Chapter 51: The Death Sentence

For a moment, time froze.

Marcus Hale stood with his gun raised, the barrel pointed directly at Lena’s heart — calm, steady, certain.

Alexander’s breath raged out of him like a wild animal.

Elias stepped in front of Lena without thinking.

Lena’s hand shot out and grabbed his jacket.

“No—Elias—don’t—”

But he didn’t move away.

He stood tall, body squared, eyes locked on Marcus.

Marcus smirked. “Ah. The loyal son steps up. Adrian would be proud.”

“Don’t you ever say his name again,” Elias growled.

“Oh please,” Marcus said with a laugh. “He was pathetic. That’s why he needed your mother’s bloodline. Needed her power. And that’s why he tried to have her killed.”

Lena shook her head in disbelief. “He killed her because she tried to stop you.”

Marcus grinned wider. “She interfered. She stole from us. She spread lies. Her death was… necessary.”

Alexander surged forward with a roar.

Elias grabbed him by the shirt and slammed him against the tree behind them just in time to save him from three bullets.

“STOP,” Elias shouted. “You’ll get her killed!”

Alexander shook with fury, tears burning in his eyes. “He killed her mother. He used my father. He used Victoria. He burned our lives down—LET ME END HIM!”

Elias shoved him back. “Not now! Not while Lena is exposed!”

Marcus clapped mockingly. “Beautiful. Brotherly teamwork. Shame it came so late.”

The guards tightened formation.

Guns lifted.

Red dots covered Lena’s chest again.

Alexander stepped in front of her.

Elias stepped in front of him.

And Lena grabbed Elias’s arm, her voice small but trembling:

“I’m ending this. Right now.”

Alexander spun to her, horrified. “Lena, no—”

But she stepped forward, pulling the glowing microdrive from her pocket. It buzzed in her hand like it was alive, heat pulsing up her arm.

Marcus’s smile widened.

“Yes. Good girl. Bring it to me.”

“No,” Lena said.

She lifted it higher.

And a new ring of symbols activated around it.

Marcus’s eyes widened.

“That—no—that’s the—”

Elias inhaled sharply. “That’s the override sequence.”

Alexander stared at Lena, stunned. “How do you know that?!”

Lena’s breath shook as tears streamed down her face.

“Because my mother taught it to me. When I was ten.”

The memory hit her—

A dim lamp.

Her mother’s gentle smile.

A necklace pressed into her tiny palms.

Her mother whispering:

“If anyone ever tries to hurt you… say the promise. Say it with your heart.”

She hadn’t understood then.

She understood now.

Marcus snarled, losing his composure. “Don’t you DARE—”

Lena spoke the final words.

Out loud.

Clear.

Unshaken.

“I am my mother’s daughter.”

The microdrive blazed to life.

A golden shockwave erupted—

Bigger, stronger, louder than before.

The kill team collapsed instantly, screaming as their tech imploded.

Trees shook.

Branches cracked.

Light tore through the forest.

Marcus staggered, shielding his eyes. “NO—NOOO—”

Elias grabbed Lena and yanked her back.

Alexander dove over both of them—

The world exploded.

Then everything went quiet.

Smoke floated through the forest, pale and ghostly.

Half the Circle guards were unconscious.

Several were dead.

And Marcus—

Marcus was on one knee, shaking, blood dripping from his ears.

Elias rose slowly, gun in hand, stepping forward with lethal intent.

Alexander rose too.

Both aimed at Marcus.

But Marcus lifted his head, smiling through the blood.

“You think… this is over?” he rasped. “Your mother thought the same thing.”

Lena stepped forward.

Alexander grabbed her arm. “Lena—don’t.”

“I have to,” she whispered.

She approached Marcus, the microdrive still glowing in her hand.

Marcus laughed, low and broken.

“You think you’re the weapon? You’re the key.”

Lena frowned. “What does that mean?”

Marcus coughed blood, smiling wider.

“You’re not just her daughter,” he whispered. “You’re the last heir of the original Circle. Your mother was the true leader. And you—”

His eyes darkened.

“—are the only one who can control the purge.”

Lena froze.

“I don’t want to lead anyone,” she whispered. “I want this to end.”

Marcus chuckled sickly. “Then kill me. Go on. Finish what she couldn’t.”

Alexander lifted his gun. “Gladly.”

But Elias blocked his aim, stepping between them.

“What the hell are you doing?!” Alexander shouted.

Elias’s voice was calm, deadly.

“He wants her to kill him.”

Lena’s stomach twisted. “Why?”

Marcus rasped, smiling viciously.

“Because if the heir kills the traitor… the purge becomes permanent. The Circle dies forever.”

Lena felt her breath leave her body.

Alexander whispered, “Lena… don’t listen…”

Elias shook his head. “He’s lying. Manipulating. Don’t touch that gun.”

Marcus laughed.

“Go on, Elias. Pretend to care. But you and I both know:

She kills me… she becomes the Circle’s rightful ruler.”

Lena stumbled back. “I don’t want this—”

Alexander held her. “You’re not killing anyone.”

Marcus leaned his bloody head back, triumphant.

“That’s why your mother failed. She wasn’t willing to do what needed to be done.”

Lena’s vision blurred.

“My mother was nothing like you.”

“Exactly,” Marcus whispered. “And that’s why she died.”

Lena screamed.

She lifted the microdrive—

Elias grabbed her wrist.

Alexander grabbed her other wrist.

Both men shouted:

“LENA, NO!”

The microdrive flared white—

Too bright.

Too hot.

Too powerful.

It tore free from her grasp, hovering between them all, spinning and pulsing like a miniature sun.

Marcus’s smile finally faltered.

Elias whispered, “This isn’t supposed to happen.”

Alexander whispered, “Lena—what did you do?”

Lena whispered—

“I didn’t do anything.”

The light expanded—

Wrapping around the three of them.

And Lena heard her mother’s voice again.

Soft.

Pained.

Final.

“If you say the promise… it will choose.”

Elias froze.

Alexander froze.

Lena stared into the blinding light.

“What will choose?” she whispered.

The voice answered:

“Your fate.”