Chapter 21 Nyx
CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE
nyx
Twelve hours it took to reach Noc’s safehouse.
Traffic slowed us down, along with multiple stops for gas and food supplies that dragged the journey out even more.
Eventually, we turn into a quiet road. Noc guides me to which one belongs to him, and I pull the cruiser up to the pavement.
The homes here are more spaced out than around his last place, but they still have that touch of luxury.
The area provides absolute privacy, with towering hedge cages around each residence, shielding them from anyone passing through.
The only glimpse of what lies beyond comes when the large, blacked-out electric gate slides open, revealing a sanctuary hidden within.
The house is modern. Two floors stretch wide into an angular design, paired with a flat roof that sharpens its silhouette.
The facade is a blend of soft timber slats, some light, some dark, complemented by shadowed floor-to-ceiling glass windows.
Wide stone steps lead up to the entrance, flanked by a garage to the right.
I almost laugh - this so-called safe house looks straight out of a movie.
Noc steps out, heading over to pull a loose brick free to reveal a hidden keypad; it’s completely invisible unless you know exactly where to look.
He punches in a code with ease, like muscle memory guides his fingers.
As soon as the door rises, I ease the car forward, parking beside a blacked-out SUV.
We all jump out - doors slamming shut in quick succession as we follow Noc inside.
The space inside is just as sleek, with a corridor opening into a sprawling, open-plan space and a living room anchoring the center.
A sunken lounge draws my eye. It has deep brown sofas wrapping around it in a perfect square.
Above the fireplace, a massive TV dominates the wall.
Sunlight spills through towering bay windows, stretching across the entire back side of the house, flowing seamlessly into the kitchen.
The staircase cuts through the room, facing the entrance.
Above, a wraparound balcony overlooks the floor below, leading to the second level.
The interior of this home is a stark contrast to the last. The first was unsettling, wrapped in secrecy, and matching the mask he’s worn the past four years.
This one feels like the face behind it is being unveiled.
His shadows still lurk in the corners, but it feels like this one breathes the air of freedom.
“Bathrooms at the far end,” Noc says, pulling me from my assessment.
“Two guest rooms across from it. Another upstairs with an ensuite, along with the master. My office is up there too, along with a safe room stocked with weapons.” Blitz doesn’t wait to hear anything else, she bolts for the stairs.
“Ensuite room is mine!” Her thudding footsteps echo through the house.
Adam lets out a low whistle as he strolls through, taking in our new ‘base.’ “Nice pad. Must’ve set you back. ”
By the window, Phantom taps a finger against the glass, assessing the security.
“Level five?” He glances at Noc for confirmation on the grade, but Blitz shouts from the stairs before he can answer.
“Seven!” Clearly, she’s already picked it up from her room.
Phantom puckers his lips, nodding, seeming impressed.
I head to the fridge and open it, thanking the Gods when I find it fully stocked.
Without hesitation, I grab an ice-cold bottle of water.
Adam wanders over, raising a brow at my lack of manners.
“What?” I shrug, twisting off the cap. “I think we’re past pleasantries, don’t you?
” If he knew the things Noc and I had done before we got here, he’d realize asking for water is way past its sell by date.
Noc heads over to the door closest to me, opening it to reveal which can only be described as a control room.
Small screens expand over the wall, and equipment is spread over a desk with a large leather chain placed front and center.
“Hawk says you’re the cyber guy, You can use this room whilst you’re here.
” Adams eyes light up like a kid on Christmas morning, one that’s been handed the newest gaming console on the market.
He wanders right in, dropping into the seat, and placing his laptop on the desk.
“I've missed this.” He whispers, inhaling a deep breath, as if the smell of the untouched electronics alters the chemistry in his brain. I can’t help but chuckle, watching him completely in his element as Noc walks him through the CCTV system.
Adam nods along, focused, soaking in every detail with interest.
“This connects to a server that Hawk and I share to allow us to communicate in secrecy. If Hawk’s in trouble, he can raise the alarm through it and it’ll alert the phones connected to it.
