The Sovereign's Curse

Elaine's console chimed softly, interrupting her focus. She glanced down at her personal device and frowned. The message displayed a curt:

"Come to my office. Now."

She let out an audible sigh, pinching the bridge of her nose. "Of course. Timing's always perfect with him."

"What's wrong?" Xander asked, noting the sudden shift in her demeanor.

"Dad," she replied, slipping her device into her pocket and rising from her chair. "He wants to see me. Don't know why, but he's clearly not in the mood to wait."

Xander's stomach twisted. "You're going to tell him about Aeternis, aren't you?"

Elaine shot him a sharp look. "No. I'm not that reckless, Xander. Stay here. Don't touch anything." She paused, pointing at Aeternis. "And keep that quiet."

As she hurried out, Xander sank into the nearest chair, his mind racing.

---

Victor's office was a stark contrast to Elaine's. Where her space exuded warmth and organization, his was cold, calculated, and overwhelming. The dark mahogany furniture loomed heavy, the walls adorned with accolades and artifacts that screamed power. At the center of it all was Victor, seated in a high-backed chair, his hands steepled under his chin.

"Elaine," he said as she entered, his tone unreadable. "Close the door."

She did so cautiously, her hand lingering on the handle for a second longer than necessary. "You wanted to see me?"

Victor gestured to the chair across from him. "Sit."

Elaine obeyed but kept her posture rigid. Something about his demeanor felt off—more so than usual.

Victor leaned forward, his piercing gaze locking onto hers. "I hear Xander came by to the Tower today," he said slowly, his voice dripping with curiosity. "What's he up to?"

Elaine blinked, caught off guard. "What do you mean? I don't know what he's been up to."

Victor's lips curved into a thin, humorless smile. "Elaine, I'm not one to play games. I know my son, and I know he's been poking around where he shouldn't be. I want to know what he's found."

Elaine's heart skipped a beat, but she kept her expression neutral. "I don't know what you're talking about."

Victor's smile vanished, replaced by a cold glare. "Don't lie to me, Elaine. You're smarter than that. And you know what happens when I'm lied to."

The air in the room felt suffocating. Elaine clenched her fists under the desk, fighting to keep her composure.

"Fine," she said evenly. "If you're so certain he's up to something, why don't you ask him yourself?"

Victor leaned back, a dark glint in his eye. "Because I'm asking you. And unlike your brother, I know you understand loyalty."

Elaine opened her mouth to respond, but a faint flicker of movement behind Victor caught her eye. For a split second, his shadow didn't align with his body. It stretched unnaturally, curling at the edges like smoke.

Her stomach tightened. What was that?

Victor's voice cut through her thoughts. "I'll only ask one more time, Elaine. What. Is. He. Hiding?"

Elaine met his gaze, the pieces slowly clicking into place. This wasn't her father—not entirely. Something about him was… wrong.

"I don't know," she lied smoothly, masking the fear now bubbling in her chest.

Victor's stare lingered before he gave a curt nod. "You can go."

Elaine didn't wait to be told twice. She stood, keeping her movements measured, and left the room.

The door clicked shut behind Elaine, leaving Victor alone in the expansive, sterile space of his office. He lingered for a moment, his expression unreadable, before leaning back on his chair as he reached for underneath his desk, his fingers brushed against the surface of a hidden compartment beneath. With a soft hiss, a concealed panel slid open, revealing the faint glow of a peculiar device he delicately put on his desk.

Its sleek, metallic surface was alien in design, adorned with glowing, pulsating lines that shifted colors with each beat—technology far beyond anything this world should have possessed.

Victor stood before it, his hands clasped tightly behind his back, his expression a mask of cold determination. The device emitted a low, resonant chime, and the holographic projection of a figure flickered into existence. The face was sharp, angular, with pale skin that almost seemed translucent, and eyes that glowed an unsettling shade of violet. No, it wasn't a projection. It was a manifestation.

"Have you confirmed it?" the figure asked, its voice smooth but layered with an unnatural resonance, as though multiple people spoke in unison.

Victor's jaw tightened. "The boy has found it. The Key." His voice carried both frustration and unease, his usually unflappable demeanor showing cracks. "But I'm not sure if it's fully awakened yet."

