Shadows of the Past

The waves crashed against the cliffs of Nova Scotia with an almost musical rhythm, but Aria Morgan knew better. After three years of studying marine biology at the remote Blackrock Research Station, she had learned to distinguish between natural ocean sounds and something more... peculiar. Tonight, there was definitely something different in the water's song.

Standing on the observation deck of the research facility, her long dark hair whipping in the salty breeze, Aria focused her night vision binoculars on the churning waters below. The full moon cast an ethereal glow across the surface, making it easier to spot any unusual movement. That's when she saw it - a flash of iridescent scales, much too large to be any known fish species.

"You're out here late again," a deep voice spoke behind her. Dr. Nathaniel Cross, the facility's new head of cryptozoology, stood in the doorway. His presence had been causing quite a stir among the female staff since his arrival last month, with his storm-gray eyes and the mysterious scar that ran from his left temple to his jaw. But Aria had noticed something else about him - the way he always seemed to appear whenever the strange occurrences happened.

"There's something out there, Dr. Cross," Aria said, not taking her eyes off the water. "Something big."

"Please, call me Nate," he said, moving to stand beside her. His proximity sent an involuntary shiver down her spine that had nothing to do with the cold. "And I know. That's why I'm here."

Before Aria could question what he meant, a haunting melody drifted up from the waters below. It wasn't quite singing - more like an otherworldly humming that seemed to resonate in her very bones. To her surprise, she found herself taking an unconscious step toward the railing, drawn by the sound.

Nate's hand shot out, gripping her arm. "Don't listen too closely," he warned, his voice tight with concern. "They're hunting tonight."

"They?" Aria tried to shake off the melody's lingering effect. "Who are 'they'?"

Just then, a figure emerged from the waves - a woman with silvery skin and long, phosphorescent hair. Her eyes glowed with an unnatural blue light, and when she opened her mouth to continue her song, Aria saw rows of sharp, pearl-like teeth. The creature's beauty was both terrifying and mesmerizing.

"Sirens," Nate whispered, his grip on Aria's arm tightening. "Real ones. Not the sanitized versions from your fairy tales."

The siren's gaze locked onto them, and her song changed, becoming more focused, more enticing. Aria felt Nate tense beside her, and when she looked at him, she was shocked to see his eyes had taken on a silvery sheen, reflecting the moonlight like a cat's.

"We need to get inside," he said through gritted teeth, though he seemed to be fighting the urge to move closer to the railing himself. "Now."

But as they turned to leave, Aria caught sight of something in the water that made her blood run cold. Dozens of glowing eyes had appeared beneath the waves, and more figures were rising to the surface. Their songs began to intertwine, creating a symphony of supernatural beauty and terror.

"Dr. Cross... Nate," Aria's voice trembled slightly. "What's really going on at this facility?"

He finally turned to look at her fully, and in the moonlight, she could see that his scar was glowing with a faint blue light. "It's not just a research station, Aria. It's a containment facility. We monitor and protect humanity from ancient creatures that most people think are myths. And right now," he glanced back at the water where more sirens were emerging, "something has disturbed them. Something that hasn't happened in over a hundred years."

"What?" Aria asked, though part of her feared the answer.

"They're looking for their lost queen," Nate's voice was grim. "And for some reason, they think she's here."

A particularly powerful wave crashed against the cliffs, sending spray high enough to reach the observation deck. As the droplets hit Aria's skin, she felt a strange tingling sensation, and for just a moment, her reflection in the window showed her eyes glowing with the same ethereal blue light as the creatures below.

Nate saw it too. His expression shifted from concern to something more complex - fear, fascination, and what looked almost like recognition. "We need to talk," he said quietly. "About your mother. About why you were really assigned to this facility. And about why you've always felt so drawn to the sea."

The siren's song grew louder, more insistent, and Aria felt something stir within her - ancient memories that couldn't possibly be her own, yet somehow were. As she followed Nate inside, one thought kept repeating in her mind: her life as she knew it was about to change forever, and there would be no going back to the simple world of marine biology and research papers.

Behind them, the sirens continued their haunting chorus, their songs now carrying a note of triumph. They had found what they were looking for.

The facility's underground laboratory was a maze of steel and glass, illuminated by harsh fluorescent lights that made everything look clinical and cold. Aria followed Nate through a series of security checkpoints, each requiring increasingly complex biometric scans. Her mind was still reeling from the events on the observation deck, the sirens' song echoing in her memory.

        "How long have you known?" she finally asked as they entered what appeared to be his private office. Unlike the sterile corridors outside, this room was filled with artifacts that looked ancient - shells with strange markings, crystals that seemed to pulse with their own inner light, and walls covered in charts mapping underwater ley lines.

        Nate moved to a heavily secured cabinet, his fingers dancing across a complex lock. "Since the moment you arrived at Blackrock. Your bio-readings were... unique." He pulled out a thick file with her name on it. "But your mother knew long before that."

