Astrid sat in the darkest corner of the bar, a place where shadows clung like velvet, thick and unmoving. She leaned back, tracing the rim of her glass with a delicate fingertip, watching the liquid inside swirl in smoky blues and greens. The bar was alive tonight, in its strange, quiet way. Whispers of power, deals made with flickers of candlelight, and eyes that glowed with far too much knowledge passed around the room.
For anyone else, this bar was dangerous. For Astrid, it was home.
She felt their presence before the door even opened—the weight of a familiar energy brushing against her awareness like a low hum. Mateo. She smirked, not bothering to turn her head as he and his companion entered. You always did try to sneak in unnoticed. A futile effort, but one that amused her all the same.
Her gaze flicked to Jolene—Mateo's latest project, she mused. The girl radiated an energy that was barely controlled, like a spark before it became a wildfire. Jolene was powerful, yes, but she was untamed. That could be dangerous here. Or useful, if Astrid decided to play her cards right.
She watched as they weaved through the bar, Jolene’s eyes darting around, taking in every detail—every shadow, every glance that lingered too long on her and Mateo. Smart girl. Astrid’s lips curled into a sly smile as they approached, her fingers still lazily tracing her glass.
When they finally reached the booth, Astrid didn’t wait for an invitation. She stood, smooth and unhurried, and slid in across from them, her raven hair cascading like black ink down her shoulders. The smoke from her drink curled upwards, mingling with the haze that always seemed to hover in the air here. She didn’t speak right away. No, she preferred to let the silence stretch, to watch how uncomfortable it made them.
“Mateo,” she finally purred, her voice soft but edged with something sharper. “It’s been too long.”
He didn’t respond right away. Instead, his green eyes locked onto hers with a caution that, once, would have hurt her. Now, it was expected. They had been through too much for anything else.
Jolene, though—she was the interesting one. Astrid could feel the girl bristle under the weight of her presence. She liked that. The tension. The uncertainty. Jolene’s hand twitched, hovering near the amulet she wore around her neck. A protection charm, no doubt. Astrid’s smile widened, but she kept her focus on Mateo.
“Has it?” Mateo’s voice was smooth, unreadable. But Astrid knew better. She always knew with him. “Seems like only yesterday.”
He was good at this game, but not as good as her. Not anymore. Astrid leaned forward slightly, letting her fingertips tap lightly against the table. “I could say the same. But then, time is such a fickle thing for people like us, isn’t it?” She let the words linger, watching as a flicker of something crossed Mateo’s face—just for a moment, but enough for her to notice. He recovered quickly, but not quickly enough.
Jolene’s eyes narrowed, picking up on the tension between them. “People like us?” she asked, her voice steady, though there was a sharpness to it. Jolene was trying to piece things together. Astrid admired that.
Mateo glanced at Jolene, then back at Astrid, his jaw tightening. “We’re here for information, Astrid. Not games.”
Astrid tilted her head, her smirk never faltering. “Oh, Mateo… when have you ever known me not to play games?” She rested her chin in her hand, her eyes gleaming with mischief. “But fine. Information. What are you looking for?”
There was a moment of hesitation, one that Mateo tried to mask, but Astrid saw it clearly. He didn’t trust her. Not after everything. How could he? There had been too much left unsaid between them, too many secrets, too much betrayal. But you can’t escape the past, can you, Mateo? Not when I’m sitting right in front of you.
“We’re looking into the celestial alignment,” Jolene said, her tone clipped. Straight to the point. Astrid liked that. She could work with someone like that.
“Ah, the alignment,” Astrid said, drawing out the words as if savoring them. “You two are walking into something much bigger than you realize.” Her eyes flicked back to Mateo, a playful gleam dancing in them. “I’m sure Mateo has warned you. He knows all about getting in over his head.”
Jolene frowned, clearly confused by the subtext, but Mateo’s face remained impassive. Still, Astrid could feel the weight of old memories pressing between them, memories they never spoke of but were always present. The time we ran together, she thought, her heart fluttering just slightly. The dangers they faced. The things they uncovered—and the choices they made.
“Cut the cryptic act,” Mateo said, his voice suddenly harder. “We don’t have time for this.”
Astrid’s smile faltered just for a second, enough for only Mateo to notice. He had always known how to get under her skin. “Fine,” she said, leaning back. “The alignment will open doors. Old doors. Dangerous ones. I’m sure you’ve felt it—the way magic’s shifting.” Her eyes slid to Jolene. “The way things are starting to break.”
Jolene shifted uncomfortably, but her voice didn’t waver. “And what do you know about it?”
“More than I care to share,” Astrid replied, her smile returning. “But I will say this—the alignment is only part of the equation. It’s the aftermath that should worry you.”
Mateo leaned forward, his eyes locked on hers. “You’ve been playing both sides, haven’t you? You’re involved in this somehow.”
Astrid’s expression didn’t change, but inside, she felt a flicker of something dangerous. He was too close to the truth. “You know me, Mateo. I’m always involved. The question is whether you’re ready to face what’s coming. We both know what happens when doors like these are opened.”
There was a heavy pause, and for a moment, the noise of the bar seemed to fade. Mateo’s gaze never left hers, and in that silence, the weight of their shared past hung like a knife between them.
“Be careful, Mateo,” Astrid whispered, her voice soft, almost tender. “Not everyone makes it out the second time.”
Mateo’s eyes darkened, but he didn’t respond. Instead, he rose from the table, his movements deliberate, controlled. Jolene stood with him, her gaze flicking between them, clearly unsettled by whatever unspoken history lingered beneath their words.
Without another glance, Mateo turned and walked away, Jolene close behind.
Astrid watched them go, her smile finally fading as the weight of the past pressed in around her. You can run, Mateo, she thought, her fingers tightening around her glass. But you know I’ll always find you. We’re not finished yet.
And with that, she raised her glass to her lips, the sharp taste of blue smoke swirling down her throat, as the shadows closed in once more.
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