Cassie and Sunny walked together through the pale light of morning, the mansion rising ahead like a forgotten dream carved in marble. After the nightmare ended, Cassie had immediately sought out Sunny—and together, they'd come to one of the many Zakharov estates, this one nestled like a sleeping colossus in the heart of the district.
It sounded absurd to an outsider, but the Zakharovs didn't just own a single mansion—they owned several, scattered across continents like a trail of breadcrumbs left by emperors. two in NQSC alone, with others scattered across South America and Africa like abandoned trophies.
Cassie might've taken her time, if not for the gnawing worry festering in her chest. She knew Effie would be fine—Kai too. But Klaus? That was a different matter. There was no certainty that he had survived the Nightmare. There was no guarantee that he'd return from the Kingdom of Hope safely.
She had hoped that becoming stronger might sharpen her prophetic abilities—might finally allow her to see Klaus clearly. But her hopes had been crushed.
Before, at least, she knew there was a force obstructing her vision, a concealment wrapped around Klaus like a veil. It was frustrating, yes, but logical. If she advanced far enough, she believed she might one day pierce it.
But now… it was different. Klaus wasn't merely hidden. He felt like he no longer existed within the tapestry of fate—yet paradoxically, he still did. It was maddening. An impossible contradiction. How could someone both exist within fate and yet remain untouched by it? Cassie lacked the knowledge to even hypothesize what such an anomaly meant.
But there was no time to dwell on it. Not when the young man walking beside her emanated enough killing intent to strangle the air itself.
Cassie cast a glance at Sunny.
There was no mistaking it. Rage radiated from him like heat from a furnace—cold, bitter, murderous. He wasn't here to reunite. He was here to confirm Kai and Effie's safety. That was all.
Sunny and Klaus had never seen eye to eye. Sunny—ever the cynic, ever the pessimist, carved by suffering and tempered by paranoia—was the exact opposite of Klaus, who treated life like a long, indulgent stroll through chaos, driven by pleasure, curiosity, and unapologetic freedom.
Cassie hesitated. Something had clearly happened between the two of them. A fight, perhaps? Or something worse?
That was the strange, aggravating beauty of her relationship with Klaus—while her visions laid bare the truths of everyone else, he remained an enigma. A puzzle she had to solve not with her gift, but with her heart.
She hesitated before speaking, trying to sound casual, even playful, though the question pressed at her ribs.
"Sunny… did something happen?"
His expression darkened. He made no effort to conceal the resentment twisting behind his eyes. He glanced at her and, for a moment, considered spilling the truth.
Of course something happened. Your beautiful, crazy boyfriend shattered every bone in my body and dropped me into the abyss like yesterday's trash.
But what came out of Sunny's mouth was far more polished.
"It's nothing. Just... adjusting. Had a Shadowspawn's body in the nightmare. Being human again feels weird."
He gave her a crooked, awkward smile, brushing a hand through his hair in that way liars always did. It wasn't a lie, technically. His time in the nightmare had twisted his form into something barely recognizable—four arms, a forked tongue, horns, a tail. And now… soft skin, a single heartbeat. He wasn't lying. He just wasn't telling the truth.
Cassie didn't press. She could tell he was withholding something, but she let it go. Sigh... What did you do this time, Klaus?
The mansion gates loomed ahead.
As soon as they neared, the iron gates opened without a word. Cassie barely reacted—she was used to it by now. Sunny, however, blinked in surprise and clenched his jaw in bitter silence.
Everyone here treated Cassie with respect. Of course they did. She was Klaus's lover.
Sunny flushed with embarrassment. How had he only just realized they were together? Even Kai and Effie had figured it out ages ago.
It was a humiliating oversight for someone who fancied himself a master schemer. Missing something so obvious exposed not only his inexperience in matters of the heart, but also a kind of naive innocence he hated acknowledging.
Still, that wasn't what stung the most.
It was the grandeur. The sheer, breathtaking luxury of this place.
The architecture screamed wealth in a dozen languages. Polished stone, gilded spires, enchanted statues whispering secrets under moonlight. Every corner was carved with artistry he couldn't begin to afford.
Sunny scowled.
Of course. Not everyone was born in the gutter. Chances are, Klaus had rich parents. Supportive family. Lavish estates. Resources. Power. Looks. He probably hadn't struggled a day in his life... He even had the gall to date a woman so beautiful she could make angels weep.
And Sunny? Sunny was a rat from the outskirts with nothing but his stubborn will and a dagger in his hand.
