Chapter Three: Secrets in the Shadows
1301 Words
Skylar sat in her office the next morning, staring blankly at the glowing cityscape beyond the floor-to-ceiling windows. The previous night’s dinner replayed in her mind, each word, each glance from Princeton, dissected over and over. His confidence wasn’t just charisma—it was as if he knew something she didn’t.
That jolt she had felt when their hands brushed—it wasn’t normal. And the way he had studied her with those piercing ocean-blue eyes made her feel exposed, as though he could see through her very soul.
Her fingers tapped the edge of her desk. Was he suspecting her? Or was she imagining it?
Her thoughts were interrupted when her office door swung open. A man stepped inside, dressed in an impeccably tailored suit. His grin was broad and full of charm.
“You must be Skylar Vargas,” he said, leaning casually against the doorframe. “I’m Leo, Princeton’s right-hand man.”
Skylar offered a polite smile, keeping her expression neutral. “Nice to meet you, Leo. How can I help you?”
“More like how I can help you,” he replied, stepping further into the room. “Princeton asked me to make sure you’re settling in. He seems... I'm very interested in you.”
Skylar tilted her head, hiding the flicker of annoyance that rose inside her. “I’m sure it’s purely professional.”
Leo chuckled, his eyes glinting with mischief. “Oh, sure, professional. That’s one word for it. But, hey, who am I to question the boss’s interests?”
Skylar didn’t respond, but her instincts flared. Leo wasn’t just here to welcome her. He was here to dig.
“Anyway,” Leo continued his tone light, “if you need anything, just let me know. I’m here to make things easier.” He shot her a wink before sauntering out of the office.
As the door closed behind him, Skylar exhaled. Something about Leo didn’t sit right with her. He was charming, yes, but something was calculating behind that grin.
Was he a threat? Or just another pawn in Princeton’s world?
Later that afternoon, Skylar finds herself in the company’s archives, searching for clues. She needed to understand why Princeton was so different—why her powers couldn’t touch him and why that strange energy always surged between them.
The archives were a labyrinth of old contracts, documents, and records. Skylar sifted through files, her sharp eyes scanning for anything related to the Campbell family history.
“Looking for something?”
Skylar froze, the voice unmistakable. She turned to find Princeton standing in the doorway, his jacket slung over one shoulder, his tie loosened.
“You seem to enjoy surprising people,” Skylar said, keeping her tone even.
Princeton smirked, leaning against the doorframe. “I could say the same about you. Most executives don’t spend their afternoons in the archives. What are you up to?”
“Just familiarizing myself with the company’s history,” she replied smoothly, closing the file in her hand. “It’s important to understand where we’ve been to know where we’re going.”
He nodded, stepping closer. “Smart. But you won’t find much in these dusty old files. The real stories aren’t written down.”
Skylar arched an eyebrow. “And where would I find those?”
Princeton’s gaze held hers for a moment, an almost playful glint in his eyes. “You’d have to ask me nicely.”
She let out a soft laugh, though her mind was racing. He was toying with her, but there was something beneath his charm—something guarded.
“Well, I’ll keep that in mind,” she said, brushing past him. “Thanks for the advice.”
As she walked away, she could feel his eyes on her, and it took all her self-control not to turn around.
That night, Skylar returned to her small apartment, a modest space she had chosen to avoid drawing attention. She was about to begin her nightly ritual of reviewing her plans when a faint knock echoed through the room.
She froze. No one should know where she lived.
Cautiously, she moved to the door, her fingers glowing faintly with magic as she prepared for the worst.
When she opened the door, a young woman stood there, her face pale and her eyes wide with fear.
“Skylar Vargas?” the woman whispered, her voice trembling.
Skylar narrowed her eyes. “Who are you?”
“My name is Mira,” the woman said quickly, glancing over her shoulder as if she were being followed. “I... I know what you are.”
Skylar stiffened. “You don’t know anything about me.”
“I do,” Mira insisted, stepping closer. “I know about the Vargas family. About the night of the eclipse. I know why you’re here.”
Skylar’s heart raced, though she kept her face calm. “You’re mistaken.”
“No, I’m not,” Mira said, her voice desperate. “I’m here to help you.”
Skylar hesitated. This could be a trap, but there was something about Mira’s eyes—something genuine.
“Come in,” Skylar said finally, stepping aside.
Mira entered, her movements quick and nervous. Once inside, she turned to face Skylar, her hands trembling.
“I work for Campbell Enterprises,” she said. “I overheard Princeton talking to someone. He... he knows you’re not who you say you are.”
Skylar’s stomach tightened. “What else did you hear?”
Mira hesitated, then whispered, “He’s been researching you. He knows you’re not just an ordinary woman. And... there’s something else. Something strange about him. I think he’s hiding powers of his own.”
Skylar’s mind raced. Could Princeton be more than just a mortal descendant of the King? Was that why she couldn’t kill him?
“What do you want from me?” Skylar asked, her tone wary.
“I want to help you stop him,” Mira said her voice firm. “I’ve seen what he can do. He’s dangerous, Skylar.”
Skylar studied her for a moment, then nodded. “If you’re lying to me, you’ll regret it.”
“I’m not,” Mira said quickly. “I swear.”
Skylar closed her eyes, her thoughts swirling. If Princeton had powers, everything she thought she knew about her mission was about to change.
A New Strategy
The next day, Skylar returned to work with renewed determination. If Princeton was hiding something, she would find it.
As she moved through the bustling office, she couldn’t shake the feeling of being watched. Every glance from Leo, every casual comment from Princeton, felt like a test.
By the end of the day, Skylar had formulated a plan. She needed to uncover the truth about Princeton’s powers—and for that, she needed access to his private files.
That night, under the cover of darkness, she slipped into the building. Her magic made it easy to bypass the security systems, and soon she was inside Princeton’s office.
She worked quickly, her fingers flying over his computer keyboard as she searched for anything unusual.
Suddenly, a file caught her eye, marked with a single word: Eclipse.
Her heart pounded as she opened it, scanning its contents. What she found made her blood run cold.
The file detailed the Vargas family’s execution, but it also contained something else: a prophecy.
“The child born under the blood moon will return, bound by vengeance. But the heir of the King will rise, wielding the light to break the curse.”
Skylar leaned back, her hands trembling.
Princeton wasn’t just her enemy. He was the key to ending her very existence.
For the first time in centuries, Skylar felt something she hadn’t felt since that fateful night.
Fear.
- Writer
