There are things in this world that human minds cannot bring themselves to tolerate, out of fear of being confronted with a reality entirely beyond their control. Would you like a glimpse of it? Curiosity is a wicked thing, dear reader…
"The Black Lodge is the prime suspect in this case," Inspector Moreno said
Every gaze darkened as thoughts and memories surfaced from the depths of individual memory.
The Black Lodge was an organization affiliated with the Eastern continent, and more specifically with the SHADOW clan. It held no goodwill toward the ALPHA clan, and least of all toward the ANGOMA family.
"Are you quite certain, Inspector ? That lodge cannot afford to defy us like this, not after the non-aggression pact we established two centuries ago," Georgia declared.
Sonia nodded while Hassan and Boris exchanged skeptical looks.
Because of its unique power, the ALPHA clan had long been the target of numerous plots and attacks from other clans operating under the Black Lodge's influence. It was during the ANGOMA family's rise to dominance that a non-aggression pact had been established to put an end to the genocide carried out by the Black Lodge. But it was merely a well-decorated façade, the Lodge continued to operate in the shadows of the Eastern continent under the dominance of the SHADOW clan.
"Unfortunately, I'm afraid so. During the inspection of your sister's art studio, multiple trails of black flames ran across the walls and floor in a precise and aggressive pattern. Viewed from a specific angle, they formed the image of the fallen angel, a symbol belonging exclusively to the Lodge, and clear proof of its involvement in this case. There is also another significant detail: a letter was found in the wreckage."
Inspector Fine produced the letter, marked with a symbol identical to the one discovered in Leonora's studio. He handed it to Sonia, who read it aloud.
"This is merely the beginning of a friendly bloodbath. Your beloved family seems to enjoy prying into matters that do not concern them. Such was your sister's fate, and your daughter's. She burned in a tornado of flames and nameless pain. And so, we invite you to watch your backs, and those of your kind, in every direction."
Boris slammed his fist into the wooden table beside him and ran a hand through his copper hair.
"Those bastards."
"As you can hear, the letter confirms the Lodge's responsibility for your sister's murder. However, one particular detail caught our attention."
"What is it, Inspector ?" Adriana asked.
Sonia approached Céline, who met her with a steady jade gaze, and handed her the letter, under the sharp eyes of everyone present. Heart pounding, she took it with growing apprehension. What she read turned her blood to ice, but she fought to show nothing.
Josh took the letter from his wife's hands. It was then that he noticed the final line, written in characters only Céline could understand. His gaze darkened as the scrap of paper ignited in his palm, reducing itself to ashes, to the dismay of all.
"What the hell are you doing ?" Georgia snapped.
"Georgia," he said calmly.
"You're going to cover for her again, after this ? If that was truly a language belonging to the AQUARIS clan, it would mean she is involved in Leonora's murder. Our sister, Josh. I'm certain she's in on it, and that"
"Enough."
"Why ? Is the truth so hard for you to hear ? She has been manipulating you from the start, can you not see it, brother ? Every problem we've had began the moment this woman walked into our lives. She is a walking curse," she spat, pointing an accusatory finger at her.
A heavy silence fell over the room like a threat.
"Inspectors, we will continue this meeting in another room," Hassan announced, guiding them out.
"Very well."
They departed with a nod as Josh and Georgia remained alone in the room. Though she was his elder, Josh remained the head of the ANGOMA family, a title she could not afford to challenge or defy. And though they shared the same blood, Josh had a remarkable ability to strip himself of emotion when it came to enforcing his authority.
"You're going to punish me for her — seriously ?"
Her mismatched eyes wavered between fear and bitterness. Her voice betrayed her nerves, yet she kept her gaze lifted.
"I think you simply don't grasp my warnings. So I hope this makes it clearer," he said, his voice calm and dark.
"Josh," she whispered, stepping back.
She stumbled to the floor, her eyes pleading, before a being who had no use for compassion or forgiveness.
Céline stood at the manor's windows, staring out at the gardens with a sullen expression. Georgia's words had cut deep, and her in-laws' contempt was becoming harder to endure. She had become a suspect in their eyes, suspected of Leonora's murder, and that was what she had feared most. It felt like a knife in the back.
"What are you doing here, Céline?"
She turned to find Sonia's suspicious gaze fixed on her. No one set foot in Leonora's room anymore, for fear of stirring up painful memories. She was clearly an intruder in this space, though that had not always been the case. Lost in her thoughts, she was quickly brought back to reality when she felt Sonia's hand strike her hard across the cheek. Stunned, she shot her an outraged look before seizing her abruptly by the throat.
"Girl, you had better rein in those impulses of yours. I won't hesitate to hit back if I feel like it, consider yourself warned."
"Relax. I simply wanted to lift your spirits, you looked utterly defeated. You shouldn't wear that expression, and above all, you are the wife of a powerful man. Live up to that status. Know that this family's contempt will follow you to your grave. Don't expect affection or recognition, Céline. Because of you, my sister is suffering at my brother's hands right now. Your arrival in this family has upended everything, for the worse. Are you even aware of that ?"
She tightened her grip on her throat and brought her face closer.
"All this hatred because I belong to the AQUARIS clan. I'm well aware, as it happens. But it matters little to me, as long as I can bend you all to my will without effort. After all, I am the wife of this family's leader, and more. If there is one thing that sets my clan apart from yours, it is the strength of our bonds. The fact that we do not submit so easily to the ALPHA, unlike others."
Céline released her and was about to leave when Sonia grabbed her arm.
"The strength of bonds, you say ? I know you're not entirely innocent in this affair. Everything will come to light eventually, and believe me, I will be the one to bring you down. 'One look, one memory, one name', what did that phrase mean, Céline ? Hmm. I managed to read it in the letter. Nothing escapes my eye."
She pulled free from her grip, shooting her a withering look.
"You have no idea what you're talking about."
"We'll see about that. The worst is yet to come, dear sister-in-law. A piece of advice, focus on managing your husband. Because knowing him, your ordeal is only just beginning. Once he turns his back on you, you'll be utterly alone in this world. Even your own clan couldn't care less about you. The perfect profile for someone with nothing left to lose, wouldn't you say ?"
She settled on the edge of the bed, looking Céline up and down.
"You might be more right than you know," Céline said, slipping out of the room.
"You really have no idea who you're dealing with," Sonia thought, a small smile on her lips as she watched Céline's shadow disappear from the room.
Appearances are deceiving, and consciences heavy with secrets and remorse. Shall I reveal some of them to you ? At the risk of tainting your innocence and setting fire to your trust in others?