Darían had risen within the Community of Thirteen thanks to his cunning, intellect, and a lack of scruples that made him both feared and respected. Through the Protectors—the Community's elite warriors—he maintained his influence and secured his place in a system where betrayal was currency.
During a Council meeting, Lucius Björn, one of the most influential members, hurled a veiled jab laced with contempt.
—Doctor Darían, the reports on the Protectors' performance are... intriguing. It seems even the shadows obey your command.
Darían replied with his usual calm tone, though his gaze was sharp as a blade.
—Stability is the cornerstone of our existence, Lucius. My Protectors merely reflect the commitment we all ought to share.
Though murmurs of approval rippled through the chamber, Darían knew that every word spoken was a weapon—and every glance, a veiled threat.
When the council chamber doors closed behind him, the echoes of politics faded.In the silence of his study, a different world awaited—one more intimate, more fragile.
Aisha, now nine years old, sat cross-legged in a corner, a book resting in her hands.She had learned to remain silent while her father was lost in thought, but her eyes brimmed with questions she dared not ask. Darían leaned toward her, brushing a lock of hair behind her ear.
—Aisha, I need you to be strong. You'll be safe here, but you must learn to observe and understand everything around you.His voice was gentle, but his gaze, unwavering.
Aisha nodded, used to her father's cryptic words—though in her heart, she longed for warmth, not instruction.
One afternoon, while walking through the Stella Garden, Aisha stumbled upon a boy with white hair and violet eyes. He was sitting beneath a tree, flipping through a book, but snapped it shut the moment he saw her.
—Who are you? —he demanded, leaping to his feet—. Who gave you permission to see me in secret? Speak.
—I'm Aisha —she replied calmly, clutching her bag—. And you?
The boy frowned, but before he could answer, a tall figure appeared behind him.
—Varek, don't be rude to our guest —said Luciano Kerens, placing a hand on the boy's shoulder.
Luciano, leader of the Community and Varek's adoptive father, looked at Aisha with a mix of curiosity and recognition. His gaze paused on the pendant hanging from her neck.
—That pendant is special, Aisha. Who gave it to you?
—It belonged to my mother —she answered with a serenity beyond her years—. Though she's no longer here.
Luciano fell silent, his eyes clouded by a storm of memories. Before he could respond, Darían arrived, cutting the moment short.
—Lord Kerens, I appreciate the welcome you've extended to my daughter —he said politely, though his gaze made it clear he disapproved of their proximity.
—She is my precious daughter, —Darían emphasized, gently stroking Aisha's hair—. You will be happy here. You'll need to get used to your new home.
Luciano said nothing. His jaw tightened, his fingers tensed slightly on Varek's shoulder. His eyes, once warm, turned hard, as though the past had grabbed hold of him.He studied Aisha inquisitively, a flicker in his gaze—as if he knew her from somewhere.
Years passed, and Aisha and Varek became inseparable. Both children of powerful figures, they learned to navigate the intricate world of the Community, where alliances were as necessary as they were dangerous. At her debut gala, Varek dazzled with his skills in fencing, archery, and hand-to-hand combat, earning the respect of all in attendance. Aisha, in turn, stood out not only for her sharp intellect but for her uncanny ability to stay composed under pressure. Her talent for reading those around her made her an intriguing, even dangerous presence.
Yet behind that composed exterior, Aisha felt a void she could not ignore. The shadow of her mother, encased in that crystal in the basement, loomed over every decision, shaping her in ways she didn't yet understand.
One night, as they watched the stars from the balcony, Varek broke the silence with a question that caught her off guard.
—Have you ever wondered what would happen if we left all this behind? —he asked, his gaze lost in the night sky.
Aisha turned to him, surprised. It was rare for Varek to show vulnerability.
—I don't know… maybe we'd find something different —she said, allowing herself to imagine a life beyond the suffocating expectations of their parents.
—I don't want to run, Aisha, but sometimes it feels like we live in a prison with no bars.His voice carried a melancholy he couldn't hide.
Aisha nodded slowly. She understood his feelings all too well. Though she loved her father, she knew her life was bound tightly to Darían's ambitions. Often, she wondered if her desires were truly her own—or just echoes of his will.
While walking through the garden one afternoon, Aisha crossed paths once again with Ibrahim, the Björn family's enigmatic friend. He approached with his usual mysterious air, holding out a blue rose.
—It seems fate insists we meet, Aisha —he said, his smile full of hidden meaning.
Aisha looked at him with distrust, recalling her father's warnings.
—I don't have time for this, Ibrahim. You shouldn't be here —she answered coldly.
He chuckled softly, undeterred.
—I've heard much about you, Aisha. About your talents… and your mother —he added, stepping closer—. She and I share more history than you might imagine.
Aisha's body stiffened. Though she didn't want to listen, his words struck a nerve—the aching emptiness from not knowing the truth about her mother.
—I don't want to hear it. My life is mine, Ibrahim. I don't need your stories.
He tilted his head, wearing that same unsettling smile.
—Maybe not yet. But time reveals all things. You are the key, Aisha. Just remember… your mother is not asleep by choice.
That night, unable to silence the storm within, Aisha descended into the basement.Before the crystal that held her mother, she let out all the frustration she'd bottled up for years.
—Why, mother? Why are you here, trapped? —she murmured, tears streaming down her cheeks—. Why do I feel like my life isn't mine, but just a continuation of your choices?
She pounded the glass with clenched fists, longing for an answer that would never come.The reflection of her own face staring back only magnified her despair.
Mary, the caretaker, found Aisha collapsed on the floor, sobbing inconsolably. In silence, she wrapped her in a protective embrace.
—Everything will be alright, my dear —she whispered, though both of them knew how empty that promise was.
From that moment on, Aisha resolved that she would no longer be just another piece on her father's board.Ibrahim's words, the silent presence of her mother, and the crushing weight of Darían's expectations drove her to a single conclusion:
She would do whatever it took to uncover the truth behind her family—even if it meant disobeying Darían...
...and shattering the very foundations of the Community.