It wasn't fair. It never was.
But he grinned, teeth bared like a starving wolf.
Doesn't matter.
I don't need anyone's legacy, he thought, a dark smile tugging at his lips. I'm a self-made man. And one day...
His fingers curled into fists as he looked toward the towering mansion.
One day, Klaus... I'll be the one looking down on you.
Cassie and Sunny were guided into what was generously called the "living room," though calling it a room felt almost offensive, given its sheer scale. The ceilings soared, the chandeliers glittered like captive constellations, and the furnishings whispered luxury in every corner. Sunny, despite the bitterness churning in his chest, couldn't help but glance around with piqued curiosity.
And then his eyes widened.
Seated at the grand dining table, Effie was in the midst of a spectacle—a veritable black hole of consumption. Plates, bowls, and platters—at least a hundred of them—lay scattered around her like the wreckage of a conquered battlefield. And yet, more food kept arriving, as if the mansion's kitchen had declared open war on hunger.
Sunny's jaw nearly hit the floor.
That glutton… just how much could one person possibly eat!?
He gave a helpless shake of his head, torn between horror and amusement, before casting a glance toward the nearby couch. There sat Kai, casually sipping juice, earbuds in, nodding gently to whatever song graced his playlist.
Without wasting a moment, Sunny approached them, his usual guarded demeanor softened by genuine concern. "You guys okay?" he asked, the question carrying more weight than his tone let on.
Kai scratched the back of his head, offering an apologetic little smile.
"Well… I almost died. But Klaus's spirits showed up just in time, and with their help, I managed to kill the dragon."
Sunny exhaled, tension leaking from his shoulders—relief tinged with something more complicated. Yet… something was off. Why had he attacked Klaus in the Nightmare? His instincts—honed through pain and survival, carved into him by the blood of fate itself—had screamed that something was wrong.
And they never lied to him.
But here were Kai and Effie—safe, sound, even cheerful. Klaus's spirits had helped them. Cassie was fine. So… had he really lashed out without cause? Had he turned on Klaus in error?
His onyx eyes narrowed, troubled.
No… Something doesn't add up. I trust my instincts more than I trust anyone. Something was wrong. Maybe it still is.
He found himself cornered by contradiction, standing in a very awkward—and potentially dangerous—position. If Klaus had been innocent all along, then Sunny was the villain in this story.
Damnation…
He bit the inside of his cheek, the taste of bitterness spreading like poison.
And yet, he couldn't let go of his suspicion. He wouldn't.
He's hiding something. I know it. I can feel it in my bones.
Klaus may have helped them, but that didn't absolve him—not in Sunny's eyes.
Even if he didn't betray us… he still deserved it.
Nearby, Cassie was exhaling a silent breath of relief. Seeing Effie devour food like a demon and Kai relaxed enough to sip juice reassured her more than anything else. If they were well… then perhaps Klaus was, too.
She paused a moment, then turned to Effie with a note of concern.
"Do you know where Nik is?"
Effie paused mid-chew, grinning around a mouthful of roasted meat. Her cheeks were full, her hands stained with the juices of her feast.
"Your guy?" she asked, licking her fingers with zero shame. "Yeah, he came to see us for a bit. Didn't stay long, though. The butler said he had some urgent business and told us not to disturb him."
Cassie nodded at Effie's gleeful words, a small smile tugging at her lips despite the lingering weight in her chest. With a soft sigh, she glanced around the vast room before her steps took her toward the bar. Behind it stood a young woman methodically polishing a glass, her movements precise and quiet. She looked no older than twenty, her delicate features still touched with the softness of youth. But her expression—cold, composed, and faintly menacing—belied that fragile appearance.
Her hair was a deep shade of navy, falling like ink over her shoulders, and her piercing blue eyes shone like shards of ice. She was short and slight, seemingly fragile at first glance, but appearances were deceiving. Beneath her tailored uniform, her compact frame was built with dense, honed muscle—a body sculpted by combat, not vanity. There was a quiet, monstrous strength about her, the kind that could rip a man in half without so much as a change in expression.
Cassie gave her a polite nod as the woman slid a glass of amber liquor toward her. She accepted it, took a measured sip, and let the warmth linger on her tongue before speaking in her usual composed tone.
"Anna, do you know where Klaus is?"
Anna didn't bother with small talk. She glanced up with a sigh, then gave a subtle nod to one of the nearby servants. A silent command passed between them.
"Follow him," she said simply.
