Liach POV ~ 3 Hours After the party.
The cold night air of the manor offers a contrast to the suffocating lavishness of Don De Luna's ballroom. The scent of the faint metallic tang of fear still clings to my senses, an unwelcome souvenir from the brutal display I've just witnessed. I walk beside papa, his usual amiable facade replaced by a grim set to his jaw. The car ride home is silent, thick with unspoken thoughts.
If only I did my mission properly, this shame, and fear crippling within me won't be there.
In the hush space of his private office, the heavy door shuts behind us, and the pretense is dropped. Papa pours himself a measure of brandy, his movements precise, almost mechanical. I remain standing, the black gown a second skin, feeling the echoes of the chaos in my bones.
If I don't handle this meeting well, something bad might happen tonight.
"He's more than we anticipated," Papa begins, his voice low, with a hint of annoyance. He swirls the liquid in his glass, his eyes fixed on the flickering flames in the fireplace. "Far more. That theatrical display… It was a calculated warning. A declaration."
I nod, my mind replaying the scene. Sinveer's eyes, burning with a cold, terrifying intensity, the brutal efficiency with which he shatters that woman against the wall, the sickening cracks as Enzo—or Rigo, I'm not entirely sure who's torturing her—break her limbs. And then, Don De Santi's desperate confession, a desperate plea for mercy as he confesses his assassination attempt. The ballroom erupts in stunned whispers, but through it all, Sinveer's voice resonates, chillingly calm, utterly in command.
He's no fool. Not anymore. If he ever truly was.
"He was acting weak," Papa states, his voice flat. "Playing the injured party. He allowed himself to be vulnerable to draw out his enemies, to lull them into a false sense of security."
And we almost fell for it.
"And it worked," Papa concedes, his voice tight. "He showed his true colors tonight. He's more dangerous, more powerful than we gave him credit for. We underestimated him profoundly."
My gaze drifts to the window, the moon a sliver of white against the dark sky. He's watching. He's always watching now. "This changes everything, Papa. Our proceeding plans... it's compromised."
Papa takes a slow sip of his drink. "Indeed. He is watchful now. He'll be looking at every family."
"I believe he knows. He knows that the assassin he killed tonight, the girl he tortured, was not the actual one," I say, turning back to him. Because his eyes, when they land on me, hold a question. A lingering, dangerous spark.
This is my chance, of proving that I'm still useful. I can't be discard. Not now, not ever, or else Elias will follow.
He arches a brow, a silent invitation for me to elaborate.
"The way he looked at me," I explain, a shiver running down my spine. "Even after his prey was captured and broken, his gaze returned to me. He was searching. Testing. He's not satisfied. He's still waiting for the real one. He's still watching."
Papa considers my words for a while, as silence fills the room. He knows my instincts are rarely wrong. "So, what do you propose, Liach? To call off the mission entirely?"
"No, sir." I reply, my resolve hardening. "To adjust it. We need to go with a new plan."
Our best move now is infiltration. Spy work. We need to be on standby for the time being. Let him calm down, and drop his guard again alongside.
"The primary mission will be to spy and infiltrate. You'll infiltrate his organization. You'll steal tangible, effective information and bring it to the Cisco Empire. Information that will destroy and render the De Luna Empire useless. Your secondary mission is assassination... that can wait. It will happen only when the time is right, when he least expects it, and when his defenses are down. We cannot afford another misstep. Not now."
My mind races, already formulating the new approach as it aligns with my thoughts. Because this time I'll not fail.
"Yes, sir," I affirm, in a steady voice. I pause, fixing my gaze on him. "Given the circumstances, and the need for a new strategy, perhaps it's best I return to school for the coming semester." He pauses, studying my reaction. "It will provide me with cover, and time to develop the new plan properly." I pause, then continue. "Papa," I say, my voice is calmer than I feel. "I will take Elias with me."
The word hangs in the air.
This is an opportunity, I can miss. I have to get Elias away from here. Away from this life, away from Papa's influence, even if it's just for a little while. This is the only way.
His brow furrows slightly. "Elias? Why? He has his tutors here, his routine."
"He needs to experience more of the world, Father," I explain, already weaving the threads of the lie. "A proper education, a life outside these walls. He needs a future. And... I will need a reason to be a seemingly ordinary student. An identity. A very strong, very clean identity for when I have to infiltrate Don De Luna's organization later." I meet his gaze, laying out the crucial pieces. "I need a created background, of me an orphan, alone in the world, with a younger brother I'm taking care of by myself after our parents' deaths. It's unassuming. It's tragic. It's believable."
I say, hoping he agrees with my notion.
A slow, satisfied smile spreads across Papa's lips. "An orphan, taking care of her brother? Excellent. And it provides a perfect cover for intensive training and preparation. After you graduate, the mission will be carried out. And remember, Liach, I will not condone any failure. If this plan falters, the consequences will be... severe. You understand?"
"Yes, sir," I say, with a solid resolve. As I step out of Papa's office, the cool air of the hallway embraces me. My thoughts drift to Sinveer. His face twists in rage. His eyes, burning with a mix of fury and suspicion. I thank my stars for that sudden instinct before the party – the stronger perfume I'd chosen, a heavy floral blend, to mask my own unique scent. And the contact lenses I'd carefully inserted, hiding the ocean blue of my true eyes. If not for those small, critical decisions, I would have been done for tonight. He would have known.
I slip into my room, quickly shedding the heavy gown and the stifling persona. I take a quick, cool shower to wash away the party's residue. Then, quietly, I make my way to Elias's room. I find him sprawled on his bed, fast asleep, Dave a bundled form beside him, also snoring softly. A soft laugh escapes my lips. Even in chaos, some things remain simple. I tuck them both in, gently kiss Elias's head, and leave them to their innocent sleep.
And I'm not losing this, because of you, Sinveer Don De Luna!