part 67 S2: The Wires Entangle

Tittle : Bloodlines of Betrayal S2 - Celestia's Ascension

Written By : Reviline James Wang

Genre : Paranormal Romance | Alpha Werewolf | Billionaire | Vampire | Family Drama | Rumors | Mafia

thrilling saga of Bloodlines of Betrayal: Celestia's Ascension:

Part 46: The Game Turns

The room buzzed with energy after Dante's interruption. Everyone was trying to process what had just unfolded. Celestia stood at the center of the storm, her resolve hardening with each passing second. She could feel the weight of their eyes on her, but this time, it didn't make her nervous. No, it fueled her-she would not be a pawn in this game.

Dante, sensing the shift in her demeanor, stepped back slightly, giving her space. He wasn't trying to undermine her. In fact, it seemed like he was testing her. Watching, waiting to see if the fire he knew she had would reignite. And from the way her posture had stiffened, he could already tell the answer. The queen was not done yet.

"Celestia, you should not have done that," Lucian's voice came from the back, his words calm yet laced with an edge of warning. His dark gaze bore into her, but there was no anger, only a kind of inscrutable understanding.

Celestia glanced at him, her eyes narrowing ever so slightly. "You can't be serious, Lucian. You wanted me to be weak, to make them believe I was stepping down, so they would underestimate me. You wanted me to show them my vulnerability, my willingness to give up. But the moment Dante stepped in, I realized... they already underestimated me."

There was a long silence. Lucian's lips curled into the faintest smilealmost imperceptible but undeniably there. It was a look that said he knew something she didn't. "If you think that you've won by throwing their expectations off, you're wrong. But," he paused, as though considering his next words carefully, "I respect your decision. Just don't forget that the game has just begun. And it's no longer just about who holds the throne."

Celestia felt a chill run down her spine. "What do you mean?"

Lucian didn't answer immediately. Instead, he turned his gaze to the crowd, his expression unreadable. "There's something you should know. The factions in this room-the ones that you think are just waiting for you to falter-they're already plotting their next move. The fact that you've now shown a spark of defiance only makes it worse for you."

Celestia swallowed, trying to keep her composure. She knew the game had shifted, but she hadn't anticipated how quickly it would turn. She'd been so focused on the immediate threat-the abdication and her public image that she hadn't considered the deeper currents beneath the surface.

"Then we play their game," Celestia said with a new determination in her voice. "Let them think they've won. Let them think I'm weak. I'll use their expectations against them."

Lucian gave a small nod. "Good. You've learned something important today. But remember, they won't stop just because they think you've surrendered. You'll need more than just tricks to win this."

"Then let's get to work," Celestia replied, her voice hardening. "I'm not backing down. I'll take them all down, one by one, if I have to."

Dante, who had been observing from the sidelines, stepped forward again, his smile wide and mischievous. "Now that's the Celestia I know. You've got a fight ahead of you. I hope you're ready."

Celestia met his gaze, her eyes flashing with new intensity. "Ready? I've been ready for this my entire life."

The following days were a whirlwind of preparations. While the media and the public believed that Celestia was stepping down, those in the know were already aware of her true intentions. Lyra worked tirelessly behind the scenes, ensuring that every move Celestia made was calculated.

The tensions among the various factions in the supernatural world began to escalate. Celestia could feel the undercurrent of treachery everywhere she went. Even those who had once been loyal were now beginning to question her strength, unsure of what her true motivations were.

One evening, as Celestia sat with Draven, strategizing their next steps, the door to her private study opened without a knock. It was Lucian, of course. He didn't bother with formalities.

"Celestia," he began, his tone grim, "the Kurohane Crew is making moves. They've been aligning themselves with the Kaminari-kai and the Shirogane Syndicate. I think they've finally realized that if they don't act now, they may be left behind when you inevitably take back control."

Celestia's brow furrowed as she processed the information. The Kurohane Crew was always a wildcard in the equation, unpredictable and often ruthless. Their alliance with the Kaminari-kai and Shirogane Syndicate could cause serious problems, especially considering the powerful ties both of those groups had.

