The Vault With Secret

Selene's breath was slow and steady, though her mind churned with the weight of what lay ahead. The dimly lit room was silent except for the soft rhythm of Caleb's breathing, but even that did little to ease the tension coiling in her chest. His presence was proof of everything Lucian had tried to bury and everything he had stolen but now, Selene had a choice which is she could stay trapped in this game, letting Lucian move her like a piece on a board, or she could start playing for herself. Across the room, Eve stood near the door, her arms crossed and her expression unreadable. The flickering light from the lamp cast shadows across her face, making it impossible to tell where her loyalties truly lay. Selene met her gaze. 'How long have you known?"Eve's brow arched slightly. 'About what?" Selene's fingers curled against her lap. 'About Caleb, about what Lucian did to him." Eve exhaled softly, tilting her head. 'I had my suspicions but I only knew the truth when I saw the way Lucian reacted to him." Selene's jaw tightened. 'So you knew he was alive." Eve hesitated. 'I knew someone was out there, looking for you but I didn't know it was him." Selene studied her carefully, searching for deception but there was none, just carefully guarded honesty then Eve stepped forward, her voice low. 'Lucian isn't as invincible as he wants you to believe, he has weaknesses and right now, you're one of them." Selene's pulse quickened. 'You think I can bring him down?"Eve's lips twitched slightly, but there was no humor in her expression. 'I think you already have, you just haven't seen it yet."Selene exhaled sharply, forcing herself to think. Eve had always been careful, always walking the thin line between obedience and defiance and if she was speaking this openly, it meant something had shifted. 'You're helping me," Selene said, watching for a reaction but Eve was quiet for a moment before nodding. 'I am." Selene's chest tightened. 'Why?" Eve's gaze darkened slightly. 'Because Lucian doesn't get to decide who wins." Selene inhaled slowly, feeling the weight of her words; this was real, Eve was making a choice, and now, so was she. A long silence stretched between them before Eve finally spoke again. 'We don't have much time so if you're serious about getting out of here, we need a plan."Selene's heart pounded. 'We're not just leaving." Eve arched a brow. 'No?" Selene exhaled slowly, steadying her voice. 'We're finishing this."Eve studied her carefully, then nodded once. 'Then let's get to work." The estate was eerily quiet as they moved through the corridors, their footsteps light against the polished floors. The guards had been repositioned after the breach, their focus turned outward rather than within, it was a mistake, one Selene intended to use against them. Eve led the way, guiding her through a passage Selene had never seen before, the air was colder here, the walls lined with old stone rather than smooth marble and it felt older, untouched by the grandeur of the rest of the estate. 'Where are we going?" Selene whispered but Eve didn't answer immediately. 'Somewhere Lucian doesn't want you to see."Selene's pulse quickened; Lucian's secrets had already destroyed her life, now it was time she uncovered them herself. They stopped in front of a heavy metal door, its surface worn with age. Eve reached into her pocket, producing a small key, inserting it into the tiny hole and the lock clicked softly, and the door swung open with a creak. Selene stepped inside first, her breath catching as she took in the room before her, it wasn't an office, not a study either but it was a vault, one that had rows of shelves lined the walls, filled with files, ledgers, and contracts evidence. Eve closed the door behind them, her voice low. 'Everything Lucian has ever done, every deal, every name, it's all here." Selene exhaled sharply, stepping forward; this was it, everything she needed to take Lucian down was right before her. Her fingers grazed the spine of one of the thick folders and her eyes scanned the labels; her father's company was here, and so was Caleb's name and her name too. She grabbed the file marked Deveraux Holdings and flipped it open, inside were signatures, contracts, and forged agreements that detailed how her father's company had been taken from him. Her stomach twisted because she realized her father had never stood a chance. Eve watched her carefully. 'This is why he keeps you here, Selene."Selene clenched her fists. 'He thinks he owns me."Eve's expression hardened. 'Then prove him wrong." Selene's breath came fast; she would then turn toward Eve, her voice steady. 'Help me end this." Eve met her gaze for a long moment before nodding. 'Whatever it takes." But before both could take another move, a sudden noise echoed from the hallway; footsteps. Selene and Eve froze and spoke with the same voice. 'The vault was supposed to be empty, no one came here."The footsteps grew closer, deliberate and unhurried. Eve reached for the door and Selene's pulse raced. 'We can't get caught." Eve nodded once, then turned toward the shelves, scanning them quickly before pulling out a small device and pressing it into Selene's hand. 'A tracker?" Selene whispered, Eve shook her head. 'A detonator."Selene's breath caught. Eve's voice was quiet but firm. 'If we don't get out of here, destroy it all." Selene's chest tightened then the footsteps stopped and a single knock sounded against the door. Selene's heart pounded then, a voice, smooth, cold, and familiar. 'Ladies," Lucian's voice came from the other side and Selene's blood ran cold. Lucian knew every one of her plans and he was waiting.