Chapter Ten : The Brother in the Shadows
1919 Words
Elena
The rain had stopped by dawn.
Elena sat in the passenger seat of Lucien's car, watching Veyra slowly wake beneath a gray sky.
Neither of them had spoken for nearly an hour.
Her mind was still at the cemetery.
Her mother was alive.
She had a twin brother.
Her real name wasn't the name she'd grown up believing.
And somewhere in the city was a man named Elias.
Her brother.
Seventeen years.
Seventeen years of believing she was alone.
Now she wasn't sure she'd ever truly known herself.
"Where are we going?"
Lucien's hands tightened around the steering wheel.
"Somewhere safe."
"You keep saying that."
"Because you're still alive."
She looked at him.
"You know, you're terrible at comforting people."
"I'm not trying to comfort you."
"Exactly."
A faint smile touched his lips.
It disappeared almost immediately.
Elena looked back through the window.
"Do you believe my mother?"
"Yes."
"That easily?"
"No."
"Then why?"
"Because too many things she said match what I've discovered."
Elena lowered her eyes.
"What about Elias?"
Lucien was silent.
"You think he's alive?"
"Yes."
"Why?"
"Adrian showed us his photograph."
Elena turned sharply.
"You saw him?"
"No."
"But you know he exists."
"Yes."
She swallowed.
"What does he look like?"
Lucien hesitated.
"Like you."
Her heart skipped.
"How?"
"Same eyes."
She looked down.
"That's strange."
"What's strange?"
"I've always felt like someone was missing."
Lucien glanced at her.
"Maybe there was."
---
Lucien
They arrived at one of Lucien's private residences shortly after sunrise.
Unlike the Voss estate, this house was modern and secluded.
No portraits.
No family history.
No reminders.
Just glass, stone, and silence.
Elena stepped inside.
"This is yours?"
"Yes."
"You live here?"
"Sometimes."
"Where do you actually live?"
"Wherever I can sleep."
She looked at him.
"That sounds lonely."
"It is."
The honesty caught her off guard.
Lucien walked toward the kitchen.
"Eat something."
"I'm not hungry."
"You haven't eaten since yesterday."
"You noticed?"
"I notice everything about you."
The words came out before he could stop them.
Elena looked at him.
Lucien turned away.
"Sit."
She obeyed.
He prepared coffee.
She watched him.
"You cook?"
"Occasionally."
"You don't look like someone who cooks."
"What does someone who cooks look like?"
"Less intimidating."
He almost smiled.
Elena took the cup he handed her.
Their fingers touched.
Neither moved immediately.
Then Lucien pulled away.
"You should sleep."
"I can't."
"I know."
She looked at him.
"Tell me something."
"What?"
"Why did your father trust you with me?"
Lucien leaned against the counter.
"I don't know."
"You're lying."
He looked at her.
"I'm not."
"You've been protecting me since the first day I came to Voss International."
"Yes."
"Before you knew who I was."
"Yes."
"Why?"
Lucien's expression became distant.
"I don't know."
Elena frowned.
"You keep saying that."
"Because it's true."
She studied him.
"Maybe you've known me before."
His eyes lifted.
"I think I have."
Her heart skipped.
"Do you remember?"
"Fragments."
"Tell me."
He closed his eyes.
"I remember a baby."
Elena's breath caught.
"Me?"
"I don't know."
"What else?"
"Someone was screaming."
"Who?"
"My father."
"Why?"
"I don't know."
"Lucien."
He opened his eyes.
"There was blood."
Elena's stomach twisted.
"Whose?"
"I don't know."
He looked away.
"Every time I try to remember, there's a wall."
"Maybe someone made you forget."
"Maybe."
She reached across the table.
Her fingers touched his hand.
Lucien froze.
Elena almost pulled away.
He turned his hand and gently held hers.
Neither spoke.
It was the first time he had touched her without anger, fear, or urgency.
It felt strangely familiar.
Safe.
Until his phone rang.
He released her hand.
"Yes?"
Adrian's voice came through.
"He's awake."
Lucien stood.
"Who?"
"Your brother."
Lucien's expression changed.
"Where?"
"I'll send you the location."
The call ended.
Elena stared at him.
"Elias?"
Lucien nodded.
