Chapter 43: Shadows Over the City

Two days after the overtime victory, the excitement around the Vancouver Grizzlies had reached a fever pitch.

Across Vancouver, every sports bar, street corner, and coffee shop buzzed with playoff talk. The team was now one win away from advancing to the championship series, and fans had turned the entire city into a sea of green jerseys.

At Rogers Arena, banners hung outside the building celebrating the team’s run. Street performers played drums, vendors sold foam claws and miniature hockey sticks, and giant screens replayed Alex’s overtime goal on repeat.

Inside the Thorne cabin, however, the mood was quieter.

Alex sat at the kitchen table reviewing game footage on a tablet while sipping coffee. His eyes were focused, but every now and then they drifted toward the living room.

Finn and Liam were building a small “rink” on the floor using couch cushions.

Finn slid a toy puck across the carpet.

“Goal!”

Liam lifted the puck with a small flick of his hand and dropped it into the “net.”

“Boom goal.”

Jake leaned against the doorway watching them with a grin.

“They’ve got the basics down.”

Alex smirked.

“Just wait until Finn tries to freeze the goalie.”

Jake chuckled.

“Honestly? Wouldn’t be the worst strategy.”

Across the room, Lucien stood by the window, staring out at the frozen lake.

The towering ice formations Finn had created were slowly melting under the afternoon sun, but faint blue light still shimmered inside them.

Brody noticed Lucien’s serious expression.

“Let me guess,” Brody said. “You’re about to ruin our good mood.”

Lucien didn’t turn.

“They’re moving again.”

Jake’s smile faded.

---

The Court’s Plan

Far from Vancouver, deep beneath an abandoned mountain complex, the Crown Court gathered around a circular chamber.

A massive holographic map hovered in the air.

At its center glowed the city of Vancouver.

The Court’s leader stood before it with calm authority.

“The heirs are growing stronger.”

One of the commanders nodded.

“Our scouts confirmed the younger heir has developed advanced telekinetic capability.”

Another added, “The elder has manifested large-scale cryokinesis.”

The leader folded his hands.

“Then we accelerate the plan.”

The holographic map zoomed closer to the coastline.

“Our forces move tonight.”

---

A Normal Day (Almost)

Later that afternoon, Alex headed back to Rogers Arena for team practice.

The arena was quieter than usual, but excitement still buzzed through the building.

Inside the locker room, teammates were already joking about the upcoming game.

Brody tossed Alex a water bottle.

“You ready for another overtime hero moment?”

Alex shrugged.

“I’d settle for winning in regulation.”

Coach walked in holding a clipboard.

“Alright boys, listen up.”

The room quieted instantly.

“We win tomorrow, we go to the Finals.”

A wave of energy moved through the team.

Alex tightened the tape on his stick.

He was ready.

---

Trouble at the Cabin

Back at the Thorne cabin, Jake and Lucien stood outside near the lake.

The wind had picked up slightly, sending small waves of snow across the ice.

Jake crossed his arms.

“You said they were moving.”

Lucien nodded.

“Yes.”

Jake looked around the quiet forest.

“So where are they?”

Lucien’s eyes moved toward the sky.

“Closer than you think.”

At that moment, a low humming sound echoed across the valley.

Jake looked up.

A dark aircraft silently drifted out of the clouds.

It hovered high above the trees.

Jake’s expression hardened.

“That’s new.”

---

The First Strike

Inside the cabin, Finn and Liam were playing on the floor when the lights flickered.

Finn looked up.

“Storm?”

Before anyone could answer, the windows rattled.

Outside, a beam of silver light shot down from the hovering aircraft and struck the frozen lake.

The ice cracked loudly.

Finn jumped to his feet.

“My ice!”

Liam lifted several toys into the air nervously.

Alex’s voice crackled through Jake’s phone from the arena.

“What’s happening there?”

Jake stared at the glowing beam cutting into the ice.

“Company.”

---

The Heirs Respond

The silver beam widened, carving a circular hole into the frozen lake.

From inside the aircraft, armored figures began descending on cables.

Crown Court soldiers.

Lucien stepped forward.

“They’re attempting extraction.”

Jake cracked his knuckles.

“Over my dead body.”

Inside the cabin, Finn ran to the window.

“They break ice!”

The frozen lake responded instantly.

A wave of frost surged outward from the remaining ice structures.

The descending soldiers suddenly found themselves surrounded by rising walls of ice.

Finn pointed his stick dramatically.

“No break my rink!”

Outside, Jake grinned.

“Atta boy.”

---

Liam’s Turn

More soldiers dropped from the aircraft.

One of them aimed a strange device toward the cabin.

Before he could fire, he suddenly lifted off the ground.

The soldier floated helplessly in the air.

Liam stood in the living room with both hands raised.

“Boom float.”

The soldier flew sideways and crashed into a snowbank.

Brody burst out laughing.

“Okay, that’s definitely useful.”

---

Jake Takes the Field

Jake sprinted across the snow toward the landing soldiers.

Two attackers rushed him at once.

Jake moved faster.

Within seconds both were on the ground.

Lucien joined him, blade glowing with ancient energy.

“Disable them,” Lucien said calmly.

Jake nodded.

“Working on it.”

---

Alex Returns

Inside the arena, Alex didn’t wait for practice to end.

He grabbed his gear and bolted for the parking lot.

Brody’s phone buzzed.

“Alex is on his way.”

Jake glanced toward the aircraft still hovering above the lake.

“Good.”

More soldiers were descending.

“This party’s just getting started.”

---

The Turning Point

Back inside the cabin, Finn pressed both hands against the window again.

The remaining ice structures across the lake began glowing brighter.

Cracks spread across the frozen surface.

Then suddenly—

A massive frozen wave erupted upward from the lake.

The aircraft lurched as chunks of ice slammed into its hull.

The pilots struggled to maintain control.

Brody stared up at the sky.

“Did the toddler just attack a spaceship?”

Lucien nodded slowly.

“Yes.”

---

Retreat… For Now

Inside the aircraft, alarms blared.

The commander shouted orders.

“Abort mission!”

The soldiers scrambled back toward the cables.

The aircraft rose higher into the clouds, retreating quickly.

Within minutes, the sky was empty again.

Jake stood in the snow breathing heavily.

“Well,” he said, “that’s new.”

Alex’s truck pulled into the driveway seconds later.

He jumped out and ran toward the cabin.

“Everyone okay?”

Jake pointed toward the sky.

“They tried.”

Alex looked down at Finn, who stood proudly by the window.

“You defended the house again?”

Finn nodded.

“My rink.”

Alex laughed and scooped him up.

“Yeah. Your rink.”

---

The Calm Before the Finals

That night, the family gathered quietly around the fireplace.

Finn and Liam eventually fell asleep curled up together on the couch.

Jake sat beside Alex watching the flames.

“Tomorrow’s the biggest game of your career.”

Alex leaned back.

“Yeah.”

Jake looked at their sleeping kids.

“And we might be heading into a supernatural war.”

Alex sighed.

“Busy week.”

Outside, the frozen lake shimmered softly under the moon.

But far away, the Crown Court leader watched surveillance footage of the battle.

He leaned back thoughtfully.

“The heirs are stronger than expected.”

One of his advisors asked carefully,

“What now?”

The leader smiled.

“Now we escalate.”