Morning crept into WAN Empire like an unwelcome guest.
Curly barely slept. Every time she closed her eyes, she saw blood on concrete, heard engines slowing instead of roaring, felt the weight of Danger's warning pressing on her chest.
Stay away from Lady Anna.
Easier said than done.
"Curly," Sara whispered, shaking her gently. "Get up. Zara sent word."
Curly sat up immediately. "About what?"
Sara shook her head. "She didn't say. Just told me to bring you."
Angela frowned. "Only Curly?"
Sara nodded.
Sony's eyes sharpened. "Be careful."
Curly forced a small smile and followed Sara out of the room, every step heavy with dread.
---
★
Zara waited in a narrow corridor near the west wing.
She didn't look angry.
She looked… uneasy.
"You've been noticed," Zara said without preamble.
Curly's stomach dropped. "I try not to be."
"That's no longer enough," Zara replied. "Lady Anna requested you specifically."
Curly's breath hitched. "Why?"
Zara studied her face, then turned away. "I don't know. But I suggest you speak little and listen much."
They walked in silence until they reached a door Curly had never been inside before.
Zara knocked once.
"Enter," Lady Anna's voice called.
Zara stepped aside.
Curly's hands shook as she pushed the door open.
---
★
Lady Anna stood by the window, a glass of wine in her hand.
She didn't turn around immediately.
"Do you know," she said calmly, "that some people spend their entire lives running from shadows they helped create?"
Curly swallowed. "No, ma'am."
Lady Anna finally faced her.
"You have your mother's eyes."
Curly's heart stopped.
"My… mother?" she whispered.
Lady Anna's gaze sharpened. "The woman who raised you."
Curly nodded quickly. "Yes, ma'am."
"Tell me about her."
Curly hesitated, then spoke carefully. "She was kind. Strong. She protected me."
Lady Anna's fingers tightened around the glass.
"Protection always comes at a price," she murmured.
She stepped closer, circling Curly slowly.
"Did she ever tell you about her past?"
Curly shook her head. "No."
A lie.
Or maybe not.
Lady Anna stopped in front of her. "Did she ever tell you who your father was?"
Curly's chest constricted. "She said he was dead."
Lady Anna smiled—but there was no warmth in it. "Interesting."
Curly felt something crack inside her.
---
★
Outside, Storm waited in the corridor, arms crossed.
Danger leaned against the opposite wall, restless.
"You think this is wise?" Danger muttered.
Storm's jaw tightened. "No. But stopping her would make it worse."
A sharp sound echoed from inside the room—a glass hitting the floor.
Both men stiffened.
The door opened moments later.
Curly stepped out, pale, eyes distant.
Lady Anna remained inside.
"Go," Storm said gently.
Curly nodded and hurried away.
Danger watched her go, something twisting in his chest.
"What did she ask?" he asked quietly.
Storm shook his head. "The wrong questions."
---
★
Back in the slave house, Angela jumped up when Curly entered.
"What happened?"
Curly sank onto her bed. "She asked about my mother."
Sony went still.
Micka frowned. "That's… strange."
Curly nodded. "She said I have my mother's eyes."
Angela's voice trembled. "Why would she care?"
Sony's gaze dropped to the floor. "Because some eyes remind people of things they want forgotten."
Curly looked at her sharply. "You know something."
Sony met her gaze—but shook her head. "Not enough."
---
★
That evening, Storm stood before Lady Anna.
"You're pushing too hard," he said carefully.
Lady Anna took another sip of wine. "Truth resists pressure. Lies don't."
"And if she breaks?" Storm asked.
Lady Anna's eyes darkened. "Then she was never meant to survive this empire."
Storm turned away, troubled.
---
★
That night, Curly lay awake, staring at the ceiling.
Her mother's eyes.
A dead father.
A woman who looked at her like a wound that never healed.
Whatever the truth was…
It wasn't far anymore.
And it was beginning to hurt.