Dorian Marlek's hurried footsteps echoed through the grand hall of the mansion as he stormed out, anger and panic etched into his face. The guests murmured behind him, curious about what had rattled the usually composed lieutenant. But Aran remained seated at the chess table, savoring the quiet victory that was more than just a game—it was the start of his calculated downfall of Kade's empire.
Ravenna emerged from the shadows at the edge of the room, her movements quiet and graceful as she approached Aran. Her eyes flickered with satisfaction as she watched Dorian leave in a fury.
"Did it work?" she asked, her voice barely above a whisper.
Aran nodded, his gaze still on the door where Dorian had vanished. "It's already begun. Our people will be in position by now. By the time Dorian reaches his estate, he'll find his web of influence cut apart, piece by piece."
Ravenna gave a slight smile, her dark eyes gleaming with approval. "He won't take this lightly. Kade's men will be scrambling to recover."
"Exactly," Aran said, rising from his seat. "And while they're scrambling, we'll move to the next step. They won't know where the next blow is coming from."
The plan had been set in motion months ago, but tonight was the first of many strikes that would destabilize the Shadow Hand. By targeting Kade's inner circle, Aran aimed to fracture the network that controlled Valeria's underworld. Once that happened, Kade would be left isolated and vulnerable—ripe for the final strike.
"Let's go," Aran said, slipping his hood back up to conceal his face. "There's no need to linger."
Together, they moved swiftly out of the mansion, slipping unnoticed through the back streets of Valeria, where the shadows clung thick and silent to the alleys. Aran's mind was already working through the next part of his plan, calculating the most effective way to use the chaos that would follow Dorian's downfall.
---
Meanwhile, Dorian's carriage raced through the cobbled streets toward his estate, the tension inside thick enough to choke. His mind spun, replaying the servant's urgent words over and over: **Your estate is under attack.**
His estate was his fortress, the center of his power. For someone to strike there meant they knew exactly how to hurt him. But who could have planned such an attack?
He gritted his teeth, fists clenched tightly. It had to be an inside job—there was no other way anyone could get past his defenses without knowing the layout of his estate. And the timing—right when he was preoccupied at the tournament—was no coincidence. He'd been played, distracted like a fool.
As the carriage pulled up to the estate's grand gates, Dorian was greeted by chaos. Guards were shouting orders, fires raged in the outer courtyards, and panicked servants ran in all directions. His heart raced as he jumped out of the carriage and stormed toward the entrance.
"What in the name of the gods is happening?" Dorian bellowed as he approached one of his captains, who was directing the defense.
"My lord, they struck from within! Saboteurs must have infiltrated the servants or the staff. We're doing all we can to restore order, but they've hit us in multiple places at once!"
Dorian's fury boiled over, his hand gripping the hilt of his sword. "Find them! I want whoever is behind this dead by dawn!"
But as he barked orders, his mind churned with fear. This wasn't some random attack—someone knew too much. And they were taking him apart, piece by piece. The sabotage wasn't meant to kill him, it was meant to cripple him. He cursed under his breath, realizing that his real enemy was out there, still pulling the strings.
---
Back in the heart of Valeria, Aran and Ravenna watched the distant glow of fires from the higher rooftops, the estate barely visible on the horizon. Ravenna folded her arms, her expression thoughtful.
"Dorian's network will be in ruins by morning," she said. "But you know Kade won't just let this slide. He'll retaliate."
"I'm counting on it," Aran replied. "Kade's predictable. When he's backed into a corner, he lashes out without thinking. We'll need him to act impulsively if we're going to bring him down."
Ravenna raised an eyebrow. "And if he doesn't?"
Aran turned to her, his eyes sharp. "Then we'll force him to."
He took out a small parchment from his cloak, handing it to Ravenna. On it were a list of names, most of them lieutenants or close associates of Kade. These were men who were loyal to Kade but had ambitions of their own—ambitions that could be used against them.
"Send word to these people," Aran instructed. "Make sure they know that Dorian is done for. Offer them a chance to shift their loyalty before they're caught in the crossfire. Kade's empire is fragile. All it will take is a few key betrayals to topple the whole thing."
Ravenna studied the list, a knowing smirk playing on her lips. "You really think they'll turn on him?"
"Some will. Some won't. But enough of them are smart enough to know that when the ship is sinking, it's better to jump off before they drown."
Ravenna nodded, slipping the parchment into her cloak. "Consider it done."
Aran watched as she disappeared into the night, already moving to carry out his next steps. His plan was delicate, relying on careful manipulation and precise timing. But so far, everything was falling into place. Dorian was as good as finished, and soon, Kade would find himself standing on nothing but sand.
For the first time that night, Aran allowed himself a small moment of satisfaction. Kade had ruled the underworld of Valeria for far too long, using fear and brutality to keep his grip on power. But that was about to end. In the shadows, Aran was building something far more enduring—a network of power that wasn't held together by brute strength, but by secrets, leverage, and loyalty to something greater.
Kade thought he ruled Valeria. He thought he was untouchable.
But in the end, it would be Aran who would control the city, shaping its future from the shadows, just as he had always planned.
As the fires of Dorian's estate continued to burn in the distance, Aran turned and melted back into the night. His war with Kade was far from over, but tonight marked the first decisive victory.
And it would not be the last.