LOGINThe room had gone silent.
On the screen, the final message remained visible.THE WITNESS WAS SOMEONE ELSE.Elena stared at it.Then she turned toward Daniel.“Who?”Her father looked as though the question had struck him physically.“Daniel,” Thomas said quietly.Daniel flinched.Thomas smiled.“Tell her.”Elena stepped closer to her father.“You said I was the witness.”“I wasThe phone rang again.No one moved.Lydia stood in the center of the room, staring at the screen as though the name displayed there had the power to drag her back into the past.THOMAS CROSS.The crying continued.A child.Small. Frightened. Breathless.Elena felt her stomach tighten.“Lydia,” she whispered. “Answer it.”Claire immediately grabbed her wrist. “No.”“Why not?”“Because Thomas never calls unless he has already calculated the consequences of every possible answer.”Lydia’s expression hardened.“He has the archive,” she said. “The remaining records. The original transfer ledgers. The names of everyone Thomas used.”“And he wants something in return,” Adrian said.Lydia looked at him. “He wants Elena.”The phone stopped ringing.For a brief moment, the room fell silent.Then a message appeared.ANSWER THE CALL, OR THE ORIGINAL TRUSTEES WILL NEVER SEE THE REST OF THE RECORDS.Below it was an audio attachment.Lydia stared at it.Mara, pale but standing, stepped closer. “Don’
The woman’s words seemed to silence the entire estate.“Hello, little sister.”Elena looked at Claire.Her mother had gone completely still.Daniel appeared as though someone had struck him across the chest.Even Victor had stopped moving.Only the man carrying the legal documents remained composed.He lowered the papers and stepped aside.The older woman moved forward, leaning lightly on her cane.The left side of her face was marked by a thin scar that disappeared beneath her veil. But her eyes were unmistakable.They were the same pale gray as Claire’s.The same eyes Elena had seen in old family portraits.Claire took one unsteady step backward.“You’re dead,” she whispered.The woman smiled faintly.“That is what you told everyone.”Elena’s gaze moved between them.“Who is she?”Claire did not answer.“Mother,” Elena said sharply. “Who is she?”The woman looked at Elena with a strange mixture of sadness and curiosity.“So this is your daughter.”Claire’s voice finally emerged.“He
The sound of the estate’s front doors slamming open echoed through the underground vault. Elena stared at the message in her hands. ASK YOUR FATHER WHAT HE DID ON THE NIGHT YOU WERE BORN. Daniel stood several feet away, his face drained of color. Claire had pressed one hand against the wall for support. Gabriel looked between them. “What happened on that night?” Daniel said nothing. “Dad,” Elena demanded. “What did you do?” A heavy thud sounded above them. Then another. Someone was moving through the estate. Adrian reached for the flashlight attached to his belt. “We need to leave this room.” “No,” Elena said. He turned toward her. “I’m not leaving until he answers.” Adrian looked at Daniel. “Then answer her.”
The words on the screen refused to disappear. AUTHORITY TRANSFER: 12% Elena stared at the document displayed on her phone. Her name. Her signature. Her supposed acceptance of the Dark Covenant. Every detail looked authentic. Too authentic. Adrian took the phone from her hand and examined the image. “Don’t touch anything,” Samuel repeated. “I haven’t,” Elena said. “Not the phone. The panel.” The percentage on the screen increased. 14% 15% Gabriel stepped closer to the control console. “Can we shut it down?” Daniel shook his head. “Not while the system recognizes Elena as an authorized witness.” “But she didn’t authorize anything,” Gabriel snapped. “The system doesn’t understand intention,” Daniel replied. “It recognizes credentials, signatures, and legal permissions.” Elena looked at him. “Then make it understand.” Daniel’s expression tightened. “I can’t.” “You built it.” “I helped build the original system. This version has been modified.” “By Victor?” “Pos
Mara saw the men before they reached her. One wore a dark jacket despite the afternoon heat. The other carried a slim black case and kept one hand inside his coat. Neither of them looked toward the estate. They were focused entirely on her. Mara stepped away from the vehicle. “Can I help you?” The taller man stopped several feet away. “Ms. Mara Mensah?” She didn’t answer. He produced a laminated identification card. “Financial Crimes Division. We need to ask you a few questions regarding unauthorized access to protected financial records.” Mara glanced at the card. The photograph was blurred. The identification number was too short. She smiled faintly. “Then you should already know my name.” The second man moved closer. “We’d prefer to resolve this peacefully.” Mara’s hand slipped into her pocket. Her fingers closed around her phone. Inside the estate, Elena watched the scene on the monitor. “They’re not police,” she said. Adrian was already moving toward the doo
The concealed door opened with a slow, grinding sound. Dust fell from the edges of the bookcase. Elena held her breath as a narrow passage emerged behind it, descending into darkness beneath the estate. Adrian tightened his grip around her hand. “Stay behind me,” he whispered. “No.” His head turned slightly. “I’m not asking you to hide,” he said. “I’m asking you to let me go first.” Elena understood the difference. For once, he wasn’t trying to control her movements. He was trying to protect her without taking away her choice. She nodded. “Fine. But I’m right behind you.” A faint light flickered at the end of the passage. Then the voice returned through the intercom. “Mother, you brought Daniel.” Claire’s face had become almost expressionless. “He knows,” she murmured. Daniel stared at her. “You told me he was safe.” “He was.” “You told me he was somewhere far from here.” “He was.” “Then why is he beneath the estate?” Claire’s eyes filled with regret. “Because







