Rachel relished the exhilarating sense of liberation that filled her as she drove, reminiscent of the carefree evening at Beth's birthday drinks where she first encountered Vlad. The car's window was wide open, the warm wind weaving playfully through her hair as her elbow rested on the door.

At the wheel, the sight of her bonding mark briefly captured her attention. It throbbed subtly, a constant reminder of Abaddon's lingering presence in her life. Though he could locate her, his human form brought limitations – a thought that offered her a sliver of solace.

Approaching Reggio Calabria, the city unfolded like a canvas of history. The aged apartment buildings, with their sandy facades, stood as silent sentinels of time, while the coastline, peppered with boats and ferries, glistened like scattered gems under the late afternoon sun. Their reflections shimmered on the waves, painting a picture of serene beauty.

Upon reaching the hotel, Rachel admired its homely charm. The reception area, cozy and inviting, was a small haven of tranquillity amid the city's pulse. A few guests lingered, absorbed in their own worlds.

The receptionist, a young woman with deep brown eyes and flowing hair, radiated a natural warmth. Rachel, speaking Italian with a foreign accent, requested a room with an ocean view. In a subtle display of her power, she reached out, touching the clerk. The transfer of energy was swift, a brief yet potent connection that left the clerk momentarily dazed before regaining composure.

The clerk's offer of a complimentary room took Rachel by surprise. Her abilities, more potent than mere persuasion, had a lingering effect on those she touched. She couldn't help but feel satisfied for the influence she wielded.

Walking down the corridor, Rachel's thoughts drifted over the blue carpet, its faded colour and the musty air around her speaking to the countless stories embedded within the hotel's walls. Her room, simple yet comfortable, offered a tranquil refuge. The bed, with its crisp linens and deep blue runner, mirrored the ocean's hues visible from her balcony. Stepping out, she inhaled deeply, the ocean's salty scent filling her lungs.

The grumble of her stomach broke her thoughts, a reminder of the day's neglect. She realised it had been hours since she last ate, her focus on her mission overshadowing basic needs. Deciding to freshen up with a shower, she prepared herself for dinner.

The shower's embrace, with its comforting cascade of hot water, became a sanctuary for Rachel. She rested her hand on her belly, an instinctive gesture of protection for the new life within. The mark on her arm reacted, its warmth intensifying, a reminder of Abaddon's omnipresent watch. Ignored phone calls from the next room, likely from Abaddon, intruded upon her solace, but she allowed herself a few more moments of reprieve under the soothing water.

Dressed in a flowing floral dress that softly brushed against her ankles, Rachel stood before the mirror, brushing her long hair. She caught her reflection, noting the changes that had come with her transformation into a creature of power. She reflected on the costs of her newfound abilities. Thoughts of her mother surfaced, tinged with sadness and regret. Keeping her distance was a painful necessity, born from the fear that Abaddon could use her family as leverage against her.

After setting her hairbrush aside, Rachel grabbed her purse and made her way downstairs. The tantalising aroma of pizza lured her outside, and she found herself drawn to a quaint restaurant just half a block away. The place was modest, with a few old tables and a prominent, orange-tiled pizza oven.

Inside, a middle-aged couple moved with practiced efficiency, their silent coordination a testament to years of teamwork. A young teenager, likely their daughter, greeted Rachel warmly. "Posso portarti da bere?" she asked, her youthful voice adding to the restaurant's homely feel.

Guided to a table adorned with black and white photos of Italian farms, Rachel took in the ambiance. The restaurant, though simple, radiated a charm that spoke of family and tradition. The young woman placed a menu on the table.

"Un bicchiere di vino rosso, per favore," Rachel requested, her Italian tinged with a hint of foreign accent. The waitress nodded and vanished into the back.

As Rachel scanned the menu, she was startled by the sudden presence of someone sitting opposite her. Looking up, her surprise turned into a wry smile as she recognised Estella.

"Should I be upset you seem to be avoiding us?" Estella asked, leaning back with a casual ease, her arms folded.

Rachel sighed, her expression serious. "I'm trying to keep you safe. The creature of darkness, he's taken a human form now, and he's more powerful than all three of us combined."

Estella's chuckle cut through the tension. "I think you mean four of us."

Rachel arched an eyebrow in confusion. "Four?"

"Darius," Estella clarified with a knowing smile.

Rachel rolled her eyes slightly, fondness in her tone. "You brought him along too?" She pushed the menu towards Estella, who quickly skimmed through it.

"He may not have been the one for you, but his heart is pure," Estella remarked.

Their conversation paused as the waitress returned, placing a glass of red wine before Rachel. Turning to Estella, she asked, "Ciao, posso portare anche a te qualcosa da bere?"

Estella gestured towards Rachel's glass. "I'll have what she's having."

With a nod, the waitress moved off to attend to another table. The restaurant's ambiance grew livelier as more patrons arrived. The simple setting of the restaurant, with its quaint charm, now hummed with the warmth of communal dining.

Rachel exhaled, feeling a slight pressure on her belly. "I guess you're looking for an explanation," she conceded.

At that moment, the waitress returned, setting down another glass of wine for Estella. "Vorresti ordinare?" she asked, her demeanour friendly.

Estella, confidently leaning over the table, elbows propping her up, quickly responded, "She'll have a margherita, and I'll take the gamberi."

"Sì, coming right up," the waitress replied with a smile. Her eyes then shifted to Estella's hair, styled in a French braid. "Your hair is bellissimo," she remarked, her admiration evident.

"Grazie," Estella said with a blush, handing the menu back to the waitress. Once the waitress had left, Estella refocused on Rachel. "Yes, I would very much like to know what happened."

