Chapter 14: I want In

The silence that followed felt heavier than the truth they'd just laid before her. Eliana's mind spun with thoughts that refused to settle. She wanted to yell, to scream at them for not telling her sooner, for keeping her in the dark, but the fear that churned in her stomach held her in place. Zayne's words echoed in her mind: You have to trust us, or risk everything.

But how could she trust him now? After everything?

Zayne was watching her closely, his expression tense, as if he could sense her inner turmoil. "Eliana, I know it's a lot to take in. But you're not alone in this. Aria and I we're in this together. We'll help you."

Eliana wanted to lash out, to tell him how foolish he sounded. Help her? Wasn't he the one who'd put her in danger in the first place? She was angry, terrified, and more confused than she'd ever been in her life. But in the depth of her confusion, one thing was certain: she couldn't run from this. It was too late.

"You're saying my bloodline is the key to something something they want?" she asked, her voice barely a whisper. "But what is it? What do they want from me?"

Zayne looked at Aria, who nodded, her eyes filled with sympathy. "We can't go into too much detail right now," she said softly. "But you're connected to something ancient, something powerful. Your family has been keeping it hidden for generations."

Eliana's pulse quickened. Ancient? Powerful?

"Why me?" she demanded. "Why am I the one they're after?"

Zayne's gaze softened, and for the first time, Eliana saw the vulnerability in his eyes. "Because you're the last one with the power to stop them, Eliana. The last one who can undo the damage that's already been set in motion."

Her breath hitched. Undo the damage?

Before she could respond, the faint sound of footsteps reached her ears someone was approaching. Eliana's heart skipped a beat. Zayne's face hardened, his jaw tight. "They're here."

The room went from tense to suffocating in an instant.

"Get down!" Zayne ordered urgently. He grabbed Eliana's wrist, pulling her behind the bed.

Aria was already moving, her eyes scanning the room. "We need to get out of here. Now."

Eliana's mind was in chaos, but she couldn't ignore the panic creeping into her chest. She had no idea what was happening, but one thing was clear: whatever was coming for her wasn't something she could outrun.

Zayne pushed a hidden panel in the wall, revealing a narrow passageway. "This way," he said, his voice low. "We're not safe here. They've found us."

Eliana hesitated, fear tightening in her chest. She wanted answers. She wanted to confront Zayne, demand to know more. But there was no time. Not anymore.

"Please," Zayne urged, his eyes desperate. "You have to trust me. For now, we need to move."

With no other choice, Eliana nodded, her heart racing. She had no idea what lay ahead, but the only way forward was through the darkness.

And right now, Zayne and Aria were the only ones who could lead her.

The silence that followed felt more oppressive than before, as if the weight of everything that had been revealed was now pressing down on them. Eliana's thoughts whirled in every direction, but before she could make sense of any of it, the soft sound of footsteps echoed from the hallway, drawing her attention.

The door creaked open, and to Eliana's shock, there stood Vanessa. Her eyes quickly scanned the room, landing on Eliana, who felt her heart drop into her stomach. Vanessa's gaze was sharp, calculating, and full of something darker an unsettling mix of curiosity and suspicion.

"Vanessa," Eliana said, forcing the words out despite the anxiety coiling in her chest. "What are you doing here?"

Vanessa's eyes flicked briefly to Zayne and Aria, but her focus was unyielding as she returned her gaze to Eliana. "I could ask you the same thing," Vanessa responded coldly. "But I think I already know."

Zayne's expression tensed. "Vanessa, you shouldn't be here. It's not safe."

But Vanessa didn't flinch. Her posture remained strong, defiant. "I've been following you, Zayne. I've been tracking you for days. Don't think I didn't notice how things started shifting. How you and Aria disappeared, leaving Eliana in the dark." She took a step forward, voice softening as she turned her attention to Eliana. "You didn't think to tell me any of this?"

Eliana felt her chest tighten. "You knew?"

Vanessa's lips pressed together in a tight line. "Not everything. But I knew something was off. And now I see it's worse than I thought. You've been hiding things from me, Eliana. What's going on?"

Zayne's jaw clenched as he stepped forward, his tone firm. "Vanessa, this isn't about you. We're trying to protect Eliana"

"Protect her?" Vanessa interrupted sharply, her eyes narrowing. "By lying to her? By keeping her in the dark? By hiding everything?"

Eliana's heart hammered in her chest. Vanessa's words hit harder than she expected. The betrayal stung in a way she hadn't anticipated. But she couldn't ignore the bitterness that stirred within her, too Vanessa had known something and hadn't shared it. "So, you knew all along and didn't tell me? Why? What's the point of all this secrecy if we're all in danger?"

Zayne stepped in again, his voice quiet but filled with urgency. "Eliana, please. We'll explain everything. But right now, we need to leave. We don't have time for this."

"Leave?" Vanessa scoffed, her eyes flashing with disbelief. "You think I'm going to just walk away without answers? You think I'm going to let you drag her into this mess without knowing the truth?"

The tension in the room thickened, and Eliana could feel her frustration boiling over. She didn't know who to trust anymore, and the secrets were suffocating her. "You're right," she said, her voice strained. "I deserve answers. But I'm not walking away from this. Not now. Not after everything."

Aria, who had been silent, finally spoke up. Her voice was calm, but there was an edge to it. "Vanessa, this isn't just about you. We're talking about something much bigger than you or any of us. Something ancient that's been hidden for years."

Vanessa turned her sharp gaze on Aria, her lips curling into a tight smile. "Ancient? Something bigger? What are you all involved in? What have you been keeping from me?"

Zayne rubbed his face in frustration. "This isn't the time for questions, Vanessa. Eliana's life is at risk. The longer we stay here, the more exposed we become."

A cold shiver ran down Eliana's spine. Whatever was coming for her, it was getting closer. She could feel it in the air, thick with dread. But despite the fear, there was a sense of determination building in her chest. She wasn't about to let herself be kept in the dark any longer. "Fine," she said, her voice steady despite the chaos in her mind. "But this isn't over. Not by a long shot."

Zayne nodded, then turned to Aria. "We need to move, now."

Vanessa stepped fully into the room, her expression unreadable. She took a few steps forward, her eyes fixed on Zayne. "I'm not just some bystander in this. If you think I'm going to let you walk away without me, you're wrong."

Eliana's heart raced. Her hands trembled at her sides, but she couldn't afford to show weakness. "Vanessa, I"

"No," Vanessa interrupted, cutting her off. "I'm part of this now, whether you like it or not." She leveled her gaze at Zayne. "I won't sit on the sidelines. You owe me the truth, all of it."

Zayne stared at Vanessa for a long moment, his face tense, but then he sighed heavily. "Fine. But you follow our lead, Vanessa. We're dealing with something far beyond anything you understand. You may think you're ready, but I'm telling you, this is bigger than you realize."

Vanessa didn't flinch. "I don't care. I'm in. I'm not leaving without knowing what's really going on."

Zayne glanced at Eliana, then back to Aria. "Let's go."

The air was thick with uncertainty, the unknown hanging over them like a dark cloud. Eliana wasn't sure what was waiting for them, but one thing was clear time was running out. Whatever Vanessa's role in this was, they had no choice but to move forward. There was no turning back now.

Vanessa followed close behind, her eyes still fixed on Zayne, as if searching for cracks in his façade. Eliana took a deep breath, trying to calm her racing heart, but there was no escape from the turmoil. The truth was unraveling, and it wasn't going to be easy. But they had no choice. They had to face what was coming. Together, or not at all.