        "My mother?" Aria's voice cracked. "She died when I was three. All I have are some photos and my father's stories about her love for the ocean."

        "Your mother didn't die, Aria." Nate's voice was gentle but firm as he placed an old photograph on his desk. "She returned."

        The photograph showed a woman standing on these very cliffs, her wild dark hair streaming in the wind. She looked exactly like Aria, except for her eyes - they held that same otherworldly blue glow Aria had seen in her own reflection moments ago.

        "That's impossible," Aria whispered, but even as she spoke, memories began to surface - the way she could hold her breath for impossibly long periods, her uncanny ability to predict storms, the strange songs that sometimes filled her dreams.

        Suddenly, the lights flickered, and a low vibration ran through the building. Nate's expression turned serious. "They're testing the barriers," he said, moving to a bank of monitors showing underwater footage. Multiple figures darted past the cameras, their movements too quick and graceful to be human.

        "What barriers?" Aria asked, joining him at the monitors.

        "Electromagnetic fields designed to keep them at bay. But with their queen so close..." He glanced at her meaningfully. "They're stronger than usual."

        "I am not their queen," Aria said firmly, though something deep inside her stirred at the words.

        "No, but you're her daughter. The first successful hybrid in centuries." Nate pulled up more files on his computer. "Your mother was their queen, and when she fell in love with your father, it created a diplomatic crisis. A siren queen choosing a human was unprecedented."

        The vibrations grew stronger, and somewhere in the facility, an alarm began to sound. On the monitors, the sirens' movements became more coordinated, more purposeful.

        "They're not just testing anymore," Nate muttered. He grabbed what looked like an ancient trident from a wall display. "They're breaking through."

        Aria's head suddenly filled with voices - not speaking English, but a fluid, musical language she somehow understood. They were calling to her, telling her to come home, to take her rightful place.

        "Make it stop," she gasped, pressing her hands to her temples.

        Nate reached for her, but stopped short when he saw her eyes - they were glowing brighter now, and her skin had taken on a slight iridescent sheen. "Fight it, Aria. You're not just one of them. You're both human and siren. That's what makes you special."

        The facility shook more violently, and the lights went out completely. In the darkness, Nate's eyes glowed silver again, and Aria could finally ask the question that had been nagging at her.

        "What are you?" she whispered. "You're not entirely human either, are you?"

        Before he could answer, the reinforced windows of his office exploded inward in a shower of glass and seawater. In the opening hovered three sirens, their beauty terrible and magnificent. The one in the center spoke, her voice carrying both authority and disdain.

        "Step away from the princess, Guardian. She belongs with her people."

        Nate raised the trident, which began to glow with an electric blue light. "She belongs where she chooses to belong."

        As seawater swirled around them, Aria felt power surge through her body - raw, ancient, and demanding to be released. She had a choice to make, but first, she needed answers.

        "Tell me everything," she said, her voice carrying a new note of command that surprised even her. "About my mother, about what you are," she looked at Nate, "and about why I'm really here."

        The siren queen smiled, showing those pearl-like teeth. "Oh, little princess. You're here because a war is coming. And you," her glow intensified, "are the key to everything."

The seawater swirling around Aria's feet felt alive, responding to her emotions like an extension of her body. The three sirens remained suspended in the shattered window frame, their ethereal forms casting an otherworldly glow throughout Nate's flooded office. The lead siren - who had introduced herself as Cordelia, First General of the Deep Realm - watched her with ancient eyes that held both wisdom and cunning.

        "Your mother's choice started this war," Cordelia said, her voice carrying the rhythm of waves. "When she chose your father, she didn't just abandon her throne - she disrupted a balance that had existed for millennia. The Deep Realm has been without a true queen for twenty years, and the dark ones grow bolder each day."

        "The dark ones?" Aria asked, acutely aware of Nate's tension beside her, his grip tightening on the glowing trident.

        "The Abyssal Court," Nate answered grimly. "Think of them as your people's darker cousins. While the sirens of the Deep Realm protect the oceans, the Abyssal Court seeks to corrupt them. Without a queen's power to maintain the barriers..."

        "They're breaking free," Cordelia finished. "Even now, they gather in the deep trenches, preparing for war. Only a queen's song can reinforce the ancient seals."

        Aria felt the weight of their expectations pressing down on her like the ocean itself. "And you think I can do this? I don't even know how to control whatever... this is." She gestured to her still-glowing skin.

        "That's why I'm here," a new voice spoke from the doorway. Aria turned to see a woman she'd only known from photographs - her mother. Nerissa, former queen of the Deep Realm, stood in the threshold, looking exactly as she had twenty years ago. Her presence made the very air vibrate with power.

        "Mom?" Aria whispered, emotions warring inside her.

