Deborah's POV
After learning about the Vandran family's attack on Tirfothuinn, I immediately attempted to use telepathy to glean more details from my father, Lugh, and Chad. However, neither of them appeared to possess much information about the assault. It was clear that the Vandran family had sealed their lips tightly, unwilling to disclose any meaningful details.
This came as no surprise. After losing the werewolf miners from the underground cities, the Vandran family's production of core resources had ground to a halt. Their power structure, built on mining wealth, was now crumbling. They wouldn't dare let the other families in Sky City catch a whiff of their vulnerability. Outwardly, they needed to project strength, an unshakable image of authority. Inwardly, they were undoubtedly scrambling to rebuild their faltering foundation.
"If you don't lock me down soon, you might lose me to someone else," Barron had teased, his effortless charm on full display.
I had laughed, shaking my head in mock disbelief. "You'd better save those lines for Emily," I had quipped, brushing off his teasing with practiced ease.
But even as the aircraft's engines roared to life, I couldn't quite ignore the weight of his words. There was something in the way he said it—not just the usual banter, but a flicker of sincerity that lingered longer than I expected.
We boarded the aircraft, and I made my way to a window seat, hoping to use the passing scenery as a distraction. Outside, the clouds were thick, their edges illuminated by the soft light of Sky City's distant glow. Barron took the seat beside me, of course, settling in with his usual air of self-assurance.
"You know," he said after a moment, leaning back and casting a sidelong glance in my direction, "it's okay to admit I'm right once in a while."
I arched an eyebrow, turning my attention from the window. "Right about what?"
"That you need me," he replied, flashing a grin. "Come on, Deb, you can say it. It won't kill you."
"I don't need you," I said flatly, though the corners of my mouth betrayed a hint of a smile. "I need information, and you're just a convenient means to an end."
"Ouch." He placed a hand dramatically over his heart. "You wound me."
I rolled my eyes, but his lighthearted demeanor was a welcome contrast to the tension that had been gnawing at me since we decided to take this trip. Still, I wasn't going to give him the satisfaction of admitting he might have a point.
The aircraft rose smoothly into the air, and the city below transformed into a patchwork of lights and shadows. I turned my gaze back to the window, watching the sprawling landscapes of Sky City stretch out beneath us.
For a while, we sat in companionable silence, the hum of the engines filling the space between us. I used the quiet to gather my thoughts, running through what little I knew about Emily Vandran and her family. They were powerful, certainly, and cunning enough to keep their recent setbacks from tarnishing their reputation. But that power was clearly fraying at the edges. Their failed attack on Tirfothuinn had left them vulnerable, and I needed to understand just how deep those cracks ran.
"You're overthinking," Barron said, breaking the silence.
I turned to him, frowning. "I have a lot to think about."
"Sure, but overthinking never helps," he said, his tone easy. "You've got me to smooth things over. Just follow my lead."
"Follow your lead?" I repeated, incredulous. "This isn't a social call, Barron. I'm not here to make small talk and sip tea."
"Well, technically," he drawled, "you're here because you insisted on tagging along with me."
I shot him a glare, and he raised his hands in mock surrender, a chuckle escaping his lips. "Fine, fine. You're here for information. But that doesn't mean you have to act like you're storming into a battle."
"Isn't that exactly what this is?" I countered. "A subtle kind of battle, maybe, but a battle nonetheless."
Barron leaned closer, his voice lowering conspiratorially. "Deb, you're overcomplicating it. The Vandrans are rich, they're arrogant, and they love showing off. Play along, smile when you need to, and let me handle the rest."
I narrowed my eyes at him. "You're way too comfortable with this."
He grinned, leaning back in his seat. "That's because I know what I'm doing. You might even learn a thing or two if you pay attention."
I sighed, turning back to the window. "We'll see."
