Varek Ashenford stepped forward, his presence alone demanding attention. His voice was smooth, controlled: the voice of a man used to being obeyed.
"Ladies and gentlemen," he began, projecting authority over the uneasy crowd, "tonight's events are unfortunate, but rest assured, the Council is handling it." His gaze swept across the room, sharp and assessing. "There is no immediate danger, and we will not allow any disruptions to tarnish this celebration."
Varek continued, his tone unwavering. "Proceed with the evening as planned. Our security measures are in place, and I give you my word, whoever was behind this will be found."
The crowd shifted uneasily, some guests nodding in reluctant agreement, others still whispering among themselves.
I watched him carefully. His words were steady, reassuring. But the way his eyes kept scanning the room, calculating, searching, told me something else.
He didn't believe it.
Not for a second.
Some of the elites brushed the intrusion off as nothing more than a scare tactic from some rogue faction. Others were visibly shaken, whispering about ancient enemies long forgotten.
The orchestra resumed, the soft strains of music filling the air once more, but it felt… off. Like a thin veil attempting to hide the unease that had settled over the ballroom.
Guests returned to their seats, but their conversations were hushed. Eyes kept darting back to the glowing symbols seared into the floor.
Who would dare disrupt a Council-affiliated event? And why?
I stayed close to Lara, watching as she engaged with the guests, keeping the atmosphere light despite the tension still lingering in the air.
But my own thoughts were far from the celebration.
There was only one thing on my mind. Riven.
Slipping away from the crowd, I made my way outside. The cool night air hit my skin, offering some relief from the suffocating weight of the ballroom.
My eyes scanned the garden, searching for him.
Instead, I found Zion standing near the gazebo, gazing out over the illuminated hedges and fountains.
I approached him. "Zion."
He turned, expression unreadable.
"Where's Riven?"
Zion's lips pressed together. "He had something to take care of."
I frowned. "What 'something' was so urgent for him to go now?"
Silence.
"What aren't you telling me?" I pressed.
Zion exhaled, shaking his head. "Athena, don't worry about it. Riven can take care of himself." Then, without another word, he turned and walked back inside, leaving me standing there, more frustrated than before.
I let out an aggravated sigh and sank onto the bench inside the gazebo.
Why was everyone acting so damn cryptic?
The night's events swirled in my mind: the intrusion, the symbols, Riven disappearing, Zion's avoidance. It was all connected somehow, I could feel it.
But no one was giving me any real answers.
A movement at the entrance of the gazebo caught my eye.
I stiffened.
Magnus.
The Council's Chief Warrior. A formidable man with steel-gray eyes, scars that hinted at battles won, and an air of experience that demanded respect. He looked like he belonged on the frontlines of war, not mingling with politicians.
He stopped at the threshold, tilting his head slightly. "What a night."
I huffed. "Tell me about it."
Magnus stepped closer, his sharp gaze flickering over me, assessing.
Then, after a moment of silence, he spoke.
"Be careful who you trust, girl."
I frowned. "What is that supposed to mean?"
But Magnus simply gave me one last look, like he knew something I didn't. Then, without another word, he turned and disappeared down the garden path.
I watched him go, frustration bubbling in my chest.
I had had enough of this already.
Enough of cryptic warnings.
Enough of half-truths.
Enough of people making decisions for me while I was left in the dark.
I clenched my fists, my jaw tightening.
No more.
As I turned back toward the ballroom, I nearly ran into Myrren and Lara.
"There you are," Lara sighed in relief.
Myrren crossed her arms. "We were just looking for you."
I eyed them warily. "Why?"
"You girls are heading home," Myrren said briskly. "I'll handle things here."
I blinked. "What?"
Myrren's expression softened, just slightly. "Two trusted warriors will accompany you both. Ian and Elias." She nodded toward the black town car parked at the entrance. Two towering figures stood beside it, watching their surroundings carefully.
"I'll worry less once I know you're both safe home," Myrren added, pushing us both gently toward the car. "Off you go."
I hesitated. I didn't like being sent away. Not with my friends still inside after everything that had just happened.
