Callista's POV:
The pain struck like lightning.
It wasn't just pressure—it was a wave of agony that knocked the breath right out of my lungs. My knees buckled, but Xavier caught me before I hit the ground.
"She's in labor!" he shouted.
"Medic—get the medic now!" Felix yelled, bolting toward the infirmary.
Mia was already running, barking orders to clear the training hall and prepare the emergency room. Everyone in LUMENN snapped into action. Footsteps thundered through the underground lair as recruits scattered, alert systems blinked red, and someone wheeled out a portable delivery cot that hadn't been used in years.
I was rushed into the makeshift medical wing. The lights were too bright. My contractions were speeding up—too fast. Too soon. I grabbed Xavier's hand and squeezed so tightly I thought I might break it.
"Stay with me," I whispered through gritted teeth.
"I'm not going anywhere," he said, his eyes sharp with panic and resolve.
The medic arrived, gloves snapping on. "You're fully dilated—he's coming now!"
I couldn't focus. The room spun. My belly felt like it was being ripped in half. I screamed—not because of the pain alone, but because I was terrified. For my child. For what the future held.
The contractions came harder. Faster.
"Breathe, Callista! Just a little more!"
I bore down, screamed again, sweat pouring down my face. Xavier wiped my forehead, his voice trembling, "You've got this. Just a bit more. You're almost there."
"Here we go! One more push!"
I gave it everything I had.
And then—suddenly—there was silence.
A beat.
Then a cry.
A piercing, beautiful, angry little cry.
I collapsed against the pillow, gasping, sobbing, shaking. The medic held him up, wrapped him quickly in a soft blanket and turned toward me with a smile.
"It's a boy."
They placed him on my chest.
I looked down and the world stopped.
He was tiny. Wrinkled. Red-faced. But his eyes—oh God, his eyes—deep ocean blue, exactly like Aurelius's. His hair was soft, dark as midnight, curling just a little near the top.
I laughed through my tears and whispered, "Arthur…"
Xavier leaned close, eyes full of wonder and relief. "He looks just like his father."
"I know," I murmured, gently brushing my finger against Arthur's cheek. He curled into me, like he knew me. Like he remembered my heartbeat. My soul.
Around us, the LUMENN stood in silence. Even the toughest agents softened at the sight of him. Felix was crying—again. Mia looked stunned. Someone sniffled. Then came the softest round of clapping, cheers barely held back by awe and respect.
This wasn't just any baby.
This was Arthur Valemont Moreau—a child born between two worlds. The heir of LUMENN…and VARAK.
And yet, as I held him close to my heart, I made a vow in silence.
He would never have to choose between the two.
He would grow up in peace.
Even if I had to burn the world to make it happen.
Four years later...
The sun was just beginning to set, casting a golden glow over the training ground where young recruits ran through obstacle courses. It was peaceful for now, a calm before the storm that always loomed over their world. The old public library had turned into the heart of LUMENN—what it had once been a quiet, hidden treasure trove of knowledge, now it was a buzzing hive of activity, filled with children, agents, and survivors who had nowhere else to go.
I watched my son, Arthur, running around in his little training uniform, a blur of energy, chasing after Xavier, who had joined in on the game of tag. It was hard to believe it had been four years since that life-changing night. The weight of that memory still hung in my chest, but today was about something else.
"Mom!" Arthur squealed, stopping in his tracks to wave at me, a bright smile lighting up his face. His eyes, those unmistakable deep blue eyes, shone with joy. He was growing up fast—too fast.
"You're getting so fast, little man," Xavier said as he caught up to him, lifting him in the air and tossing him lightly before bringing him back to the ground. He was an incredible father figure for Arthur. A bit of an uncle, a bit of a father—Xavier's heart was fully devoted to him.
Mia, standing nearby with Felix and Zack, couldn't hide her smile. "He's practically a mini Aurelius, isn't he?" she asked, the warmth in her voice hiding the edge of sadness that lingered whenever she spoke about Arthur's father.
"Yeah…" I sighed, watching Arthur race off again. "He's a perfect little replica. Sometimes I wonder how he's going to turn out with all that's going on in the world."
"Let's just hope he doesn't get too caught up in the mess," Felix said, a hint of worry in his eyes as he joined us. "We're doing everything we can to keep him safe. The LUMENN family treats him like royalty. DTY is more than happy to respect him as well."
Arthur darted back to us, his tiny face flushed with excitement. "Mom! Look, look! I'm fast like Uncle Xavier!"
"I see, I see. You're faster than anyone, Arthur," I said, lifting him into my arms and hugging him tightly. He giggled, snuggling into me.
Mia approached, a soft expression on her face. "I still can't believe how much he's grown. He's so much like Aurelius… But I hope he'll have his own future. Not one tied to his father's mess."
