I gently rubbed my belly, feeling the faintest movement within as the black DTY vehicle sped through the quiet, guarded roads. The tinted windows blurred the outside world, but my thoughts were sharp—too sharp.
Xavier sat beside me, silent and alert, his eyes scanning the road ahead while his hand subtly hovered near mine. Across from us, two agents in dark suits sat with stoic expressions, clearly briefed to remain professional but also clearly aware of who I was—or what I was carrying.
The child of Aurelius Valemont.
The vehicle turned sharply, and I instinctively placed a protective hand on my stomach again.
We weren't headed to any normal location. This was the secret entrance to DTY's inner sanctum—the very place from where they operated against the criminal empires of the world. And today, it would become the staging ground for something even greater.
The rebirth of LUMENN.
The beginning of the end for VARAK.
The vehicle came to a smooth stop in front of a vast, metallic structure buried beneath a mountainous ridge—unmarked on any map, shielded by multiple defense layers. A set of reinforced steel doors hissed open, revealing a subterranean corridor pulsing with cold blue light.
We stepped out and descended deeper into the earth through a high-speed elevator, flanked by agents at every corner. The further we went, the more it felt like we were entering the brain of a global resistance operation.
The DTY lair wasn't just a base—it was a fortress of intelligence.
Massive digital displays lined the walls, showing rotating 3D blueprints of VARAK bases, satellite surveillance, and real-time hacker logs. Dozens of personnel worked at command terminals, typing rapid-fire commands or relaying intel through earpieces. Everyone moved with sharp precision.
A training hall opened to our right—agents sparring in hand-to-hand combat, drones flying in programmed patterns for surveillance drills. In another wing, tech engineers were huddled around a virtual simulation hub—testing facial morphing software, vocal mimicry, and biometric cloaking for infiltration purposes.
"This way," said Mia—no longer just LUMENN's best agent, but now Deputy Director. She guided me toward a glass-walled strategy chamber at the core of the lair.
Inside, a digital table flickered to life, displaying VARAK's most updated stronghold locations, recent criminal movements, and red-outlined danger zones.
"You'll need a new identity, one close enough to your real persona that Aurelius won't suspect anything, but altered just enough that you pass any scans," one of the tech leads explained.
They were building my alias in real-time—tailoring my voice, facial structure, and even scent profile through advanced tech to bypass VARAK's biometric gates.
Xavier stood close, his jaw clenched as he watched. He hadn't spoken much, but the way he positioned himself between me and everyone else said everything.
"Once you're inside," the Director said, walking in with hands behind his back, "you'll find proof of their weapons trade routes. Your child is your shield, and your memories of Aurelius are your weapon. Use both."
I nodded slowly. The pressure was overwhelming—but for LUMENN, for my child, for a world falling into shadows—I would do it.
No matter the cost.
As the final details of my new identity were being adjusted, the strategy team handed me a sleek chip—an encrypted biometric override that would let me bypass some of VARAK's lower-level security systems. I was to hide it beneath a ring, custom-designed to match the identity they gave me: Celene Moreau, a wealthy heiress from Eastern Europe with deep ties to arms deals—someone believable enough to be on Aurelius's radar, yet distant enough to avoid immediate suspicion.
The DTY engineers prepped every detail—voice pitch modulator, contact lenses that could record discreetly, and a hidden transmitter in my earring that would send signals only Xavier could pick up if I ever needed extraction.
"You'll only have a 3-minute window to send distress signals once you're inside. Any longer, and they'll trace it back," one technician warned, adjusting the neural mic embedded in the collar of my coat.
Meanwhile, Xavier had been silently standing at the far corner, arms folded, watching every second with concern shadowing his features. I noticed how often his eyes flickered to my belly. He hadn't said a word about it, not since we left the restaurant.
Later that night, as the others dispersed and Mia spoke with the director in another room, I stepped out onto the balcony overlooking the training area. I needed a moment to breathe. The moonlight hit cold against the steel railings.
Xavier followed quietly, stepping beside me without saying a word. The silence between us was oddly comforting.
"You're scared," he finally said, not as a question, but a quiet observation.
I glanced up at him. "Of course I am. I'm carrying his child. And now I'm walking into the lair of the man who might become a monster, or already is one."
Xavier's jaw clenched, his voice quiet. "You don't have to do this alone."