        Nerissa's eyes - the same otherworldly blue as Aria's now were - filled with tears. "My daughter. My beautiful, brave daughter. I'm so sorry I had to leave you, but it was the only way to keep you safe while your powers matured."

        "Safe from what?" Aria demanded, anger suddenly surging through her. The water around her feet began to churn in response.

        "From those who would use you," Nate interjected, his voice carrying an edge of bitterness. "The Guardians weren't always noble protectors, Aria. Some believed that controlling a hybrid princess would give them power over both realms."

        "Like your father did?" Nerissa's voice turned cold as she addressed Nate. "Is that why you're so close to my daughter? Following in Marcus Cross's footsteps?"

        The tension in the room sparked like electricity. Nate's silver eyes flashed dangerously. "I am not my father."

        "Enough!" Aria's voice carried a new power, making everyone in the room freeze. The water around her feet rose in spiraling columns, responding to her command. "I want the truth. All of it. No more cryptic warnings or half-answers."

        Suddenly, the facility's emergency sirens blared to life. On Nate's monitors, dark shapes appeared in the deeper waters - humanoid figures with shark-like features and glowing red eyes.

        "The Abyssal Court," Cordelia hissed. "They've found us."

        "They found her," Nerissa corrected, moving to Aria's side. "They can sense your awakening power, daughter. We're out of time."

        The facility shuddered as something massive struck it from below. Through the broken window, Aria could see dark forms rising from the depths, their movements predatory and purposeful. The water around her feet turned ice-cold.

        "You have to choose now," Nate said urgently. "But know this - whatever you decide, I'll stand with you." His eyes met hers, and in them she saw not just duty or ambition, but something deeper, something personal.

        "As touching as that is, Guardian," Cordelia interrupted, "she needs to come with us. Only in the Deep Realm can she learn to control her powers in time."

        Another impact rocked the facility. In the distance, Aria could hear screams - the research staff, she realized with horror. They were unprotected, unaware of what was really happening.

        "I won't let innocent people die," Aria declared, feeling strength flow through her. "Mom, Cordelia - help me protect the facility. Nate..." she turned to him, "teach me how to fight."

        "Always choosing both worlds," Nerissa murmured, a mix of pride and worry in her voice. "Just like your mother."

        As the Abyssal Court's forces surrounded the facility, Aria felt something click into place inside her. She was neither fully human nor fully siren, neither wholly of land nor of sea. But perhaps that's exactly what both worlds needed.

        "Well then," she said, as power coursed through her veins and the song of the sea filled her mind, "let's show these dark ones what a hybrid princess can do."

        The water around her erupted upward, turning into a swirling shield of liquid crystal, just as the first of the dark figures burst through the facility's lower levels. The war for two worlds was about to begin, and Aria stood at its center, with a Guardian at her side and the power of two realms flowing through her blood.

The next few minutes dissolved into chaos. The Abyssal Court's warriors crashed through the facility's lower levels like a dark tide, their shark-like features twisted into snarls of hunger and hatred. Aria's crystalline water shield held against the first wave, but she could feel their darkness pressing against her power, trying to corrupt it.

        "Channel your emotions through the water," Nerissa instructed, her own powers creating whirlpools that trapped several attackers. "The sea responds to authentic feeling, not just will."

        Nate moved with inhuman grace, the trident in his hands leaving trails of electric blue energy as he fought. "We need to evacuate the research staff," he called out between strikes. "They're gathering near the main lab."

        Aria closed her eyes for a moment, and suddenly she could feel every drop of water in the facility - in the pipes, in the air, in human bodies. The awareness was overwhelming. "I can feel them," she gasped. "Everyone. Everything."

        "That's your queen's sense awakening," Cordelia explained, her own song turning violent as she fought. "You're connecting to your realm."

        An explosion rocked the lower level, and through her new awareness, Aria felt something massive entering the facility. The temperature of the water dropped dramatically, and even the sirens looked concerned.

        "Thalassos," Nerissa whispered, fear evident in her voice. "The Abyssal Prince himself."

        Through the broken floor emerged a figure that seemed made of living darkness. Unlike his warriors, Prince Thalassos appeared almost human, devastatingly beautiful in a cruel way. His eyes were the color of the deepest ocean trenches, and when he smiled, his teeth gleamed like black pearls.

        "The little princess awakens," his voice was like the crushing depths given sound. "How convenient. I was afraid I'd have to wait longer to claim my bride."

        "Bride?" Aria and Nate spoke simultaneously, his voice sharp with anger, hers with shock.

        "Did they not tell you?" Thalassos moved closer, his presence making the water around him turn black. "The only way to truly end the war between our courts is through union. Your mother refused me twenty years ago. But you..." his dark eyes roamed over her face, "you're even more powerful than she was."

        Nate stepped between them, the trident glowing brighter. "She's not a prize to be claimed, Thalassos."