Cassie inclined her head in gratitude and followed the servant up the sweeping staircase, footsteps muffled by the thick carpet. They ascended to the second floor, where polished wooden doors lined the silent corridor like the ribs of some great beast. The servant stopped before one particular door. With a quiet gesture, he indicated the person she sought lay just beyond.
Cassie gave a quiet thanks and approached, knocking lightly—then pushing the door open without waiting for a reply.
The room inside was dimly lit, filled with the soft rustle of papers and the faint scent of ink, smoke, and aged books. Klaus was seated behind a massive mahogany desk, buried in what looked like an ocean of documents. His eyes—those unnatural, radiant eyes—were aglow, scanning line after line with inhuman precision, dissecting each detail with analytical detachment.
Cassie blinked.
He's even using his innate ability to do paperwork... gods.
Noticing her presence, Klaus looked up. His expression was calm, tired—eerily devoid of his usual theatrical charm. He signed one last paper, set his pen down, and leaned back with a sigh, lighting a cigarette between his fingers. The smoke curled upward in lazy spirals as he half-closed his eyes, weariness etched into every line of his face.
"Well, I didn't expect a visit so soon… little wolf," he murmured, voice low and dry.
Cassie smiled awkwardly. It was oddly endearing, the way he gave people nicknames. Most of them were vulgar, insulting, or sarcastic—but hers always carried a strangely affectionate tone. "Little wolf." It felt… personal.
"I just wanted to make sure you were safe," she said gently.
Klaus raised an eyebrow, then gave a faint nod, though he seemed indifferent to her concern. Something about him had changed—Cassie felt it immediately. The usual mischief in his gaze was gone, replaced by something colder.
She frowned. "What's wrong? You're not… making twisted jokes or mocking me. That's not like you."
Klaus studied her for a moment, the embers of his cigarette glowing faintly in the low light. He exhaled, then glanced aside. For once, he didn't feel like explaining—nor did he have the energy to do so. The revelations he had seen, the weight of his new attribute… it was all still settling in.
Instead, he simply reached for his glass of wine and drained it in one smooth motion. When he finally spoke, his voice was lighter, but not quite convincing.
"It's nothing. Just a little tired, that's all."
He paused, then met her gaze again. "Your friends are welcome to stay here for as long as they need. But when they leave…"
He leaned forward slightly, his tone softening. "Stay behind. I have something to tell you."
There was a lingering pause. A strange, subtle smile crept onto his face—a smile that didn't quite reach his eyes.
Her heart fluttered uneasily. Despite her composed exterior, a sliver of dread curled in her chest. Her eyes flickered briefly into the near future—just a heartbeat ahead—and saw that same unsettling smile hanging on his face like a shadow.
Klaus chuckled quietly, leaning back in his chair again, smoke curling from the corner of his lips.
"And tell Sunless," he said, his voice taking on a cool, amused edge, "that I don't intend to kill him over his little… prank."
Then, his expression darkened ever so slightly. He leaned forward, eyes glinting with something sharper.
"But even I have limits, Cas. Just because he's your friend doesn't mean he can pull whatever bullshit he likes and think himself safe."
Cassie now understood, with unsettling clarity, that something had transpired between Klaus and Sunny—something far more serious than a petty argument or a harmless quarrel. The weight in Klaus's voice, the gleam in his eyes, the silence that lingered between words… it all pointed to something darker.
She had witnessed the casual brutality that lurked behind his charm. Once, a man had spat in Klaus's direction. The spittle hadn't even touched him—it had evaporated midair. But Klaus had killed him anyway. Not out of necessity. Not even out of anger. Just annoyance.
And then there was the story Isaac had told her, with that theatrical gleam in his eye—how Klaus once executed a prisoner for the crime of chewing too loudly. She didn't know if it was true, but the grim tone Isaac adopted at the end... suggested it hadn't been an easy death.
Maybe Isaac exaggerated things for the sake of drama—he did enjoy stirring the pot. But with Klaus… you never knew.
Cassie's expression faltered slightly, wearied by the tension blooming around her. Her gaze drifted toward the floor, heavy with the weight of conflicting loyalties. The man she loved and the friend she cherished—now poised like hounds ready to tear into one another.
"Do you really have to go that far?" she asked, voice soft but edged with quiet disapproval.
Klaus laughed.
It wasn't the cold, hollow sound she had braced herself for—it was genuine, amused, even lighthearted, which somehow made it worse.
"That far?" he echoed, eyes glinting like knives in the gloom. "Little wolf, do you even know what I do to people who get in my way? I'm no paragon of virtue. I've never claimed to be. He should be grateful—grateful—that I haven't turned him and everything he cares about into dust."