"But I do," I whispered. "This is my responsibility. LUMENN fell... because I couldn't stop Aurelius when I had the chance. Now he owns the criminal world, and I'm the only one who knows how to reach the human side of him—if that side still exists."
He stepped closer. "Then let me go with you. Not just as backup. Let me be the one who walks beside you, no matter what happens."
I turned to face him, our eyes locked. "What are you saying, Xavier?"
"I'm saying that... no matter what Aurelius was to you—whatever he is now—I'll never abandon you. Not you, not your child. Whether this is a mission, a war, or the end of everything. I'm here."
I felt a tremor rise in my throat. No words came, just silence between us—but the kind that said more than any vow. Then, without a word, he gently rested his hand over mine—on top of my belly.
"I'll keep both of you safe," he whispered.
And in that moment, I realized something terrifying.
This mission wasn't just about LUMENN, VARAK, or Aurelius anymore.
It was about choosing—between the past that built me, and the future I had yet to claim.
Moments later, Xavier and I were escorted into a black, unmarked vehicle. The DTY agents around us were tense but professional—hands never far from their weapons, eyes scanning every corner of the road as the city blurred past. No one spoke.
This was it.
The drive felt endless and yet far too short. My heartbeat matched the rhythm of the tires over the pavement. I gently rested a hand over my belly, reminding myself why I was doing this. For the survivors. For my child. For the future.
Xavier sat beside me in silence, jaw set, every muscle in his body tight with focus. He hadn't let go of my hand since we stepped into the car.
Finally, we reached the edge of the city and continued further into a remote industrial zone—abandoned warehouses, half-demolished factories, and broken fences that stretched endlessly. The car slowed near a large, heavily-guarded structure that looked like a long-forgotten shipping depot. But I knew better.
This was it—VARAK's den.
Concrete walls three meters high surrounded the entire complex. Armed guards patrolled the perimeter with military precision. Surveillance drones hovered overhead like vultures. The air smelled like rust and gun oil.
The gates opened without a word, and the vehicle rolled inside.
I tried to keep my breathing calm, tried to still the storm inside my chest. But when the vehicle stopped and the door opened, the tension hit me like a wave.
Two men in sharp suits approached. One of them I recognized from a past mission—once a cartel leader, now rebranded under Aurelius's global rule.
"Celene Moreau?" one of them asked, his tone neutral, but laced with suspicion.
I nodded, sliding out of the vehicle with practiced grace. "As requested."
Xavier stepped beside me, perfectly in character—my partner, my protector.
The man studied us both for a moment, then gave a curt nod. "Follow me. The Boss is expecting you."
The words hit like ice in my veins.
The Boss.
Aurelius.
No turning back now.
We stepped inside the den, and immediately, the air shifted.
Everything about the place screamed order and control. The walls were reinforced steel, the lighting dim but calculated. Every man we passed stood motionless—guards, soldiers, agents—all of them trained to the bone, standing like statues, as if carved from stone. Not one flinched. Not one blinked.
They weren't just followers. They were weapons.
And then, we reached the heart of it—the command room.
He was there.
Aurelius Valemont.
Sitting on a high-backed, obsidian-black chair like a king surveying his empire. He looked like he hadn't slept in days. Dark circles framed his deep, ocean-blue eyes—eyes that were both haunted and sharp as blades. His expression was unreadable, a mask of stone carved by power and war.
Even from across the room, his presence was suffocating.
That overwhelming aura—dominance, silence, control—it radiated off him like heat from a furnace. No ordinary person would've lasted a second in his gaze. His eyes met mine.
And time froze.
I turned to Xavier and whispered, "Just stand back. Let me talk to him."
Xavier gave a tight nod, concern flickering in his eyes, but he obeyed without a word.
I stepped forward, one slow breath at a time, my heart pounding louder with each step that brought me closer to the man who once held it.
"Aurelius…" I said, voice steady despite the storm inside me.
He didn't move.
His eyes remained locked on mine—piercing, unreadable, dangerous.
Silence stretched between us like a blade. The entire room seemed to hold its breath.
Then, he finally spoke—his voice low, cold, and controlled.
"So… the prodigal bride returns."
The words left my mouth before I could stop them, the heat of anger flooding my chest.
"What do you mean by 'prodigal bride'?" I demanded, my voice sharp. "You're the one who surrendered to your father while I escaped from VARAK. And now here you are, becoming just like him—no, worse. You killed him."