"He's alive."
---
Elena
They drove for forty minutes.
The location Adrian sent was an abandoned hotel on the eastern edge of Veyra.
Elena stared at the building.
"This doesn't look safe."
"It isn't."
"Then why are we here?"
"Because Elias is here."
"How do you know?"
"I don't."
She looked at him.
"That's reassuring."
Lucien stopped the car.
"You stay behind me."
"I can protect myself."
"I know."
He looked at her.
"But let me do it anyway."
They entered the hotel.
The lobby was deserted.
Dust covered the floor.
Broken furniture lay scattered across the room.
Lucien raised his gun.
Elena's heart raced.
"You have a gun."
"Yes."
"Since when?"
"Always."
She stared at him.
"Of course."
They moved upstairs.
At the end of the corridor stood a single door.
Lucien stopped.
There was a sound behind it.
Breathing.
Someone was inside.
He looked at Elena.
"Stay here."
"No."
"Elena."
"I'm coming."
He sighed.
"Fine."
He opened the door.
The room was empty.
Elena frowned.
"Where is he?"
Lucien looked around.
Then he noticed a mirror.
Written across it in black ink:
HELLO, SISTER.
Elena stopped breathing.
She stepped closer.
"Sister."
Her voice shook.
"He knows I'm here."
Lucien looked behind the mirror.
A hidden compartment.
Inside was a photograph.
Elena reached for it.
She saw the boy.
The same dark eyes.
The same sharp features.
The same expression she saw whenever she looked into a mirror.
Her hands trembled.
"Elias."
A voice came from behind them.
"That's right."
Elena turned.
A man stood in the doorway.
Tall.
Dark-haired.
His eyes were identical to hers.
He looked at Elena.
For several seconds, neither moved.
Then he smiled.
"You're finally here."
Elena couldn't breathe.
"You're my brother."
"Yes."
Lucien stepped between them.
Elias laughed.
"Relax, Lucien."
Lucien's eyes narrowed.
"You know me."
"I know everything about you."
"Who are you?"
Elias smiled.
"Your worst mistake."
Elena stepped forward.
"Why?"
Elias looked at her.
"Because you weren't supposed to survive."
Her heart stopped.
"What?"
Elias walked closer.
"Our grandfather ordered both of us killed."
Lucien's expression hardened.
"Then how did you survive?"
Elias looked at him.
"Your father saved you."
He turned to Elena.
"And someone else saved me."
"Who?"
Elias smiled.
"Adrian."
Lucien froze.
"Why would Adrian save you?"
"Because he promised our father."
Elena's eyes widened.
"Our father?"
Elias nodded.
"Alexander Voss."
Silence.
Elena stared at him.
"Alexander was our father?"
Elias looked confused.
"You didn't know?"
"No."
He looked at Lucien.
"You didn't tell her?"
Lucien's jaw tightened.
"I didn't know."
Elias laughed.
"You really don't know anything."
---
Lucien
Lucien wanted to hit him.
Instead, he remained still.
"What do you know?"
Elias smiled.
"More than you."
"Then talk."
Elias looked at Elena.
"Do you want to know why your mother disappeared?"
"Yes."
"She wasn't running from Augustus."
Elena frowned.
"Then who?"
Elias's gaze moved toward Lucien.
"Your father."
Lucien's blood ran cold.
"What?"
"Alexander wanted to take you away from Seraphina."
"Why?"
"Because he knew she was going to kill you."
Elena's face went pale.
"My mother?"
Elias nodded.
"She was being forced."
"By whom?"
"Augustus."
Lucien stepped forward.
"You said Alexander saved Elena."
"He did."
"Then why did he take her from Seraphina?"
"Because Augustus had ordered her death."
Lucien stared at him.
"That doesn't make sense."
"It will."
Elias pulled out a folder.
He threw it onto the table.
"Read."
Lucien opened it.
Inside were photographs.
Documents.
Medical records.
Bank transfers.
And one final photograph.
Alexander.
Seraphina.
Two newborn babies.
And Augustus Voss standing behind them.
Written on the photograph:
THE HEIRS.
Lucien looked at Elias.
"Why would Augustus want them dead?"
Elias's expression became cold.
"Because one of us wasn't his grandchild."
