The sun dipped low behind the manor, bleeding orange light across polished marble floors before surrendering completely to dusk. The warmth of the day retreated slowly, replaced by a cooler stillness that seemed to settle deep into the walls.
Mars sat alone in the living room.
The house felt different at night.
Not darker.
More alive.
Footsteps echoed from upstairs.
The family was waking.
David descended first, composed as always, his presence quiet but commanding. Pauline followed, elegant and unreadable. Astrid came next, sharp-eyed and upright. Lyra walked just behind her, softer but attentive. Mira emerged last, silent as a shadow.
David's gaze landed on Mars.
"How did you sleep?"
"i slept alright, thank you" Mars replied.
"And today? Are you adapting well?"
Mars nodded. "Yes, sir."
David studied him for a brief moment, as if measuring the truth in his voice. Then he gave a small nod.
"Good."
As they gathered near the central table, Mars noticed it.
Behind David's shoulder, where shadow met fading light, the air shifted.
A faint outline stood there.
A ghost.
He remembers them clearly from his memories and dreams, and the one that was in his room just last night, there is no mistaking it.
Its shape trembled softly, indistinct yet unmistakable.
Mars looked directly at it.
The ghost paused.
Then it leaned slightly forward.
Curious.
As though sensing something unusual.
Mars did not react outwardly.
He simply held its gaze for a second longer than necessary.
Across the room, Astrid noticed where he was looking. She glanced over David's shoulder.
There was nothing there.
Her eyes returned to Mars, sharper now.
The ghost lingered only a moment more before drifting sideways and disappearing through the wall.
It had found him interesting.
But not enough to stay.
David gestured toward the seats.
"Sit. We need to discuss something important."
They gathered around the low table.
Mars took the far edge again, unsure if he belonged closer.
David folded his hands.
"There is a possibility of war."
The word landed heavy in the room.
Mars blinked.
War?
War? Mars thought, he didn't even know such a thing was a possibility, this new world he's has been exposed to comes with a lot of things he never thought possible.
Astrid leaned forward slightly. Lyra stiffened.
David continued.
"Certain human leaders are pushing for open conflict. They want supernaturals removed from key trade routes—shipping lanes, rail corridors, port access. Some claim it's about national security. Others see it as an opportunity to seize assets."
Pauline crossed her legs calmly.
"It's not about safety," she said. "It's about profit."
David nodded once.
"If war breaks out, supply chains collapse. Our automotive division loses transport access. Shipping costs triple. Our technology projects stall. Investors panic. Markets crash."
He looked directly at Astrid and Lyra.
"This is not speculation. This is probability."
Mars felt his stomach tighten.
A war between humans and supernaturals?
He hadn't even known that was possible.
Astrid spoke evenly.
"What is our position?"
"Our position," David said calmly, "is survival."
Lyra frowned slightly. "What about preventing it?"
David's expression did not change.
"The balance of the world is not our responsibility."
"but we can't just sit here and let it happen " Lyra added "we should-"
David cuts her off "we will do nothing, the war is the King's issue, his the one who's going to worry about all of that, me, I worry about the safety of my companies and my family, that is all"
The room quieted.
"Our responsibility," he continued, "is the enterprise. If governments choose to destroy each other, we adapt. We protect our holdings. We protect our influence."
He looked at them both carefully.
"One of you will lead this company one day. You will need to think in these terms."
Astrid nodded faintly.
Lyra's jaw tightened.
David's gaze shifted.
To Mars.
"And you will listen."
Astrid's eyes flicked toward him immediately.
"Is it necessary," she asked coolly, "for him to be part of this discussion?"
Mars felt the question settle over him.
And internally—
He agreed.
She was right.
He had no title.
No experience.
No reason to sit at this table.
He kept his eyes lowered.
Lyra, almost instantly object "what does that even mean Astrid, his one of us, mother and father welcomed him into our home"
Astrid clapped back "and I still don't understand why, his only human " she shouted "there is no need for him here, I'm sorry Lyra but you are blinded by your good faith, his not a part of u-" before she could finish her sentence, her father cut her off"
"He stays."
