callon continues, his tone steady but with an edge, “or you can come with us.” His gaze holds mine, unwavering, a dark promise in his eyes. “But you only get this choice once. And once you decide, there’s no going back.”
I furrow my brow, my mind racing as I glance between Callon and Izzy. My voice wavers as I ask, “Go back to Coire with you? Why would you want me to do that?”
Callon’s eyes darken slightly, a flicker of something unreadable passing through them. “Because you need training. You need to learn to harness your affinity. It’s clear that won’t happen here.” He gestures around at the devastation—the smoldering remains of the battlefield, the broken bodies scattered across the field. “After tonight, Baron will likely confine you to your room. You deserve a real chance.”
His casual tone sends a chill down my spine. Something about how he speaks of destruction as if it’s nothing new to him unsettles me. I know he’s seen worse. I wonder how much worse.
“But won’t Baron be furious?” I counter, my worry rising.
Callon shrugs, his calm demeanor unshaken, as if Baron’s wrath is nothing to him. “Let me handle that. He’ll have enough to worry about here,” he adds with a hard edge. “Unless, of course, you want to marry Garet. In that case, by all means,stay.”
I blink, taken aback by his nonchalant tone. It’s not a joke. His offer, laden with thinly veiled manipulation, makes my chest tighten. He’s daring me, testing my resolve.
I glance at Izzy, hoping for some guidance, but her face is a mask, unreadable. She is staring at Callon, as if she is trying to figure out what game he is playing too. My mind spins with conflicting thoughts. Anger at Garet’s betrayal shimmers inside me, but the loyalty I feel toward Leigh and Emmet pulls me in different directions.
I narrow my eyes at Callon, trying to see through the walls he’s built around himself. “Why do you care so much about me coming with you?” I ask, my voice low, cautious.
For the briefest moment, Callon hesitates—just long enough for my suspicion to flare up. “Let’s just say,” he begins, “you’re not the only one who benefits from this.”
His words hit me harder than expected. Of course, he has his reasons. I’m not naïve enough to think he’s acting purely out of the goodness of his heart. I nod slowly, stepping closer to him. “And what exactly do you get out of this, Callon?”
For the first time, a flicker of amusement dances in his eyes, a half-smirk playing at the corners of his lips. “That’s not something you need to worry about right now.” His voice is smooth, but it does little to ease the unease creeping up my spine. He’s hiding something—of course he is. Everyone is. But for some reason, I still want to trust him.
Izzy shifts beside him, glancing nervously between us. “Eva, I know it’s a lot to take in, but we don’t have much time. Baron could come looking for you any minute.”
Callon remains silent, his gaze never leaving mine. There’s no softness now, no relief. He’s a wall, a mask of calm determination. And that’s when it hits me: I’m not just a potential ally. I’m a means to an end for him. I just don’t knowwhat that end is.
But what choice do I really have?
After a long pause, I let out a breath I didn’t realize I was holding. “Fine,” I say quietly. “I’ll come with you.”
For a moment, something flickers in Callon’s eyes—relief, maybe—but it’s gone as quickly as it came. His face hardens again, and he nods curtly. “Good. We leave now.”
