Chapter 42: Lines Drawn in Blood

No one spoke.

No one breathed.

Lena stared at the empty air where her mother’s hologram had been just seconds before. Her pulse thundered in her ears. Her hands trembled violently around the tiny capsule.

Alexander’s face was pale and tight, muscles rigid with shock. Victoria’s lips were pressed into a thin, shaking line, her eyes burning with something Lena couldn’t read—anger? Fear? Guilt?

But Elias…

Elias stood perfectly still.

Unblinking.

Expression unreadable.

Like a statue carved from stone.

The last words of Lena’s mother echoed in the silence:

“Do NOT trust anyone who hides in the shadows — even if they say they’re doing it for you.”

Alexander reached for Lena’s hand, voice soft, steady, protective:

“Lena. Come with me. Now.”

But Elias spoke before she could move.

“No.”

Alexander turned on him instantly, fury returning like wildfire. “You stay the hell away from her.”

Elias raised a single hand, calm and slow.

“Lena needs to hear the rest.”

Lena shook her head. “I don’t want more secrets. Not from either of you.”

“You’ll get answers,” Elias said. “But the truth isn’t the one you think it is.”

Alexander scoffed. “You don’t get to twist anything anymore.”

Elias’s eyes slid to him. “I don’t twist. I reveal.”

Victoria coughed from where she leaned against the wall, blood dripping down her arm. “Oh please. You reveal what benefits you.”

Elias ignored her.

Instead, he stepped closer — not toward Lena, but toward the hologram projector in her hand. His voice was softer than before… almost pained.

“She trusted me,” he said quietly. “And I failed her.”

Alexander’s eyes widened. “You… you cared about her?”

Elias didn’t answer.

But the silence was louder than words.

Lena swallowed. “If you cared about my mother… why didn’t you protect her?”

Elias’s jaw tightened. “Because I didn’t know she was in danger until the night she died.”

Victoria laughed harshly. “You always lie so beautifully.”

Elias snapped his head toward her.

“I don’t lie. Not about this.”

Victoria smirked. “You lie about everything.”

“Stop,” Lena said, her voice cracking. “Just tell me what happened.”

Elias’s grey eyes returned to her.

Not cold.

Not cruel.

Just broken.

“Your mother discovered the Circle’s weapon,” he said quietly. “Not a physical weapon—an influence weapon. A list of powerful men and women blackmailed into serving them.” He paused. “Including my father.”

Alexander flinched.

Lena whispered, “And Adrian Knight… helped them?”

Elias nodded once.

“He laundered money. Hid evidence. And used people like your mother when they knew too much.”

Alexander looked shattered.

“Father… couldn’t have—”

“He did,” Elias said. No hesitation. “He was the Circle’s shield.”

Victoria crossed her arms despite her wound. “And your father died because he finally refused to continue.”

Elias’s eyes cut to her sharply. “Be quiet.”

Lena stepped forward, the capsule clutched tightly in her palm. “My mother… trusted him? Your father?”

Elias’s voice lowered. “She didn’t trust him. She tried to use him to expose the Circle. And that got her killed.”

Alexander froze.

Lena whispered, “Who killed her, Elias?”

His jaw clenched.

Victoria answered instead.

“I did,” she said.

Lena stumbled back like she’d been struck.

Alexander paled to ash. “Victoria—”

Victoria’s voice broke — cold, but trembling.

“I didn’t mean to. I tried to protect her. But when the Circle found out what she knew… they sent orders.” She swallowed hard. “Orders I couldn’t disobey.”

Lena’s knees nearly buckled.

“You killed her…” she whispered. “You… loved her.”

Victoria’s face twisted with heartbreak. “Yes. And that’s why I had to make it quick.”

Alexander lunged.

Lena threw herself between them, screaming:

“STOP!”

Alexander froze — barely.

Victoria stared at the floor. “I held her as she died, Lena. Her last words were your name.”

Tears streamed down Lena’s face. “And you still stalked me?”

Victoria lifted her eyes — full of something broken and desperate.

“I needed to protect you. From the Circle. From Elias. From everyone.”

Her voice cracked.

“And because you are all I have left of her.”

Lena felt sick.

Alexander stood rigid, torn between rage and disbelief.

But Elias…

Elias remained still, watching the unraveling quietly — assessing, calculating.

Lena wiped her tears and turned to him, voice trembling.

“You said you didn’t kill her. But you didn’t save her either.”

He exhaled sharply — pain flashing in his eyes.

“I wanted to,” he said. “But I was too late.”

“Why?” Lena whispered. “Why were you even there?”

Elias looked away.

Because the truth was too heavy.

Lena pressed, voice cracking. “Tell me.”

He finally answered.

“Because your mother was trying to protect something.”

His eyes met hers.

“Someone.”

Lena’s breath caught.

“Who?” she whispered.

Elias didn’t blink.

“You.”

Her heart stopped.

He continued, “Your mother left that file with you because she knew I couldn’t kill a child. She gambled on my conscience.”

Lena stepped back.

Her stomach twisted painfully.

Alexander was shaking with fury. “You let the Circle murder her to get to Lena?”

“No,” Elias said sharply. “I tried to stop them. But I failed.”

Alexander’s voice cracked.

“You failed everyone.”

Elias’s expression finally shifted — anger flaring.

“I failed because of YOU,” he hissed. “Father hid me. Erased me. Lied to me. Told the Circle I was unstable. Told them I was a threat. He made me into the monster you think I am.”

Alexander’s throat closed. “You are a monster.”

Elias’s voice dropped.

“I am… what your father created.”

Silence.

Lena’s chest ached. She felt the world narrowing around her.

Then—

a loud mechanical click echoed through the hallway.

Victoria’s face paled.

Elias straightened.

Alexander turned toward the sound.

Mrs. Ward gasped, covering her mouth—

“He’s triggered the estate lockdown.”

Elias smirked faintly.

“Time’s up.”

Before Lena could breathe—

All the lights in the estate died.

Darkness swallowed the room whole.

And a voice echoed through the house:

“Lena… it’s time to finish what your mother started.”