RAVENHALL: CROWN OF SHADOWS

Chapter 4

The routine at Ravenhall was precise and unchanging.

Elena woke at seven. Breakfast at eight. Her laptop arrived with encrypted access to law school servers. Professors had been told she was dealing with a family emergency. They sent lectures and assignments digitally.

She studied in her room or the library. Ate lunch at one. Studied more. Dinner at seven with varying combinations of brothers. Evening free time. Bed by eleven.

Guards watched her constantly. Professional. Polite. Absolutely unwavering.

Three days passed before the promised call with Sofia.

Matteo summoned Elena to a private conference room. Secure equipment lined the walls. A large screen dominated one end.

"Fifteen minutes," Matteo said. "The connection is encrypted but not untraceable. Viktor has people monitoring medical facilities. We can't risk longer."

Elena nodded, throat tight.

Matteo started the call and left the room.

The screen flickered. Then Sofia's face appeared, and Elena forgot how to breathe.

Her sister looked so different. Older, obviously, but also harder. Thinner. Sick. Dark circles shadowed her eyes. Medical equipment beeped in the background.

"Hello?" Sofia said. Her voice was cautious. Scared.

"Sofia," Elena whispered. "It's me. It's Elena."

Sofia's face went white. "That's not funny. Who is this? How did you get this number?"

"I know you were told I died. But I didn't. I've been alive this whole time. I didn't know you survived. They told me you died too."

"Prove it," Sofia demanded, but her voice shook. "Prove you're really my sister."

Elena's mind raced. "You had a stuffed rabbit named Mr. Flops. You spilled grape juice on Mom's white couch when you were six and blamed the dog, but we didn't have a dog. You used to make me tell you stories about princesses who saved themselves because you said the princes were useless."

Sofia's hand covered her mouth. Tears streamed down her face. "Elena? Is it really you?"

"It's really me."

They both cried for a minute, words impossible through the emotion.

"Where are you?" Sofia finally asked. "The people here told me family was coming to get me. Are you the family?"

"Sort of. It's complicated. But yes, I'm coming for you. I promise."

"When?" The desperate hope in Sofia's voice broke Elena's heart.

"Soon. A few months. There are things that need to happen first to keep you safe. But I swear, Sofia, I'm getting you out of there."

"I'm so sick," Sofia said quietly. "The doctors say my condition is degenerative. That I'll need treatment forever."

Elena's jaw clenched. "Your condition is manufactured. The people holding you have been making you sick deliberately. Once we get you out, real doctors will help you heal."

Sofia's eyes widened. "What? No, that can't be—"

"I know it sounds impossible. But it's true. You're being held by dangerous people. But I found even more dangerous people who are going to help me get you back."

"I don't understand any of this."

"You don't have to right now. Just trust me. Can you do that?"

Sofia wiped her eyes. "You're really alive. After all these years, you're alive."

"So are you. And we're going to be together again. I promise."

They talked until Matteo knocked on the door. Time was up.

"I love you," Elena said. "Stay strong."

"I love you too," Sofia whispered. "Please hurry."

The screen went dark.

Elena sat in silence, hands shaking. Matteo entered quietly.

"She's worse than the footage showed," Elena said. "How bad is it really?"

"Bad. Viktor's doctors have been inducing chemical dependencies disguised as treatments. She's genuinely ill now from years of poisoning. Extraction will require medical support."

"Six months is too long."

"Six months is necessary. Moving sooner risks her life."

Elena stood, facing him. "You manipulated me into this cage. You took away my choices. The least you can do is be honest. What else aren't you telling me?"

Matteo regarded her with those steel eyes. "Many things. Some for your protection. Some because you're not ready to hear them."

"Try me."

"Viktor knows you're here. He's been testing our defenses for three days. Small probes. Checking response times and weak points. He'll attack eventually, and when he does, it will be with everything he has."

Elena's blood went cold. "You're using me as bait again."

"I'm using reality. You exist. You witnessed his operation. He wants you dead. We're simply prepared for the inevitable."

"And Sofia?"

"Is leverage. Viktor won't kill her because he thinks she's his insurance against our interference. He's wrong, but his assumption buys us time."

Elena paced the room. "I want to help."

"Help how?"

"You're fighting Viktor through territory and violence. But you said he's using legal tactics too. Asset freezes, investigations, legitimate channels. That's where I can be useful."

Matteo's expression did not change. "You said you wouldn't help criminals."

