Chapter 4 4

Tessa's POV

The man's presence lingered like an unwelcome shadow, his smile still hanging on his lips as he studied me. His blue eyes gleamed in the dim light of the moon, colder than the night around us. His aura, powerful and enigmatic, made me instinctively step back. I had been living in a world of betrayal, but this man- he was something else entirely. I could feel the weight of his words in the air, his intentions hidden beneath the surface. And for the first time since my rebirth, I wondered if I had just encountered someone even more dangerous than Ian.

He didn't seem in a hurry. His movements were deliberate, measured, like a predator sizing up its prey. It made the hair on the back of my neck stand on end.

"You're a difficult one to find, Tessa," he said, his voice low and smooth, carrying an edge that made my pulse quicken. "But I knew you'd be here, eventually."

I couldn't help but scowl at his words. "What do you want from me?"

He shrugged, the motion casual, almost too casual for the tension swirling between us. "I'm not here to take anything from you. I'm here to offer you something."

His confidence, his complete lack of fear, sent a chill down my spine. He wasn't fazed by my suspicion, and that alone told me he wasn't someone to be underestimated.

"What kind of deal?" I asked, my voice sharp. "What could you possibly offer me that I don't already have?"

He didn't answer right away. Instead, his gaze shifted to the river, its dark waters reflecting the dim light of the moon, and then back to me. There was a flicker of something in his eyes-calculation, perhaps. It was like he was measuring the very air between us, weighing his next words carefully.

"You're not here to make friends, Tessa," he finally said, his voice steady. "You're here for revenge. And so am I. We want the same thing."

I narrowed my eyes, unwilling to let my guard down. My mind raced, turning over the possibilities. Who was this man, really? And why did he seem to know so much about me, about my intentions?

"What are you talking about?" I demanded. "How do you know what I want?"

A slight smirk tugged at the corners of his mouth, but it wasn't the kind of smirk that made you feel safe. It was cold, knowing, as though he could see right through me. And maybe he could. Maybe he knew more about my journey, about my pain, than I did.

"I know you, Tessa," he said simply. "I know what it feels like to be betrayed, to lose everything. And I know the price of vengeance. But unlike you, I've learned how to wield it. I've learned how to use the power that lies in the shadows."

His words sent a ripple of unease through me. His offer was tempting in a way I hadn't expected. How long had I been stewing in my anger, waiting for an opportunity to strike back at Ian, at Rita, at everyone who had wronged me? And here was someone who seemed to promise a way to make that vengeance a reality.

I took a deep breath, trying to keep the doubt and desire in check. "And what do you want in return?"

His smile widened, though it lacked any true warmth. "Nothing you can't give. I want your loyalty. I want you to join me, Tessa. Work with me, and we can tear down everything Ian has built. Together, we can bring him and his precious Rita to their knees."

His words were like a siren's call, tempting me with promises of destruction, of retribution. I had imagined this moment for so long-imagined the day I would take everything from Ian. I had dreamed of watching him suffer, of seeing him broken at my feet. But now, standing here, faced with the choice, I hesitated. There was something about this man, about his proposition, that felt off. The power he exuded was undeniable, but it came with a price, I was sure of it.

"I'm not some pawn in your game," I snapped, stepping back. "If you think you can just control me like that, you're wrong."

The man's expression didn't change. He didn't flinch at my words. Instead, he chuckled, the sound dark and knowing. "Oh, Tessa, I don't need to control you. You're not a pawn. You're a queen, a force in your own right. I'm offering you the power to do what you've always wanted, to make them pay."

His words wormed their way into my mind, but I pushed them back. I wasn't some naive fool anymore. I had learned the hard way that trusting the wrong people only led to more heartache. Still, the temptation lingered. Vengeance was all I had left. And maybe, just maybe, this man could give me the strength to make Ian suffer in the way he deserved.

"What's the catch?" I asked, eyeing him carefully. "What do you get out of all this?"

The man's eyes glinted with amusement, as if he found my suspicion amusing. "The catch, Tessa, is that you'll owe me. You'll owe me the same way Ian owes me. And believe me, that debt will be paid in full."

I frowned, feeling the weight of his words settle over me. Owing someone like this... it didn't sit right with me. But at the same time, I understood the cost of vengeance. I had nothing to lose anymore. I had already died once-what difference did it make if I had to owe someone in return for my revenge?

"You think I'm stupid, don't you?" I asked, crossing my arms. "You think I'll just walk into whatever trap you're setting for me."

He didn't flinch, didn't even look surprised. "No, Tessa, I think you're smarter than that. You know what you want. And you know I can give it to you."

I stared at him for a long moment, considering his offer, weighing the consequences. It wasn't the kind of decision I wanted to make, but I was running out of options. Ian had taken everything from me, and I had no choice but to fight back, to strike before I was consumed by my own fury.

"I'm listening," I said, my voice low, my gaze fixed on his.

The man's smile returned, this time more genuine, but still edged with something darker. "Good. Because I'm not just offering you power, Tessa. I'm offering you a way to rewrite your fate. Together, we can destroy Ian, expose his lies, and watch him burn."

I felt a surge of anger at the mention of Ian's name, but I swallowed it down. "And you expect me to believe that you'll just help me out of the goodness of your heart?"

His laugh was soft but full of dark amusement. "I never said it was for the goodness of my heart. I'm not here to play the hero. I'm here to get what I want. And what I want is you, Tessa. Your vengeance. Your power."

I couldn't deny it. His offer was everything I had ever wanted. But the price, the debt, gnawed at me. How far would I have to go to pay it? What would it cost me to work with him?

"You're asking me to trust you," I said slowly, my voice measured. "And I don't trust anyone anymore."

The man's gaze softened, just for a moment, and then hardened again. "I'm not asking you to trust me. I'm asking you to trust yourself. Trust the power inside you, the vengeance that burns inside you. Together, we can make them all pay."

The weight of his words settled in my chest, but I didn't make a decision just yet. I wasn't ready to give him an answer. But I knew one thing for sure: my path had changed. No longer was I simply seeking vengeance. Now, I had an ally-one whose intentions I didn't fully understand, but whose offer I couldn't ignore.

"I'll think about it," I said finally, my voice steady despite the uncertainty swirling inside me.

The man nodded, the smile returning to his lips. "Take your time, Tessa. But remember, time is a luxury you no longer have."

With that, he turned and disappeared into the shadows, leaving me standing at the river's edge, torn between the past and the future. The man's words echoed in my mind, and I couldn't shake the feeling that this deal, whatever it was, would change everything... And maybe that was exactly what I needed.