"That's the plan," I replied. "We'll protect him. He won't have to follow Aurelius's footsteps."
Zack, leaning against the wall, watched us with a soft smile. "I hope you're right. But you know, kids pick up on things. Arthur is sharp. He'll want to know why his father left him."
I looked down at Arthur, still oblivious to the world around him as he ran off again. "I'll handle it when the time comes. For now, he's happy. That's all that matters."
The new recruits were finishing up their training for the day. Young faces, hardened by their pasts—abandoned, orphaned, enslaved, or living on the streets. Yet here, they were treated like royalty. No one went hungry. No one was left out. LUMENN's network was vast, but we made sure every child felt important, loved.
"Callista, I've been meaning to talk to you," the Director said as he approached me, his voice gruff yet kind. "We're adding more recruits, but I'm worried about the level of training. We need to step it up."
I looked around, watching the new recruits spar and practice with their weapons. "They're learning fast. They're resilient."
"I know," he said, his gaze following one of the recruits—a young girl who had just arrived a week ago, her eyes filled with terror, but already holding her ground. "But what about the others, the ones who are already here? We're too focused on the new kids."
"We're a family, Director," I said softly, turning to him. "Everyone here gets the attention they need. We'll do it together."
"You've got a good head on your shoulders, Callista. And Arthur's a lucky boy."
"Arthur," I sighed, looking at him again as he laughed with Xavier. "It's hard to believe it's been four years. I never imagined raising him like this, surrounded by so many. And you're right, Director, this family—it's more than just LUMENN now."
Felix grinned, stepping in beside us. "Mia and I finally figured it out. We're not going anywhere. The Director's approval? Well, let's just say Mia won that fight."
I chuckled, glancing at Mia, who shot me a mischievous wink. "I thought you two had something going on," I said. "But, seriously, I'm glad to see it. Even the Director can't stand in the way of true love."
The Director rolled his eyes but couldn't hide the proud smile tugging at his lips. "Don't make me regret it, Felix."
"Oh, you'll get used to it," Mia teased, linking arms with Felix. "At least he's not yelling at us anymore."
Later that evening, as the sun dipped below the horizon, I sat in my office, eyes glued to the monitors, data flooding in from every direction. LUMENN had expanded, and so had our reach.
"Any updates from the DTY agents?" I asked as Xavier entered the room, a worried look on his face.
"They've found more intel," Xavier said, placing a file on my desk. "Aurelius is still out there, doing what he does best—threatening mafias. We know he's planning something big."
I clenched my fists, staring at the screen. "We need to stop him. I can't let Arthur grow up in this world—this nightmare he's inherited. It's been four years, Xavier. Four years since I saw him."
"He's dangerous. We can't underestimate him," Xavier warned, leaning against the desk. "But we have to be careful. He's always two steps ahead."
"I'm tracking him," I said, tapping a few keys on the keyboard. "We're getting closer. I just have to figure out where he's going next."
Felix entered, looking grim. "DTY's been sending us their findings. Aurelius is targeting every mafia organization he can. It's like he's trying to take over the entire underworld."
"It's worse than we thought," I murmured, running a hand through my hair. "This is bigger than LUMENN. He's making his move."
"We need a plan," Xavier said, his voice steady. "And we need to keep Arthur out of it. He's not ready for this kind of war."
"He won't be involved," I said firmly, looking up at them. "But I will be. And I'll stop him."
Ever since DTY and LUMENN began working together, everything had been running more smoothly. We had the same mission, the same purpose—to stop Aurelius and the world's mafia network he now ruled with an iron fist. Mia, now Deputy Director of DTY, worked closely with her father, the Director himself. They both monitored Aurelius's every move.
And as for me... My blood family never left me behind. My two older brothers, Castillo and Caelus, made sure to visit every month. Castillo, the calm and ever-composed psychiatrist, always brought gifts for Arthur, and Caelus—CEO of one of Father's five major companies—never missed a chance to spoil his nephew.
Even my father, the Chairman, now aged but still as commanding as ever, showed up during their visits. I didn't expect him to be so taken by a child, but Arthur had wrapped him around his little fingers.
Arthur giggled as Caelus hoisted him into the air, spinning him around with exaggerated flair.
"Up, up we go, future genius!" Caelus grinned. "He's definitely got your brain, Callista."
"Correction," Castillo said, adjusting his glasses. "And his father's eyes."
My chest tightened. Yes, those deep blue eyes were a mirror of Aurelius.
My father stood silently behind them all, watching Arthur with a soft, unreadable expression. "He's a Valemont and a Moreau," he said finally. "He'll inherit both strength and burden."
I swallowed hard. "And I'll protect him from both."
They didn't mention Aurelius, and neither did I. But I could feel it in the air: he was always in our thoughts, even unspoken.
To be continued...