Bloodline

Chapter 20

Inside the Capitol Building, Sierra

The councilmen sat around a circular table, with Isaac among them. At the far end of the room stood Giovanni, dressed in a sleek white suit. His tag rested neatly against his chest over a red undershirt.

One of the councilmen exhaled. "It's been three months since a civil war nearly broke out in Sierra, and we have you to thank, Isaac. If it weren't for you, Sierra would have fallen."

Isaac remained silent.

"But still… the uproar in Sierra hasn't lessened, Councilman James," a feminine voice interjected as she pushed her glasses back into place. "Is thanking him really the best course of action right now?"

"Well, we should at least be grateful he saved our necks from that tyrant," James replied.

"Lucien could have been handled easily. Isaac's interference wasn't really necessary," she countered, her tone unwavering.

Isaac's voice was calm but firm. "I wasn't looking for gratitude, Councilman Rosé. The reason you were all called back is simple: we had no one suitable to take over leadership for the time being."

"So you brought us back just to be figureheads—"

"Yes," Isaac interrupted.

Another councilman leaned forward. "Why didn't you take Sierra for yourself? You had the power and the opportunity."

"I have other responsibilities, other people who need my attention," Isaac replied. "Besides, we already had leaders in place—you. Worst case, I would have put Lucien or Giovanni in charge. That should tell you that you weren't exactly my first choice."

The room fell into silence.

Councilman James cleared his throat. "Isaac, I think you've made your point. But what's your plan for Sierra now? Merging the two cities hasn't gone as smoothly as you expected. Your speech didn't resonate with those who suffered the most. They refuse to cooperate because, ironically, they don't trust the man who fought for them."

"Not to mention the rise in crime," Rosé added. "Most of it is linked to the Novans."

"You don't expect them to immediately adjust to Sierra's way of life," Isaac said. "It will take time."

James frowned. "Time… Do we really have that?" He leaned back in his chair. "If word spreads that Sierra is caught in political turmoil, the other colonies will smell blood. You know the enemies Sierra made in the last war. And according to the Red Veil surveillance team, spies from other colonies—especially Vostara—have been spotted in and around Sierra. So tell me, Isaac, do we still have time?"

Isaac exhaled and fell silent.

"I thought so," James said. Then, after a pause, he added, "But, annoyingly, I agree with you. And I'm supporting you."

The rest of the council turned to him.

"You—"

Councilman James raised a hand, silencing Rosé.

"I've heard you have two promising kids by your side. Janice Flynn, the youngest child of the current General of the Hero Organization, Harvey Flynn, and a Novan hybrid—Malick, if I remember correctly."

Isaac met James's gaze, but the councilman only flashed a knowing grin.

"The Hero Recruitment training starts in about a month. I want both of them to enroll in the academy. From what I've heard, they're quite the young gems, so I have no doubt they'll pass."

Isaac's expression remained unreadable. "Where are you going with this?"

James leaned back in his chair. "It's simple, really. I want you to return to the Hero Organization. And knowing you wouldn't want to leave them, I've secured your spot as a tutor."

Across the room, Giovanni let out a quiet chuckle.

Isaac raised an eyebrow. "And this helps how?"

"In two ways," James explained. "One—you get to pass on your knowledge to the next generation. And two—when war inevitably comes, you won't be far from the front lines. You're rebuilding this colony with time, aren't you? That means protecting it, too."

Isaac chuckled softly.

"So… what do you say?"

Isaac's House – BasementJanice stood in a fighting stance, fists raised near her face. Cold air escaped her mouth in sharp bursts. Ice-coated gauntlets covered her hands as she struck the sandbag in front of her.

Thud.

Her fist punched straight through. The contents spilled out from the hole, sand cascading onto the floor. She exhaled in frustration.

"That's the sixth bag today. Isaac's gonna be really mad when he gets back," Malick said, lying on the floor, watching her.

Not enough. Not enough. The thought pounded in Janice's mind.

Malick sat up and placed a hand on her shoulder. A thin layer of ice immediately began creeping up his arm.

"Janice, you're overusing your abilities. I know you're training, but aren't you pushing too hard?" The cold continued to spread over his skin, but he didn't pull away.

"You can talk to me, you know," he said. "What's a hero without their sidekick?"

"I'm fine," Janice muttered. "Just stressed. The battles we fought… they took a toll on me. But I'm fine, honestly."

