SILENT THRONES

ng the marble steps of the Moreau estate

ike a funeral procession, each one mor

tering gowns flowed into the mansion, s

was a ce

cially announcing their heir to the

ck silk shawl tighter around her shoulders

fear, but from the pure forc

wasn't a

t reclaiming wha

hear as she strode toward the entrance,

the scent of rain, gaso

ce, her new identity fitti

Varela

- a ghost reborn, a weapon cr

swung open, revealing

across walls lined with priceless art, portraits of

gne, gunmetal, and ambition

just inside, abs

at precise intervals, eyes

shadows, trays bala

and brittle, bouncing of

careful to keep her face co

easured, each g

e far end of the grand ha

ad been taugh

composed in a black suit, Dominic look

ld Moreau family ring gleamed on his right hand - the hand that

omach

posed to b

venteen and bleeding out in the dirt, betr

rse in her hospital bed, alongside all the

ye

now, Catalina did

ho wore his cro

tice - the rigid set of his shoulders, the fleeting tight

even know

reminde

o

e it e

er elbow, offering a t

e, her fingers brush

, using the moment t

oated throu

over ever

ung to be

his father, you'd think t

ling them in the quiet, ruthless par

t-stopping second, his eyes widened, a flicker o

body away, pretending to admire a m

ammered at

recogni

o

dn't

ad once danced at Moreau galas, the gi

hree long breaths b

ady gone, swallo

Silence.

by since clawing her way out

ward the dais, Dominic Morea

s the room - a brief

, glass halfwa

, just slightly, like he

ures - confusion, curiosity - but the

ses a flicker of movement

first, heart slammi

g to slow, her expressi

nt

le

ien

s only the

anted the first

t the right enemies, and moved across the Moreau e

uring polite greetings, letting

when a drunken councilman tried to imp

atched Dominic from

n't sm

he adoration of the cr

ed... t

d on his head tonight was n

g, Catalin

inter

dang

alina moved with it, weavi

he was

Moreau truste

ingdom to the ground

she melted into the crowd, her black dr

were worn

rela had come t