Aurelius's expression remained impassive, but there was a flicker in his eyes—a brief moment of something... regret? Or perhaps just something darker. It was hard to tell.
He leaned back in his chair, his fingers tapping rhythmically against the armrest. "Is that what you think?" he asked, his tone a mix of mockery and indifference. "You think I'm like him? After everything we've been through? You think I'd throw it all away just to become another pawn in his game?"
I stepped closer, the sting of betrayal lashing at me.
"I watched you, Aurelius. I watched you walk away from everything, from me, from LUMENN, and you—" I choked on the words, feeling the weight of the past crashing down. "You killed him. You killed your father."
A silence fell between us, thick with tension. I could see the way his jaw tightened, his hands clenching into fists by his side. But still, he said nothing.
Xavier, standing behind me, shifted uncomfortably, but I didn't take my eyes off Aurelius. I needed answers, even if they cut me deep.
I stepped closer, my heart pounding in my chest, and with a shaky breath, I forced the words out. "I have your child. I'm seven months pregnant with your child..."
The weight of it hit me harder than I expected, and slowly, despite my best efforts to stay composed, the tears began to fall. I didn't want to cry in front of him, didn't want to show the weakness, but I couldn't stop it. I felt everything—the loneliness, the betrayal, the heartbreak—all of it flooding back in a rush.
"I never wanted any of this," I whispered, my voice breaking. "I never wanted this life. But here I am, carrying your child, and you've turned into someone I don't even recognize anymore."
Aurelius didn't move at first, his cold gaze still fixed on me. The air around us felt suffocating, thick with unsaid words. But then, just as I started to turn away, he spoke.
"Callista…" His voice was low, almost regretful, but still distant. "I never wanted this either. But I had no choice."
Then he added, his voice cold as ice, deep and monotone, like he didn't truly mean it. "I'm sorry."
But those words, delivered in such an emotionless tone, sliced through me like a blade. They hurt far more than any anger or betrayal ever could. I stepped closer to him, despite the pain, and gently cupped his cheek. My thumb traced the lines of his jaw, feeling the hardness beneath his skin.
"I forgive you," I whispered, my voice trembling. "But I can never forgive what you did. Please, Aurelius… Please give up. You're not a monster. You're not like this..."
Without thinking, I leaned forward and gently kissed his forehead, caressing his cheek as I pulled away.
For a brief, fleeting moment, I saw something in his eyes—a glimmer of warmth, of vulnerability. His gaze softened, and I could almost see the man I once knew, the one I loved. But just as quickly, that softness vanished, and he turned cold again.
"No," he said, his voice growing colder, more distant. "I was born to be like this. I was born to be like my father."
He swatted my hand away, his rejection like a slap to the face. His words hit harder than anything else, and I felt my heart shatter all over again.
Despite the fact that my heart felt shattered into a thousand pieces, I still smiled at him—softly, warmly. A smile meant only for him. Then, gently, I leaned in and kissed him—just a soft, tender kiss, full of the pain and love I've carried all this time.
To my surprise, he didn't push me away.
Instead, his arms slipped around my waist, firm yet hesitant, and pulled me onto his lap. For the first time in so long, he melted under my touch. Then, suddenly, he kissed me back—fiercely, desperately. His lips claimed mine with such intensity it made my breath hitch, and I could feel it... the tears he'd never allowed to fall before streaming down his cheeks as he kissed me like he was afraid I would disappear.
His hand trembled as it cradled the back of my head, and mine clung to his shirt as if grounding myself to this broken man—this man I still love.
Minutes passed before he finally pulled away, lips lingering against mine. His eyes, though still sharp and cold on the surface, were now glassy with unshed sorrow. Then, wordlessly, he lowered his gaze and gently rubbed my belly with his palm—slow, tender strokes as if trying to feel the life we created.
He leaned his head against my shoulder, arms tightening around me like he couldn't bear to let go. And then... he cried.
Not loudly, not brokenly—but silently, painfully. Tears slid down his face, soaking into my clothes. His breath hitched now and then as the weight of everything finally caught up with him. I held him, my fingers threading through his hair, whispering nothing, just being there.
No one else existed in that moment. Not VARAK. Not DTY. Not LUMENN.
Just me, him... and the child growing inside me.
