Chapter 27: Betrayed

SERA

I didn't leave Maya's side, Elena checked on her frequently, adjusting bandages, monitoring her breathing. Kade stood by the window silently, neither of us spoke. What was there to say?

My sister was being held captive and we didn't know who, why, or what they wanted.

Every minute that passed felt like torture.

"You should rest," Elena said quietly, placing a hand on my shoulder.

"I can't."

"Sera.."

"They have Lila." My voice broke. "She's just a kid, Elena. Sixteen, Innocent and someone took her because of me."

"That's not your fault."

"Isn't it?" I looked up at her. "Everything that's happened..the Council, the attacks, all of it is because I'm a Silver Blood. Lila is suffering because I exist."

"Don't," Kade said from the window, his voice hard. "Don't do that to yourself."

"It's true.."

"It's not," He turned to face me. "The Council is corrupt, they've been hurting innocent people for centuries. You didn't create that, you're just the one brave enough to stand against it."

I wanted to believe him but guilt was heavy in my chest.

Maya stirred, I was on my feet immediately, leaning over the bed. "Maya? Can you hear me?"

Her eyes fluttered open. For a moment, she looked confused, disoriented, then memory flooded back and fear filled her face.

"Lila," she gasped. "Did you…is she.."

"We don't know where she is yet," I said gently, "You passed out before you could tell us. Maya, I need you to focus, who took you? Who has my sister?"

Maya tried to sit up, winced and fell back. "It was Vivian, Vivian Clearwater."

The name hit me like a blow. Vivian, the lady who wanted me dead.

She had my sister.

"Why?" Kade demanded, moving closer. "What does she possibly want?"

"You," Maya said, looking at me. "She kept asking about you, what you were planning. She's obsessed with destroying you."

Silver light danced around my hands. "Do you have an idea of the place?"

"Old warehouse, east of Silvermoon territory I guess." Maya's voice was weak but clear. "That's where they kept us, a dark building, abandoned but Vivian had guards, at least six that I saw."

"How did you escape?" Marcus asked from the doorway. I hadn't heard him enter.

"Through a window in the room where they held us, first floor. The guards were not watching carefully." Maya's eyes filled with tears. "I wanted to take Lila with me, I tried to wake her but she was drugged, wouldn't wake up."

"You did the right thing," I said, squeezing her hand. "You came for help, that was brave."

"It's a trap," Marcus said, "She's using Lila as bait to get you alone and vulnerable."

"I know it's a trap," I said. "I don't care."

"Sera.."

"She's my sister!" I turned to face them all. "She's there because of me, I'm not leaving her to die."

"And walking into Vivian's trap gets you both killed," Kade said flatly. "Is that what you want?"

"I want my sister safe!"

"So do I but not at the cost of your life."

"That's not your decision to make."

His eyes glittered gold, "Like hell it isn't."

We stared at each other, the air between us filled with tension.

"There's more," Maya said weakly.

We both turned to her.

"Vivian was talking to someone on the phone or... I'm not sure but I heard her mention a name." She kept asking this Cassandra person about the compound, defenses, about Sera's routine, like this person knew everything."

I felt Kade go still beside me.

"Cassandra?" I asked. "Are you sure?"

"Yes. Vivian called her that multiple times. She was asking really specific things like how many guards patrols the east, what time training sessions happens, if there were any weak points." Maya looked between us, confused by our reactions. "Who is Cassandra?”

"Someone who used to live here," Kade said, his voice deadly quiet. "Someone I trusted."

The betrayal hit me like a second blow. Cassandra, the woman who'd hurt me, undermined me, made me doubt myself. She'd left weeks ago but she hadn't really left at all.

"She's been spying on us," I said. "Feeding information to Vivian.

"She knows our defenses," Marcus said, his expression dark. "Our patrol patterns, our numbers, everything."

"Which means Clearwater might know too," Kade said.

The implications shocked me. Not only was Lila in danger, but the entire compound was compromised.

We need to change everything," Marcus said. "Patrol routes, guard positions, everything Cassandra would know about."

"And we need to find her," I said. "Make her pay for this."

"First, we save Lila," Kade said firmly.

"How?" I demanded. "Vivian is unpredictable, cruel. She has my sister and probably expects me to come after her."

"Then we give her what she expects," Marcus suggested. "You go after Lila, we make sure you're not alone when you do."

"Vivian will be watching for backup," Kade said. "She's desperate, not stupid."

"So what do you suggest?" I asked, fighting to keep my voice steady. "We leave Lila there? Let Vivian do whatever she wants to her?"

"No," Kade's voice was absolute. "We get her back but we need a plan."

"We need to move fast," I said. "Every hour we wait is another hour Lila is in danger. Vivian is unstable, what do you think she'll do to my sister when no one's watching?"

The room went quiet.

"Maya," Kade said. "This warehouse, can you describe it more? Entrances, exits, the layout?"

Maya closed her eyes, remembering. "Two stories, main entrance in front, loading dock in back. The room where they kept us was upstairs, second window from the right, I didn't see much else before I ran."

"How many guards did you see in total?"

"Six, maybe seven but there could have been more."

Kade looked at Marcus. "Get the scouts. I want eyes on that warehouse within the next hour. Numbers, positions, everything."

"On it." Marcus left quickly.

"What are you planning?" I asked.

"A rescue," Kade said. "We gather information first, learn Vivian's setup, find the best approach."

"That takes time…"

"A few hours that's all." He moved closer, his eyes intense. "Sera, charging in blind will hurt you both, give me a few hours to plan this properly."

I wanted to argue, wanted to run to that warehouse right now and tear it apart until I found my sister but he was right. Vivian would be expecting that, hoping for it.

"A few hours," I agreed. "Then we move, with or without a perfect plan.” And if something goes wrong? I whispered, "If Vivian kills her before we can…"

"Then we make sure Vivian doesn't survive either," Kade said, his voice cold and certain.

I looked at him, at Elena. They were all watching me with expressions of concern and determination.

These people were willing to risk everything to help me save my sister, even knowing it was a trap, knowing Cassandra had betrayed us and compromised our defenses.

Cassandra," I said quietly. "I can't believe she'd work with Vivian."

"I can," Kade's voice was bitter. "She was always ambitious, always wanting power. This is probably her revenge."

"By helping our enemies?"

"By hurting us any way she can," His hands clenched. "I should have seen it coming, should have known she wouldn't just disappear quietly."

"It's not your fault."

"Isn't it?" He looked at me. "I brought her here years ago, trusted her, made her my second before Marcus and now she's feeding our secrets to Vivian Clearwater."

"We'll deal with her," I said. "After we get Lila back."

"Yes." Something dangerous flashed in his eyes. "We will.”

I nodded, one crisis at a time.

First, save my sister, then make sure everyone who'd hurt her paid for it.

Starting with Vivian and ending with Cassandra.