My fingers clawed at Argento's unyielding grip, my efforts as futile as a bird tangled in unbreakable vines. His hand was like a shackle around my delicate wrist, and despite my fiercest efforts, I couldn’t break free. I shot him a sideways glance, my eyes burning with fierce determination.

"Let go," I hissed, tugging harder, though it felt like trying to pull my arm from solid rock.

"Stop it," Argento commanded his voice a low rumble that cut through the hustle of the busy street. "You're going to hurt yourself."

"Where are you taking me?" 

As we strode down Second Avenue. I scanned for any possible escape route, desperate for a way out.

"Somewhere we can talk," he replied, his tone as cryptic as ever.

Desperation gnawed at me when I spotted a familiar Irish bar, a place Iris and I often visited to unwind after long nights. Seizing the opportunity, I blurted out, "I need to use the restroom. Now."

"Can't it wait?" Argento’s tone was flat, unmoved by my plea.

But I dug my heels into the pavement, feigning urgency with every ounce of acting skills I had. 

"No, I really can't!" 

The panic in my voice was almost convincing enough to fool even me.

With a reluctant sigh, Argento steered me toward a dingy dive bar, but I resisted, my voice rising above the city’s noise. 

"Not there! It’s filthy. The one next door—it’s cleaner, trust me."

We navigated through the crowd inside the bustling establishment, the air buzzing with the energy of soccer fans riveted by the match on the screen.

"Find a seat," I instructed, pointing toward the back of the bar near the restrooms. "It'll look weird if you follow me in there."

Argento leaned in close, his breath warm against my ear as he murmured, "I'll wait outside the door." 

There was a playful glint in his silver eyes as if he knew what I was thinking and found my efforts amusing.

"Better yet, order our drinks—food, too," I said, thrusting my credit card into his hand. My fingers brushed against his palm, and I forced myself to meet his gaze. "We’ll talk here, surrounded by people. I feel... safer."

A smirk tugged at the corner of Argento's lips as he accepted the card, a silent understanding passing between us. Without another word, I turned on my heel and slipped into the sanctuary of the ladies' room, leaving Argento amidst the rowdy patrons.

My pulse pounded in my ears as I bolted toward the last stall in the restroom—the one Iris had dubbed our "emergency exit" after a particularly disastrous blind date several years ago. It was an escape route meant for desperate times, and this, I fervently decided, was one of them. Frantically, I jimmied the window latch, but my fingers kept slipping on the stubborn metal.

"Bad date?" 

A voice startled me as another woman emerged from a neighboring stall, eyeing me with a sympathetic smile.

"Something like that," I panted, barely sparing a glance at the stranger who washed her hands with casual efficiency.

"Let me help." 

Without waiting for a reply, the woman dried her hands and joined me at the stubborn window. Together, we heaved it open, and the cool night air rushed in like a promise of freedom.

"Describe him," the woman asked, her voice low and conspiratorial. "I’ll keep him busy while you make a run for it."

"Dark hair, piercing gray eyes, tall, and ridiculously good-looking."

"Figures," the woman mumbled. "Even the pretty ones are snakes." 

She grasped my hand, giving me a leg up toward the narrow opening.

"Thank you," I whispered, hitching up my skirt with as much dignity as I could muster. With one leg dangling out the window and the other bracing against the toilet, I squirmed awkwardly, my movements more akin to an ungraceful escape artist than anything else. The tight fit of the window forced me into a series of ungainly wriggles, each one punctuated by the sound of tearing fabric and muttered curses.

Finally, with a graceless flop, I tumbled free from the restroom—only to be caught in a pair of strong arms. A gasp escaped me as I looked up into Argento's smirking face.

"Real smooth escape," he teased, his tone light despite the firm grip he kept around my waist.

"Call for help!" 

I implored the woman, whose face peered down at us through the window with a look of confusion.

"Help? But—" The woman's voice trailed off, her gaze unfocused as if she were trying to remember a dream half-forgotten upon waking.

Argento whispered, his breath warm against my ear. 

"She can't see us or hear us."

My eyes widened in disbelief as I watched Argento's eyes glow bright and silvery as he looked at the woman standing by the window. With a shake of her head, the helpful stranger stepped back from the window, muttering to herself about why she’d even opened it in the first place.

"Impossible," I breathed, my mind scrambling to comprehend the scene before me.

"Not much is impossible for me," Argento replied cryptically, finally releasing me from his hold. He motioned for me to follow him; his movements were fluid and assured, but I remained rooted to the spot in a mix of fascination and fear.

"Who are you?" I demanded, my voice barely above a whisper yet carrying the weight of my mounting terror and curiosity.

"Someone who needs to talk to you," Argento answered, the enigmatic glint in his silver eyes promising that answers lay just beyond the veil of mystery surrounding him.

With a sigh that seemed to carry centuries of exasperation, he added, "Running is futile, Gabriella. Also, if you're going to run away, maybe wear more comfortable shoes."

The fire within me flared, fueled by the ache in my feet and the fear gnawing at my mind. In a sudden act of defiance, my hand reared back, and I slapped him across the face. My hand stung from the impact as if I had struck marble instead of flesh. His icy gaze pinned me in place, freezing me even as my palm throbbed.

"Why do you keep appearing and just what are you?" I demanded, my voice trembling with a mixture of dread and anger.

"Gabriella, we must—" Argento began, stepping closer, his temper flaring as our faces nearly touched.

"We're strangers!" I cut him off, my words sharp. "There’s nothing to talk about!"

His growl resonated through the air, a primal sound that stirred something deep within me—something I couldn’t quite name. The sensation was enough to make me step back, desperate to escape the sudden magnetic pull of his presence.

