Chapter 5: The Beauty of Deception

I slowly stepped forward, my features still obscured by the hood. "Someone who knows the true value of the artifact," I replied, my voice low and gravelly. Kael narrowed his eyes, trying to discern any distinguishing features, but I seemed to blend into the shadows, making it impossible for him to read my expression.

As I spoke, I couldn't help but notice Kael's reaction. He was so predictable, so bound by his own biases. He thought me ugly, or at least, not beautiful, and therefore, evil. But little did he know, beauty and evil were not mutually exclusive. In fact, they could be quite...intertwined.

I chuckled, a dry, mirthless sound, as I revealed my face to him. The moonlight illuminated my features, and I saw Kael's jaw drop in shock. He was a sucker for good looks, and I was the embodiment of perfection.

Kael's eyes widened as he took in my features - piercing blue eyes, sharp cheekbones, and a mischievous grin. I could see the wheels turning in his mind, struggling to reconcile my beauty with the ominous presence he sensed.

I reveled in his confusion, knowing I had the upper hand. He was so caught up in his own biases, so convinced that good-looking people couldn't be evil. But I was about to shatter that illusion.

"You're...you're not what I expected," Kael stammered, trying to sound braver than he felt.

I raised an eyebrow, my gaze piercing. "And what did you expect, little hero?" I asked, my voice dripping with amusement.

Kael swallowed hard, trying to find his voice. "I...I don't know. Someone ugly, I guess. Evil people are supposed to be ugly, right?"

I laughed, a melodious sound that sent shivers down Kael's spine. "Ah, but that's where you're wrong, Kael. Beauty and evil are not mutually exclusive. In fact, they can be quite...intertwined."

As I took another step closer to Kael, I could see the shiver run down his spine. My gaze seemed to bore into his soul, and I could sense his fear and fascination. My eyes, like sapphires, sparkled with mischief and mayhem, and I knew I had him entranced.

"You're so predictable, Kael," I said, my voice dripping with amusement. "You think good and evil are black and white, but they're not. They're shades of gray, and I'm the one who holds the palette."

I smiled, my lips curling up in a devastatingly handsome smile, as Kael asked, "And what do you plan to do with this palette?"

My eyes gleamed with excitement as I replied, "Oh, I plan to paint a masterpiece. One that will change the course of history."

As I gazed at Kael, I couldn't help but admire my own reflection in his eyes. My chiseled features, my piercing blue eyes, my mischievous grin - I was a masterpiece, a work of art. And Kael's contemplation was like a mirror, reflecting my own perfection back at me. I found it amusing, this little hero, so taken aback by my beauty. I didn't want to kill him just yet; I wanted to savor this moment, this admiration.

"Anyway, whoever you are, whether good or bad, you can't take the first artifact with you," Kael said, still looking a bit dazed.

My train of thought stopped as I smiled, "It's already mine, though?"

Kael's eyes widened in confusion, "What?" He looked around, realizing the crystal was no longer on the statue. "Where is it?"

I chuckled to myself as I disappeared into the darkness, leaving Kael looking like a bewildered squirrel searching for nuts. The look on his face was priceless, and I couldn't wait to see what other reactions I could elicit from him.

And with that, I vanished into the shadows, leaving Kael to search for the crystal around the now-empty statue.

***Download NovelToon to enjoy a better reading experience!***