"So, they're making their move, then?" she asked, her voice sharp.

Lucian nodded. "They are. And you need to act quickly if you want to stay ahead of them."

Celestia stood, walking over to the large window that overlooked the city. The night was calm, but she could feel the storm brewing just beyond the horizon. "What do you propose?"

Lucian met her gaze with that cold, calculating look that Celestia had grown accustomed to. "You know the Shirogane Syndicate has its weaknesses. Their operations are spread thin, and the leadership is divided. We can exploit that, but we need to move quickly. As for the Kaminari-kai, they're just waiting for the right moment to pounce. We'll have to anticipate their next move, outsmart them before they even have a chance to strike."

Celestia nodded slowly. "Then let's make them regret underestimating us."

Draven, who had been standing by in the background, spoke up. "What's the plan, then? We can't let them strike first. We need to make the first move, catch them off guard."

"Agreed," Celestia replied. "But I think it's time to send a message. Something they won't be able to ignore."

She turned to Lucian, a cold smile curling at her lips. "Let's show them that we're not just playing the game. We're changing the rules."

The following days were a blur of activity as Celestia, Lucian, and Draven worked together to put their plan into motion. Celestia had always been a step ahead of her enemies, but now, with the stakes higher than ever, she was playing a different kind of game. One where trust was a fragile thing, and alliances could shift at a moment's notice.

As Celestia prepared for the next phase of her plan, she couldn't help but think of the power she had once had, and the power she would soon reclaim. But there was something else simmering beneath the surface-an unspoken tension between her and Lucian. She could feel the weight of his gaze on her, and it made her wonder just how much he was involved in the game, and whether he had his own motives for helping her.

But now wasn't the time for questions. Now was the time to act.

And Celestia Moonviel would not be the one to back down.

The night had fallen thick over the city, but inside the penthouse, the glow of technology illuminated Celestia's sharp features. She sat at the center of a room cluttered with monitors, each screen displaying a different layer of the intricate web she had woven. A thousand calculations ran through her mind, each decision a potential chess move, every enemy a pawn waiting to be sacrificed.

Dante had sent word earlier, informing her that the alliance between the Kurohane Crew, Kaminari-kai, and Shirogane Syndicate was moving forward faster than expected. If she didn't make a decisive strike soon, the entire supernatural underworld could be engulfed in a war she wasn't sure she could win.

She wasn't the type to wait for things to fall into place. She preferred to make things happen. And tonight, that was exactly what she was going to do.

Draven had already begun preparing their forces, gathering loyal followers and strategizing their movements. Lucian, however, remained by her side, his cold, calculating gaze never leaving her. His silence had become a fixture, but Celestia could feel the unspoken words between them.

Finally, Lucian spoke, his voice low but laced with intrigue. "You know, Celestia, you're playing with fire. And fire can either burn or illuminate the path ahead. What exactly do you hope to achieve with all these... moves?"

Celestia didn't look at him immediately, focusing instead on a particular screen where the Kurohane Crew's movements were being tracked. "What I hope to achieve, Lucian, is power. And control. And for once, to show the world that they made a grave mistake in underestimating me."

Lucian smirked, the faintest glimmer of admiration flickering in his eyes. "That's what I like about you. No hesitation. But do you know what comes next?"

Celestia turned her gaze to him, finally meeting his eyes. "I've always known what comes next. I've always been a step ahead."

His lips twisted into a knowing smile. "Perhaps. But the real game isn't about who's ahead; it's about who survives when the dust settles."

Before Celestia could respond, a loud knock interrupted them. Lyra, the sharp-eyed strategist, entered without waiting for permission. "Celestia, we've intercepted something important. The Shirogane Syndicate is planning to make a move tonight. They've got eyes everywhere on you, on Draven, and on every weak spot we've got. We can't just wait anymore."

