Lucas’s POV
I led Abigail down the corridor of the Black Elite building, the dim lighting casting long shadows as we moved through the hallways. It was late, the kind of late that made every sound sharper, every thought heavier. Abigail was silent, lost in her own head, and I didn’t want to interrupt her thinking. She had a lot to take in, but there was still so much she didn’t know. So much ‘we’ didn’t know.
We reached her new office, a dark oak door looming in front of us. It wasn’t far from my own, just a little further down the hall, but bigger. Much bigger. I pushed the door open, the hinges creaking softly as the room revealed itself, massive, with wide windows that stretched along one wall, overlooking the academy grounds. The space felt cold, empty. It would soon be hers, though, once she settled in.
“This is your office now,” I said, stepping aside to let her in.
Abigail walked inside slowly, her eyes sweeping across the room. The desk, large and imposing, sat near the window, while the walls were lined with empty bookshelves that begged to be filled. She traced her fingers along the edge of the desk, her expression unreadable.
“It’s… big,” she murmured, her voice barely above a whisper.
I smiled softly. “You’ll get used to it.”
She didn’t reply, just gave a slight nod as she continued looking around. I could see the weight of everything settling on her shoulders, the responsibility of being part of the Black Elite starting to sink in.
I motioned for her to sit, pulling out one of the chairs from a small seating area near the corner of the room. She hesitated for a moment, then sat down, her posture tense.
I dropped a stack of files onto the table between us. “We’ve got a lot to go over. These are updates on the academy, but there’s something else I wanted to talk to you about first.”
Her eyes flickered with curiosity as she reached for the top file. I could see the title: “Aurorium Family – Confidential.”
“This… is about Emery?” she asked, glancing up at me.
I nodded. “Specifically, her brother. Noah Aurorium.”
She straightened in her chair, flipping open the folder carefully. “Noah… I’ve heard his name mentioned before, but never much detail. What’s his story?”
“That’s the thing,” I said, leaning forward. “There’s not much of a story. Noah was supposed to be the head of the Aurorium family. Two years older than Emery, groomed to take over everything. But then, one day, he just… disappeared.”
“Disappeared?” Abigail echoed, frowning. “What do you mean? Like he ran away?”
I shook my head. “No one knows. He vanished without a trace. No one talks about him, not even Emery. It’s like he never existed.”
She was quiet for a moment, processing the information. “Do you think it was… something planned? Or do you think something happened to him?”
“I don’t know,” I admitted. “There are no clues, no leads. Just... a brother that no one talks about.”
Abigail continued to skim through the file, her frown deepening. “And what about Emery’s father? Does he ever mention Noah?”
“No,” I said flatly. “He’s just as silent on the subject. But there’s something else, something I can’t figure out.”
She looked up, curiosity in her eyes. “What?”
I handed her another folder, this one much thinner. “There’s a girl. A girl in a wheelchair. The one I last sent you to look it up. She’s always with Mr. Aurorium, every time he makes a public appearance. But no one seems to know who she is.”
Abigail’s expression darkened as she stared at the picture, her fingers tracing the edges of the photo. “It doesn’t make sense. Why would Mr. Aurorium keep her hidden?”
“That’s what I’m trying to figure out,” I said. “And it’s not just her. There’s a lot about the Aurorium family that doesn’t add up. This girl, Noah’s disappearance… it feels like everything is connected, but I can’t see the full picture yet.”
Abigail leaned back in her chair, closing the file and rubbing her temples. “And Emery? Does she know?”
“I don’t think so,” I said slowly. “She’s too closed off. I’ve watched her, and there’s no indication that she knows about this girl. If she does, she’s keeping it buried deep to her.”
We sat in silence for a while, the weight of our conversation sinking in. The Aurorium family had layers, secrets that were just out of reach, and the more we dug, the more confusing it became.
Finally, Abigail spoke again, her voice quiet. “And Noah? Do you think his disappearance has something to do with this girl?”
