Clara
Stephanie tips her glass back with a dramatic sigh, draining what's left of her third cocktail in one long gulp.
After mingling just enough to not seem suspicious, we've drifted back to our seats. That was minutes ago.
"Alister, I swear I'll smash your precious ship in a bottle if you keep making me this bored." Stephanie grumbles, slumping back in her chair, eyes rolling toward the ornate ceiling as though it might offer salvation.
I swirl the last of my drink, but that familiar, unwelcome twinge claws its way back into my chest.
I figured out they were accomplices when I found out that Lily was the specialist she was talking about. Plus, she didn't seem that bothered by his massacre. She's been her partner through every crime.
She suddenly reaches over and deftly plucks the earpiece from my ear—and then her own. With a devilish grin, she conceals both devices in her hands like a magician about to perform a trick. "I can tell something about what I said is bothering you. Out with it. And make it entertaining." She demands, making me feel slightly embarrassed.
"It's nothing. I've just...never seen you even interact with him on campus. I get the feeling you're both close?" I ask curiously, hoping that's the only thing I sound like.
Her smile fades just slightly as if I've disappointed her, replaced by a casual shrug and an eye roll. "As close as I wished my brother had been. Before he left me."
Not sure that's what I was trying to find out, but the answer seems somewhat satisfactory.
"Didn't he ask you to come back to Korea with him?"
Her older brother, who manages the company and stays with his own family. Steph lives alone, away from them. From what I've heard, they are both very distant ever since their parents and middle sibling passed away.
"After I begged him not to leave." She sighs, brushing invisible dust from her sleeve. "But it's fine. Things worked out. I had Zach. And then Alister. I didn't really need anything else."
My brow lifts. She catches it instantly and flashes me a knowing smile. "Yes, even him. He's exactly like my second oldest brother. I used to tease him mercilessly."
I see. I wish I hadn't asked. Despite the clarity...I feel like I've accidentally reopened some old wounds.
I take the earpiece from Stephanie's hand, dropping the topic, and tuck it back into my ear. "Uh, where are you guys?"
Alister's voice snaps through so sharply it nearly makes me flinch. "Is it that hard for you two to be serious!?"
"Sorry," I mumble, already wincing. "What's going on?"
"We're in the security room," Zach answers, a grunt in his voice like he's hauling something.
"What's up?" Stephanie asks, sliding her own earpiece in as she scans the room around us, keeping one hand on her fourth drink.
"Zach knocked the guards out with spiked drinks, and Alister is here bullying me." Simon whines.
"Stop being dramatic. Just hurry up and disable the security system." Alister voices again. I hear the faint sound of wings flapping in the background. Lev.
"Calm down, I'm working on it," Simon fires back.
"Where's the collection room? Did you find it?" I ask eagerly, looking around the room to make sure the staff stationed here are still present along with Stanley and Ken.
"It's on the fourth floor," Simon says, more focused now. "West wing. Second hallway to the right."
"Room?" Alister repeats, something in his tone shifting.
"Wait…" Simon trails off. Then silence.
I look at Stephanie. Her brow is pinched, eyes flicking toward mine. We both sense it—that sudden drop in energy, the shift from progress to uncertainty.
"I can't… find it," Simon says quietly.
"What are you talking about?"
"The entrance. I can see the room on the cameras—just near the library. But there's no visible door. It's just… wall."
This is what I was afraid of. The room has a secret entrance. Ugh, curse you, Stanley!
"Time for plan B." Alister sighs in disappointment.
Plan B: If we're unable to locate the room. That's where Stephanie and I come in.
We glance at Ken, laughing with two guests, his fake charm turned up to a hundred. We grunt in unison as we exchange a look.
"Come on," she pleads softly. "I don't want to."
I smirk. "You have to. You've got history with him. I already gave you some pointers."
She mutters something under her breath about it being work-related.
The practiced look of calm elegance on her face almost makes me laugh.
"…and that's how our trip to Morocco went," Ken says with a casual shrug. "We would've stayed longer, but Dad wasn't a fan of the weather."
Steph walks over with a smile. "Ah, I remember that. You brought me ruby earrings from there, didn't you?"
He turns, surprised—and grinning. "You remember, huh? Guess they mattered to you."
Barf.
Stephanie shrugs coolly. "They were pretty. But nothing I hadn't seen before."
Ken blinks, slightly thrown. "Really? They didn't seem extraordinary to you?"
She studies her nails, looking wholly unimpressed. "That was my second pair."
Then her gaze slides to the other two—Sarah, a wide-eyed girl in yellow I recognize as the daughter of some famous artist, and Pete, the laid-back son of an executive.
"Now, I'm not saying the gifts were repetitive," Stephanie says lightly. "They had… their charm, I'm sure."
Pete chuckles. "He does like to switch things up now and then."
