Aria’s POV
The morning light felt different sohow.
Sharper. Clearer. Like everything had co into focus overnight.
I stood in the kitchen, watching Lilith and Lina eat breakfast together.
Lilith was picking at her cereal. Her movents still hesitant. Unsure. Like she was waiting for soone to yell at her for doing sothing wrong.
Lina was chattering away. Completely unbothered. Telling Lilith about her favorite teachers and which playground equipnt was the best.
"—and then there’s the big slide! It’s SO tall! But I’m not scared anymore because I’m a big girl now—"
"Lina." I set down my coffee mug. "Eat. You’ll be late for school."
"Okay, Mommy!" She shoved a spoonful of cereal into her mouth.
Lilith glanced at . Those eyes—so much like Finn’s—watched carefully. Waiting for sothing.
Criticism? Anger? I wasn’t sure.
I gave her a small smile. "You too, sweetheart. Finish up."
She nodded quickly. Took a tiny bite.
My chest tightened.
She was so different from the child I rembered. That bratty, spoiled girl who’d looked at with disgust. Who’d called "slly" in front of everyone.
This Lilith was quiet. Subdued. Almost... broken.
And it was their fault.
Finn’s. Celestia’s.
My hands clenched around my mug.
They would pay. Both of them.
But first, I needed proof.
---
After dropping both girls at school—watching Lina practically drag Lilith toward the classroom while introducing her to every kid they passed—I drove to the address Lilith had given .
The neighborhood was nothing like I expected.
No mansion. No perfectly manicured lawns. No luxury cars.
Instead, I found myself in a run-down area on the edge of the territory. The kind of place where the paint peeled off buildings. Where trash collected in corners. Where broken streetlights stayed broken for months.
The apartnt complex was four stories. Concrete. Gray. Windows with bars on the ground floor.
I parked across the street. Stared at the building.
This was where Finn lived now?
First stop: Lilith’s school.
The building was nothing like the private academy I’d imagined. It was public. Overcrowded. The playground equipnt looked twenty years old.
I walked into the administrative office. Put on my most professional smile.
"Hi. I’m Aria Moon. I’m here about my daughter Lilith Nightfang."
The receptionist looked up. Her expression tired. Overworked. "Is there a problem?"
"Not exactly." I kept my voice calm. asured. "I’m gathering information for a custody case. I was hoping to speak with her teachers. Get their observations about her behavior and wellbeing."
Her eyes widened slightly. Understanding flickered across her face.
"One mont." She picked up the phone. Spoke quietly into it.
Five minutes later, I was sitting in a cramped office with Lilith’s horoom teacher.
Mrs. Patterson was young. Maybe late twenties. Dark circles under her eyes. The look of soone who cared but was drowning under too many students and not enough resources.
"Thank you for eting with ." I pulled out my phone. Started recording. "I just need you to answer a few questions about Lilith. About any changes you’ve noticed recently."
Mrs. Patterson’s expression turned troubled.
"She’s changed quite a bit this past year." Her voice was careful. Professional. But I could hear the concern underneath. "She used to be very outgoing. Social. A bit spoiled perhaps, but generally happy."
"And now?"
"Now she’s withdrawn. Quiet. She doesn’t participate in class discussions anymore. Doesn’t play with the other children during recess."
My jaw tightened. "Have you noticed anything else? Any physical signs?"
Mrs. Patterson hesitated. Then nodded slowly.
"She’s co to school with bruises. Multiple tis. When I asked about them, she always had an excuse. ’I fell.’ ’I bumped into sothing.’ But..."
"But you didn’t believe her."
"No." The word was firm. "I didn’t. The bruises were in places that didn’t match her explanations. And her behavior... she flinched when I tried to comfort her once. Like she expected to be hit."
My hands clenched in my lap.
"Did you report it?"
Her face colored slightly. Sha flickering across her features.
"I tried. Multiple tis. But we’re understaffed. Overworked. And the father is... he’s still got connections. Enough to make reports disappear. To make sure nothing sticks."
"Would you be willing to testify?" I asked quietly. "To provide a written statent about what you’ve observed?"
She t my eyes directly. "Yes. Absolutely yes."
---
Next stop: the neighbors.
I walked back to the apartnt complex. The elevator was broken. I took the stairs.
Third floor. Apartnt 3C.
Finn’s door was at the end of the hallway. Paint peeling. A crack in the doorfra like soone had kicked it.
I knocked on the door next to his. 3B.
A woman answered. Mid-forties. Worn clothes. Suspicious eyes.
"Yeah?"
"Hi. I’m Aria Moon. I’m gathering information about the family in 3C. Have you noticed anything unusual? Any loud noises? Argunts?"
Her expression shifted. From suspicious to understanding.
"You with the cops?"
"No. I’m the mother. Trying to get custody of my daughter."
She studied for a long mont. Then nodded.
"They fight all the ti." She said it matter-of-factly. "Screaming. Throwing things. I hear shit breaking through the walls. And the kid..." She paused. "Poor thing cries for hours. Nobody does nothing about it."
My stomach churned.
"Would you be willing to provide a written statent?"
She shrugged. "Sure. Why not? Not like they can afford to sue or nothing."
The bitterness in her voice was clear.
I pulled out one of Kael’s business cards. "Call this number. We’ll set up a ti for you to give your statent."
She took the card. Looked at it. Her eyebrows rose slightly.
"Blood Crown?" She let out a low whistle. "You got connections now, huh?"
"Sothing like that."
---
I continued down the hallway. Talked to two more neighbors. Got similar stories. Loud fights. Crying children. One woman had even called the police twice, but nothing ca of it.
I was taking notes on my phone when I heard footsteps on the stairs.
High heels. Clicking against concrete.
I looked up.
Celestia appeared at the top of the stairwell. She looked... different.
The designer clothes were gone. Replaced by a cheap dress from so discount store. Her hair was still styled, but the roots were showing. Dark. Growing out.
Her makeup was heavy. Too heavy. Trying to cover the exhaustion underneath.
She saw .
Froze.
Then her face twisted into a sneer.
"Well, well, well. Look what the cat dragged in."
I straightened. t her gaze directly.
"Celestia."
"What are YOU doing here?" She set down the carrier. Crossed her arms. "Co to gloat? Co to see how far we’ve fallen?"
"You’re a joke, Aria." She continued. Clearly enjoying herself despite the fear underneath. "A low-class WHORE who never deserved to be part of our world. And now look at you. Still nothing. Absolutely NOTHING."
I smiled.
Cold. Sharp.
The kind of smile that made her step back slightly.
"Say whatever you want, Celestia." My voice was calm. asured. Deadly quiet. "Call whatever nas make you feel better. But I’ll tell you sothing."
I stepped closer. Invaded her personal space.
"Your good days?" I leaned in. Let her see the absolute certainty in my eyes. "They’re about to end."
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