11 Before the Storm

Morning light filters through the cracks in the boarded-up windows, casting faint beams across the room. I stir, half expecting to feel Sevika's warm body beside me, but the bed is empty. The space where she should be is cool, and I frown, brushing a hand over the sheets as if that might somehow bring her back.

Voices filter in from outside the door—low, urgent tones mixed with heavier footsteps. I sit up, pulling the thin blanket around myself. The air smells faintly of smoke and oil, a reminder of where I am. My mind, still hazy from sleep, sharpens quickly when I hear a familiar voice barking orders.

The door slams open with a sharp bang, and I flinch. It's Ekko, his white hair practically glowing in the dim light, his face tight with urgency. He looks like he's been up for hours, the dark circles under his eyes deeper than they were the night before.

"Get up," he snaps, his voice rough. "Both of you, out now."

I blink, stunned. "What? What's going on?"

Ekko strides into the room without hesitation, barely giving me a glance. "Enforcers. They're at our front doors, and I don't want trouble."

Enforcers. The word hits me like a slap, jarring me fully awake. I swing my legs over the edge of the bed, heart pounding. "Enforcers? Here?"

He glares at me, his expression hard. "Yeah, and I don't know what you two are doing down here to have them sniffing around, but whatever it is, you're leaving. Now."

I scramble to gather my clothes, trying to process the sudden turn of events. My hands fumble as I pull my shirt over my head, still shaken by Ekko's intensity. He stands near the door, arms crossed, his foot tapping impatiently against the floor.

"I'm serious," he says, his tone sharp. "This isn't a negotiation. You've got five minutes before I have someone drag you out."

I pull my jacket on, heart racing as I glance around the room for Sevika. "Where's Sevika?"

Ekko jerks his head toward the hall. "She's out there, gearing up to leave. Don't make her wait."

I rush past him, clutching the blanket around me until I'm out of the room and into the corridor. The hideout is in chaos, Firelights moving swiftly, their faces tense. I spot Sevika near the entrance, her bionic arm gleaming as she adjusts her jacket, her expression grim.

Before I can reach her, a hand grabs my arm. I turn to see my bodyguard, his face a mixture of relief and frustration. "Lady Medarda," he says, his voice low but firm. "Why the hell did you come down here? Do you have any idea how dangerous this is?"

I try to shake him off, but his grip tightens. "I'm fine," I say, my tone clipped. "I came here for diplomatic reasons. I wanted to understand Zaun better."

"These people will kill you if they knew who you really are," he hisses, his eyes narrowing. His words carry a warning, almost like a threat, and it sends a chill down my spine. "You're too valuable to be wandering around down here like this."

I pull away from him, my jaw tight. "I'm not some helpless pawn, and I don't need your lectures right now."

He looks like he wants to argue but thinks better of it, his lips pressing into a thin line. "Just stay close," he mutters, falling into step behind me as I finally reach Sevika.

She's leaning against the wall, her bionic arm flexing idly as she waits. When she sees me, her expression softens for a moment, but there's a tension in her posture that she can't quite hide.

"Trouble follows you, huh?" she says, her voice low but laced with sarcasm.

I give her a weak smile. "Apparently."

Her eyes flick to my bodyguard, and she raises an eyebrow. "Friend of yours?"

"Something like that," I mutter. "Are you okay?"

Sevika shrugs, but there's a tightness in her shoulders. "I've been better. Not exactly thrilled about having to cut this trip short."

I nod, understanding. There's so much more I want to say, but the words stick in my throat. She seems upset, but she's putting on a brave face, probably for my sake. It's one of the things I've come to admire about her—her ability to hold it together even when things fall apart.

Ekko appears behind us, his expression still tense. "You've got to move now. The enforcers won't stay at the door forever."

Sevika pushes off the wall, her bionic arm whirring softly as she adjusts the strap on her bag. "Got it," she says, her tone clipped. She glances at me, her eyes softening for a brief moment. "Ready?"

I nod, following her as we make our way through the hideout. The Firelights part to let us pass, their faces wary but determined. Ekko walks ahead, leading us to a side exit hidden behind a stack of crates.

"Stay low," he says as he opens the door. "And stay out of sight. If they catch you, I don't know you."

"Thanks, Ekko," Sevika says, her voice surprisingly genuine. He nods, then closes the door behind us, leaving us in a narrow alley that smells of oil and smoke.

The tension is palpable as we move through the winding streets of Zaun, sticking to the shadows and avoiding the main thoroughfares. My heart pounds in my chest, every sound making me jump. Sevika stays close, her presence a steadying force.

We finally reach a safer part of Zaun, far from the enforcers' reach. Sevika stops, glancing around before leaning against a wall. She looks exhausted but determined, her bionic arm flexing as she adjusts her grip on her bag.

One of the enforcers steps forward, his gaze sharp and cold. "You know this will get you in trouble, Sevika. Harboring a Piltover diplomat isn't something the council will overlook."

Sevika's jaw clenches, her bionic arm twitching at her side. "I've dealt with worse," she mutters, though her voice lacks its usual confidence.

I almost feel bad for her. She's risking everything, standing between me and the consequences of my decisions. But guilt won't help either of us right now. Instead, I straighten, smoothing my coat. "Don't worry," I say softly, catching Sevika's eye. "I'll handle the council. They owe me more than a few favors."

She studies me, a flicker of surprise in her eyes before she grins. "Good. Let's hope your influence is worth the trouble I'm in."