I hesitated, the thought crossing my mind more than once. “It’s possible. I don’t have any proof, but… I have a feeling that whatever happened to Noah is tied to her. There’s something we’re missing.”
Abigail nodded slowly, deep in thought. “We need to find out more. About Noah, about this girl… about everything.”
I couldn’t agree more. But before we could dive further into the mystery, there was something else I needed to tell her. Something that might be even more important.
Abigail leaned forward, her voice filled with determination. “Don't loose hope now, Lucas.”
I couldn’t help but smile slightly at her eagerness, you're so brave Abigail. 
We left Abigail's new office, the echo of our footsteps filling the quiet hallway. My mind was still racing with all the pieces of the puzzle that didn’t quite fit together, the girl in the wheelchair, Noah’s sudden disappearance, and Emery’s tight hold on whatever secrets the Aurorium family had been keeping for years.
Abigail walked beside me, her face unreadable. I could feel the tension radiating off her, the same kind I had been feeling since I got closer to all this. And we were so close to something big, something that could turn everything we knew upside down. But the more we uncovered, the more dangerous it felt.
"Lucas," Abigail finally said, breaking the silence. Her voice was calm, but there was an edge to it. "Do you think Emery is hiding something about Noah? Like… more than just his disappearance?"
I stopped walking, turning to face her. Her eyes were sharp, filled with questions I didn’t have the answers to. “I think Emery knows more than she’s letting on, yeah. But whether she’s hiding something or protecting something… that’s the part I can’t figure out.”
Abigail let out a frustrated sigh, pushing her hair back from her face. "This family has too many secrets."
"Tell me about it." I started walking again, and she fell into step beside me. "But one thing’s for sure, whatever happened to Noah, it’s tied to those secrets. And we’re not going to get any answers unless we figure out what they’re hiding."
We turned the corner, approaching the stairs that led down to the lower levels of the Black Elite building. I could feel the weight of the conversation settling between us, the uncertainty of what came next. But there was no turning back now. We were too deep in this.
"You really think Emery will give us access to Noah’s office?" Abigail asked as we descended the stairs, her voice low.
"Honestly? No." I gave a small shrug. "But I think she’ll let us get close. She’s smart, but she’s not invincible. If we play it right, we might find a way in without her even realizing it."
Abigail raised an eyebrow. "And if she catches us?"
I let out a small laugh. "Then we’ll be in a lot of trouble. But when has that ever stopped us?"
She smirked, a flicker of amusement crossing her face. "True. I guess we’ll have to be extra careful, then."
As we reached the bottom of the stairs, the heavy door leading to the restricted section of the building loomed ahead of us. This part of the Black Elite headquarters wasn’t accessible to just anyone, but we had been given clearance, thanks to our rank. Still, it didn’t make it any less intimidating.
I pulled open the door, and we stepped into the dimly lit corridor. The air felt heavier down here, like the weight of the secrets kept within these walls was pressing down on us.
Abigail glanced around, her brow furrowing. "Lucas… what are we doing down here?"
I led her down the corridor, stopping outside a door that was nearly identical to the others, except for one small detail. The nameplate next to the door was faded, the letters barely visible after all this time. But I knew what it said.
Noah Aurorium.
"This is his office," I said quietly, watching Abigail’s expression shift as she realized where we were.
Her eyes widened, and she took a step closer to the door, her fingers brushing the edge of the frame. "It’s all full of answers."
"Yeah." I stepped closer, lowering my voice. "But no one has been inside since he disappeared. Emery’s the only one with access, and as far as I know, she’s the only one who’s ever set foot in there."
Abigail’s hand hesitated on the door handle, her curiosity burning bright. "Do you think there’s something inside? Something that could explain what happened to him?"
"I don’t know." I met her gaze, the intensity of the moment making my pulse quicken. "But if there’s any place that holds the answers, it’s in there."
She nodded, taking a deep breath before stepping back from the door. "We need to find a way in."
"We will," I promised. "But we can’t rush it. Emery’s too careful, and if she catches on that we’re trying to get in… well, let’s just say it won’t end well for us."
