Secrets Revealed

Chapter 13: Secrets Revealed

Riven stood alone in the dim light of the house, the documents now spread before him. The walls of the House of Mirrors had closed in, the sounds of distant footsteps only adding to the intensity. He could feel the weight of the task settling upon him, as though the mansion itself was holding its breath, waiting for him to act.

The documents were old, their edges worn. As he flipped through them, his fingers brushed over delicate parchment that had carried secrets for years, maybe centuries. It wasn't just the noble transactions or petty alliances that struck him; no, there was something darker, more dangerous hidden between the inked lines.

At first glance, the papers appeared to detail various noble dealings—land investments, tax contracts, and minor power plays. But beneath the surface, he found something far more sinister—cryptic references to hidden alliances, an underground faction, and unholy rituals.

One document was marked with a strange symbol—a shadowed crescent moon, an emblem Riven had never seen before. The name "The Black Dawn" appeared frequently within the context of these files—each mention seemingly more desperate than the last. Riven didn't need to be told that The Black Dawn wasn't a name tied to any noble house. This was something far darker.

Suddenly, Riven's attention was drawn to another folder, where a map of the city of Black Hollow was drawn in faded ink. Several places were marked with red X's, including the Crimson Veil. The map seemed to track the movement of something, or someone, though it wasn't clear.

As his fingers grazed over the map, his heart skipped a beat. One of the X's led to a hidden location beneath Black Hollow—the Catacombs of the Lost, a place even the bravest adventurers feared to enter.

Riven's breath caught. The Catacombs of the Lost weren't just a forgotten part of the city—they were where the last of the ancient cults once operated. And here it was, marked on the map. A power play. A key.

What the hell had he gotten himself into?

As Riven stepped back, trying to process the implications of what he had uncovered, the sound of approaching footsteps interrupted his thoughts. The Syndicate had arrived.

Lady Veyna's voice called out before she even entered the room. "You've been busy, Shadowborn."

Riven didn't flinch as she walked in, her presence as commanding as always. "I found what I was sent for."

Her eyes scanned the room briefly, but she didn't react immediately to the pile of documents scattered before him. Instead, she took a step closer, studying him. "Did you?" Her voice softened. "Or have you found something… unexpected?"

Riven didn't answer. He wasn't sure if he could trust her. She had known more than she had let on.

There was something in her tone that made him uneasy. "What is it you want me to do with this?" he finally asked, gesturing to the documents.

Veyna smiled, but it was cold. "What do you think the Syndicate will want? They'll want control. Power. You can give it to them, if you're loyal."

She placed a gloved hand on the edge of the table. "But the real question is—are you loyal?"

Riven stiffened at her words. He hadn't failed this mission—yet. But she was right. The documents contained more than just simple contracts. They held secrets that could shake the entire city to its core, secrets that weren't just tied to nobles and power plays, but to something much darker.

Before Riven could respond, the sound of a heavy door slamming echoed from across the hallway. The hairs on the back of his neck stood on end. This wasn't just Veyna's presence he was feeling—something was off.

"Looks like we have visitors," Veyna said with a smirk, her voice now edged with anticipation.

The door burst open, and three masked assassins from the Sable Knives strode into the room. They were clad in black leather, their faces obscured by intricate masks.

Riven recognized them instantly—Sable Knives. The rivalry had become personal, and now they were here.

"Lady Veyna," one of them said, his voice cold. "The Shadowborn has crossed into our territory. We demand retribution."

Veyna's gaze was sharp, cutting through the air. "You demand? How amusing."

She took a step forward, her eyes gleaming with hidden amusement. "You'll get your retribution soon enough. But for now, the Shadowborn's task remains. He is mine to control. You'll find no favor here."

The assassins hesitated. The tension in the room was palpable. Riven could feel it—the tightrope between life and death.

"You'd let him live?" one assassin sneered, stepping closer to Riven. "The Syndicate's rules don't apply to those who betray them."

Riven didn't flinch. He knew what was coming, and he was prepared. He had no intention of being caught in the middle of an assassin guild war.

Before anyone could react, he struck first—the Shadow Chains erupted from the floor, wrapping around the assassins with a speed that left them no time to react. With swift precision, Riven used the chains to bind them, rendering their blades useless.

"Enough," Riven said in a low growl. His eyes flashed with the force of his growing Shadowborn abilities.

The assassins were frozen, struggling against the chains, but it was too late. They had underestimated him.

Lady Veyna stepped back, amused by the sight. "Perhaps this is what I should have expected all along. The Shadowborn is not a simple tool to be used. He is a force."

The assassins remained silent, acknowledging their defeat. But Riven knew they wouldn't be out for long. He had just made another dangerous enemy.

As the room fell into silence, Riven couldn't shake the sensation that something inside him was awakening. The power flowing through his veins, the chains that had bound the assassins—he had never felt this strong before.

His Shadow Chains, which had once been a tool for stealth, were now becoming a force in their own right. But Riven could feel that there was more to this power, something deeper that he couldn't yet understand.

He needed answers. And the more he uncovered, the more dangerous it became.

"Now," Veyna said, breaking the tension. "The question is, what will you do next, Riven?"

Riven turned his attention back to her, his mind racing. The Syndicate had put him in a position where he could either be controlled or used. They didn't care about the true nature of the documents. They cared about control.

But Riven could feel the pull of the Sable Knives, the desire for something bigger. They weren't just after power—they were after freedom, something he was starting to understand.

"I'll do what I must," Riven finally replied. "But not for you. Not for anyone."

Veyna's smile faded, but there was no anger in her eyes—just a cold acceptance.

"Then we will see what you do next, Shadowborn."

END OF CHAPTER 13