The narrow streets of Azure Bay were quieter now, the bustle of early morning giving way to the lull of midday. The sun was high, casting long shadows that seemed to stretch into dark corners and forgotten alleys. Sebastian and Aria stood at the mouth of the dock, their eyes fixed on the horizon where the sea shimmered, taunting them with its vast, unknowable depths.

Isaac had left them with cryptic warnings and promises of help, but it was clear the real challenge lay ahead. Samuel Hale wasn’t just a man on the run; he was a key, and those who wanted him silenced would stop at nothing to keep their secrets buried.

“We need to get to the Underkeep,” Sebastian said, his voice low but resolute. “It’s the only way we’ll find Samuel.”

Aria’s brow furrowed as she looked up at him. “But how? The Underkeep isn’t something you just walk into. It’s a fortress of whispers and shadows. You’ll never get past them without a plan.”

Sebastian’s lips curved into a small, grim smile. “That’s why I have a few people who owe me favours.”

Before Aria could ask further, a voice called from behind them. “Sebastian Blackwell, the prodigal son returned from the dead.”

Sebastian turned, his face hardening at the sight of a woman in her early thirties, sharp-eyed with raven-black hair that cascaded down her back like a dark river. She was dressed in a simple tunic that belied the confidence in her stance.

“Evelyn,” Sebastian said, the name heavy on his tongue.

Aria watched the exchange, her curiosity piqued by the intensity between them. Who was this woman, and why did Sebastian look like he’d just seen a ghost?

Evelyn’s eyes shifted to Aria, sizing her up in an instant. “I thought you were dead too,” she said to Sebastian, but her eyes lingered on Aria, a hint of recognition flashing in their depths.

Sebastian cleared his throat. “I’m very much alive, and I need your help. We’re looking for someone.”

Evelyn raised an eyebrow. “And I’m supposed to just believe that after all this time? After everything that’s happened?”

Sebastian’s expression grew steely. “You don’t have a choice. Either you help me, or I find someone who will.”

Evelyn’s gaze shifted to Aria once more. The recognition deepened, but she didn’t say a word. Instead, she took a step closer, lowering her voice.

“If you’re looking for Samuel Hale, you’re deeper in this than you know. The Underkeep doesn’t like trespassers.”

“Tell me something I don’t know,” Sebastian said, his voice a mix of weariness and resolve.

Evelyn crossed her arms, studying him with an intensity that made Aria shift uncomfortably. “I was once part of them. I know how they think, and I know the deals they strike. They won’t just come after you—they’ll come after everyone you care about.”

Aria’s heart clenched at the unspoken warning. She looked at Sebastian, who had an unreadable expression on his face. “What does that mean?” she asked.

Evelyn’s eyes softened, a hint of sympathy breaking through the walls she’d built around herself. “It means we’re going to have to make a deal of our own. One that might not be entirely in your favour.”

Sebastian tensed, and the air between them grew thick with unspoken words. “And what do you want in return?” he asked, voice tight.

Evelyn’s lips curled into a smirk. “Your trust. And a promise that when this is over, you’ll do what needs to be done.”

A chill passed over Aria, and she glanced between the two of them, trying to make sense of the silence that followed. Whatever Evelyn was offering, it came with strings attached. But that was the nature of dealing with the Underkeep—they didn’t play fair.

Sebastian’s eyes flickered with hesitation, then steely resolve. “Deal.”

Evelyn nodded, the lines of tension in her shoulders easing. “Then let’s get to work. We’re going to need more than just bravery to take down the Underkeep. We’ll need a plan, and we’ll need allies who know how to fight in the dark.”

Aria’s pulse quickened. This was no longer just about finding Samuel. It was about stepping into a world where every choice carried consequences, where one wrong move could mean everything. And as the pieces of the puzzle began to fall into place, she knew there was no going back.

“Are you sure about this?” Aria asked Sebastian quietly.

He looked at her, eyes shadowed with uncertainty but brimming with determination. “I’m sure. It’s the only way.”

Evelyn stepped forward, and for the first time, Aria noticed the scar that ran along the side of her neck—a reminder that in this world, survival came at a price.

“Then let’s start making a plan,” Evelyn said, and the weight of what was to come settled over them like a storm cloud.