Morning settled in at the Carrington Estate, rest was a luxury no one could afford. Maids scurried through the halls, cleaning and ensuring everything was flawless.
Hardin strode briskly through the corridors. A day had passed since he'd blacked out, and in that short time, everything had fallen into disarray.
One day without him, and the Museum had been thrown into chaos.
Trailing just behind, Sebastian clutched a tablet, jotting down every one of Hardin's rapid-fire orders.
"Schedule a 9:00 a.m. meeting with the principal of Angel Creek High School."
Sebastian hesitated, blinking. "Come again?"
"Someone needs to get that hole fixed," Hardin muttered, pausing in front of a window.
Outside, Aria was teaching Blue how to fight. She was so focused it startled him. That intensity—he hadn't expected it from her.
To his surprise, Aria's gaze lifted and met his through the glass.
Sebastian raised an eyebrow. "And what's the reason for that?"
Aria stuck out her tongue at Hardin playfully just as Blue spun, following her gaze.
The moment their eyes met, his jaw tightened. Her eyes— they held a lot of inside them, happiness, grief and an emotion he could not completely understand.
This was the first time he had actually spared her a glance, and he could read her like a book—a skill his master had taught him.
"So I don't have to see that little miscreant here every day," he replied, resuming his pace.
Sebastian sighed, adjusting his glasses as he fell into step beside him.
The day was packed. Meetings, decisions, more meetings.
Hardin pushed open the velvet-lined doors to his office.
"That all for today?" he asked, brushing a finger along his desk. Spotless. Just the way he'd left it.
He circled around and sank into his chair. "That's all. Now leave me be."
Sebastian nodded and dashed off to handle his list of errands.
On the other side of the estate, Aria let out a frustrated sigh, her expression tight.
She stepped closer to Blue, gently placing her hands over the girl's.
"You need to relax. The tighter your grip on your sword, the less accurate your swings. Remember—you control the sword, it doesn't control you."
Blue paused mid-swing, turning to face her. "What the fuck does that mean?"
"That's something you'll have to figure out on your own," Aria replied, stepping back.
"Now, again. Follow the flow."
She took a seat nearby and observed.
The sequence was brutal—thirty-two steps in total. Every swing, pause, and shift mattered. Miss one, and the rhythm broke.
Blue repeated the routine for over half an hour, eyes darting now and then—until they landed on a blonde woman walking with Sebastian.
"Focus!" Aria snapped.
Blue shook her head, snapping herself back into the moment.
Meanwhile, Sebastian stood before the large red office doors and knocked.
"Come in," Hardin's voice called from inside.
The doors creaked open, revealing Principal Morris as she stepped into the room.
"Principal Morris," Hardin greeted, rising from his chair out of respect.
"Mr. Carrington. To what do I owe the pleasure?" she said with a polite smile.
"Please, take a seat," he gestured toward the couch.
She sat down, crossing one leg over the other. "Glad to see you're doing better—after, you know."
Hardin settled back into his chair. "I appreciate your concern, but I called you here for a different reason."
Her brow lifted. "And what might that be?"
"How long will it take to repair the damage at the school?"
"It's not just the walls," she said. "The wiring's fried, and several pipes burst. It flooded half the building. We're looking at about a month."
"That's too long," Hardin said flatly. "How much would it cost to have everything fixed within two days?"
She blinked. "That would take a lot of money. I mean—a lot."
He smirked. "Lucky for you, I'm a generous billionaire."
She sat up straighter, surprised. "You're serious?"
He nodded. "Send the details to Sebastian. I'll handle the rest."
She eyed him. "And what do you want in return?"
"Nothing."
After two hours of grueling training, Blue slipped away from the courtyard, searching for a quiet place to escape Aria's madness.
She wandered through the estate, impressed by its elegance.
There were maids at every corner, all prim and proper, barely flinching as she passed.
Eventually, she stumbled upon the alcohol booth.
It looked just like a fancy bar.
A grand piano sat in the center of the room, basking in the morning light.
She traced her fingers along the keys. The sound was beautiful.
Sitting on the bench, she stretched out her fingers and began to play a rough tune—a song her mother used to sing.
Her skills were rusty, and the melody came out a bit rugged—but it still held meaning.
"You dare mess with my piano?" a voice cut through the room.
She jumped up from the bench like she'd been caught stealing.
"I'm sorry! I was just messing around," she stammered, bowing her head and staring at the floor.
When she finally looked up, she was met with a man in a brown suit, adjusting his glasses while eyeing her from head to toe.
Sebastian.
He laughed at her nervousness. "Relax. I was impersonating my nephew."
He circled around the piano. "But seriously, I'd avoid touching it again. He gets very irritated when someone messes with his stuff."
"Then I guess it's good you caught me instead of him?"
He motioned toward the bar. "Come on. What can I get you?"
She hopped onto a stool. "Sex on the Beach," she said in a fake accent.
He tilted his head. "How about orange juice?"
She leaned back, smirking. "How old do you think I am?"
He squinted at her, unsure if this was a trap. "You're probably old enough," he said cautiously, grabbing a few bottles and mixing up a colorful cocktail.
She took a sip, eyes widening. "This is really good."
He bowed dramatically. "I'm not just a great actor—I'm also an excellent bartender."
She applauded.
"So, what brought you all the way out here?" he asked, cleaning up.
She showed him her hands, blistered and raw. "Training feels like hell. I'm actually starting to miss school."
Sebastian chuckled. "Funny. I thought you came here willingly."
Blue shook her head, horrified. "I don't even know how she found me! The funny thing is i didn't sleep at home."
Sebastian burst out laughing, propping his chin on the counter. "She's insane."
"She's a raging psychopath," Blue agreed, giggling.
Then he reached out and gently took her hand.
"Wanna see a magic trick?"
Her eyes lit up. "Yes."
A glowing stream of blood slipped from his fingertip and danced over her skin.
She gasped, laughing softly at the ticklish sensation.
The blisters faded. Completely healed.
She pulled her hands back, amazed. "That is so fucking cool! How'd you do that?"
He pressed a finger to his lips. "Secret."
She grinned, nodding.
"Well this has been fun" he said, backing away from the counter, "But I've got to get back to work."
He winked before leaving the room.
Blue stared after him, wonder on her face.
Then she stood up with renewed determination. "I've gotta get back to training."
She returned to the training area with a lightness in her step, a small smile tugging at her lips—still riding the high from her encounter with Sebastian.
Aria narrowed her eyes. "Why are you so chipper all of a sudden?"
"No reason. Why?" Blue replied, trying—and failing—to sound casual.
"It's grossing me out," Aria muttered, squinting at her like she was contagious.
Blue laughed and picked up her sword. "Alright, I'm ready."