He paused, that last word curling at the edges with a wicked glint.
"I heard he has a little student now... Rain, isn't it? Adorable girl. Bright eyes. Big dreams. Wouldn't it be a shame to find her broken in the outskirts, neck twisted at a strange angle?"
The moment those words left his lips, the atmosphere changed.
Cassie's eyes snapped to his, sharp as frost. Her hands curled into fists at her sides, her body tense with restrained fury.
"Don't you dare," she hissed, her voice low and trembling. "That girl is innocent. You told me yourself—you don't hurt those who don't stand in your path."
Klaus watched her, amused by her fire. He offered a small, casual shrug, as if brushing off a slight inconvenience.
"I did say that," he replied. "And yet… I do make exceptions now and then—when I'm truly furious."
He rose from his seat with feline grace, each step silent as snowfall. Cassie remained still as he circled her, his presence coiling around her like a shadow.
Then he stopped behind her chair.
Leaning in close, he placed his hands on the armrests, his breath warm against her ear.
"But," he whispered silkily, "for you, love… I'll make an exception of a different kind. If you help me."
His voice softened, no longer threatening—now intimate, persuasive.
"After all, the only reason he's still alive is because I refuse to lose you."
His hand moved to brush her hair, but Cassie slapped it away with force. She turned her sightless blue eyes toward him, gaze sharp with irritation and defiance.
"You threaten my friend," she said icily, "and now you want what, exactly?"
Klaus raised an eyebrow, lips curling into a grin.
"Ouch," he said playfully, "that was cold."
Cassie couldn't help but let out a breathy chuckle, shaking her head in disbelief.
"Fine," she said at last, her voice somewhere between fondness and exasperation. "I'll help you. But next time, try asking first. You don't need to cloak everything in threats and theatrics."
Klaus shrugged, unapologetic. The truth was, he hadn't done it just to manipulate her into compliance. The warning had been sincere. He didn't need Sunny sniffing through his affairs like some rabid dog.
Still, he leaned in, voice warm and cheerful.
"That's my girl."
He said it with a soft smile, fingers absently playing with a lock of her golden hair, winding it around his knuckle like a silken thread he refused to let go. Cassie narrowed her eyes but said nothing, letting him linger in that little moment of control—until he sighed, the amusement draining just slightly from his expression, and leaned down without warning.
Cassie stiffened as his lips brushed against hers—soft at first, as if testing. Her eyes widened, caught between fury and disbelief. Had he truly just threatened to kill her friend... only to kiss her?
She pushed at him with a hand against his chest, jaw clenched, lips still closed in a tight line. But Klaus didn't force. He waited, gaze locked on hers, one brow lifted like he was daring her.
Cassie gave in with a low groan—of frustration, maybe. But her hands slid up into his hair, fingers knotting into it, and she yanked him down into the kiss properly this time. No hesitation. If he wanted to play games, so could she.
Cassie bit his bottom lip in retaliation, and Klaus just chuckled against her mouth, amused. his hands sliding firmly around her waist, hauling her closer. He lifted her effortlessly, settling her onto the desk with deliberate force.
Cassie gasped quietly when her back met the polished wood of the desk behind her, the papers and books swept aside without care. His hands were on her waist, her thighs, drawing her to him with a rough sort of reverence. She could feel the heat of him even through the layers between them—his body solid, demanding, pressing her down as her legs instinctively wrapped around his hips, anchoring him to her.
Cassie leaned back on her elbows, dress bunched around her waist, golden hair spilling over her back. Her eyes, cold and sightless.
She met his eyes, breath quickened, cheeks flushed. "You're still a bastard," she whispered.
"I know," he said, and kissed her again.
***
Hey folks!
So I was going to split this into two chapters... but then my keyboard betrayed me and boom — one big chunky chapter with 3k+ words was born.
Heads up, I won't be posting as frequently for a bit — exam season is coming, and apparently I have to "study" or "pass" or whatever society expects. Wish me luck!
As for the chapter — yeah, Klaus kind of brainwashed Effie and Kai. Disturbing? Absolutely. But hey, Klaus was never the poster boy for morality anyway.
Also, I'm not really into writing spicy 18+ stuff, but sometimes it's needed to highlight Klaus's… questionable decision-making skills. He's a flawed guy, okay?
Anyway — thanks for sticking around and reading! Your support seriously keeps me going. Hope you enjoy the chaos!
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