Abigail gave a slow nod, her mind clearly spinning with plans and possibilities. "We’ll figure it out," she said, more to herself than to me. "We have to."
I watched her for a moment, admiring the determination that burned in her eyes. Abigail had been through a lot, but she was strong. Stronger than most people gave her credit for. And if anyone could get to the bottom of this, it was her. Not me.
"We should go," I said after a moment, glancing down the hallway to make sure we were still alone. "Before someone sees us down here."
She nodded, giving one last glance at Noah’s office before turning to follow me back down the corridor. As we walked in silence, I couldn’t help but feel a sense of anticipation building in my chest. Whatever secrets lay behind that door, they were closer than ever to being uncovered.
But at the same time, I couldn’t shake the feeling that we were walking into something far bigger than we realized. Something dangerous.
And once we crossed that line, there would be no going back.
As we reached the main hallway again, I stopped, turning to face Abigail. "There’s one last thing I need to tell you."
She looked at me, her expression curious.
"Noah’s office… it’s not just any office. It’s tied to the entire Aurorium legacy. Everything he was supposed to inherit, everything he was supposed to become… it’s all connected to that room."
Abigail raised an eyebrow. "And Emery has full control over it now?"
I nodded. "Yeah. Which means if we want to get any closer to the truth, we’ll have to go through her."
Abigail’s expression hardened, her determination clear. "Then that’s what we’ll do."
I couldn’t help but smile at her resolve. "Alright. But we’ll need to be smart about it. Emery’s not going to make this easy for us."
She gave a small smirk, her eyes glinting with mischief. "When have I ever taken the easy way?"
I laughed softly, shaking my head. "Fair point."
We started walking again, but the weight of what we had just discovered lingered between us. Noah’s office, the girl in the wheelchair, Emery’s control over everything, it all felt like pieces of a puzzle that was just starting to come into focus.
And I had a feeling that once we put the pieces together, nothing would ever be the same again.
---
The day had been long, too long, and all I wanted was to crash into bed and finally get some rest. My phone buzzed in my pocket, cutting through the silence. I pulled it out, checking the time: 12:17 AM. 
"Who the hell is messaging this late?" I muttered under my breath, unlocking my phone.
It was an announcement. From Emery.
“Get to the Aurorium Colroom. Now.”
I sighed, running a hand through my hair. Of course. It could only be one thing. Xioron. 
“Shit.” I mumbled, irritation building in my chest. This guy was a pain even when he wasn’t around, and now we had to deal with him in the middle of the night. I was so close to getting some much-needed sleep, and now this?
“Always him,” I muttered, quickening my pace toward the Colroom. “Always ruining everything.”
As I reached the door to the Aurorium Colroom, I paused for a second, letting out a breath. I already knew what I was about to walk into. We’d been through this before, Xioron causing trouble, screaming and throwing a fit, and Emery handling it with a calm face. But each time, it got worse.
I pushed open the door quietly, stepping into the room.
The scene was exactly what I expected. Emery stood in the center, her back straight, arms crossed. Her eyes locked on Xioron, who sat chained to the chair, his wrists bound, the metal clinking as he struggled against the restraints. His face was twisted with anger, his voice hoarse from yelling.
“Let me go!” Xioron screamed again, his voice echoing around the room. “You can’t do this to me! You’ll all regret it!”
Nathalie stood a little behind Emery, her eyes cold as she watched the scene unfold. Finn was beside her, arms crossed, but his usual casual demeanor was gone. He looked serious, tense even.
“Shut up.” Finn muttered under his breath as Xioron’s voice reached another pitch.
Emery didn’t flinch. Her expression stayed calm, but there was something dangerous about her tonight. The way she stood there, unmoving, reminded me of a predator watching its prey. Xioron was in deep trouble, and he knew it. But he still kept fighting, still kept yelling like it was going to change anything.