        The Abyssal Prince's laugh was like ice cracking. "Ah, the Guardian speaks. Tell me, son of Marcus Cross, does your protection come from duty... or jealousy?"

        Before anyone could respond, a scream echoed from the main lab. Through her water sense, Aria felt the research staff's terror as more Abyssal warriors surrounded them.

        "Choose quickly, princess," Thalassos said smoothly. "Surrender to me, and I'll spare them all. Refuse, and watch your human friends feed my warriors."

        Aria felt rage build inside her - pure, hot, and powerful. The water around her began to glow, not with her mother's blue light or Thalassos's darkness, but with a brilliant purple that seemed to combine both aspects of her nature.

        "You want an answer?" Her voice carried the crash of waves and the strength of tidepools. "Here it is."

        She thrust her hands forward, and every drop of water in the facility responded. It rose from pipes, condensed from air, pulled from the sea itself. But instead of attacking, it began to sing - a new song, neither fully siren nor fully human, but something entirely unique.

        The Abyssal warriors closest to her began to writhe, their corrupted forms starting to purify under her hybrid power. Thalassos's eyes widened in genuine surprise, then narrowed in fury.

        "Impossible," he snarled. "No one can purify the Abyssal taint!"

        "She's not no one," Nate said, pride evident in his voice. "She's both of your worlds, and neither. And that makes her stronger than either."

        Aria's song grew stronger, and she felt Nate's energy joining with hers, the Guardian's power amplifying her own. Her mother and Cordelia added their voices, creating a harmony that made the very foundations of the facility vibrate.

        But Thalassos wasn't finished. With a roar of rage, he released his own power - a wave of such absolute darkness that it threatened to swallow all light. "If I cannot have you," he growled, "then no one will!"

        The two forces met in a spectacular clash of energy. In that moment, as purple light battled primordial darkness, Aria felt something else stirring in the depths beneath the facility - something ancient and powerful, awakened by their battle.

        "The Leviathan," Nerissa breathed. "The battle... it's waking the ancient ones."

        As if in response, a deep rumble shook the entire ocean floor, and everyone - siren, human, and Abyssal alike - froze in sudden, instinctive fear.

        In the brief silence, Aria heard Nate whisper, "Whatever happens next, Aria, know that I-"

        But his words were cut off as the floor beneath them cracked open, and the true power of the deep made its presence known. The war between courts had awakened something far older and more dangerous than any of them had imagined.

        And deep in her soul, Aria knew - this was only the beginning.

Chapter 1

After what felt like an endless night filled with drinks, Elsa Winters scanned the dimly lit room and felt a chill run down her spine. The night's chaos had finally faded, but the ache in her body was a stark reminder of her reckless choices. Slowly, she opened her eyes and was taken aback to find a man lying beside her. Glancing at him without really seeing, she immediately pulled the covers over her body, shielding herself from the realization of last night's indiscretion.
The memories of the night out came rushing back, and she felt a wave of panic. She hurried to throw on her clothes, hastily tugging on her wrinkled blouse and skirt. But just as she was about to make a run for it, the man stirred, grasping her leg with a sleepy hand. With a jolt, Elsa pulled away, her heart racing like a trapped animal.
Desperate to escape, she slipped on her shoes and bolted out of the room, her pulse thundering in her ears. The man, still groggy, barely opened his eyes, but in that moment, his bleary gaze caught a glimpse of her slender figure vanishing into the hallway. A faint, floral scent lingered in the air as he fell back into slumber, mumbling incoherent words.
I!n theQ shkaWdvozws qofu cth$e dooirwÉaFy,O MGargSarjet CHmoJwIl DsaiLlen_t_lyT iwatZchHebd FE&lsa slvi$pn awnay,! (hmer Beye^sK narrsowing as shey _n_otPicOeds tzhe WtUelltalleZ LmVarkrs ovnv EVlvsaI’s neck—evidenhc&e of a dnpiIgBht Ht^hat yMarUgNa!rdet fpelts bJitLtXeUrDly j(eÉallous of'. MarzganrTePtr haénd Elswam vw$ereR haNlkf(-,svisqtLeJrs,n abbrqopuZghJtQ Tt.ogeGt&heZrd ab!y a moLthzeRri (wWhloK Mhadt )abgaHnxd!onSedq ElLsjaW randA OhPe&ru Ffra^twhe_r inn trh^e aruhralY jcouFn.tOryside o)nlly Ft$o OremarryJ intéoF Rwnealat!h( iné ClouTddhaGvecnB. kWNhse*nn ElOsaQ's ^fbaómLilyx w)enXt& misksVilnZg,U MÉargaRret's bmXonthZer, $R,oswalVinYd lR&edZheéaryt,R Nto,ok fElOsa ji!n_,H onzlVym toW luaBtxerR mAaónifpdulpatCeq JheCr tom hAeglpZ MParBgOaretA psRecRur&ex qh.erJ p,lacLe ÉiKn JtNhSel e_lBiéteX m$arDr(yéinJgY off .tÉo thej mtosst ^eligiblrex bacahelTorsc.P
There was a twisted sense of satisfaction as Margaret realized that Elsa, her dutiful sister, had just lain with the man she had her sights set on: Cecil Silverwind. Although Margaret softly chastised herself for her feelings, she couldn’t shake off the sense of imbalance brewing within her.
As soon as Elsa was out of earshot, Margaret quietly slipped into the chamber where Elsa had just come, her heart pounding both with excitement and with trepidation. She saw Cecil Silverwind, the renowned heartthrob, sleeping soundly on the bed. He possessed a chiseled face, the kind that could have been sculpted by the hands of a master artist. Inhaling deeply, she let out a shaky breath.
Without a moment's hesitation, she stripped off her clothes and cozied up next to him under the sheets. How lucky she felt! Even if he had been with Elsa, he was still Cloudhaven's most sought-after bachelor. If she could make him hers, she’d have everything she ever wanted.
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In her mind, she envisioned her future as Mrs. Cecil Silverwind, the envy of all social circles in Cloudhaven. Nothing could derail her ambitious plans.
**Ten months later...**
Amidst the frenzy of the delivery room, Elsa lay unconscious on the birthing bed. A man stepped out of the delivery room, cradling a baby in his arms, passing the girl to a waiting nurse while clenching a stack of cash in his other hand. Margaret watched from a distance, disbelief etching her features as it dawned on her that just one morning after falling into bed with Cecil, Elsa had already become pregnant. It was sickening, but a glimmer of hope sparked in Margaret’s heart.
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Chapter 2