I noticed his men—silent, stunned, and utterly speechless. As if they'd never seen their boss in such a vulnerable state. The cold, untouchable Aurelius Valemont—now clinging to me like a broken boy. Even Xavier, who had stood quietly behind the entire time, smiled softly, his usual guarded expression melting into something gentler.
I gently stroked Aurelius's back, feeling the tremble of his body as he cried—more openly now, more desperately. His arms tightened around me, as though afraid I might vanish if he let go. He buried his face in the crook of my neck, and I could feel his breath hitch, could feel the wetness of his tears soaking into my skin.
We stayed like that for what felt like hours. My shoulder began to ache, my legs slightly numb from the position, but I didn't care. Not when he needed this. Not when I'd waited so long just to hold him again.
Eventually, I felt his breathing slow. His grip softened—not gone, just no longer desperate. I think he might have dozed off for a bit. I let him rest. For once, he looked… at peace. Vulnerable, raw, real.
When he finally stirred, he looked up at me. His eyes were swollen, red-rimmed, his voice rough and cracking. He sniffled, trying to compose himself but failing just a little.
Then, in a whisper so small I almost missed it, he asked, "Boy or girl?"
I blinked. "What?"
His gaze, heavy but curious, locked with mine again. "The baby... is it a boy or a girl?"
I stared at him for a second, my heart catching in my throat. His question—so tender, so human—hit me deeper than I expected.
Then I smiled gently, brushing a lock of his hair away from his forehead.
"I don't know yet," I whispered back. "I wanted us to find out together."
He closed his eyes slowly, exhaling a shaky breath, and for the first time, I saw a flicker of something warm behind the storm in his eyes—hope.
Then, just as gently as he had held me, he pulled away. His hands slipped from my waist, his expression shifting again—like a mask being placed back on. His voice turned cold, flat. "No," he said, turning his back to me, avoiding my gaze like the answer itself hurt him more than he'd admit.
I stared at him quietly for a moment, heart aching, then smiled—soft and warm, the kind of smile I knew he once loved. I reached out and gently wiped the remaining tears from his cheek.
"Fine," I whispered, not pushing further, "I'll let you be… for now."
There was a long pause. The room was silent, as if even the air was waiting.
Then I added softly, "Can you name them?"
His shoulders stiffened. He didn't turn, not yet. But I saw the subtle tremble in his fingers—like the question caught him off guard, cracked something inside.
He didn't answer immediately.
And somehow, that silence... said everything.
He stood there, back still turned to me, silent for a moment longer. I could see his breath hitch—just slightly—as if even the thought of imagining names was too personal, too intimate for the cold-hearted leader he was pretending to be.
But then, barely above a whisper, he spoke.
"…If it's a girl," he said, his voice low and rough, "Seraphina. It means burning one… because she'll have fire in her spirit. Just like you."
I felt a lump form in my throat.
He took a breath, then continued, "If it's a boy… maybe Caelum. It means sky. Because I want him to be free… something I never was."
He finally turned to face me, his eyes still red, voice still laced with steel. But behind all of that, I could see the trace of something real—something broken but honest.
"And you?" he asked quietly. "What would you name them?"
I smiled warmly at him, my heart softening as I pondered for a moment. "Hmm… I wouldn't say the boy should be named Caelum," I said gently. "It's a beautiful name, but it sounds a little too close to my older brother, Caelus."
He raised an eyebrow slightly, listening.
I continued, "What about Arthur? It means 'noble and courageous.' I think it suits the kind of man I hope our son would become."
Aurelius looked down, as if turning the name over in his mind.
"As for the girl…" I smiled softly. "I actually love the name you chose—Seraphina. It's perfect. Burning with spirit and light."
There was a long pause. Then I saw it—the faintest flicker of warmth in his expression again, like a small ember refusing to die out.
Then I stood up, letting him go. "I should go now, Aurelius," I said quietly, my voice barely holding together. "From now on… you and I are enemies. VARAK and LUMENN are enemies."
I leaned in close, smiled warmly through the ache in my chest, and whispered into his ear, "I love you."
With that, I turned around and walked back to Xavier. Without a word, we began to leave.
As we stepped away from the room, I couldn't help but glance back—just once. And there he was. Aurelius. Sobbing quietly, his body trembling as he tried to stifle the sound. His assistant knelt beside him, awkwardly trying to comfort him, but it was clear... he was breaking.
My heart shattered all over again, but this… this was it.
He doesn't want to give up. And neither do I.
