Chapter 54: The Quiet Before the Dawn
Asher sat down beside her, and wrapped his arm around her shoulder, moving her closer to him. The night wind howled over the cliffside, but between them, there was only a profound, anchoring warmth.
"Can I stay like this?" Kelly asked in a low voice, her usual commanding tone softened by vulnerability and the ticking clock of her fading cure.
"As long as you wish." Asher answered, turning his gaze to the Silverspire. He became her immovable shield, offering the silent promise that no matter what happened when the sun rose, he would be there.
"You are the first person I brought to this place, you should count yourself lucky." Kelly joked, causing Asher to smile.
"Yup, I am a very lucky guy."
Asher exhaled, holding her tight, feeling the steady rhythm of her heartbeat against his side. He won’t get this chance again, so now, he will make the most of it; he stared at the system, and sighed, the weight of his new responsibilities settling heavily on his shoulders.
’I need to get stronger.’
___
[Luna’s Mansion.]
"What are you saying?" Luna asked, turning her chair around, staring at her phone screen, her eyes flashing with a dangerous light.
"So I gave you two a task, instead of completing it, you sent a Guild? Are you two this useless?" She asked, a slight frown on her face. Her voice was terrifyingly calm, the kind of calm that preceded absolute slaughter.
"We are sorry, Boss, we thought Rose Guild could accomplish the task, we were simply trying to avoid the Association..." One of the twin’s voices sounded from the phone, trembling slightly under the oppressive weight of her disappointment.
Luna exhaled, relaxing back in her seat, deciding they weren’t worth the effort of killing right now. "Heaven Hotel got an A-Rank Dungeon, I need you to do something very important."
"We are at your command."
Luna smirked, staring at Sky Hill Estate villa photos on the table, her mind already weaving a new web of violence and manipulation. "Listen carefully."
___
[Unknown Location.]
In a dark space, only illuminated by the small spirit stone on the table, the true rulers of the world gathered. From the darkness, a dark figure moved forward, exuding an aura so dense it distorted reality itself.
"Did you sense it?"
He asked, his deep voice spreading all over the void, vibrating with absolute authority.
"Yes... He actually has a descendant, and it seems this person finally activated the bloodline in them. Do you think this is a good thing?" A woman’s voice sounded from the darkness, laced with centuries of carefully guarded paranoia.
"Hmm... We have two choices to make here... One, kill this descendant, two, recruit him." Another male voice sounded, calculating the fate of a human life like a piece on a chessboard.
"Kill? Do you think it’s possible? What happened two hundred years ago is still fresh in our minds." The second woman said, her dark concealed silhouette shivering slightly from the memory of the original Awakened’s world-shattering power.
The first placed his hand forward, the red ring on his finger glowing with ominous, ancient magic:
"Send words, we must locate this person. Even if we can’t kill or recruit them, we can keep an eye out... Besides." He grinned, the spirit stone reflecting his white teeth in a predatory smile:
"We can still destroy his core."
"I second that."
"Fine by me."
The three turned to the shivering woman’s silhouette. She paused for some seconds, weighing the catastrophic risks of starting a war with the fifth bloodline, then asked:
"What about this person’s abilities? Are you ready for the battle if we are late?"
"Of course, besides, with our forces, how can we fear one person?" The sheer arrogance of the Ancient Families blinded them to the reality of Asher’s System.
The woman exhaled, yielding to the majority. "Alright then, I give my vote."
"Good." The first man stared at the spirit stone, his decision final. "We don’t know this person, so our first task is to locate him... Use whatever means necessary. Dismiss." He said, as the spirit stone shattered into particles, placing the whole space in darkness once more.
"We will start with the name, Aetheldawn... Changing names can’t hide your descendants from us, the ancient families."
___
[07:50 AM.]
[Villa.]
"This is our new home?!" Juliana asked with a frown, walking inside the huge mansion, staring at the maids and Bodyguards placing their bags gently on the ground.
Sara calmly moved her gaze around the whole hall, it was huge, maybe too huge. She turned to the entrance, staring at Asher, who was helping Kelly with her things.
He returned an hour ago, and woke them all up, saying they have to move to their new Villa, she didn’t understand the rush, but there must be a reason. Sara walked towards a chair, and sat down, opening her book again, and continued reading, finding solace in her quiet routine amid the chaos of the sudden relocation.
A beautiful maid walked towards her, and bowed respectfully. Sara raised her head from her book, staring at the girl, who stood up, and made some sign language, asking where her luggage should be dropped.
Sara tilted her head to the side, she knew what the lady was trying to do, but because of her family’s situation, she didn’t learn any sign language. But just watching the lady, she understood what she was asking through pure intuition.
Asher stopped before them, gently placing his and Kelly’s luggage on the ground: "This will be our home from now onwards, leave her things to me, I will handle them."
The maid nodded respectfully, and stepped back.
"I love it already!" Juliana yelled, staring at a wall painting of Mona Lisa, her mood shifting instantly from apprehension to joy.
’Her second personality didn’t even know she already explored the whole Villa... I need to cure my wives, fast.’
Asher sighed softly, feeling the bitter sting of their fractured minds, and turned to Kelly, glancing at the invisible timer ticking down in his head. "We only have less than ten minutes, what do you want to do?" He asked softly, offering her the final choice of her lucidity.
Kelly moved closer to him, grabbed his collar with absolute confidence, and kissed him straight on the lips, stunning him, Sara and Juliana, who stared, stunned.
"...?"
The thirty maids, and fifty bodyguards simply lowered their gazes, not daring to look up, remaining professional in the face of their new masters’ intimacy.
Kelly separated, staring at Asher’s stunned face: "This is my thanks for a wonderful day. I will pick a room, take a good bath, then sleep."
Asher stared at her, as Kelly moved past him, walking towards the Grand stairway, then paused, turning around to the 80 workers, and walked towards them instead. Her corporate, queen-like aura flared up one last time.
’I have less than ten minutes, I should set something right.’
Kelly stopped before the men and women, her posture demanding absolute respect:
"Okay, listen up... In Aetheldawn Family, we are one... This means, all of you here share the same privileges, and rights. I don’t care who you were in the past, or how many years you have this job experience, in this house, everyone is equal. No fighting, no quarreling, and no stealing. If you want something, or have a question, ask the Boss... You can see for yourself, this family is different from others, so speak with the Boss if you need anything. Understood?"
"Yes, First Madam!!"
The 80 workers yelled in unison, their voices echoing off the high ceilings, immediately recognizing her as the matriarch of the household.
"Good, Husband, please help me with my luggage to my room." She smiled at Sara, who simply rolled her eyes, focusing on her book again.
"Huh?" Asher was stunned by her words, and action, marveling at how easily she had claimed her throne, even with only minutes left on the clock.