But one look at Lara's face, the faint tremble in her fingers, the way she held her head high even though she was still shaken, made me bite back my protest.
Myrren wanted us safe.
And tonight, safe meant away from here.
Lara and I exchanged a look, then nodded. Without another word, we climbed into the backseat.
The car rolled silently through the dimly lit streets, the hum of the engine the only sound filling the heavy silence.
I pulled out my comm crystal and quickly typed a message to Ezzy.
Heading home. Do the same, okay? We'll talk tomorrow.
A few seconds later, the typing bubbles appeared.
You sure you're okay?
I hesitated before replying.
Yeah. Just… a lot to think about.
I hear you. Get some rest, Athens. We'll figure things out tomorrow.
I locked my comm crystal and exhaled, my gaze drifting back to the window. The city lights blurred past, streaks of gold and violet against the dark skyline. Everything outside looked the same as it always had, but inside… I felt like my entire world had shifted.
Lara sat beside me, her hand resting lightly in my lap, seeking reassurance without words.
I gave her fingers a gentle squeeze.
Ian and Elias remained silent in the front, their gazes fixed on the road, but I felt Ian's eyes flicker to me through the rearview mirror.
He probably thought I was just shaken by the attack. That I was another overwhelmed girl rattled by the unknown enemy that had intruded upon Lara's night.
But he was wrong.
My turmoil had nothing to do with the attackers.
It was everything else.
The cryptic warnings.
The secrets.
The non-answers.
The feeling of always being left in the dark.
Tears burned behind my eyes, hot with frustration. I blinked them away before Lara could see.
In the front seat, Elias caught my gaze in the mirror, his expression unreadable, like he was silently telling me it's okay to be shaken.
I quickly looked away.
I wasn't shaken.
I was done.
Done with secrets.
Done with being the girl with the unknown past.
Done with waiting for someone to tell me who I was.
I needed answers.
And whether they liked it or not, I was going to find them.
We got home in silence, the weight of the night pressing down on us. Elias and Ian did a quick sweep of the perimeter before stopping at the front door.
Ian's gaze was serious as he looked between us. "Stay inside. Lock the doors."
Lara nodded, her face drawn.
Elias added, "We'll be patrolling the area. If anything seems off, you call us immediately."
Without waiting for a response, the two warriors turned and disappeared into the night, their figures blending into the shadows.
Once inside, Lara and I instinctively locked every door, checking them twice before retreating to our respective rooms.
But after changing into comfortable clothes, I couldn't bring myself to stay alone. Not after everything that happened.
I made my way to Lara's room, finding her sitting on the edge of her bed, absently twirling the charm bracelet I had given her this morning between her fingers. The glow of the bedside lamp softened her expression, but I could see the storm brewing beneath the surface.
She looked up when she saw me, wordlessly scooting over, making room for me beside her. I sat down, pulling my legs up, mirroring her position.
She let out a shaky breath. "I just wanted everything to be perfect, you know?" Her voice wavered, and a sad smile ghosted across her lips. "And now… every time I celebrate my birthday, I'll be reminded of them, the ones who ruined it for me."
Her fingers clenched around the bracelet, her grip so tight her knuckles turned white. "I'll be the talk of the entire city tomorrow. People will look at me with pity, whispering about how my birthday was a disaster. Like I'm some kind of bad omen."
Her voice cracked on the last words, and that's when I saw it: the raw, unfiltered pain in her eyes.
Tears began pooling, slipping down her cheeks in silent streams.
My heart twisted at the sight.
I reached for her hand, holding it firmly. "Hey now, that's not true." I squeezed her fingers, grounding her. "Do you know what I saw tonight? What everyone in that room saw?"
She sniffled, looking up at me, eyes wide and vulnerable.
"I saw a strong woman," I said, my voice unwavering. "You weren't just some girl at her birthday party. You were a warrior. You were a force, Lara. The way you shattered that cocoon, gods, you were radiant. A sight of power, of strength. Of someone who deserves her place in this world."
Her lips trembled, but I wasn't done.
