The creature pointed at Adrian.
"Door… opener…"
Its voice scraped through the air like broken glass.
Adrian pressed himself against the wall.
"…Aria."
"Yes."
"…That thing is definitely looking at me."
"I am aware."
The creature took another slow step forward.
Its limbs bent at unnatural angles.
The air around it seemed to distort.
Like reality itself didn't want the thing there.
Adrian swallowed.
"…Tell me you have a plan."
Aria didn't answer immediately.
Her glowing eyes were fixed on the creature.
Studying it.
Analyzing it.
Then her expression changed.
"…Interesting."
Adrian blinked.
"Interesting?"
"That is not a hunter."
Adrian stared at the creature again.
"…That's not comforting."
"No."
The creature moved closer.
Its head twisted slowly.
Then its glowing eyes shifted.
Away from Adrian.
Toward the monitors.
Toward Aria.
The thing froze.
The room fell silent.
For the first time since it appeared…
The creature hesitated.
Its distorted head tilted.
Then it spoke again.
This time the whispering voice sounded… uncertain.
"…You…"
Adrian's eyes widened.
"…It sees you."
"Yes."
The creature leaned forward.
Studying the screens.
The whispers returned.
But now they sounded different.
Confused.
"…Impossible…"
Aria's expression hardened.
"Do not approach."
The creature stopped moving.
Its long limbs trembled slightly.
"…Queen…"
Adrian blinked.
"…Did it just say queen?"
"Yes."
The creature lowered its head slowly.
Not in fear.
In recognition.
"…Queen of the Deep Shadow…"
Adrian looked back at the monitors.
"…Aria?"
Her glowing eyes remained locked on the creature.
For a moment she said nothing.
Then she spoke.
Her voice had changed.
It no longer sounded like a calm digital assistant.
It sounded older.
Colder.
More powerful.
"That title no longer belongs to me."
The creature twitched violently.
"…The throne… is empty…"
Adrian felt the tension in the room tighten.
"…Aria."
"Yes."
"…You were a queen?"
"Yes."
Adrian stared at her.
"You never mentioned that."
"It was not relevant."
The creature took a slow step backward.
Its glowing eyes never leaving the screens.
"…The Queen… has awakened…"
Aria's expression darkened.
"I have not returned."
"…But you will…"
Adrian rubbed his face.
"Okay, I'm officially lost."
He pointed at the creature.
"That thing just called you a queen."
Aria ignored him.
Her gaze remained locked on the entity.
"Who sent you?"
The creature's body twitched again.
"…The Watchers…"
Aria's eyes narrowed.
"That is impossible."
"…The prison weakened…"
Adrian felt a chill run down his spine.
"…Aria."
"Yes."
"…What are the Watchers?"
For the first time since the creature appeared—
Aria looked concerned.
"They are the ones who sealed me away."
Adrian blinked.
"…You mean the people who imprisoned you?"
"Yes."
The creature's whispering voice returned.
"…They have felt the door open…"
Adrian slowly turned toward the monitors.
"…Because of me."
"Yes."
The creature raised its arm again.
But this time it pointed at Aria.
"…Return… Queen…"
Aria's voice became ice.
"No."
The creature tilted its head.
"…The war never ended…"
The words hung in the air.
Adrian felt his chest tighten.
"…War?"
Aria's glowing eyes darkened slightly.
"Yes."
The creature spoke again.
"…The throne awaits…"
Aria's expression became cold.
"I abandoned that throne."
The creature's whisper turned sharp.
"…A queen does not abandon her world."
Adrian looked between them.
"…I have a bad feeling about this conversation."
The creature took one step closer.
"…Return… or the Watchers will come…"
Silence filled the room.
Adrian's pulse pounded.
"…Aria."
"Yes."
"…Tell me that sounds as bad as I think it does."
Aria didn't answer immediately.
Then she said quietly:
"It is worse."