"Then we don't," Celestia replied with a swift determination, standing up from her seat. "We hit them first. Hard. No mercy."

The tension was palpable as Celestia, Draven, and Lucian sat around the round table in the penthouse's war room. Lyra had already secured the intel on the Shirogane Syndicate's planned attack, and it was clear they were looking to strike at her vulnerabilities namely, her family. But Celestia wasn't going to play into their hands. If they wanted to target her loved ones, they would have to deal with her first.

"Here's the plan," Celestia began, her voice cutting through the silence. "We split into two groups. Draven, you'll take the north side of the city. They'll be expecting you there, so that's where we'll make our biggest impact. Lucian, you and I will handle the south side. We'll move in quickly, take out their key leaders, and then retreat before they can even respond."

Lucian raised an eyebrow. "And you expect me to follow your lead? I thought we agreed that I don't do 'teamwork' unless it's absolutely necessary."

Celestia smiled, her eyes narrowing. "Oh, Lucian, you'll follow my lead because you know I'm the one with the upper hand here. And don't worry, I'm not asking you to play nice. Just play smart."

Lucian smirked, clearly entertained. "Smart, huh? Well, I'll admit, this sounds like fun. I'm in."

Draven nodded. "We'll hit them hard, Celestia. They won't see it coming."

"Exactly," she said, her smile growing darker. "They never do."

The night air was cool as they made their way through the shadowed streets, their movements precise and synchronized. Celestia was in her element now, her instincts sharp and honed by years of experience. Lucian walked beside her, his presence like a shadow that had always been there, but now felt more like a coiled spring, ready to strike.

"We don't have much time," Celestia muttered as they neared the Shirogane Syndicate's stronghold. "They'll be expecting an ambush, but they won't expect us to move as quickly as we are."

Lucian's lips quirked in a half-smile. "I like surprises."

Just as they reached the alley that led to the Syndicate's hideout, Celestia paused, raising her hand. A flash of movement caught her eye, and in an instant, she signaled for everyone to freeze.

"Trouble?" Lucian asked, his voice low.

"Not trouble," Celestia replied, her eyes scanning the shadows. "An opportunity."

A lone figure stepped out from the darkness, a faint glimmer of recognition crossing Celestia's face. It was Dante.

"Now this is a surprise," Celestia said, her voice dripping with amusement. "What brings you here, Dante? I thought you were supposed to be playing the bad guy with the Kurohane Crew?"

Dante flashed a grin, his usual arrogance radiating from him. "Oh, I like to keep my options open. And besides, you look like you could use some backup."

Lucian's eyes narrowed, and Celestia could feel the tension rising between them. "You're playing both sides now?" she asked, her tone colder.

Dante shrugged. "I'm playing to win, Celestia. Besides, I thought we could have some fun with this."

Celestia's gaze softened for just a moment before she met his eyes again. "Fine. But don't get in my way. Tonight, we do this my way."

Dante chuckled, unfazed. "I wouldn't dream of it."

The plan went into motion seamlessly. Draven's team hit the north side of the city first, drawing the Syndicate's attention and forcing them to spread their resources thin. Meanwhile, Celestia and Lucian, along with Dante, infiltrated the south side, taking out key players one by one.

As they moved deeper into the heart of the Syndicate's base, Celestia felt her heart race. The adrenaline was intoxicating, and for the first time in what felt like forever, she was truly in control.

But just as they were about to breach the final door to the inner sanctum, an unexpected explosion rocked the building. The walls shook, debris raining down around them. It was a diversion, and it was coming from behind them.

"Get back!" Lucian shouted, his voice sharp as he grabbed Celestia's arm.

But it was too late. The doors to the inner sanctum slammed open, and out walked a familiar face.

"Well, well," the figure said, a wicked smile twisting his features. "It looks like you've underestimated me."

Celestia's eyes locked with the figure in front of her, her heart dropping. "You."

"Did you think you could play this game without consequences?" The man's laugh was cold and ruthless. "This is just the beginning, Celestia."