"And you didn't panic, despite being shaken. You reassured your guests, not the other way around. You made sure they were fine, when this was supposed to be your night." I tucked a loose strand of her golden hair behind her ear. "That's not nothing, babe. That's everything."
Lara choked out a laugh between her tears, shaking her head. Then, without warning, she threw herself into my arms, holding me so tight I could barely breathe.
"What would I do without you?" she whispered, voice thick with emotion.
I smoothed my hand down her hair, pressing my cheek against the top of her head.
"I love you, Athens."
I closed my eyes, holding her just as fiercely. "I love you too, sister."
We stayed like that for a long time, wrapped up in each other, seeking comfort from the only person who could understand.
Eventually, exhaustion crept in, our heavy breaths syncing, our bodies sinking into the mattress.
And that's how we fell asleep, entangled in warmth, in reassurance, in the only thing that mattered.
Each other.
I woke up early the next morning, craving a cup of Lunara Bloom Tea, a mystical blend known to soothe the mind and strengthen clarity. It was my go-to comfort drink, and heaven knows I needed it in the state I was in.
The events of last night still clung to me, lingering in my thoughts like an unwelcome shadow.
As I descended the stairs, the air in the house felt eerily still. I caught sight of Myrren sitting in the living room, lost in thought as she gazed out the window. The sunlight filtering through the glass cast a golden hue over her face, but her expression remained unreadable.
I hesitated at the bottom of the staircase.
After everything that happened, I wasn't in the mood for another round of cryptic answers and half-truths.
So I moved quietly, making my way into the kitchen without a word.
I prepared my tea in silence, the familiar scent wrapping around me like a fragile comfort. As I settled onto the kitchen island, I let my gaze wander outside.
Elarion's morning sun bathed the trees in an ethereal glow, their branches swaying gently in the breeze. For a brief moment, the world felt peaceful. My mind felt still.
Until Myrren broke it.
"Athena."
I closed my eyes for a beat before looking at her. "What is it, Myrren?"
She turned fully toward me, her expression firm. "We need to talk."
I exhaled, already feeling the weight of another evasive conversation.
"Listen, Myrren, if this is just more cryptic nonsense, then I don't want to hear it." My frustration finally spilled over. "Don't you think about how this affects me? I'm tired of always being kept in the dark. This is my life. These are pieces of me you're keeping from me."
Myrren's jaw tightened. "Do you think I want this, Athena?" Her voice was sharp, cutting through my anger like a blade. "Stop making this all about you. Don't you think this affects me as well?"
I flinched slightly, not expecting her words to carry such weight.
She inhaled deeply, steadying herself before continuing. "I made a promise. And I am doing everything in my power to uphold it. To keep you and Lara safe."
There it was again. That damn word. Safe.
Myrren leaned forward slightly, her piercing gaze locking onto mine. "What happened last night was both a blessing and a curse. For now, the Council's attention is focused on the intruders. That buys us some time. But once they decide to look deeper, once they start asking the right questions, you are doomed."
My stomach twisted.
"Listen to me, Athena." Her voice softened, but it didn't lose its urgency. "You need to trust me. I can't tell you everything right now. But I will. In time."
I swallowed the lump forming in my throat. "That's not good enough, Myrren."
She exhaled sharply, rubbing her temple as if this conversation was exhausting her too. "Just remember the note that came with you." Her voice was barely above a whisper now. You must never be found.
I stilled.
The words I had tried to forget, the only clue to my past, echoed in my mind.
"There's a reason for it," she continued. "And I promise, you will get the answers you're looking for. But for now… just trust me. I'll do everything I can to keep Varek off your trail."
With that, Myrren stood, her expression unreadable once again. Without another word, she turned and ascended the stairs toward her room, leaving me alone in the kitchen.
I sat there, staring blankly at my half-finished tea, her words sinking into my bones.
Somewhere in all of that, buried between the warnings and secrets, she had given me something I hadn't had before.
Hope.
A promise of answers.
I wasn't sure if I believed her.
But it was something.
I exhaled, finishing my tea before pushing back from the counter. There was no point dwelling on it now.
I had a school day to get through. And with the way my life was spiraling, I had a feeling this wouldn't be just another ordinary day.