Before I could react, he hoisted me over his shoulder with an ease that belied his human appearance. My protests were muffled against the fabric of his coat as I struggled to free myself, but his body was as unyielding as a fortress wall. Back on the bustling streets, I cried out for help, but the passersby continued, oblivious to my plight. The memory of the woman in the bar, blind and deaf to our presence, washed over me, and despair settled around me like a heavy cloak.

I stopped struggling, conserving my energy as Argento carried me. With a sinking heart, I recognized the route—my route home—and knew that whatever came next was inevitable.

The brisk night air whipped around me as Argento’s unwavering stride brought us to the shadowed side of my apartment building.

"Look, if you think I’m letting you in—" 

My defiance caught in my throat as Argento unfurled his wings. And I noticed that they weren’t black but a breathtaking dark steel gray that reflected the city’s lights. It took all of my willpower not to reach out and touch them, drawn by curiosity and fascination to feel their leathery texture.

My awe was short-lived, as the world seemed to drop away beneath my feet suddenly. The sudden surge of flight wrenched a scream from me that never made it past my lips. My fingers clenched desperately onto the fabric of his coat, holding on to the only tangible thing in the whirlwind of disorientation.

We soared through the night, the wind lacing through my hair, the sensation of weightlessness battling with the gravity of my fear. The flight was both exhilarating and terrifying, ending as abruptly as it began when our feet touched down on my balcony.

Argento released me, and I swayed, my equilibrium rocked by the unexpected journey. I gripped the railing, peering down at the dizzying height that separated me from the indifferent streets below. The sound of the sliding door opening reached my ears, and I watched as Argento stepped inside my apartment without waiting for an invitation.

"Damn you," I whispered, my voice a mix of awe and accusation. 

Inside, I heard him moving around as if claiming territory.

I limped across the sparse living room, my soles throbbing with each step. Argento was already lounging on my sofa, his silver gaze following my movements. 

"You should change into something comfortable before we talk," he suggested, his tone as casual as if he were in his own home.

"How thoughtful of you," I replied with biting sarcasm, a brittle smile tugging at my lips. Shedding my heels with relief, I retreated to the sanctuary of my bedroom, the click of the lock behind me offering a small measure of security.

In the darkness of my room, I rummaged through my purse, drawing out my phone, only to find the screen still stubbornly black. I turned to my laptop, but it remained equally lifeless, refusing even a flicker of light. A defeated sigh escaped my lips.

"Perfect," I muttered dryly as I continued to search through my drawers. My fingers finally closed around the cool metal of my stun gun. I had no idea if it would work on Argento, but it was better than nothing.

I shrugged off my work clothes and slipped into a soft gray sweater and black sweatpants. My long brown hair cascaded freely down my back as I took a deep breath and prepared to face whatever lay ahead.

When I emerged, Argento was no longer on the couch. 

The scent of simmering broth led me to the kitchen, where I found him stirring ramen over the stove. He was focused on the task.

"You need to keep a better-stocked kitchen," he commented without turning around.

"I'll add grocery shopping to my to-do list," I retorted, a mix of bewilderment and irritation swirling within me.

"Sit down," he instructed, still not looking my way from the stove. I hesitated before obeying, perching on a stool at the bar, the hard surface grounding my swirling thoughts.

"Alright, Argento," I demanded, my voice firm. "Get to the point. What do you want to talk about?"

He picked up the pot of ramen, steam rising from the top, causing me to stare curiously at it, as I knew my stove did not heat up quickly enough to have cooked the noodles while I had changed. Argento then poured it into bowls with skilled precision before finally turning to meet my gaze.

"I’m here to talk to you about Iris," he said, his tone even.

The mention of my friend's name sent a tremor through my spine. My eyes widened with a mix of fear and hope. 

Before I could speak, Argento added, "I know where she is."

My heart raced as I tried to process his words. 

"If you know where Iris is, why haven’t you gone to the police?" 

"Because the police can’t navigate the intricacies of our world," Argento replied, his tone matter-of-fact as he started eating. 

I watched, perplexed, as he swallowed the scalding ramen without hesitation.

I hesitated before picking up my bowl, my fingertips recoiling from the staggering heat. 

"Then why tell me? If the authorities are powerless, what difference could I possibly make?"

He placed his empty bowl down, his piercing silver eyes locking onto mine. 

"More than you realize," Argento countered smoothly, his presence filling the room. He leaned forward, his gaze never wavering. "You possess something immensely powerful, Gabriella—something vital."

I shook my head, a sarcastic laugh escaping me. 

"You've definitely got the wrong person. I don't own anything of value."

Argento's lips curled into a knowing smile. 

"But you do. You’ve had it since birth. It is your core, Gabriella."

"My core? What is that supposed to mean? Like my spirit?" 

Argento’s gaze remained steady. 

"Most humans with this power go their entire lives without knowing," he said, his voice deep and resonant. "Their cores remain dormant, untapped, waiting for the right catalyst to awaken."

"And let me guess," I shot back, "you’re the one who’s going to flip the switch and awaken it?"

He leaned closer, his silver eyes locking onto mine with an intensity that sent a shiver down my spine. 

"I can, if you want me to." Argento offered.

I was caught in his gaze, my thoughts a whirlwind of skepticism and fear. 

Was I actually considering this madness? 

With a shaky breath, I finally uttered, "Fine, how do you awaken it then?"

Argento approached me, towering over me, his face achingly close. His breath was warm against my cheek as he murmured, "Do you consent to me showing you?"

My heart pounded as I nodded my consent, the word 'yes' barely muttered when Argento’s lips captured mine.