The dim light from the library's hidden corner flickered in the gloom, casting long shadows across the room. Damian leaned in closer, trying to make sense of the chaos in Oliver's eyes. His best friend had been acting weird since he told them he discovered something, like he was about to spill something huge. Damian felt the tension in his gut, but he didn't interrupt. He knew whatever it was, it had to be important.
"I found it," Oliver said quietly, his voice almost a whisper, like he was afraid someone might overhear.
Damian raised an eyebrow, glancing at Emma and Zoe. Both were clearly curious, but neither seemed as invested as Damian.
Oliver took a deep breath. "You know my dad's library, right?" He glanced around, making sure they were still alone. "I've never told you guys, but... I've always had this fear about it. Ever since I was a kid, he told me I was never allowed in there. The way he warned me—it's like the place had this... aura. Like... if you stepped in, you might never come out the same."
Zoe scoffed. "Your dad's overdramatic. What's so special about a library?"
Oliver hesitated, then nodded. "Yeah, it's just a library... but there's more. I went in there last night. I couldn't help it, I had to know."
He pulled a dusty old book from his bag and flipped it open, showing them a picture of a crest—they all recognized it. It was the same crest they found in Mr. Saville's office.
"This symbol," Oliver said, tapping the page, "belonged to a killer organization called the Silent Blades. My dad has this whole book with their names, their faces... and," he paused, flipping the pages rapidly, "one name really stood out."
Damian felt a cold chill crawl up his spine, a tightening sensation in his chest.
Oliver stopped at a page, a detailed drawing of a tattoo—a jagged, sinister mark that ran across a man's hand. "That tattoo—looks familiar, doesn't it?" Oliver's eyes flicked to Damian, a look of realization flashing across his face.
"That's the tattoo on Gabriel's arm" Emma's whisper was too loud it was almost a shout.
"You can see a list of names here right? But in this space instead of a name, there's a tattoo. I think the organizatiom is hiding this person."
Damian tried to keep his composure, but his heart raced.
"Now the next name got me actually. " Oliver continued, oblivious to Damian's change in mood. "It was... Caiden Ashwood."
The words landed like a punch to the gut. Damian's breath hitched, his thoughts swirling. He knew that name all too well after all it was his.
Oliver flipped to another page. "There's more. My dad had a full profile on him—right here." He pulled out another journal. "Check this out. He even had a picture and trust me guys I was freaked out when I saw this picture. If you look closely the guy looks like Damian but with a scar."
Damian froze. He couldn't breathe. The image was right there on the page, clear as day. And the face staring back at him? It was his face.
Except... there was a deep, jagged scar running across the man's cheek—a scar just like the one Damian had successfully removed.
Damian's blood went cold. He felt a wave of panic rising in his chest. He wanted to scream, to throw the journal across the room. But he couldn't. Not now.
Zoe, sensing the change in the air, glanced at Damian. "You okay?" she asked, her voice soft. But Damian could barely hear her. He was too focused on the realization that the man in that photo... was him.
"Dude, you alright?" Oliver asked, his voice cutting through the haze of Damian's thoughts.
"Yeah... I'm fine," Damian lied, forcing the words past his lips with a sharp exhale. "What else is in the book?"
Oliver looked at the final journal entry. "My dad even mentioned... helping Caiden Ashwood when Caiden was removed from the organization.
Damian's eyes widened with realization. The hooded figure was Dr. Adrian. But why? Why was he helping him?
Oliver continued "I don't know what he meant by removed. I mean,do u fire assassins like secretaries? Anyways, my dad wrote that he's still involved with him—helping him right now. But there's no way in hell my dad would be working with someone like him... right?"
Damian's hands tightened into fists. "I think you're missing the point, Oliver."
Emma, who had been silently listening, finally spoke up. "What does any of this mean, Damian?"
Damian clenched his jaw, trying to steady himself. "I don't...I don't know
But he didn't say it out loud. Not yet.
Zoe, who'd been inspecting her nails in boredom, suddenly glanced up and shot Damian a wicked grin. "So, how much makeup did you put on to cover up that scar of yours?"
Damian flinched, his eyes narrowing. "What are you—?"
Zoe grinned even wider, tapping his cheek lightly. "Just checking."
Emma, on the other hand, was not amused. "What do you think you're saying, Zoe? That Damian's some kind of... cold-blooded assassin?" Her voice was sharp, almost angry, her eyes glaring at Zoe. "You think he's one of them?"
Damian froze. The idea of Emma thinking that... it hit him harder than he expected. He never wanted her to think of him as something monstrous, something beyond redemption.
But Zoe's words weren't the real problem. It was Emma's disgust. The way she spoke, like assassins were the worst kind of monster.
Damian's heart thudded in his chest. He forced a smirk, hiding his pain. "Nah, don't worry. No assassin here." His voice was casual, but inside, it felt like his entire world was shifting.
Emma's eyes softened, but her tone remained firm. "Right. I just... don't get how she would think that you could be involved with people like that."
Damian cleared his throat but he was actually clearing the tension in the room. He pulled out a brown leather covered diary.
"I want you guys to look at this"
🤗🤗🤗🤗.