"Don't lie to me."

Janice's expression hardened. "I'm not a kid, Malick. I can process my own feelings." She pulled away from his grip.

Malick frowned. "Janice—"

"Even if I told you, you wouldn't understand. So what would be the point?" she said, turning her back on him.

A continuous beeping sound caught their attention.

Janice walked toward the shelf where she had placed her phone. She glanced at the caller ID, hesitated for a moment, then pressed the green icon. She waited a few seconds before sliding to answer.

"Hello," she said.

"Janice, how long has it been?" A high-pitched, feminine voice chimed from the other end.

"Sonia." Janice's tone was cold. "It's been a while."

"Come on, is that any way to greet your big sister after almost a decade?" Sonia teased, her tone playful.

Janice remained silent.

"Anyway, Father is hosting a little celebration at the family mansion, and he's inviting all his children. All his children," Sonia emphasized.

"I'm his child now?" Janice scoffed.

"You always were," Sonia replied smoothly. "You ran out of the house just because he didn't save that pig. We tried to bring you back, but you refused. How is that his fault? It's not his fault you were weak. We all know how much he detests that."

Janice's grip on the phone tightened. A small crack splintered across the screen.

"Anyway," Sonia continued, unfazed, "I lost the bet on who had to call you, so… you're invited. And dress for the occasion. Ciao."

The line went dead.

Malick, who had been watching, sat up. "Is everything okay?"

Janice didn't answer.

The Flynn EstateA cab pulled up in front of a towering mansion. Janice stepped out, dressed in a long beige evening gown, the neckline adorned with delicate precious stones. Her glasses were gone, revealing her sharp, calculating gaze.

She approached the massive gate and stopped at a retinal scanner on the side. A soft beep sounded, and with a hiss, the gate slowly swung open.

As she stepped forward, her eyes flicked over the expansive field in front of the mansion. Four exotic cars were lined up in a row, gleaming under the estate lights.

"Show-offs," she muttered under her breath.

Her heels clicked against the interlocked stone path leading to the main entrance. Taking a deep breath, she pressed the doorbell.

Within seconds, the door swung open, revealing an elderly man with a warm smile.

"Mistress Janice, what a stunning beauty you've grown into," he said, holding the door for her.

"Alfred," Janice breathed, her face softening. She stepped forward, wrapping her arms around his frail body.

"I've missed you so much," she whispered.

Alfred chuckled, his laughter rich with affection. "And I've missed you too, Mistress. Come in—the whole family awaits."

He stepped aside, widening the door.

As Janice crossed the threshold, a wave of déjà vu washed over her. Memories—some warm, some bitter—flooded her mind. A small, fleeting smile touched her lips as she walked deeper into the grand estate.

The hall was adorned with hand-painted portraits and towering statues. But one portrait in particular caught her eye. It spanned a large section of the wall. Slowly, she approached it, her fingers tracing the delicate brushstrokes of the painting.

The name engraved beneath it read: Melissa Flynn.

"You've grown into a magnificent woman, just like your mother," Alfred said softly, stepping beside her.

"She stood up for justice," Alfred said, his voice tinged with sorrow. "It's just a shame that the very people she fought for—those pigs… the Novans—ended up killing her."

Janice's jaw tightened. "Where are they?"

"The hall to the left," Alfred replied.

"Let's get this over with," she muttered, striding toward the hall.

She pushed open the finely polished mahogany door. It creaked slightly as it swung open, drawing the attention of everyone inside.

Four people sat at a long dining table, which was lavishly lined with an array of delicacies. The five-seater table had only one empty chair—placed next to Harvey, who was swirling a glass of red wine before taking a slow sip.

"You finally showed up," Sonia said, rising from her seat. She wore a scarlet evening gown that hugged her figure and stopped just above her knees, revealing her smooth brown skin. Her long black hair cascaded elegantly down her back.

Sonia took a step toward Janice.

"Shouldn't the waitress do that?" Sebastian remarked, his voice laced with amusement. "Don't act like you love her the most."

Sonia hesitated for a moment, then sighed. "Nyah, you're right." She turned on her heel and returned to her seat.

A waitress stepped forward, gracefully ushering Janice to the empty chair.

Harvey raised his glass. "Now that we're all here, let's enjoy ourselves, shall we?"