Rachel lifted her glass of wine, swirling it gently before taking a substantial sip. She set the glass down and paused, gathering her thoughts. Finally, she revealed, "I was detained."

Estella's expression shifted to one of scepticism, her lips forming a thin line, her brows knitting together in concern. "Detained?" she echoed.

Rachel nodded solemnly. "Time was running out, and I thought I could find answers here. I went to my apartment to grab my passport, and next thing I knew, I was arrested."

Estella's arms crossed again, her body language reflecting her doubt. She seemed to struggle with accepting Rachel's account of events.

Rachel took another deliberate sip of wine, allowing herself a moment before responding to Estella's question. "I was detained by humans, scientists. It lasted for months."

Estella's eyes widened in shock. "Humans? You were caught by humans?" Her voice rose in disbelief, struggling to be heard over the noise of the other patrons. "No other creature has ever survived their capture. How did you manage?"

Rachel observed Estella's reaction, unsure if she fully believed her. Estella's tone was edging toward the dramatic, but Rachel knew an explanation was long overdue. She subtly gestured for Estella to lower her voice before answering, "The Abaddon saved me after he assumed his human form. But that was only after months."

"What did they do to you?" Estella asked.

Rachel's grip on the wine glass tightened, her hand trembling. The memories of her time in captivity were painful, tucked away in the deepest recesses of her mind. She took another sip of wine to steady herself. "I'd rather not discuss it right now, if that's okay," she said quietly.

"We deserve answers," Estella pressed, her insistence clear.

Rachel acknowledged Estella's request with a nod, setting her glass down. "I know, and I understand. But I'm just not ready to talk about those days yet." She paused, looking earnestly at Estella. "Please, tell me about yourself. How did you find me here?" Her request was a deflection, an attempt to steer the conversation away from her own painful past and towards something less heavy.

As their pizzas arrived, Rachel and Estella's conversation turned towards the delectable meal in front of them. The pizzas were exceptional, with Rachel managing to eat the entire thing.

"Wow, someone was hungry," Estella commented playfully, watching Rachel polish off the last piece.

Leaning back and placing a hand on her belly, Rachel smiled contentedly. The waitress returned, offering them dessert. They opted for tiramisu and another round of wine, continuing their conversation with light-hearted topics until they finished their desserts.

Then Estella shifted the conversation back to the more serious matter at hand. "Rachel, let's not dance around the subject anymore. How did you end up here?"

Rachel pressed her lips together, weighing her words carefully. "The Abaddon saved me. He destroyed the facility where the humans held me, then arranged a private plane to Italy."

Estella seemed taken aback. "That's impossible. When he left Inanis, he had no physical form." She took a large sip of her wine, her distress evident. "Vlad tried to stop him. Darkness engulfed the house in broad daylight, and black shadows surged from the river." She paused, her eyes dropping to her glass. "I found Vlad unconscious by the riverbank, bloodied, with a deep gash on his arm. He lost a lot of blood."

Rachel's heart ached at Estella's words, her emotions threatening to spill over. The tremble of her lip betrayed her struggle to stay composed. She had never intended for Vlad to be harmed. "I'm sorry, Estella," she murmured, her voice barely above a whisper.

"It's Vlad you should be apologising to," Estella countered. "He fought hard, and now he sees you here with Abaddon, safe and sound. Can you imagine how that makes him feel?"

Rachel nodded, her gaze dropping. "I understand, and I wish things were different. But at that time, I had no other choice."

Estella leaned forward, her expression serious. "So, what's next, Rachel? You can't possibly go after the Phoenix, and returning to Abaddon isn't an option either."

Rachel's voice was steady, yet tinged with resignation. "I have to. It's my duty."

Estella's frustration was evident as she threw her hand up in exasperation. "Your duty is to those you love, not to some misguided obligation to a creature you clearly despise."

Overwhelmed by Estella's accusations, Rachel felt trapped in a web of duty, fear, and despair. She had convinced herself that her compliance with Abaddon's demands was a necessary evil to protect others from his wrath. "I'm doing it to protect the world from him."

Estella, however, was not swayed. She stood up abruptly, her anger palpable as she pointed accusingly at Rachel's pregnant belly. "You have a duty as a mother to protect your child. How can you even think of raising a child with that monster?"

"You don't understand," Rachel protested weakly, feeling increasingly cornered.

"Open your eyes, Rachel!" Estella implored, her voice rising with emotion. "Your compliance isn't controlling him; it's empowering him. He's already making you do his dirty work. Can't you see how deeply you're entangled in his darkness?"

The confrontation drew the attention of the other patrons, and Rachel felt their eyes on her, adding to her distress. Estella, realising the scene they were causing, sat back down.

"How does he replenish his essence, Rachel?" Estella asked, her tone now more subdued but no less intense.

Rachel shook her head, tears welling up in her eyes as she grappled with the harsh reality Estella was forcing her to confront.

"He turns humans to ash," Rachel admitted, her voice breaking. Tears streamed down her cheeks; her emotions too strong to contain.

As Rachel wiped her tears, the mark on her arm flickered with a sinister purple and black light. Estella gasped, grasping Rachel's arm and staring at the mark in horror. "Your powers have merged with his, like what happened with Vlad. You've used his powers to take life, haven't you?" Estella's disappointment was clear. "If you can't break free from this darkness, your child will be born into a world of evil."

Rachel sobbed, the weight of Estella's words crushing her. She was barely able to speak.

"Come with us, Rachel," Estella pleaded. "We can find answers together."

"I'm sorry, I can't," Rachel managed to say through her tears. She stood up, her heart heavy, and left the restaurant. She walked back to her hotel, feeling more alone and conflicted than ever, the burden of her choices weighing heavily on her soul.