I stepped closer, but I didn’t say anything yet. I wanted to see what Emery was going to do. This wasn’t my first time watching her handle Xioron, and it definitely wouldn’t be the last. Ever since the Midnight Scavenger event, we’d kept him around to make sure no one suspected his disappearance. The students thought it was all part of the show, and Xioron? Well, he was still useful, for now.
Emery glanced over at Nathalie and Finn, giving them a small nod. They both stood back a bit, letting her handle this. 
Xioron’s eyes were wild as they darted around the room, sweat dripping down his forehead. His wrists strained against the chains as he tried to break free, his voice desperate now. “I don’t need your help! I never needed any of this! Let me go, I’ll leave, I swear!”
Emery took a slow step forward, her heels clicking against the floor. “Xioron,” she said softly, her voice steady. “You’ve been saying that for days now. But we both know you can’t leave. Not after everything you’ve done.”
“I didn’t do anything!” Xioron screamed, his voice cracking. “You’re the ones—”
Emery cut him off by pulling a small syringe from her pocket. The liquid inside shimmered under the dim light, and I recognized it immediately. The same stuff she’d been giving him ever since that night. Every time he got too loud, too out of control, she would calm him down, convincing him it was for his own good.
“This is what you need,” Emery said quietly, stepping closer to him. “You’re not well, Xioron. And you know that.”
Xioron’s eyes widened, and he started shaking his head violently. “No! No more! I’m not taking that again! You can’t keep doing this! Please!”
Emery didn’t respond. She just reached for his arm, swift and practiced, as if she’d done this a hundred times before. Xioron thrashed in the chair, trying to pull away, but the chains held him in place. 
Finn winced as Xioron screamed again, louder this time. "Can you just knock him out already?" he muttered under his breath. Nathalie shot him a warning glance, and he fell silent.
“You’re doing this for yourself,” Emery whispered as she brought the syringe closer to Xioron’s skin. “You need to let go of this fight. It’s not going to help you anymore.”
Xioron’s face twisted in a mixture of fear and rage as Emery injected the liquid into his arm. His body tensed, his muscles straining against the chains, and for a moment, I thought he might snap. But then his breathing slowed, his eyes dulling as the medicine took hold. His screams turned to whispers, and then silence.
Emery stood up straight, watching as Xioron’s body slumped in the chair. His head drooped forward, and for a moment, the only sound in the room was the faint clinking of the chains as he shifted slightly.
I felt a chill run down my spine. This wasn’t the first time I’d seen Emery like this, but something about tonight felt different. Maybe it was the way she moved, so sure of herself, or maybe it was the fact that tomorrow, the ceremony would be held, and everything would change.
Nathalie stepped forward, breaking the silence. "What now?"
Emery glanced down at Xioron, her face unreadable. “We keep him here until the ceremony’s over. He’ll stay quiet, just like the other nights.”
Nathalie nodded, though I could see the unease in her eyes. "And after that?"
Emery didn’t answer immediately. She looked at Xioron, then back at us. "After that, we decide what’s best for him. For now, he stays in our care."
I exchanged a glance with Finn, who seemed as uneasy as I felt. This was getting more dangerous by the day, and Xioron wasn’t exactly stable. But Emery had made her decision, and that was final.
As we turned to leave, I could feel the tension still thick in the air. This whole situation was spiraling out of control, and we were just barely holding onto it. Xioron wasn’t going to stay quiet forever, and we all knew it.
Emery’s voice stopped me just as I reached the door. "Lucas, one more thing."
I turned to face her. She looked tired, the weight of everything resting on her shoulders. "Yes?"
"Noah’s office is still here in the Academy," she said quietly. "But remember. Only I have the access to it. Keep that in mind before you go snooping around where you shouldn’t."
Did she knows I had been walking around to Noah's office? Damnit.
Her words were calm, but there was an underlying warning that I didn’t miss. I nodded, my jaw tightening. "Understood."
With that, I left the room, the weight of the night pressing down on me even more heavily than before. 
I need to be careful next time.
Tomorrow’s ceremony would change everything. But I couldn’t shake the feeling that we were all in way over our heads.