Lucien froze.
"What?"
Elias looked at Elena.
"You're not a Voss by blood."
Elena's eyes widened.
"But you just said Alexander was our father."
"He was."
"Then how am I not a Voss?"
Elias smiled bitterly.
"Because Alexander wasn't a Voss."
Lucien went completely still.
"What?"
Elias looked directly at him.
"Your father was adopted."
The room became silent.
Lucien's world tilted.
"My father?"
"Alexander Voss wasn't Augustus's biological son."
Lucien stared at him.
"Then who was he?"
Elias's eyes hardened.
"The man Augustus killed."
Lucien's voice became barely audible.
"Who?"
Elias stepped closer.
"The man who was supposed to inherit everything."
He paused.
"His name was Gabriel Laurent."
Elena's eyes widened.
"Laurent?"
Elias nodded.
"Camille Laurent's family."
Lucien stopped breathing.
Camille's family.
His father's supposed enemy.
The woman he had loved.
The woman who had died seven years ago.
Everything was connected.
Elias continued.
"Alexander was Gabriel's son."
Lucien's mind raced.
"So my father wasn't a Voss."
"No."
"Then why did Augustus raise him?"
"Because Augustus killed Gabriel."
Lucien's hands curled into fists.
"And adopted his son to control the inheritance."
Elias nodded.
"Exactly."
---
Elena
Elena felt like the floor had disappeared.
Her entire life was built on lies.
Her mother had another name.
Her father wasn't who she thought.
Her brother had been stolen.
Lucien's father wasn't a Voss.
And Camille's family was connected to everything.
She looked at Lucien.
He seemed broken.
For the first time, she wanted to comfort him.
She stepped closer.
"Lucien."
He didn't respond.
She touched his arm.
He looked at her.
Their eyes met.
He looked lost.
She whispered:
"You're not alone."
Something in his expression cracked.
He pulled her into his arms.
Elena froze.
Then slowly wrapped her arms around him.
His face pressed against her hair.
His body was tense.
Like he was holding onto the only thing keeping him standing.
"I'm sorry," she whispered.
"Don't."
His voice was rough.
"Don't feel sorry for me."
"I don't."
She held him tighter.
"I'm here."
He pulled back slightly.
Their faces were inches apart.
His eyes searched hers.
"You shouldn't be."
"Why?"
"Because everything around me gets destroyed."
"Maybe I'm not afraid."
"You should be."
"I'm not."
His hand touched her cheek.
"Elena..."
She looked at his lips.
He leaned closer.
This time, neither stopped.
Their lips met.
It was brief.
Soft.
Almost hesitant.
Then Lucien pulled away.
His breathing was uneven.
"We can't."
Elena's heart pounded.
"You've said that before."
"This time I mean it."
"Why?"
He looked at her.
"Because now I know who you are."
She frowned.
"What does that change?"
His eyes darkened.
"Everything."
---
Elias
Elias watched them from across the room.
He smiled.
They didn't know.
Not yet.
They believed the worst secret had been uncovered.
It hadn't.
He pulled out his phone.
A message was waiting.
Did they believe you?
Elias typed:
Completely.
Another message appeared.
And Lucien?
Elias looked at him.
At the way he was staring at Elena.
At the way Elena trusted him despite everything.
Elias smiled.
He's falling for her.
The reply came instantly.
Good.
Elias's smile disappeared.
Why?
Three dots appeared.
Then:
Because when he learns who Elena really is, he'll hate her.
Elias looked at Elena.
Something like pity crossed his face.
Then another message appeared.
And when he learns what she did seven years ago...
Elias stopped breathing.
A final message arrived.
...he'll hate himself even more.
Elias slowly lowered the phone.
Seven years ago.
Camille.
The accident.
Elena.
There was something about that night Elena didn't remember.
Something someone had erased.
And Elias knew exactly what it was.
He looked at his sister.
Then at Lucien.
And whispered so quietly that neither heard him:
"You really don't remember, do you?"
Outside, thunder rolled over Veyra.
And somewhere in the city, a woman opened an old locked drawer.
Inside was a photograph of Elena.
Taken seven years ago.
On the back were four words:
She killed Camille Laurent.
- Writer
- chap_listContents
- likeADD