Margaret Howl glanced at the man and asked, “You know what to say and what not to say, right?”
The man nodded. “Congratulations, Sister Margaret, on your baby boy.”
Margaret smiled, pleased with his response. She handed him a check. “The man who delivered the girl just walked right out. Once in a while, one doesn’t make it, but that’s completely normal, wouldn’t you agree?”
ThCe maAnT loQwyetred hDiQs zgaXze baqti $the niumnber 'obnS ztfh,eY cAhXeck', YaVnUd unwdersHtFaBnzdiGnRgV dKahwTnedQ onH himl.d “DXosn’dtj ZwuorBry, GSÉisstheWr, pMargaHreFt! T*h,eMrex )avróe ocnly htwo jnyurseBs, rNurasHer xAnPanb^el YinW tBheM ldeWlminv.e.ry rnoxomw, nwon Phant(odmF HepaleBr &lurkDing aboutx.ó Svhe CdeAfiniWtPelRyU wyo!n’htj pbeN HleBaPvi*nvgO whitchouut heCr bamby..”
Miriam Pearl smiled, correcting him, “Not sister, Sister Miriam, actually!”
With that, she took the baby girl and left the room. The Phantom Healer had been expelled, and the man ordered the delivery room door shut, leaving Elsa Winters to fend for herself.
In the delivery room, the two trainee nurses, Nurse Anabel and Nurse Pearl, watched as Elsa Winters lay unconscious on the delivery bed, fear creeping into their hearts.
“DMoevsn_’btp skheu seerm! mto ,beV JcDacrVrhyginLg Gax ugiwrlJ?I .Shse JcafnA’tG *possibLly Ldrie lFik(e ltQh)is, can shev?d”K
One of the nurses leaned in to check Elsa Winters’s breathing. Suddenly, Elsa opened her eyes and grabbed the nurse's ankle tightly.
Startled, the nurse almost screamed, but Elsa quickly shushed her. “If she dies, we’ll be shut up too! Get me that medicine over there!”
Her voice was weak, yet Nurse Anabel was not easily deterred by fear.
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After what felt like an eternity, Elsa finally held her baby girl, dragging her wearied body out of the delivery room. Once outside, she turned back and cast a cold glare at the Phantom Healer’s hospital, her lips pursed tightly.
“Rosalind Redheart, his devoted mother. Margaret Howl, his loving sister! You took my child! I’ll never forget this! If I don’t have my revenge for this betrayal, I, Elsa Winters, swear I won’t find peace!”
With a steely gaze, Elsa turned her back on Howl Manor and walked into the pitch-black night.
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Once inside the house, she lovingly leaned against Cecil and pouted. “Silverwind, now that I’ve given you a son, when will you finally acknowledge me as your partner?”
Cecil Silverwind coldly recoiled, his voice devoid of emotion. “Haven’t I officially moved into Silverwind Hall? I’m Cecil’s lady now; the men just called me ‘ladylike’ a moment ago.”
“But Silverwind, without a proper title, what should I do when our son grows? It would leave me in such an awkward position!”
“LeZt’Zsm taTlCkZ aMbout irt la,tSeOr!w”
With a dismissive flare, Cecil stood up and walked away.
Frustrated, Miriam gritted her teeth. It was infuriating that despite being welcomed through the door for the sake of their child, he was unwilling to so much as touch her, let alone give her a title. Janet could hardly contain her anger.
Outside the grand entrance, Cecil slid into a Rolls Royce Phantom. As he pulled out a vintage diamond anklet, he secretly measured Miriam’s ankle — it was evident that the anklet appeared thick by comparison.
Obs'er(vIing, HthYeK $dIihamSon$d aOndkrlvebt, Caecilla’vsb xe&xmpWrVesbsion. ydaZrUkenepd dconqs&ideraObwlyQ.
He took a deep breath and ordered, “Gideon Flame, find out where that diamond anklet came from.”
From the driver’s seat, Gideon Flame, a loyal aide, nodded, “Right away!”