There’s also an alarm in the hallway in the event it can't reach the devices.” Adam looks up to him in total bewilderment from the chair.
“That’s genius.” Noc pushes back from the desk with a smirk on his face, and I watch the two of them from the door frame.
Phantom appears close to my side, “I’m gonna head up for some shut eye.
I don’t think I can watch Adam any longer.
He's gonna jizz in his pants soon with that much technology at his fingertips.” I bark out a laugh, as his footsteps fade in the opposite direction.
Noc glances over at me, his features softening as we lock eyes.
My heart pounds in wild and restless beats, as if the fiery life inside me, which I thought long diminished - is finally flickering back to life as I watch his prowl.
He's dressed like the rest of us, and looks every bit the killer. The sight drags me back to old memories - to the days when he stalked the military base in dark gear, his presence every inch a weaponized force. He looks the part now, just as he did then, but this time, there’s an edge to it.
Something heavier, and darker. I push off the frame and fall into step behind him, the silence stretching between us.
I don’t know where to start; there's so much unsaid. One night won’t be enough to fix it all, but we need to start somewhere.
Noc picks up on my apprehension, stopping just before the stairs.
His hand rises, fingers brushing against a loose strand of hair that’s escaped its tie.
“You suit the darker hair,” he murmurs, his voice laced with something unreadable.
“Matches that little demon inside you.” A wicked smile tugs at his lips and, for a brief second, it steals the breath from my chest. Then he takes my hand, leading me towards the stairs.
“Go ahead upstairs to my bedroom, I need to quickly get stitched up and then I’ll come find you,” he says, glancing back at me.
“I can see the internal gears working overtime. Best to get it over with before you give yourself an aneurysm.”
He disappears around the corner, and I pause when I reach the second floor, taking a few moments to admire the view over the balcony.
The large bay windows stretch across the back wall, offering a full view of the garden below.
The tree line spreads along the perimeter, though there’s a tiny glimpse of another home further through the thick foliage, its roof peeking through the leaves threatening to swallow it.
The upstairs has the same minimal vibe as the ground floor, all wide-open airiness.
My feet guide me on their own towards the right, down a smaller corridor with a door on one side and a larger black one at the end.
I hesitate when I reach the grander looking entrance, taking a couple of minutes to slow my breathing down, because when Noc gets back, every word unsaid between us is about to spill after years of containment.
Closing my eyes, I reach out my hand against the darkened wood, and push open the door to reveal what's undoubtedly, his bedroom.
Dark wood and plush carpets dominate the space.
There are barely any solid walls here, the room mostly encased in shadowy glass, the ink wooden blinds drawn halfway to ensure privacy.
Ahead, the bed sits on a raised platform, centered against a half-paneled wooden wall.
It’s huge, and looks almost untouched. I drift forward, curiosity pulling me deeper into the room.
Sleek, glossy black wardrobes line my left, but what catches my attention is the hidden space behind the bed.
Stepping up, I find myself in the bathroom.
The windows have a small glass door that leads to a wraparound balcony on the exterior.
A wide countered sink sits at my side, an oversized mirror hanging above.
Against the far wall, a rainfall shower looms at the back - and god does it look inviting.
I turn back to the bedroom to find Noc sitting on the bed, waiting for me.
“This place is beautiful. It's so, you.” I say and the shyest smile he’s even given makes the joints in my knees weaken.
“I don’t get to come here often. I keep it hidden from my world.
If I were to make it out of this shit in the end, this is where I would want to spend the rest of my days.
” I pick up on the tinge of sadness in his words, as I sit next to him, crossing my legs as I grab a pillow and place it on my lap, resting my arms on it.
“You still do that huh?” and I notice that he's referring to my comfort habit. His eyes are lost in nostalgia when I search them. But beneath the surface, creeping in the edges of his gaze, turmoil is haunting the depths. Noc’s eyes have always been able to tell me more than his words ever could.
The breath I take expands against the walls of my lungs before I speak.