"He showed me this incredible katana," Sarah adds, her voice a bit dreamy. "Said it was ancient. From Japan."
Ken glances at Stephanie, clearly fishing for a reaction.
"Oh, the red one?" she says airily. "Yeah. I've seen it. Quite nice."
Ken puffs up with pride, gesturing to a nearby painting—an enormous, vivid piece of horsemen in battle. "Got that one at auction."
Stephanie hums and offers a barely-there grin. "Looks expensive, I guess."
"You're hard to please," Ken teases, eyes narrowing on her.
Steph raises an eyebrow, tone flat. "Do I look like I want to be pleased?"
Before he can respond, Pete chimes in—"What about your dad's antiques?"—only to fall silent the instant Ken shoots him a sharp look.
Bingo.
Stephanie tilts her head, playing innocent. "His dad's antiques? You mean those little things he collects on his trips?" She steps in closer, curious.
Pete shifts uncomfortably. "Uhh… yeah."
"Ever seen them?" she asks, arms crossed, her gaze flicking between the two. Both shake their heads.
Ken cuts in, suddenly serious. "It's off-limits."
Stephanie shrugs, backing off. "Who said we want to see it? We don't want you getting in trouble."
Something about that sets him off. His brow furrows, and his face hardens like she just insulted his honor.
"Why would I get in trouble?" he asks coldly.
"Well," Sarah says quietly, "It's your dad's, right? He might not like it."
Ken's jaw tightens. His fists clench at his sides.
Steph lays a gentle hand on his arm. "Ken," she says, softly. "Calm down. No one's trying to offend you. Let's just sit."
She turns to Pete, excitedly. "Where'd you get that pin? I swear I bought the same one online last week," she laughs, stepping away from Ken.
The move works like magic. Ken's jealousy lights up his face like a bonfire.
"Let's go," he says suddenly.
Steph blinks. "Go where?"
"To the room. I'll show you. But you have to promise—no one can know where it is." He turns and storms off toward the doors.
Sarah and Pete follow him, hesitant but subtly thrilled. Steph reaches out and grabs Ken's hand. He stops, startled, eyes flicking down to where she's holding him.
"Stop it," she says softly, concern woven into her words. "It's not worth it. Your dad will be furious. Just forget it."
Ken stares at her, then he smirks. "You underestimate my will to please."
He laces his fingers through hers and pulls her along. The four of them disappear through the doorway.
Stephanie glances back at me and winks.
I set down my fruit punch and rise, muttering into the earpiece, "Why'd you ever break up with someone like him? Seems like you can bend him however you like."
"Really? Are those your type?" Alister's voice whispers into my ear as I quietly follow the group.
"Oh, wouldn't you like to know?" I roll my eyes as I exit the room. I see the four of them go up the sweeping staircase in the entrance foyer, leading upstairs. Two staff are positioned on the stairs, who prevent guests from going up.
I walk towards the bathrooms to my left and sigh in relief to find all stalls still empty. I calm myself and activate my ability. Feeling a mix of thrill and nervousness when my nails start glowing silver.
"Where are they?" I ask as I leave the bathroom. Without hesitation, I take off in a sprint, dashing up the stairs and weaving past the staff members. My footsteps are silent as I make my way to the second floor.
Simon's voice chimes in. "On the fourth floor, they're walking towards the library."
As I move up the stairs, I start to feel a creeping sense of exhaustion. Like I've just finished running a marathon. My lungs burn, and my heart pounds in my chest.
I haven't even ran that much.
It's the drawback of using my power—a physical toll. Like Alister, how he would cough up blood after using his ability.
"Why are you breathing like that?" Alister asks in a serious tone. Did I tell him about my side effect? I can't recall.
"It's nothing." I say as I press on. I reach the second hallway and spot a single door at the far end, left slightly ajar. I approach it cautiously, trying to calm down as my gasps for air grow more labored. I push the door open slowly, peeking inside before stepping across the threshold.
I'm immediately enveloped in the musty scent of old books and the faint tang of dust. The walls lined with towering shelves, packed with books of every color and size, stretch all the way to the ceiling.
My eyes land on the group, and I watch with interest as Ken approaches a seemingly innocuous wall ornament—a lamp. He moves it, revealing a small, discreet scanner embedded in the wall. Ken pulls out a card and presses against it.
"Is that what you took from that room?" Steph asks.
"Yup." Ken says as the lock flashes green briefly, and then a soft click echoes through the air. He turns his attention to the shelf beside it. At first, it's almost imperceptible, but then the section of the wall starts to come forward, revealing a hidden door. Ken pulls the door open, and it swings wide, revealing a dark room.
"Welcome to the room of treasures." He declares theatrically as he enters it. Turning on the golden light inside.
The group hesitates for a moment, looking at each other uncertainly, before Ken gestures for them to follow him.