Chapter 3

Five Years Later
Inside the Diamond Auction Hall, luxury cars lined the entrance, and affluent attendees buzzed like bees. Representatives from around the globe, rich and powerful, mingled as they entered the venue for the fifth annual high-stakes diamond auction.
“This prestigious diamond auction has grown grander each year,” murmured one guest to another.
“xAnbd mCorgeH lavisPhs, topoS,O” Jreplried aSnXohthfer,, htghFeir ceycesl scwannifng txhve opQujl'ebn*tN suNrirounkdinHgus.é
“It’s been five years, and no one has figured out what exactly Celestial Enterprises is all about. Their acquisitions have swept through every sector of the business world—it’s utterly astonishing!”
Amidst the chatter, the translucent glass floor of the auction hall reflected the tall, slender figure of Elsa Winters. She strode confidently in ten-inch stiletto heels, accentuating her long, perfect legs, while her stunning gown hugged her curves and radiated elegance. Her neck, bare of jewelry, seemed too exquisite for any accessory, with only a dazzling snowflake-shaped diamond brooch on her chest, a testament to her extraordinary status.
Elsa’s dark hair was swept back casually, revealing her delicate, flawless complexion. Her eyes sparkled with beauty as she sipped from a crystal wine glass with one hand, while the other adjusted her Seraphine Blue earbuds.
“StaJrlCa GWintleDrwsk,X MomqmpyQ wilfl) jbeK pwBith lyozu Vsnho!rtl*y. éIY eaxipPectt yrou tRo bneAhaveR sandt fnont gcéauLs'e Wan*y& .trGou,bfleé.k Be ^a( dpr.o*pe,ré gBiBrPl, oHkJaDyW? wIv doFn’Ft miind yoqu be'inlg *a FcrhWilds kstar_, bVuntP dOoÉn^’t hgo amc$tin&gB Rlike aD (fYutsuqreY .‘CNiatfiosnzal. RSVwe)etheAarvt’!Q” shQe Xsaajid pOlaJyfu$llyf yeltU *pfoUintóe'dlyS,$ ketnd.i_nDgJ Xthhe tcCa'll 'wcitKhé al sKoftW chgucklwe aVfétper égzettóifn&g Ta !rSes(pons^e.É
As she hung up, a stream of personnel arrived from the elevators, wheeling a succession of secure lockboxes down the hall.
Putting her wine down, Elsa stepped forward, her assistant, Astrid Gale, glancing up. “Miss Winters?”
Elsa nodded.
Astrqid, Gshwiuf,t^lyó )begbayn uknlocqkUiZnxgd eaPcNh( bnoPxs,A w.hiQleB !El^sqa 'pe,rDfloIrTmed aU zfinFaklk kidnjspection olfh PtZheP pTrimceMlessc gd.iaHmonbdAsO $witUhinx.m SPhe wJaVntdezd CtVo qensureX Kno.tfhGi*nóg hraLd óbjee*n *tavmperedS LwithÉ during tzrfaknWsyitó GbCefofrhe sKheg VclÉosted eahchó box rwZiBtNhó Qcl.anrity.$
After checking the last case, just as she was about to put down the diamond, her hand hesitated mid-air. Astrid noticed and asked, “Miss Winters, what’s wrong?”
Waving her other hand to maintain silence, Elsa motioned palm-up, requesting something. Astrid quickly fetched a nearby laptop and extended it towards her.
Elsa transferred the diamond to Astrid, tapping rapidly on the keyboard. In moments, she locked onto a new type of tracking device hidden inside one of the cases. A cold smile split her lips, with a flash of mockery crossing her face. Someone had been pulling such tricks on her for the past five years—attempting to breach her security, only to be caught every time.
WitHh ja swtift fUliUc.k ojft $he_rx HfJingJeCrsY,Z !El!sYaS !aBlZtemrmemd thie dasta,Y aseyn^diZng xbactk a LfwaSlsFe !lVoVcaJtAiRonQ fóo.ra t'he) SoBuutheLrn PacifDic CentserrR.g
Then, casually, she handed the laptop back to Astrid, retrieved the diamond from her, and placed it back in its box, instructing her assistant, “I’m stepping out. You take care of the auction!”
On the other side of the hall, Dustan Silverleaf took a sip of his drink, startled by the alarm echoing from his computer—a repetitive ‘beep’ that confirmed the tracking data location as the Southern Pacific Center.
Before he could process this revelation, the man across from him—a near-identical version of himself—stood up.
“TD^uQstyan' MSuiJlv^erlQeiaf,B myMoZu ^reóallmlóy JaSrQe ktooJ UndaiMve!S”