"I said a lot of things before I knew my sister was alive. Priorities change."

"What do you want?"

"Access to your legal files. The cases Viktor is using against you. Let me analyze them. I'll find weaknesses."

"And in exchange?"

"Better accommodations. Freedom to move around the estate without escorts. Access to uncensored news and information. And a promise that when Sofia is extracted, she gets the same protection I have."

Matteo considered. "The accommodations and estate access are reasonable. The uncensored information is a security risk. And Sofia already has guaranteed protection."

"Then we don't have a deal."

"You're not in a position to negotiate."

"Neither are you," Elena countered. "You need legal expertise. Your corporate lawyers can't fight the way Viktor is attacking. I can. But not blind and not from a cage."

Silence stretched between them. Elena held his gaze, refusing to back down.

"Rowan will argue this is dangerous," Matteo said finally. "Lucien will say you're playing me. They'll both be right."

"So?"

"So I'm going to agree anyway because you're correct. We do need you." He pulled out his phone, typed something. "You'll have access to legal files by tonight. Restricted internet access with monitoring. Movement freedom within estate grounds except armory and lower levels. Sofia's protection is already guaranteed but I'll put it in writing."

"Why are you agreeing so easily?"

"Because you're David's daughter. Because you're brilliant. And because I'd rather have you working with us than finding ways to work against us."

Elena should feel victorious. Instead, she felt like she had just fallen deeper into a trap.

"When do I start?" she asked.

"Tomorrow. Tonight, you should rest. And Elena?" Matteo's voice stopped her at the door. "Viktor will eventually learn you're helping us. When he does, he'll target you specifically. Are you prepared for that?"

"He's already targeting me. At least this way I fight back."

Matteo almost smiled. "David would be proud."

"David was set up and murdered by people he trusted. Forgive me if family pride isn't comforting right now."

She left before he could respond.

That night, Elena dreamed of fire and gunshots. Of her father's face the last time she saw him, telling her to be strong. Of Sofia's voice calling for help that never came.

She woke to an alarm blaring through the estate.

Elena ran to her window. Floodlights illuminated the grounds. Guards sprinted toward the perimeter. In the distance, smoke rose from one of the gate houses.

Viktor was making his move.

She dressed quickly, mind racing through options. Stay in room like good prisoner? Or prove she was more than that?

Elena made her choice. Opened her door and ran toward the chaos.

Rowan intercepted her in the hallway, appearing like a violent ghost. "Get back in your room."

"What's happening?"

"Viktor's people hit our north gate. Small team, mostly distraction. Get inside before—"

An explosion rocked the building. Windows shattered. Elena stumbled. Rowan caught her, his grip iron-strong.

"Stay with me," he ordered. "And do exactly what I say."

They moved through smoke-filled corridors. Other guards rushed past, weapons ready. Rowan guided Elena to a reinforced room she had never seen before.

Matteo was inside with Lucien, both armed and focused on multiple screens showing security feeds.

"Viktor's getting bold," Lucien said. "Four entry points. Coordinated timing. Professional execution."

"How many?" Matteo asked.

"Twelve confirmed. Probably more waiting as backup."

Rowan pushed Elena into a chair. "Stay. Here."

"I can help—"

"You can stay alive," Rowan snapped. "That's helpful enough."

Matteo spoke into a radio, directing teams with calm precision. Lucien monitored feeds, calling out movements and positions.

Elena watched these three men transform into something terrifying. Not businessmen or politicians. Soldiers. Predators. This was who they really were under the expensive suits and careful words.

The attack lasted twenty minutes. Viktor's team retreated when it became clear they could not breach the main house. Three of them were killed. Two captured. The rest escaped.

When silence fell, Matteo finally looked at Elena.

"You were supposed to stay in your room," he said quietly.

"I thought—"

"You thought wrong. These attacks will continue. Next time, you follow protocol or I'll have you locked in the panic room indefinitely. Understood?"

Elena nodded, throat tight.

Rowan left to check casualties. Lucien pulled up footage of the captured attackers. Young men, professional gear, no identification.

"Viktor sent children," Lucien said with disgust. "Expendable soldiers who know nothing useful."

"Then we send a message," Matteo decided. "Patch them up and return them. With a gift."

"What kind of gift?" Elena asked.

Matteo's smile was cold. "The kind that reminds Viktor he's not the only one who can hurt what matters."

And Elena realized she was standing with monsters who would do terrible things to protect what was theirs.

The question was whether she was horrified.

Or relieved.