I stare as, one by one, they step through the doorway, disappearing into the room.
"Wait." Alister says as if he can hear the thoughts in my head. "Simon, can you hack that?"
I watch the door wide open. I take a step towards it and then another.
I can do this.
"It's not connected to any of the systems in the house. It's a standalone one. I could prepare a spoofing device, but it won't work if it's a more secure one. Clara, do you see another—"
"What are you doing!?" Alister yells through my earpiece, almost making my ear bleed. Even Stephanie seems to wince.
But I'm already inside.
The room is filled with an impressive array of antiques and ancient items, each one meticulously displayed within glass cases that line the white walls and dot the wooden floor.
Containing ancient vases, ornate jewelry, and yellowed scrolls, while smaller displays showcase delicate porcelain figurines, polished silverware, and other treasures.
But I don't see the goblet. I search every display with growing urgency, stepping lightly between the cases. It's not on any pedestal, not in any case.
Then I see it, a wooden cabinet at the far end of the room, carved with vines and roses. A small keyhole stares back at me like a watchful eye.
That has to be it.
I suddenly feel like the room is suffocating, and I try not to breathe so loudly as I gasp for air.
"Clara, you don't sound so good." Zach asks in concern.
I don't say anything but walk closer to the cabinet.
Meanwhile, Ken stands proudly beside a case, beaming with excitement as he gestures to the glittering jewels within.
"These are real jewels from the Qing dynasty," he boasts proudly. "Beautiful, aren't they?" The group gathers around, oohing and aahing over the jewels' beauty. He quickly moves on to the next treasure, a Marajoara ceramic pot.
"It...must be torture for...you to not be here, huh, Alister?" I whisper to the earpiece, imagining how he would have been nerding over every piece. Like a kid in a candy shop.
"I don't know what you're doing." He says, as serious as ever. "But you need to hide and stop using your power. It's having an effect on you, just like it did for me." He insists.
"What about that?" Sarah says, pointing to the cabinet.
"Ah, that...my dear, is the most prized possession of our family," he says. "It's like our own personal good luck charm, if you believe in those. I'm sorry I can't show you what it is or tell you anything about it," he continues, his tone apologetic but firm. "It's strictly forbidden, and the only people who know about it are our family."
"Where'd you get it from?" Sarah presses.
Ken blinks and looks thoughtful for a second. "Honestly? I don't remember much. My grandfather and dad bought it off from some people, I think. I can't recall anything about them...except...that one of them had a pretty nice pocket watch."
"Steph, divert." I whisper.
"And what about this statue? Tell us about it." She says curiously as she takes the group to the other side of the room.
I take a deep breath as I kneel in front of the cabinet and inspect its lock. Good thing I came prepared with my lock–picking tools in my purse.
As my finger strokes it, I stare in horror as the silver light coming from the nails suddenly disappears.
"Clara!" Simon's urgent voice crackles through the earpiece, making me jump. I swiftly cover my mouth to stifle a yelp, my eyes darting around the room in panic. I quickly scramble behind a nearby display table, my heart pounding in my chest.
Sh*t.
Ken's suspicious voice cuts through the air, "What was that?" I hold my breath, hoping I haven't blown my cover.
"What's wrong?" Stephanie asks.
"I think I heard something," he says as I feel him walk in my direction. My anxiety spikes, and I squeeze my eyes shut, trying to calm myself down, but my mind is a jumbled mess of panic and fear. I focus all my energy on reactivating my ability, desperately willing the light to return.
Please work, please work. Why isn't it working!?
"I didn't hear anything," Stephanie says smoothly. "Did you?" she asks the others. They shake their heads.
"Really? Strange." Ken says thoughtfully. He's still suspicious.
"I think we should go now. Guests must have noticed you aren't there." Steph insists.
I strain to steady my shaky breath as sweat trickles down my forehead. I press myself against the display table, trying to make myself as small and inconspicuous as possible. I hold my breath as Ken's footsteps draw closer and closer...
"Mr. Ken!"
As Zach's voice cuts through the tension, I feel a wave of relief wash over me. Ken turns to face him.
"What?" he asks, irritated.
"Your father was just wondering where you were." Zach answers politely. "Should I...inform him you're here with friends?"
Ken's eyes flash with annoyance as he storms closer. "No, we're just coming down." His voice drops in warning as he gets in Zach's face. "And don't you dare tell him where I was. Got it?"
He gives him a reassuring smile. "Of course."
"Ok, everyone. Out." Ken says, looking bored now as everyone starts to leave. Steph casts me a worried glance as she exits. Ken's gaze sweeps the room, his eyes lingering on the spot where I hid.
He then turns off the lights, plunging the room into darkness. The sound of the door closing is like a prison gate slamming shut as I realize I'm trapped.