My breath hitched as Argento's lips crashed against mine, a shock of surprise quickly igniting into a blaze of heat that consumed me. That first touch was like a spark, setting off something deep within that I couldn't control. 

I surrendered to the kiss, my thoughts scattering like ashes in the wind as my hands found their way into his hair, pulling him closer. The urgency in our movements and the way our tongues danced with a fervent intensity left me dizzy with desire.

When Argento's hand pressed against the growing heat low in my abdomen, a wave of pleasure surged through me, pulling a throaty moan from my lips that reverberated between us. Every part of me was focused on the sensations coursing through my body, the connection between us intensifying with each passing second. 

I was being pulled toward something I didn't fully understand, something irresistible.

Argento growled, a low, primal sound that sent a tingling sensation down my spine. His touch, his presence—it all overwhelmed my senses, pulling me toward the brink of something I'd never felt before. 

Just as I teetered on the edge of release, he abruptly pulled away, leaving me gasping for breath. 

Frustration and confusion clawed at my insides as my eyes fluttered open to meet his. The wildness in his expression was undeniable. His silver eyes were now a bright, unsettling red that matched the flush of his skin.

Without a word, Argento backed away, his gaze a storm of emotion I couldn't decipher. Then, before I could react, he turned and strode onto the balcony, launching himself into the air. His wings unfurled in a powerful sweep, and he disappeared from view, leaving me alone in the quiet apartment.

I sat on the stool, my heart still racing, my lips tingling with the memory of his kiss. 

Guilt gnawed at me as the reality of what had just happened sank in. I could still feel the warmth of his touch on my skin, a lingering heat that defied explanation. Rising unsteadily, I walked to the hallway mirror and stared at my reflection. There, I saw that the brown of my eyes now seemed tinged with an unsettling red sheen.

"What the hell just happened?" 

I whispered to my reflection, my voice trembling with confusion and guilt. The realization that Argento was far from human only compounded my turmoil. My mind raced, filled with panic as I imagined the worst possible scenarios happening to my body, fueled by late-night horror movie binges.

My hands trembled as I placed them on my stomach, my thoughts spiraling into terrifying possibilities. 

"What if...?" 

Grotesque images flashed through my mind—creatures bursting from someone's abdomen—and I shook my head, trying to dislodge the horrific thoughts.

I shuffled back into the living room, collapsing onto the couch. The events of the past two days spun in my mind, making it impossible to find any semblance of peace. I lay there, hoping that sleep would bring some relief, but despite my exhaustion, it eluded me.

As dawn began to creep across the horizon, casting the first light of morning into the room, I finally rose to face the day. 

The open balcony door had let in a chill breeze that had been swirling all night, yet I realized I didn’t feel cold. Stepping out into the crisp air, I felt a strange sense of resilience, as if something had changed within me.

The mystery of the night lingered in my thoughts, wrapping around me like a cloak. As the city began to stir awake, I steeled myself for the day ahead, the weight of my encounter with Argento casting a long shadow over my reality. Something had changed, something profound—but what?

*

The city below blurred as I navigated the fading night, finally reaching the abandoned building I sought. My descent into Pioneer Square was swift and silent. I slipped inside, descending into the underground city where shadows clung to the walls like old memories, thick with the scent of decay.

I approached the old tower with measured steps, its grand entrance now marred by time and neglect. The heavy door creaked as I pushed it open, and the musty smell hit me like a physical force as I stepped into the darkness.

"Argento?" Hetor's voice echoed through the dim space, thick with concern. The hulking hobgoblin emerged from the shadows, his yellow eyes narrowing as he took in my disheveled appearance.

"Stay back," I warned, my voice a low growl. 

The raw energy pulsing within me demanded release, a force I struggled to contain.

Hetor ignored my warning, stepping closer. Before he could reach me, the power surged, erupting from me in a wave that sent him flying backward. The impact resonated through the chamber, drawing Matteo from a nearby room.