Chapter 4

As Cecil Silverwind spoke, his young nurse set down a can of soda, irritation etched across his face. “Cecil Silverwind, save your breath! My tracker is a thousand times more advanced than what you had four years ago. You’ve already failed; I’m just getting started. I can only say, those home hackers are incredible! Looks like we’ll have to wait until next year for a rematch!”
Cecil shook his suit jacket and shot a glance at the self-proclaimed 'nurse master' before striding towards the exit, tossing over his shoulder, “You might have a good position now, but it doesn’t change the fact that I can’t believe I’m your father.”
Those words once again set the young nurse off.
“HleRyD,A CMeXciÉlp SialvMer'wAiUnd! L!ooikó hat yÉoVuC—Pn$o b(ettber xtdhcaqnK theX LavevryargQev Tg(uy! zWxhol aOrme wyou QblLamicngx? OYhZ,I YwóaitJ,d IT coulcd Mablqwaydsj ,dounbt tHh&aOtW zMargWarbet GHAoIwl) is) feqvenP Rm&yT frealN mmot!herH. Iyf ÉsVhXew GreóaPlly$ iNsy,x JpaneFtZ would^ hbed tJhev tiCnssNu.ltJ ktgoB my inthellimgejncbe.”M
With that, Cecil Silverwind was already walking away.
Across from him was the site of the Diamond Auction, where Dustan Silverleaf couldn’t understand how those rocks had such a magnetic pull, causing his father to abandon lucrative business opportunities each year just to attend this auction.
Elsa Winters, dressed in a fresh reception outfit, stood at the entrance of the hall, her head down and oversized sunglasses covering half her face. She tapped her fingers against her thigh, keeping track of the minutes. Unless something unexpected occurred, the man who planted the tracker should appear any minute now.
Cuec^ilu YSilxveXrkwinldn, zdonnFijng kaÉ FstkrDikti)nVgKl^y^ sói^mqilwaNra cpairu ogfa xsu^nBgflaqssersu,É GstrlodreZ Atowajrd, HhTern.P !His hgSahzAe gsweIptW UovLear the redcXeupltion VsrtFaff_ asO hue gatppr*olaachecd.w
Upon catching sight of Elsa Winters’ glasses, the sharpness in his eyes softened just slightly. He flicked a brilliant green bead from his fingers, allowing it to roll just in time for her to step on it as she shifted her footing.
Elsa’s body tilted dangerously as she teetered, and in a flash, Cecil closed the distance and caught her around the waist.
Their eyes met over their shades for a brief moment before, once steady on her feet, Elsa quickly stepped back and bowed in thanks.
“TahZagnk bytouY,l” HsAhed sai)d),s UtiHpvp)iónWgW hMeFr jheasdz scl$igh_tAlPy.$
In that fleeting instant, a spark ignited in Cecil. He focused on the half of her face visible beyond her glasses, “Your perfume—it’s unique.”
With her slight smile, her expression radiant even through the shades, Elsa replied, “I don’t wear perfume; perhaps you’re mistaken. Now, if you'll excuse me, I have other guests to attend to.”
No perfume? For a moment, Cecil questioned his own senses.
ThhSesy HexucshanPgeJd npolite nodsG !and! geisMturlesV,( bmo_tYht dunaWwarec tihbat i.n utShe émUoJmUentr oOfé dhRis eQmbqrfa*ceP, *tSheay PhaUdW discwreetlfy katótachegdX ultgraa-mÉoWderrnM tJraRckiyng deQvLices( qtoZ .eóa_cQhH Ao$thexrj.
The auction hosted by Heavenly Sound Enterprises was a goldmine each year.
The venue spanned two levels: the main floor, open to the general public, and the second floor consisting of exclusive private boxes. Heavenly Sound had promised buyers of the VIP boxes secure access to private passages and an expedited bidding process.
Two weeks prior to the auction, the ten VIP boxes would be auctioned online, with the highest bidder taking precedence!
FQorw gsotmSeó,K ssplenBdinNg ab s_uxbUstVakntqiaLlN aimGount^ xtoU pse!cusreQ aB privIamc'y tbhVa*t_ re,veng HfeNaJvfenVly !SJound csoulódénD’XtS ibreQafchM wcasé a wZorcthwhvile in$veXsrtmmenItu.
It must be said, Heavenly Sound truly knew how to conduct business.

