******HARPER
The hospital smelled like antiseptic and something faintly metallic, like the memory of blood. The bright lights overhead buzzed faintly, and the hum of air-conditioning was constant. Luna walked beside me, her expression calm, oblivious to the fact that I'd been gone — not just gone, but somewhere entirely different. Just like Kael had said, only a few minutes had passed here.
Chris and Hay were quiet, almost too quiet. I knew they wanted to ask where I'd been, what I'd seen, but they held back. Maybe they were worried Luna would notice. Maybe they already knew I wasn't ready to talk about it.
*Harper, are you okay?*. Chris voice rang in my mind.
I looked at him and gave a nod.
I sat down on one of the hard plastic chairs in the hall and folded my arms, staring at the cream-colored tiles beneath my feet. My heart hadn't stopped racing since I came back, but I forced myself to breathe evenly.
I was waiting for the doctor to tell me something about Mom. Waiting was the worst part — the helpless kind of waiting where your mind invents a hundred terrible possibilities. I wanted to barge into the operating room, to see her with my own eyes, but all I could do was sit still and pretend patience.
Finally, the door to the operating room opened. A middle-aged doctor with tired eyes stepped out, peeling off his gloves. "The surgery was successful," he said, his voice calm and professional. "You'll be able to see her in a little while."
Relief hit me like a sudden wave, so strong it made my knees weak. I nodded, murmured a "thank you," and pressed my lips together to keep anything else from spilling out.
Elias appeared not long after — and he wasn't alone. Elora trailed behind him, her dark hair falling over her face, her eyes avoiding mine.
I frowned. "Why is she here?" I asked, my voice low.
Elias gave me that frustrating, evasive look. "We'll talk about it later," he said.
I wanted to push for answers right there, but Mom was all that mattered at the moment. We went together to see her once the nurses allowed it. She was asleep, her breathing slow and even. The pallor of her face scared me, but I reminded myself the doctor had said she'd be fine.
I checked — quietly, subtly — for the protection Kael had placed. It was still there, a faint shimmer in the air around her, like a barrier only I could sense. Whatever else Kael was, at least I could trust him to keep his word.
I decided not to stay long. Mom needed rest, and there was too much I needed to untangle outside of this hospital. I left with Elias and Elora, Luna staying behind to keep watch.
Once we reached home, I turned to Elias before he could disappear into another room. "Okay," I said sharply, "start talking. What exactly do you plan on doing with her?" I jerked my chin toward Elora, who stood awkwardly in the hallway.
Elias sighed, like he'd been expecting this. "She's safer with us for now."
"That's not what I asked." I took a step closer, lowering my voice. "Even though I hated the mayor, he still entrusted his daughter to me. That means I have to make sure she's safe. And right now, you're not giving me much reason to think she will be."
Elora lifted her chin, meeting my eyes for the first time. "I'm not like my father," she said quietly but firmly. "And I can help you. I know things about City Hall… about what he kept hidden. If you want to get inside without drawing attention, I can get you there."
I studied her face for a moment. She didn't look like she was lying. But then again, in this world, even the truth had sharp edges.
********
Aliya's living room was dimly lit, the air thick with the scent of burning sandalwood. Outside, the wind whispered against the windows, rattling the glass as if it wanted to join their conversation.
Vaelthor sat in the armchair opposite her, lounging as though he owned the room. His gaze—sharp and unreadable—remained fixed on her, fingers tapping idly against the armrest. "You didn't call me here just to drink tea, Aliya."
Aliya leaned forward, elbows resting on her knees, her eyes glittering with a dangerous calm. "No. I called you because I know something… something you might find useful."
His brow arched, but he didn't interrupt.
"There's a box," she said, her voice low, as if even the shadows might eavesdrop. "A box that contains every dirty secret the mayor ever had—every bribe, every deal, every betrayal. Whoever has it… controls his entire legacy."
Vaelthor's interest sharpened. "And you know where this box is?"
"Not exactly." Aliya's lips curled into a faint, calculated smile. "But I know someone who does. The mayor's daughter. She's the only one alive who could tell me its exact location."
For a moment, silence stretched between them, broken only by the slow, deliberate ticking of the clock on the wall. Vaelthor's eyes narrowed slightly. "So… you want to kill her?"
Aliya didn't hesitate. "Yes. Eventually. But not yet." She sat back, crossing one leg over the other with deliberate grace. "I need the box first. Once I know where it is… she's nothing but a loose end I'll gladly cut."
Vaelthor studied her for a long moment, his gaze cold, almost amused. "You've always had a certain… elegance to your ruthlessness."
Aliya ignored the remark. "She'll be at the funeral. Vulnerable. Distracted. That's when I'll corner her, get what I need."
His fingers drummed once more against the armrest before he leaned forward, a faint smirk playing at his lips. "Careful, Aliya. The daughter may be more dangerous than her father ever was."
Aliya's eyes gleamed. "Then it will be fun."
The wind howled outside, rattling the windowpane again, as if nature itself understood that something dark had just been set in motion.