"What happened to you?" Matteo demanded, stopping short when he saw me. His green eyes widened, taking in the transformation that had overtaken me.

My wings unfurled with a violent snap, their usual dark steel now tinged with a red glow. The veins along my neck and hands pulsed visibly, a network of crimson lines beneath my skin. I could feel my features shifting, becoming something more reptilian, though traces of my humanity still clung to the edges.

"Matteo," I hissed, my voice thick with pain and fury. "You told me hers was a silver core."

Matteo took a step forward but hesitated when Hetor shook his head, cautioning him to stay back. They watched as I fought against the power raging inside me.

"Control it, Argento," Matteo urged, his voice steady despite the heat radiating from me, threatening to consume everything around me. 

With a practiced motion, Matteo conjured a shimmering barrier, encasing himself and Hetor in a protective dome that repelled the searing wave emanating from my form.

"Look at me, Matteo," I cried, my eyes blazing with an intensity that seemed to burn from within. "Does this look like the effect of a silver core?"

"Something else is at play here," Matteo replied, his mind racing to piece together what had gone wrong.

The eerie red glow of my pulsing veins bathed the room in an unsettling light as I struggled to regain control.

"Argento," Matteo began, his voice heavy with concern, "what I saw through the Twin Scale was unmistakable—a silver core, and it burned with an intensity I’ve never seen."

"Perhaps the Twin Scale misread," Hetor suggested calmly, trying to make sense of the situation. "Or its separation might be affecting its accuracy."

Matteo shook his head, his eyes never leaving me. "No. Even divided, the artifact’s vision is true. When it hovered near them both, the scale shone with such fervor... I thought two cores shared the brilliance."

"So you only saw one, then?" I growled, my voice low and dangerous, like a predator wrestling with an unseen adversary.

"I only saw one," Matteo confirmed, hesitation creeping into his voice as he realized the gravity of our predicament.

A bitter laugh escaped me as I paced, the transformation beginning to reverse. 

"So, Iris has a silver core—a powerful one now in Alfonso's vile grasp." I paused, contemplating another scenario. "Or did the Twin Scale respond to the dormant fire within Gabriella's crimson core?"

Hetor’s confusion was as palpable as the charged air around us. 

"But why wouldn't the Twin Scale detect Gabriella's core?"

"Because there’s an ancient seal," I said, my voice dark with knowledge. "Upon the crimson cores. They are meant to remain hidden, never to be awakened."

Matteo studied me, now standing more composed, though my eyes still gleamed with an unsettling red light. 

“Did you awaken it in Gabriella?" Matteo asked, his tone a mix of curiosity and caution.

I shook my head, a dark lock of hair falling over my brow. 

“Not fully,” I admitted, my voice gravelly. “When I felt its power surging into me, I pulled away. I couldn’t risk being overwhelmed by its full force.”

Matteo hesitated, glancing at Hetor before speaking again. 

“Even though the core hasn’t been fully awakened, it’s active inside of Gabriella now. She’ll undoubtedly start to feel its power growing, and other creatures will be drawn to her.”

My gaze darkened, jaw tightening. “I can’t let her fall into their hands, especially not Alfonso's.”

“Why not just kill her and eliminate the risk?”

My expression hardened, and I stepped closer to Hetor. 

“We’re not killing her,” I declared, my voice a dangerous whisper. “She hasn’t done anything to warrant execution. If we went around killing innocents, we’d be no better than Alfonso.”

Hetor raised an eyebrow, unimpressed. “And what makes you so sure she won’t become a threat?”

My eyes flashed with intensity. “Because I’ll be making sure whatever power is inside her doesn’t harm her or anyone else.”

“And if she does become a threat?”

My gaze didn’t waver. “Then we’ll deal with it. But until then, we protect her. She's are best hope against Alfonso."

A tense silence settled over the room as we each considered the gravity of our situation. The stakes were high, and the danger was real. But one thing was certain: Gabriella’s fate was now intertwined with ours, and the shadows were closing in fast.