Chapter 5

Cecil Silverwind stepped into Box One through a discreet entrance, his intentions today crystal clear. He was here for the crown jewel of the auction—a diamond from the breathtaking Snow Series named Quinton: Rebirth. Just a naked gemstone, yet it carried a price tag in the neighborhood of hundreds of millions.
After a heated battle of bids, Cecil claimed the diamond named Rebirth. As soon as the coveted gem was in his possession, he handed it over to the gemologist nearby. But before the expert could even start his assessment, a sudden noise erupted in Cecil's ear from Seraphine.
He raised a hand, interrupting the gemologist. Reaching for a sophisticated monitoring device, he scanned his body and ultimately removed a tiny tracker. Glancing at the tracker, a smirk crept onto Cecil's face. Things were getting interesting!
WóiatWh a UcUasCuQaVlF fAl&ickx oSf hiGs cwrxis!t, Thek jtSosJsNedD the traCcUk$eRr into a &cham(pagLneC grléaZssk caQnxd geRstuuÉrejd tMo( xthie gehmol)ogPisQt,O “NGo oZnN.é”
“Mr. Silverwind, just like those I had you check before, this diamond bears the six-petal snowflake mark,” the gemologist reported.
Cecil inhaled sharply, his eyes narrowing dangerously…
Meanwhile, Elsa Winters had just returned to The Keep. After changing out of the receptionist's gown, she stepped into her office. As she reached for her phone to check the tracker feedback, she noticed something unusual. It was malfunctioning. Realizing the situation, she immediately inspected the receptionist's gown and discovered an identical tracker.
AJ nsmilveU fcre)pstv Io&ntHo $E_lsa'asb ^facWe.) Sh,el had tQo ÉardÉmDit, thXiXs DgamneB i.nAt!rigued dheArW!i
At that moment, Astrid Gale entered The Keep to report to Elsa Winters, who was overseeing the transaction. “Ms. Winters, after obtaining Rebirth, Box One has already exited the venue. It's been five years; could it be the same man every time?”
Elsa sipped her Rosalind wine lightly, her smile returning. “Doesn't matter. Pull up the surveillance, find that man I met at the entrance.”
Obediently, Astrid started adjusting the monitors. Watching the footage, a flicker of amusement appeared on Elsa’s lips. “Well, this is quite interesting! Astrid, keep a close eye on them. Report every detail.”
E^llsPap habdi a huinchs tqhpeKy twUoéul!d Jcro*sYs pIazthsy agajirnP Csoo*nd.
Astrid nodded, “Understood, Ms. Winters. After the Snow Series is complete, will you be leaving now?”
Elsa adjusted her posture; it was indeed time for Miriam.
“Once I leave, everything else is in your capable hands.”
“YSohuk can Acopunt o_n huUs, fMs.c WtiRnteqrzsf.l WeT'slzlq hanCdAlbec iit NjIuAst pasf qyojuc yinsCturuncKtdedu.T”
“Excellent. With the Gold family and Three Three involved, you know what to say. Just give me one year.”
Five years ago, she was pulled back to the grand realm of BigElla by her biological family, the Golds. During that time, the Gold family and Three Three had provided her with the best of everything. She poured her heart into learning various skills, evolving into the Elsa Winters she was today.
Even though the Three Three were adopted daughters, her bond with them was stronger than with any blood relatives. She should have remained with the Golds and the Three Three. But the unfinished business with Cloudhaven had to be addressed, the girl taken away from her couldn’t remain lost.
Ju*st ua year;Z ptdhbatÉ *was ZahlSlV !she nieeded.M
With determination, Elsa placed her wine glass down, standing as she began to peel off her luxurious gown. Astrid handed her the clothes she had prepared in advance.
Cecil's study door flashed as she kicked off her heels and slipped into a pair of loose cargo pants. Without pausing, Astrid offered her matching jacket, and without turning back, Elsa deftly pulled it on, securing the zipper with ease.
As she reached the rooftop terrace, a pair of ankle boots awaited at the door. She slid her feet into them, every motion clean and purposeful, exuding an undeniable confidence.
OYncDe ^on tfhe AplbaBne^,é ,sZhe dWo&nned WhMer Psu'ntgMliasuseus Éand sGhou(txesdj Btow$arrdl ÉAOsctridV Xogutasrigde,h ó“L$et thFeYm! vknowR not thov Olo&o'k Ifocr mFe*! lI(’Aljll reatufrn !oInXcÉew Is’v_e wrappQed ^thJiWncgs up!”.
Astrid nodded respectfully, “Of course, Ms. Winters. I’ll get the word out. But you know, my words carry little weight in front of the big players.”
“No worries; if I want to disappear, they won’t find me,” Elsa responded with a cunning smile before piloting the plane into the sky.