Warlock Ch 331. Mass Hysteria
Damian exhaled, dragging a hand down his face. "Great. So, what? They're dealing with mass hysteria while also trying to cover up just how bad the corruption in the system is?"
Cassius smirked. "That'd be my guess."
Evelyn sighed. "I almost feel bad for them."
Damian raised an eyebrow. "Almost?"
Evelyn smirked. "Almost."
Victoria leaned back, resting an elbow on the armrest of the couch. "The real question is, how long can they hold out before sothing explodes?"
Cassius tapped his chin. "I'd say they have a few days, at most."
Damian sighed. "And then?"
Cassius grinned. "Then things get fun."
Damian groaned. "You say that like I want to be involved."
Evelyn chuckled. "Oh, you are involved, whether you like it or not."
Damian muttered sothing under his breath, too tired to argue.
Because, yeah. They were right.
He was involved.
Whether he liked it or not.
Damian exhaled, leaning back into his chair, letting everything sink in. The room was quiet for a brief mont, the tension thick but not suffocating. More like a calm before the inevitable storm.
Cassius, who had been unusually quiet, suddenly spoke. "I must say, it was faster than you might think."
Damian's head snapped up. His instincts sharpened instantly, the exhaustion montarily pushed aside. He knew that tone.
Sothing was happening.
He frowned. "A guest, I'm guessing?"
Cassius smirked. "You guess right."
Damian knew better than to assu Cassius had just sensed it. No, he knew for a fact that Cassius had spread his shadow servants everywhere, keeping an eye on the entire area. If anything happened, Cassius would know before anyone else. And if he was ntioning it now, it ant soone important had arrived.
Cassius leaned back against the window. "And not just any guest." He tilted his head slightly. "It's Aria."
Damian let out a slow breath. He didn't know if this was bad or not. But yeah, they needed an update.
Evelyn sighed. "I was kinda hoping for Prince Cedric."
Damian raised an eyebrow. "Oh?"
Evelyn shrugged. "He looked very worried about Selena. And he did want to solve this case as soon as possible. But I'm surprised he hasn't shown up. He didn't seem like the type to just sit back."
Damian considered that. "Maybe he's busy?"
Evelyn smirked. "Or maybe he's making sure those people don't escape."
Victoria chuckled from her seat. "Well, I thought the fae princess would be the first one to visit."
Damian groaned. "Oh, here we go."
Victoria grinned. "Oh, co on. We all saw it. That girl clearly has a crush on you."
Evelyn snorted. "Bet she has sothing from your past."
Damian sighed. "Yup. But I only rember bits and pieces."
Victoria smirked. "How convenient."
Cassius cleared his throat, drawing their attention back. "So, what do we do?" He raised an eyebrow at Damian.
Damian exhaled. "Let her in."
Cassius arched a brow. "Just like that?"
"As long as she's alone," Damian clarified. "And she doesn't bring weird weapons or runes or anything that looks remotely suspicious."
Cassius humd. "Not afraid she'll trap you?"
Victoria tapped her chin. "Or maybe she was assigned to kill you?"
Damian was silent. Because… yeah. That was a possibility. His fingers curled slightly against his knee. "I am afraid," he admitted. His voice was quiet, but firm. "But…"
The mory flickered in his mind—Aria's expression during their last eting, the way she had helped him multiple tis, even when she didn't have to. Even when it made no sense.
She had to know sothing.
And he needed to hear it.
"But she helped several tis," Damian continued, his gaze distant. "And sohow… I felt like she wanted to tell sothing. About all of this." His fingers tapped against the armrest. "Besides, it wasn't my fault. She knows that. We have proof."
Evelyn's gaze flickered with sothing unreadable.
Damian exhaled. "This situation… it's different from last ti." His voice dropped slightly. "Different from when I was Kaelan."
A heavy silence settled over the room.
Cassius watched him carefully.
Victoria crossed her arms, her expression less playful now, more thoughtful.
Evelyn just stared.
Cassius smirked. "Alright, then." He gestured lazily toward the door. "Let's welco our guest."
Damian took a slow breath. Ti to see what Aria wanted. "Summon…" he muttered.
While Cassius barely moved from his spot by the window, his eyes watching as the barrier flickered—a subtle ripple through the layered protections he had set around the estate. It wasn't breaking. It was responding.
Aria knew what it ant.
'Permission granted.'
The barrier shimred once before settling back a part into invisibility, allowing her entry.
A soft click of heels echoed against the floor as she stepped inside. Two shadow servants materialized instantly at her sides, their dark forms flickering like candlelight against the dim interior.
One belonged to Cassius.
The other?
Damian's.
They were silent, efficient—checking her for anything suspicious before giving a silent nod of approval. No concealed runes. No weapons. Just Aria, exactly as she was.
With that, they turned, guiding her through the corridors, deeper into the estate.
By the ti she reached the living room, she was already scanning the space, taking in everything with sharp, calculating eyes.
Damian sat casually in an armchair, one leg over the other, arms stretched out like he owned the place. His mana had stabilized, but he was still recovering—his skin had the faintest pallor, and the dark circles under his eyes hadn't fully faded.
Evelyn was perched on the couch beside him, a rune etched into her palm, glowing faintly. She didn't bother to hide it. The witch was watching Aria, but in that casual, amused way that ant she was ready for whatever ca next.
Victoria, however— He was sprawled lazily across an armchair, her presence exuding power even in complete stillness. A glass of deep crimson liquid—definitely not wine—rested in her hand, the rich scent of sothing coppery barely noticeable in the air.
Aria's gaze imdiately landed on her. Her expression darkened. "I'm shocked that Her Majesty Victoria is still here," Aria said, her voice sharp, cool. "And hasn't returned to her palace."
Victoria smirked, swirling the liquid in her glass. "Oh? Disappointed?"
Aria's gaze didn't waver. "Surprised."
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