Desperate Calls, Desperate Measures.

A few minutes after Lucian finished his speech, I got a call from Kira's phone, but she wasn't the caller. Someone else was. He sounded like a man in his 40's and he said if I didn't show up in a couple of hours, he was going to order his men to kill Kira and worse, He told me if I ever got anyone involved or even tell the cops, Kira's lifeless body would be sent to me.

As the weight of the caller's words settled heavily in my chest, a cold dread washed over me. Kira, my closest friend and confidante, had been abducted, and her life hung in a balance. With every fiber of my being screaming for action, I knew I had to act fast.

I glanced over at Lucian, his piercing gaze fixed on me with a mixture of concern and suspicion. Despite my best efforts to maintain a facade of composure, I could tell he saw through my hastily constructed lie.

"I have some important business to attend to," I said, my voice betraying none of the turmoil raging within me. "I'll be on my way shortly."

Lucian's brow furrowed in apprehension, his golden eyes searching mine for any sign of deception. "Aria, what's going on?" he pressed, his tone laced with concern.

I forced a reassuring smile, masking the fear that threatened to consume me. "It's nothing, just a personal matter," I replied, my words ringing hollow even to my own ears.

Before he could protest further, I turned on my heel and made my way towards the exit, the weight of the impending confrontation bearing down upon me like a leaden cloak.

As I stepped out into the cool night air, my phone buzzed in my pocket, a text message illuminating the screen with the address of the abandoned warehouse. With a sinking feeling in the pit of my stomach, I knew that this was where Kira was being held captive.

I hailed a cab and directed the driver to the warehouse district, the minutes ticking by in agonizing silence as we raced towards our destination. With every passing moment, my mind raced with a million possibilities, each more terrifying than the last.

As the cab screeched to a halt outside the dilapidated warehouse, I braced myself for what lay ahead. With a deep breath, I stepped out onto the deserted street, the sound of my footsteps echoing in the empty night.

With each step closer to the looming warehouse, my heart hammered in my chest, the weight of the situation pressing down upon me like a suffocating embrace. But amidst the fear and uncertainty, one thing remained clear—I would stop at nothing to save my friend, even if it meant walking straight into the jaws of danger.

As I approached the abandoned warehouse, a sense of foreboding washed over me, the crumbling facade a stark reminder of the danger that lurked within. With each creak of the rusted door, my heart pounded in my chest, anticipation mingling with fear as I stepped into the dimly lit interior.

The air was thick with musty stench, the scent of dampness clinging to the walls like a shroud. Every shadow seemed to whisper of unseen threats, and I moved cautiously through the darkness, my senses on high alert.

In the center of the warehouse, a single light flickered ominously, casting long shadows that danced across the floor. As I approached, my footsteps echoing in the empty space, a chill ran down my spine.

And then, I saw her.

Kira was bound to a chair, her eyes showed exhaustion as she sat there looking weak as she struggled against her restraints. Relief flooded through me at the sight of her, but it was quickly overshadowed by the gravity of the situation.

"Kira!" I whispered out, my voice echoing in the cavernous space. "I'm here, I'll get you out of here."

But before I could reach her, a voice cut through the silence like a knife.

"Not so fast, Detective Nightingale."

I spun around to face the source of the voice, my hand instinctively reaching for my gun. Standing before me was a figure cloaked in darkness, their features obscured by the dim light.

"Who are you?" I demanded, my voice steady despite the fear coursing through me.

The figure stepped forward, their movements fluid and deliberate. As they came into the light, I gasped in shock.

It was Faith.

A cold smile played across her lips as she regarded me with steely eyes. "Surprised to see me, Detective?" she taunted, her voice dripping with malice.

My mind raced, grappling with the realization that Faith was behind Kira's abduction. But amidst the fear and uncertainty, a steely resolve hardened within me.

"What do you want?" I demanded, my voice ringing with defiance.

Faith's smile widened, a predatory glint in her eyes. "I want you to back out of the whole situation. Stay out of everything going on between us witches, the werewolves and vampires," she hissed, her words laced with venom. "And I want you to leave this city."

As Faith advanced towards me, her intentions clear, I braced myself for the confrontation that lay ahead. With Kira's life hanging in the balance, I knew that I had to stand my ground, no matter the cost.