The vault wasn't hidden in a cave, an underground lair, or some encrypted server room.
It was underneath the old piano in the abandoned music wing.
Of course it was.
Only Alden would hide the most dangerous secrets beneath an instrument—one note away from disaster.
I slipped the key Lucian gave me into the side panel of the ancient piano.
Click.
The floor beneath me vibrated. The piano bench split in half and slid apart, revealing a narrow staircase spiraling into darkness.
I descended alone.
Every step echoed like a heartbeat I didn't want to feel.
---
The Vault – 43 Feet Underground
It was small.
Cramped.
Sterile.
But powerful.
Walls lined with LED-lit shelves holding files, weapons, vials, and... portraits. All of them were of agents I'd known in passing. All marked either Dead or Lost.
Only one shelf was different.
A sealed glass box marked E.V.E. Series – Black Class.
Inside: five capsules. Only one had my name on it—E.V.E.01.
The others?
2. 3. 4. 5.
But two were missing.
And one had Aris's file tag.
Another?
No name. Just "Status: Terminated."
I shivered.
Then I found the real file.
Marked:
> Ghost Protocol: Activate Only in Case of Internal Collapse.
I opened it, breath held.
And nearly dropped it when I saw the final page.
---
A picture of the White King.
Unmasked.
Name: Adrian S. Kross.
Relation: Son of the Academy Founder.
Objective: Unify all criminal heirs under one table. Use E.V.E.01 to eliminate opposition. Then dispose.
Underlined in red ink:
> "Ashira is the last free queen. She must be crowned—or erased."
I stumbled back.
Adrian knew who I was.
He always knew.
He was playing everyone—not just me. The other boys, the headmaster, even Alden. He had engineered the entire game. The King's Table wasn't a test. It was a setup.
I was the finale.
---
Aboveground – East Wall Tower
Kael was pacing the top of the tower when Darius (Elijah) appeared behind him.
Kael didn't turn.
Kael: "You know, I was always suspicious of you."
Darius: "And I was always bored of you."
Kael chuckled.
Kael: "She still doesn't know you saved her twice."
Darius: "She doesn't need to. She doesn't trust me anymore."
Kael turned then.
"And what about the King? You still playing on his side?"
Darius's jaw clenched.
"Not anymore."
Kael threw a small device at him. Darius caught it.
Kael: "That's a scrambler. Use it on your tracker. I'll say I lost you in combat."
Darius: "Why help me?"
Kael: "Because if we're going to war… I'd rather die beside someone honest about being a liar than someone pretending to be clean."
---
Vault Exit – Minutes Later
I emerged from the vault, files shoved under my jacket, heart thudding.
Someone stood at the entrance.
I froze.
But when the light hit his face, I exhaled.
Vale.
He held out a bag of chips.
"Told you you'd find something life-ruining."
I took the chips, dazed. "You knew about this?"
Vale nodded. "Lucian briefed me. I just wanted you to go down on your own."
I: "Why?"
Vale: "Because this time, the choice had to be yours."
He walked beside me.
"You get it now, don't you?" he said softly.
I nodded. "Adrian's not just a King. He's the war."
Vale: "And you?"
I stopped walking.
"I'm the only piece he can't control."
---
End of Chapter 41