Astrid's expression did not change, but something sharpened beneath it.
David's tone hardened just enough.
"Lyra is correct." he looks at me and added "He is family." then looked back at Astrid and the rest of the table.
"and anyone who wants to object to that, will take it up with me"
Silence.
Then David added, calmly:
"And if either of you are careless or complacent, he could very well take your place."
The words struck the room like a sudden crack of thunder.
Mars looked up.
Astrid went still, shock ran through her face and her emotions were written all over her face.
Lyra stared at David in disbelief.
Pauline did not react.
Mira did not look surprised.
As if they had known.
Mars' pulse quickened.
He didn't know how to react and he wouldn't even dare make eye contact with Astrid.
If Astrid didn't like him before, now she might choke him in his sleep.
Take their place?
Those words echoed through the room and his mind alike.
He didn't even understand the business fully.
Why would David say that?
Astrid's eyes shifted slowly toward him again.
Now there was something new in them.
Not dismissal.
Calculation, and a hint of anger, as if Mars had just taken something precious from her.
He was a rival now in her eyes.
She did not consider Lyra that because she's her sister, but for him, that doesn't apply.
David continued as though nothing unusual had been said.
"We are reinforcing transport contracts. Redirecting certain shipping routes through allied territories. Increasing security on rail systems. If conflict escalates, we move fast."
He tapped the table lightly.
"Our automotive division depends on uninterrupted steel imports. Our train network depends on border stability. Our tech projects require rare components from supernatural regions. If humans attempt to cut supernaturals out entirely, it will destabilize everything."
Mars listened, trying to follow.
Stock prices.
Liabilities.
Insurance risks.
Political corruption.
It was overwhelming.
But beneath the confusion, one thing was clear.
Power dictated survival.
The conversation lasted nearly an hour.
Strategies.
Backups.
Contingencies.
War was treated like a business variable.
Not tragedy.
Not catastrophe.
Just risk.
Eventually, David stood.
"That will be all."
Chairs shifted.
Astrid rose first.
Lyra followed more slowly.
Pauline moved without a word.
Mira lingered only long enough to glance briefly at Mars before leaving the room.
Mars remained seated for a moment.
War.
Trade routes.
Succession.
Replacement.
He still didn't understand why he was here.
Why David insisted he stay.
Why Pauline and Mira didn't look surprised when he was mentioned as a potential successor.
He didn't belong.
Astrid was right.
He stood slowly and made his way toward his room.
The manor halls were dim now, lit only by soft wall lamps casting long shadows.
He had almost reached his door when a voice stopped him.
"Wait."
He turned.
Astrid stood at the end of the corridor.
Her posture was straight, her expression unreadable.
She walked toward him, measured steps echoing softly.
"Oh no, my life ends here." he thought in his mind as he swallowed.
When she stopped in front of him, she did not hesitate.
"Just what exactly are you?"
Mars frowned slightly. "I—"
"No," she cut in. "What are you doing here?"
Her eyes searched his face.
"Father doesn't make decisions without purpose. He doesn't adopt strangers without reason. And he certainly doesn't suggest replacing his own daughters without one."
Mars felt his pulse rise.
"I didn't ask for that," he said quietly.
"That's not an answer."
She stepped closer.
"Why does he care about you?"
There was no shouting.
No anger.
Just pressure.
Sharp and direct.
Mars held her gaze.
For a moment, he almost asked the same question aloud.
Why did David care?
Why had they taken him in?
He didn't know.
Astrid's voice dropped slightly.
"If you're here to threaten this family—"
"I'm not," he said quickly.
Her eyes narrowed.
"Then prove it."
Silence stretched between them.
The air in the corridor felt heavier than it had moments before.
Mars didn't know what proof she wanted.
He didn't know what he was supposed to be.
He only knew one thing.
He was no longer invisible.
Astrid studied him one last time.
"Be careful," she said quietly.
Then she turned and walked away.
Mars stood there alone.
Her question lingered in his mind.
What are you?
He didn't have an answer.
Not yet.