Chapter 5: The Masked Stranger

(From Book 1: The Devil’s Bargain – Dark Temptations Series)

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The night clung to Seraphina like a second skin, the air thick with a dangerous energy that crackled between her and Lucian. The room around them remained draped in candlelight and shadows, their words lingering like unspoken promises.

She should have walked away.

Instead, she stayed.

Lucian had handed her a choice, wrapped in whispers and darkness, and against all reason, she had taken it. But she wasn’t naive enough to believe he was the only danger lurking in his world.

Something told her that Lucian was just the beginning.

And she was right.

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The following evening, Seraphina found herself standing outside another unmarked building, the black card burning a hole in her palm. She had barely gotten any sleep, her mind consumed by the events of the previous night.

Lucian had given her space to decide if she wanted to return, but the moment she stepped out of his presence, she realized that the decision had already been made.

Curiosity was a dangerous thing.

A soft click sounded as the doors before her unlocked. Someone was expecting her.

With a deep breath, Seraphina stepped inside.

The atmosphere here was different from the last place. It was quieter, heavier—like the walls themselves carried secrets. She followed the dimly lit corridor, her heels tapping against the marble floors, the sound swallowed by the silence.

At the end of the hall, an archway led into a grand yet intimate space. The ceiling was high, draped with velvet curtains that cascaded down the walls, casting deep shadows. A handful of people were scattered throughout, their faces obscured by elaborate masks.

The game had already begun.

Seraphina exhaled, scanning the room. She wasn’t sure what she was looking for—until she saw him.

A man stood at the far end of the room, draped in a black suit that fit him like a second skin. His mask was different from the others. It wasn’t gold or adorned with jewels. It was pure black, devoid of embellishments, covering the upper half of his face completely.

He was watching her.

Something about him unsettled her. It wasn’t just the way he stood, perfectly composed, or the way his gaze followed her even when others tried to catch his attention. It was the way she felt his presence, like a phantom touch against her skin.

Seraphina swallowed, forcing herself to move deeper into the room. A waiter passed by, offering her a glass of champagne. She took it, if only to have something to hold onto.

The masked stranger didn’t move.

He was waiting.

For her.

She wasn’t sure why she knew that, but she did.

Seraphina took a steady breath and stepped toward him.

Each step felt deliberate, as if she was crossing an invisible line. As she approached, the stranger finally inclined his head, his lips curving into something that resembled a smirk.

“You’re braver than I expected,” he murmured.

His voice was smooth, deep—dangerous.

Seraphina tilted her head. “And who exactly were you expecting?”

The man chuckled, the sound low and knowing. “Someone who would hesitate.”

“I don’t hesitate.”

“Good.” He reached for a glass from a nearby tray, his movements slow, calculated. “That will serve you well here.”

Seraphina studied him, taking in the strong lines of his jaw beneath the mask. “You know who I am.”

“I do.”

“But I don’t know who you are.”

He took a slow sip of his drink, watching her over the rim of his glass. “Does that bother you?”

Seraphina exhaled, her grip tightening around her champagne flute. “Should it?”

“That depends.”

“On what?”

The masked stranger leaned in just slightly, his presence wrapping around her like a shadow. “On whether or not you trust yourself.”

Seraphina’s pulse quickened. She wasn’t sure what game he was playing, but she could sense the weight behind his words.

“I trust myself,” she said carefully.

“Then you have nothing to fear.”

She wasn’t sure that was true.

Seraphina’s gaze flicked to the rest of the room. Lucian was nowhere to be seen.

“Where’s Lucian?” she asked.

A flicker of something passed through the stranger’s eyes. Amusement? Annoyance?

“Interesting,” he mused.

“What is?”

“The way you ask about him.”

Seraphina frowned. “He invited me here.”

“Did he?”

Something about his tone sent a chill down her spine. “You’re saying he didn’t?”

The man tilted his head slightly. “I’m saying Lucian doesn’t bring people here unless they have a purpose.”

Seraphina swallowed. “And what’s my purpose?”

The stranger’s smirk deepened. “That’s the question, isn’t it?”

The cryptic response irritated her. “You still haven’t told me who you are.”

For a moment, he simply watched her. Then, slowly, he set down his drink and extended his hand.

“Dance with me.”

Seraphina hesitated. “I don’t even know your name.”

“You don’t need to.”

Her fingers twitched. This was a game—a test, perhaps.

She glanced around the room, feeling the weight of unseen eyes. Every movement in this place was deliberate, every interaction measured.

Finally, she reached out, placing her hand in his.

The moment their fingers touched, a current passed between them—unexpected, electric.

The masked stranger led her onto the floor, his grip firm but not forceful. The music swelled, a slow, haunting melody that wrapped around them as they moved.

Seraphina’s heart pounded as he pulled her closer, his hand resting just above her waist. He moved with effortless grace, his body guiding hers in a way that made it impossible to resist.

“You’re not afraid,” he murmured, his breath warm against her temple.

“No.”

“Not even a little?”

Seraphina met his gaze. “Should I be?”

The masked man smiled, but it wasn’t reassuring. It was the kind of smile that belonged to someone who knew things she didn’t.

“Yes,” he said simply.

Her stomach tightened.

They danced in silence for another moment before he spoke again.

“You don’t belong in Lucian’s world,” he murmured. “Not yet.”

Seraphina frowned. “And what do you know about Lucian’s world?”

“Everything.”

She inhaled sharply. “Are you warning me?”

He exhaled, his fingers flexing slightly against her back. “I’m telling you that if you step too far into the dark, you might not find your way out.”

Seraphina swallowed, the weight of his words sinking into her bones.

The music slowed. The dance ended.

And the masked stranger released her.

Seraphina took a step back, her breathing unsteady. “Who are you?”

The man reached up, his fingers grazing the edge of his mask.

For a moment, she thought he might remove it.

But then he smiled—a slow, knowing smile that sent a shiver down her spine.

“You’ll find out soon enough.”

And just like that, he disappeared into the crowd, leaving Seraphina standing alone in the dark, her pulse hammering in her ears.

One thing was certain.

The game had changed.

And she wasn’t sure who was playing who anymore.