"I'll double it,"
A soft but familiar feminine voice came.
Elara.
Disguised—blonde wig, red dress, makeup heavier—but unmistakable.
She stood across the room.
Smiling at Damien.
At me.
Damien froze.
Just for a second.
Then—
He bid again.
Higher.
Elara countered.
Higher.
The room tensed.
Damien leaned in—lips to my ear.
"Stay here."
He stepped forward.
Reckless.
Dangerous.
He bid once more and his time he won.
The gavel fell.
The Germ was his.
But u sensed something was off, and I guess he did too.
Elara was already moving—slipping through the crowd toward the exit.
Damien grabbed my hand.
Pulled me after him.
"What wrong?"I asked as we ran.
"This artifact is fake," He said calmly.
" Wait .then why would they put it on display?"
"My guess is the auctioneer wanted to play a double on us by selling a fake, you can say he wanted to eat he's cake and still have it but it seems my sister had other plans for him,"