Barron didn't press further, giving me the space I needed to refocus. As the aircraft ascended steadily, I mentally noted his words. Play along, smile when needed, and let him handle the rest. It sounded simple enough—but simplicity rarely held up when it came to dealing with the likes of the Vandran family. Still, for now, I'd let him think he had the upper hand.
For now.
As the aircraft ascended, the clouds outside the window looked like waves crashing against one another, their soft curves stretching endlessly across the sky. I leaned back in my seat, my gaze fixed on the shifting horizon, though my thoughts were far from the view.
This was my first time traveling to Macha. Officially, I was here to accompany Barron on his visit, but my true goal was to gather as much intel as possible. Macha was the seat of the Vandran family's power, and every detail I could glean—every observation—might prove critical in the days to come.
My eyes flicked between the scenery outside and the interior layout of the aircraft. I noted everything: the security protocols during boarding, the layout of the checkpoints, the number of guards stationed at each post. It was evident that security had been significantly increased. In some areas, squads of armed guards patrolled the perimeter. This matched my father's recent orders to tighten border defenses, but the sight still filled me with a sense of unease.
"Relax," Barron said, breaking the silence. He leaned toward me with his trademark grin. "You're too tense. I'm here. What's there to worry about?"
I turned to him, unimpressed. "Do you think this is some casual social visit?"
"For you, no." He leaned back in his seat, spreading his arms in mock leisure. "For me, it's just another day of being adored."
"Spare me." I shook my head, though a small smile tugged at my lips despite myself. "If it weren't for the intel, do you think I'd even be here?"
He shrugged, but the knowing look in his eyes said he didn't believe me for a second.
Arriving at the Vandran Estate
The aircraft landed smoothly on the expansive Macha estate's private airstrip. From the window, I could see the sprawling grounds, meticulously manicured and fortified by towering walls that encircled the entire property. At the center stood the Vandran family's ancestral mansion, a monolithic structure of gray stone and stained glass. Its austere elegance radiated an unspoken authority, casting long shadows over the grounds.
Once we disembarked, a line of servants greeted us, guiding us toward the estate's main entrance. I trailed behind Barron, letting my eyes roam over every corner of the property. From the finely trimmed hedges to the strategically placed sentries, everything about this place spoke of wealth, power, and an underlying paranoia.
"Emily might not be thrilled to see you," Barron said in a low voice, his tone carrying an edge of humor.
I smirked. "Of course. You're Sky City's prized catch—a diamond bachelor. It makes sense the families are fighting over you."
He gave me a sideways glance, his grin widening. "As long as you're aware. Now, take another look at that 'ex' of yours and open your eyes to what's right in front of you. I'm the real prize here, Deb. You'd better act fast, or someone else might snatch me up."
I rolled my eyes, letting out a soft laugh. "Save it, Barron. You're not as charming as you think."
Before he could respond, a high-pitched, excited voice cut through the air.
"Barron!"
We both turned to see a young woman hurrying toward us. Dressed in an intricately embroidered dress, her golden hair gleamed in the sunlight, framing her bright, eager face. She moved with the kind of confidence that came from years of privilege, her attention fixed entirely on Barron.
"Welcome to Macha!" she exclaimed, stopping just in front of him. Her radiant smile faltered slightly when her gaze shifted to me. It was only for a brief moment before she masked her reaction with polite indifference.
Her focus returned to Barron as she extended her hands to him, ignoring me completely. Clearly, Emily Vandran had been eagerly anticipating Barron's arrival, and my presence was nothing more than an unwelcome inconvenience.
I followed a few steps behind as she looped her arm through his, guiding him toward the mansion's grand doors. Her voice carried a mix of excitement and coyness as she spoke to him, her laughter filling the air. I remained silent, using the opportunity to observe my surroundings. Every checkpoint, every armed guard stationed along the way, reinforced my earlier suspicion: the Vandran family was on edge, their paranoia manifesting in layers of security.
The shadow of Tirfothuinn's failed resistance lingered in their minds, a fear they couldn't shake. The question gnawed at me—what did they truly fear? And why now?