The figure's lips curled into a thin smile, revealing unnervingly perfect teeth. "The Key. After all this time…" There was a pause, a strange flicker of delight in its glowing eyes. "This is good news, Lucian. Very good news indeed. But why haven't you retrieved it?"

Victor stepped closer to the device, placing his palms on the desk and leaning in. "He hasn't brought it to me yet," he said through gritted teeth. "The boy doesn't trust me, and if I move too soon, he'll get suspicious. I need to tread carefully."

The figure's expression darkened, its voice dropping to a chilling tone. "Carefully? No, Lucian. This is not the time for caution. You were sent there for one reason only—to secure The Key and bring it back. Time is not on our side. You know what's at stake."

Victor straightened, his fists clenching at his sides. "Do you think I don't know that?" he snapped, his voice briefly losing its measured control. "I've sacrificed everything to get to this point. I won't let some impulsive boy ruin it."

The figure tilted its head, its smile returning but now laced with menace. "Then stop wasting time. The Key in its dormant state is vulnerable. If it activates fully, it will choose him. And if that happens…" It trailed off, the unspoken consequence heavy in the air.

Victor's lips pressed into a thin line, his eyes narrowing. "It won't come to that," he promised, his tone icy. "I'll get it before that happens. I just need more time."

The figure leaned closer to the projection, its violet eyes boring into him. "Time is a luxury you don't have. Bring The Key home. Or someone else will."

Victor's throat tightened, but he gave a curt nod. "Understood."

The figure's image flickered, its presence fading as the device powered down, leaving Victor alone in the cold, oppressive silence. For a moment, his shoulders sagged, a rare display of vulnerability. But it was fleeting.

He moved to the window, gazing out at the sprawling city below. The bright lights reflected off his face, casting his features in sharp relief. "You'll never see it coming," he murmured to himself, a twisted smile forming on his lips.

His reflection stared back at him, cold and unfeeling.

---

Elaine's heels echoed sharply against the polished floors as she hurried down the hallway, her usually composed demeanor replaced with palpable urgency. Her mind raced, piecing together the fragments of her conversation with Victor. Something wasn't right—something was deeply wrong.

Bursting through her office doors, she found Xander standing in the middle of her office, with Aeternis in his hand. The sphere hummed loudly, its glow casting ripples of light across the room. Xander glanced up at Elaine, concern etched across his face.

"What's going on?" she asked, stepping closer, her eyes fixed on the pulsating sphere.

"I don't know," he replied, his voice tense. "Its not responding to me. It just… it just started acting up out of nowhere."

Elaine held his gaze, her voice steady but urgent. "Xander, listen to me carefully. You need to leave. Right now."

Xander held Aeternis tightly, his brows knitting together in confusion. "What? Why? Did something happen?"

Elaine grabbed his arm, and started pulling him towards the door. "I don't have time to explain everything, but I just left Dad's office, and…" She hesitated, her eyes darting to the door as if expecting Victor to burst through it at any moment. "Something's wrong with him. He's not himself."

Xander frowned, his body tensing. "What do you mean, not himself? You think he knows about Aeternis?"

"I don't just think, Xander. I know. The way he was asking questions and the way he looked at me..." She shook her head, her grip tightening on his arm. "Please, trust me. We can't risk you being here right now."

Xander glanced at Aeternis, its glow pulsing faintly now. "Elaine, if he knows, then maybe it's time we—"

"No," she cut him off, her tone sharp. "You don't have all the answers yet, and until you do, you can't risk showing your hand. Get out of here, Xander. Go somewhere safe, and don't tell anyone where you're going. Not even me."

Her words hit him like a bucket of ice water. He stared at her, his sister who had always been so rational, so composed, now visibly shaken.

"What about you?" he asked, his voice low. "If something happens to you—"

"I'll be fine," she interrupted, forcing a reassuring smile. "I can handle him. But you need to go. Now."

Xander hesitated for a moment longer before nodding. "Alright," he said, slipping Aeternis into his pocket. "But you call me if—"

"I will," Elaine promised, ushering him toward the door.

As Xander disappeared down the corridor, Elaine leaned against the doorframe, exhaling a shaky breath. Her mind churned with questions she couldn't yet answer. But one thing was certain—The man sitting in that office wasn't her father.