If this is the path he's chosen, then he must have his reasons. I failed to bring him back. But at the very least… after all these long, silent months apart—I finally saw him again.
I finally told him how I felt. Even if it wasn't enough.
Xavier and I returned to the vehicle, where the DTY's secret agents were already waiting. The ride was silent—tinted windows shielding us from the outside world, but nothing could shield me from the ache in my chest. Once we arrived back at the DTY's underground lair, I headed straight to the director.
"I couldn't convince him," I admitted quietly, lowering my gaze.
He studied me for a moment, then gave a firm nod. "Then we have no choice," he said, his voice steady. "We'll rebuild LUMENN with you, from the ground up."
From that day forward, LUMENN and DTY became one. We worked side by side—Xavier, Zack, Felix, and the remaining LUMENN operatives. We trained, we regrouped, and we prepared. The lair buzzed with activity day and night—strategists with digital maps, agents running simulations, weapons specialists refining gear. Mia moved between both sides like a natural leader, the perfect bridge between DTY and us. Felix, though he tried to act professional, always softened a little when she was near. Honestly, I totally ship them. Hard.
Days turned into weeks. Almost a month had passed when we were finally ready to return to our own base. We left DTY's compound and headed for the surface, back to the heart of the city—back to the place that hid us in plain sight.
The public library.
From the outside, it looked like nothing more than a quaint, dusty old building with towering shelves and quiet reading nooks. But beneath the surface—it was our sanctuary. Our fortress. Our lair.
The elevator, disguised behind a bookshelf marked "Restricted Archives," descended into a high-tech war room beneath the library floor. Screens lit up the walls, showing maps, communications, and mission logs. Rooms branched off—training zones, equipment storage, sleeping quarters, medical bays. Agents in casual clothes passed through with mugs of coffee and datapads, but their eyes were sharp, their posture ready.
This was home.
And now, more than ever, we were determined to rise again.
LUMENN wasn't just surviving anymore.
We were preparing for war.
Two months had passed…
I was nine months pregnant now.
Everything felt heavier—my body, my steps, even the weight of leadership on my shoulders. But oddly enough, I had never felt more grounded.
Every morning began the same: a hand instinctively resting on my round belly, feeling the soft kicks of the little life growing inside me. A reminder of hope. Of purpose. Of love—even in the ruins of war.
The training sessions had grown more intense these days. Our underground lair beneath the library buzzed with energy—new recruits from both LUMENN and DTY sparring side by side, learning one another's ways, bonding over sweat, grit, and survival stories. Some had joined out of loyalty. Others out of revenge. A few—surprisingly—came for love.
Like Felix and Mia.
Oh, the ship had officially sailed.
Their secret glances had turned into whispered conversations. Those whispers became shared laughter. And now? Now they were inseparable. Mia trained recruits like a drill sergeant, but the second Felix stepped into the room, that hard edge softened just a little. He'd bring her lunch. She'd pretend to scold him for distracting her—then steal his fries. It was the kind of love you didn't expect to bloom in places like these. But it bloomed anyway.
I'd catch them sometimes, dancing slowly to no music in the archive room when they thought no one was watching. And I'd smile. Because even in war, people still found reasons to feel alive.
Xavier was as protective as ever. He never left my side during the day, always making sure I wasn't overexerting myself. "You're not just carrying a baby," he'd say, "you're carrying the future of LUMENN too."
And he wasn't wrong. The recruits looked up to me—not just as their leader, but as their symbol. A symbol that even in the worst storms, life could still find a way.
I'd still visit the training floor, though now I mostly supervised from a high balcony, watching our people grow stronger each day. Watching our purpose sharpen.
Then came that one afternoon.
The library above was quiet as usual, faint beams of sunlight streaking through dusty windows. Below, the lair bustled with quiet energy—missions being planned, weapons being cleaned, plans being drawn on glowing holo-screens.
I was standing beside Xavier, giving final instructions for tomorrow's joint op, when I felt it.
A warm gush of fluid down my legs.
My eyes widened. My breath caught.
Xavier looked at me. "Callista…?"
"I think…" I breathed, gripping the edge of the table, "My water just broke."
Silence.
Xavier blinked. "Oh—OH—SOMEONE CALL THE MEDIC!!"
Recruits froze. Felix dropped his training staff. Mia's eyes widened.
Chaos erupted.
And just like that… everything changed.
To be continued...