Nightshade’s Web

Forrest glanced nervously at the pair in front of him. His instincts screamed danger.

"What are you two up to?" he asked cautiously.

Asher smiled sweetly—too sweetly. That smile always meant trouble.

"Oh, nothing serious," Asher replied. "Just wondering if you'd give us five percent of your company, FMN.

Forrest choked. "What the hell are you talking about?!"

Seraphina leaned back, tone casual, words precise. "My private mansion has high-security enchantments, full network affinity, integrated magical tech—weather control, auto-repair systems, constant restocks. And yes, it includes trained pixies and dwarves. Discreet. Loyal. Magical. Move in today. Choose a style. Three days—it's yours. So, make a decision."

Before Forrest could react, thunder rolled across the room—a furious voice booming.

"Wait just a damn minute—his own company? Forrest Michael Nightshade, is this what you've been hiding from me?!"

Nightshade Sr. stood, seething.

Asher blinked innocently. "Oops. Brother Forrest, you didn't tell Grandpa? Awkward… We honestly thought you had."

Forrest cursed inwardly. He was trapped. Seraphina's schemes always looked harmless—sugar on the outside, poison at the core. And once you stepped in, there was no escape.

Ignoring his grandfather's fury, he muttered, "Fine. But I want the contract done today."

Seraphina didn't flinch. A glowing contract, sealed with layered magical sigils, slid across the table.

Asher grinned. "Good call, Brother. Move in today. Finally escaping Grandpa's claws."

Forrest signed jaw clenched. "Bastards. You two could sell sympathy like oil."

Nightshade Sr. thundered, "Forrest! Are you abandoning my company, too?! What is this—some curse? All of you are running off like rabbits! You're the eldest son—have some shame!"

Forrest stood, fists shaking. "Eldest son this, eldest son that! First, Uncle Dominic dumped the company on my dad—"

Dominic turned away, and Michael sighed, "Ah, responsibility… that old devil."

Forrest pointed at Seraphina. "Then she dumped it on me!"

"I didn't dump it!" Seraphina snapped. "I manage the subsidiaries!"

Forrest scoffed. "Then why can't I take subsidiaries too?"

She paused—just for a second. That flicker in her eyes gave her away.

Nightshade Sr. bellowed, "Enough! You're not allowed to leave! Where will I find a replacement?!"

Before Forrest could respond, Seraphina slid in smoothly.

"I'm not interested, Grandpa. I'm returning to the Academy. Besides, I'm busy with Asher."

Asher choked on his food. "A little warning next time, babe."

Forrest and Seraphina turned to Dimitry.

Dimitry froze. 

Danial, predictably, had vanished the moment things turned serious.

Nightshade Sr. looked like he'd explode.

Seraphina smiled, innocent as ever.

Forrest leaned toward Dimitry and whispered, "I saw you kiss Sera that day."

Dimitry gritted his teeth but smiled coolly. Fine. He'd lost this round. But he wasn't backing down.

With practiced calm, he said, "Grandpa, I'll take over for Brother. But I'll need Sister's help—just a little guidance."

Seraphina opened her mouth to refuse, but under Grandpa's heavy glare and Dimitry's charm, she exhaled and nodded. Not without a price.

"Then Grandpa should transfer Forrest's shares to him, no? If Brother Forrest doesn't want the responsibility, fine. But he did want his subsidiaries."

Forrest glared.

"And until the transition's complete," she continued, "Brother Forrest can train Dimitry, right?"

Forrest growled. "Fine."

He eyed the mansion contract again. New house or not—he'd lost. Again.

From the corner, Aunt Natale asked softly, "Kids, are you ready for the Academy?"

Sera, Asher, and Dimitry nodded in unison.

"I'll help Sis adapt," Dimitry offered politely.

Asher's voice turned cold. "No need. I'm there for her. Besides, with your colorful CAM reputation, keep your distance."

Dimitry's smile faltered.

Fine. Then, I'll show you just how deep my roots run.

Seraphina turned to Michael. "Uncle, why not send Danial with us too? CAM suits him."

Michael frowned. "Butterfly… that boy's a walking storm."

Asher snorted. "Coming from the man raising another one?"

Sera narrowed her eyes.

Demonic chuckled, sipping wine. "Asher, you're one to talk. You're my daughter's shadow. She struts—you shoot from her shoulder."

Asher grinned. "Proud to."

Michael sighed. "It's not that. Danial's a mystery. Sometimes, I wonder if he's even mine."

The room burst into laughter.

Upstairs, Danial—hidden in the shadows—gritted his teeth… but couldn't help smiling.

Then Asher's tone softened.

"Uncle, the new generation of Nightshades are masters of disguise. They act useless, but behind that curtain... is fire. These four? Don't trust what you see. They're deep in it."

Michael met his gaze and sobered.

Seraphina and Forrest exchanged a rare smile. Dimitry studied his fork.

Nightshade Sr. muttered, "My luck is rotten."

The siblings glared at Asher.

He ignored them and plucked a fruit, placing it in Seraphina's mouth.

"Eat, my baby squirrel."

She clawed his hand. He hissed but smiled.

"You've already marked my back, love. Now you're adding more?"

Her ears turned pink as she looked away. Asher bit into the half-eaten fruit with a laugh.

The brothers groaned. "Disgusting."

Michael frowned. "So what, Butterfly? Do you want Danial at CAM as well? What would he even do there?"

Before she could answer, Sr Nightshade spoke. "She has raised him. That means something. Sera saw value in him."

Seraphina called out, calm and clear, "Dan, I know you're listening. Report to me tonight."

In the shadows, Danial's eyes gleamed.

Forrest taunted, "When you had the chance, you chose Dimitry. Now you're making up for it?"

Seraphina leaned back. "Masters are for those who need to learn. Dan doesn't."

Forrest frowned. Asher added,

"She's not his master. She's his Arthur. You understand the difference, right?"

Dimitry blinked, confused.

Forrest sighed. "Master and apprentice—one leads, one follows. But an Arthur… that's when a man accepts someone as a leader. A companion, not a teacher."

Dominic added, "Danial's her cub. Her left hand. He already works under her. He doesn't need a title."

From the dark, Danial smiled.

Sister's finally accepting me. That's enough.

Seraphina turned to Forrest, Michael, and their grandfather.

"Don't worry. My cub is sharp. More than capable. I don't need to announce where I'll place him."

Sr Nightshade muttered, "You all toss crowns on that boy's head while running off yourselves."

Forrest stayed silent. Dimitry did as well.

Seraphina's final words were delivered with calmness and certainty, unwavering in their tone.

"Coordination is key, Grandpa. Not everyone fits every role. Nightshade will rise—but one person doesn't need to carry the weight alone. In chess, the king and queen matter. But so does the general. In the end, it's not the king who checkmates. It's the one who plays the board."

Sr Nightshade looked around the table at Seraphina, Forrest, Dimitry, and Danial. All young. All burning.And he realized… the empire wasn't his anymore.