The Mastermind Revealed

The door closed softly behind Sebastian, his footsteps echoing in the room as he approached them. Aria watched him carefully, her eyes narrowing, alert to every subtle movement. She had long ago learned the art of reading people, and Sebastian Crane, for all his charm and cunning, was no exception.

Lucien’s jaw was clenched, his eyes icy with fury, but his posture was rigid, betraying an internal battle. He had no love for Crane, and that much was obvious. The two had never seen eye to eye, and yet here they were, forced into the same game.

“You know, Lucien,” Sebastian began, his voice dripping with condescension. “I’ve always admired how you play things so close to the chest. But there are some secrets you just can’t keep forever, especially not from me.”

Lucien’s gaze remained cold, but his words were a low growl. “What are you after, Crane?”

Sebastian smiled, but it wasn’t a friendly smile. It was the kind of smile someone wears when they know they have the upper hand. “Oh, I think you already know, don’t you? I’ve always been interested in your little world, Lucien. The power you wield. The secrets you hide.”

Aria stepped forward, her presence like a shadow behind them. “And what makes you think you’re in a position to make demands?” she asked, her voice smooth but edged with a challenge. “You’ve always been a step behind, Crane.”

Sebastian’s eyes flicked to her, his expression darkening for a moment before he chuckled. “Ah, the maid has some fire in her after all. How adorable.” He turned back to Lucien, his tone growing more serious. “But let’s get to the point, shall we? There’s something you’ve been hiding from both of us. Something you thought you could control, but now, it’s slipping through your fingers.”

Lucien’s eyes narrowed, his posture tightening, but Sebastian wasn’t finished.

“It’s her, Lucien,” Sebastian continued, his voice low and dangerous. “The girl with the power you don’t understand. I know all about her little gift, and I know exactly what she’s capable of. You’ve underestimated her. She’s been playing you from the very beginning.”

Aria’s pulse quickened, but she didn’t let her shock show. She had known that Sebastian was dangerous, but hearing him speak so openly about her powers—powers she had worked so hard to keep hidden—was a new level of threat.

“What are you talking about?” Lucien’s voice was steady, but Aria could hear the uncertainty creeping in.

Sebastian’s smile widened. “I think you know exactly what I’m talking about. You’ve been in this game long enough to recognize a player when you see one. But you didn’t know what you were dealing with, did you?” He turned to Aria, his gaze sizing her up like a predator. “You’ve been using your gift on him, haven’t you? You’ve been manipulating his mind, pulling the strings from the shadows. I wonder how long you’ve been planning this.”

Aria’s breath hitched slightly, but she kept her expression unreadable. She couldn’t let Sebastian see the crack in her armor.

“You don’t know anything about me,” she said, her voice cold. “You don’t know the first thing about the power I hold.”

Sebastian chuckled darkly. “I know enough. And I’m willing to bet that Lucien knows even less than he thinks.” He turned back to Lucien, his tone shifting to something more serious. “You’re in deeper than you realize, my friend. This girl? She’s not just some maid. She’s the key to everything.”

Lucien stiffened, his mind racing, but his expression remained unreadable. “What are you suggesting?” His voice was tight, controlled.

Sebastian leaned forward, his voice dropping to a whisper. “You’ve been playing a game you can’t win, Lucien. And Aria here? She’s been pulling the strings all along. But I’m offering you a chance to regain control. A chance to stop her before it’s too late.”

Aria’s mind raced as Sebastian’s words sank in. He was trying to manipulate Lucien, trying to turn him against her. But she wasn’t about to let that happen. “You’re wrong,” she said, her voice calm but firm. “You’re not going to turn Lucien against me. He doesn’t need you to tell him what to do.”

Sebastian’s smile faltered for a brief moment, but he quickly recovered. “We’ll see about that, won’t we?”

Lucien stood motionless, his gaze flicking between the two of them. He was caught in the middle of a battle he hadn’t expected, between two powerful forces he didn’t fully understand. And somewhere, deep inside, a seed of doubt began to sprout. Could Aria be playing him? Was she really the puppet master behind all of this? Or was Sebastian just trying to manipulate him into making a fatal mistake?

“Enough,” Lucien said, his voice cutting through the tension. “I don’t trust either of you. But I’m not going to let you tear everything apart.”

He turned to Aria, his eyes locking with hers, and for a brief moment, the world around them seemed to pause. There was a flicker of something in his gaze—something raw and vulnerable. But it was quickly replaced by the cold, calculating look that had always defined him.

“Get out, both of you,” Lucien commanded, his tone leaving no room for argument. “I have to think. I need to figure this out on my own.”

Sebastian didn’t move immediately. He knew when to push and when to back off. “You’ll regret this, Lucien. Mark my words.”

Aria stood silent, her gaze fixed on Lucien, her heart pounding in her chest. As much as she wanted to tear into Sebastian, to make him regret ever stepping into her world, she knew better than to react too soon. This was a game, and she wasn’t ready to lose just yet.

As the door closed behind them, leaving her alone with Lucien, she couldn’t shake the feeling that the stakes had just been raised. What would Lucien do now? Would he believe Sebastian? Or would he finally see her for what she truly was?