POV: Vesper
"Again."
I collapse on the warehouse floor, gasping. Blood drips from my nose where I hit concrete.
"I can't—"
"Again." Nyx's voice is merciless. "They have your daughter. 'Can't' isn't an option."
Twenty-four hours until the exchange. Twenty-four hours to become someone who can fight back.
I push myself up. "I don't know how to do this—"
"You're Sovereign-class with a digital demon contract. You have more power than most S-rank tamers." He circles me like a predator. "You just don't know how to use it yet."
He manifests three shadow creatures. "Our bond works both ways. Feel the connection. Pull my power through it."
I close my eyes. Find the burning mark on my wrist. The contract seal pulses.
"I feel it."
"Good. Now pull."
Power floods into me—cold, electric, overwhelming. My eyes snap open, glowing red. Code floats in the air around me.
The shadow creatures attack.
This time, I don't freeze.
I move faster than ever before. Digital energy erupts from my palm, shredding the first creature. The second lunges. I sidestep, grab its throat, watch it dissolve.
The third hesitates.
I destroy it anyway.
"Better," Nyx nods. "Now lesson two: intel gathering." He projects a hologram—a map. "Whoever took Ivory left trails. We follow them."
He pulls up the PROJECT GHOST HARVEST files. Forty-seven victims. Each file contains location data.
I scan with new eyes, seeing patterns. Every experiment happened at the same facility—an old Sanctum research lab supposedly decommissioned five years ago.
"There," I point. "That's where they have Ivory."
"Maybe. But we need someone on the inside." Nyx zooms in on personnel records.
My stomach turns as I read names. Scientists. Officials. Security.
Then I see it.
Dr. Thaddeus Calloway. Chief Research Advisor. Listed on every experiment file.
"No," I whisper. "My father..."
"He wasn't just covering up your mom's execution," Nyx says. "He was running these experiments. Torturing defective tamers. Converting them into weapons."
The pieces click. "He set me up. The flash drive, the help—it was bait. He wanted me to awaken so he could study me."
"And when you ran, he took Ivory to force your hand." Nyx's eyes flash. "We're not going."
"We have to!"
"It's a trap. Walk in and you'll end up like those victims."
"Then what do I do? Let them torture my daughter?"
"No. We spring the trap on our terms." Nyx pulls up blueprints. "The lab has three entries. They'll expect you at the main entrance. We go through waste disposal tunnels instead. Less security. Direct access to holding cells."
"And if she's not there?"
"We tear the place apart until we find her." He meets my eyes. "But you need to be ready. Those experiments are ongoing. There will be people suffering you can't save."
My hands clench. "Why can't I save them?"
"Because you're one person with twelve hours of training. You save Ivory. That's the mission."
"I'll save who I can. But Ivory comes first."
"Fair enough." Nyx creates a tactical plan. "You go through tunnels. I'll create a distraction at the main entrance—manifest in full demon form. While they scramble to defend, you extract Ivory."
"What about you?"
"I'm digital. I can phase through defenses." He pauses. "But if your father has anti-demon measures, weapons to disrupt my code... I could be trapped. Destroyed."
My chest tightens. "Then we find another way—"
"There is no other way." His voice softens. "I'm not afraid of destruction. I'm afraid of failing you."
Something warm blooms in my chest. "Don't die. That's an order."
"Yes, ma'am." He smiles gently. "We move at midnight. Until then, rest."
Midnight comes too fast.
I stand at the tunnel entrance, dressed in black, laptop secured. Nyx has phased away to start his distraction.
My phone buzzes. Video call. Unknown number.
My father's face fills the screen.
"Hello, Vesper. Bring the laptop to the main entrance. We'll exchange—"
"I know what you did. The experiments. Mom. All of it."
His expression doesn't change. "I did what was necessary. Give me the research. Let me help you control your power."
"Where's Ivory?"
"Safe. For now. But my colleagues want to begin her conversion within the hour."
My blood freezes. "You wouldn't—"
"You have thirty minutes. Main entrance. Come alone."
The call ends.
I step into darkness.
The tunnel is disgusting—waste water, rats, decay. I wade through, following directions.
Above, explosions rock the facility. Nyx's distraction.
I climb a maintenance shaft, emerge in a storage room. Alarms wail. Gunfire echoes.
A map shows HOLDING CELLS - SUBLEVEL 3.
I move through corridors, using Nyx's power to short-circuit locks, phase through barriers.
The holding cells appear.
Through the first window—a woman, half-digital, suspended in a field. Trapped between life and death.
This is what they wanted for Ivory.
I check cells frantically. Most contain victims. Some are empty.
Cell Twelve. Ivory. Asleep on a medical bed, electrodes attached to her head.
Rage floods me. I blast the door off, rush to my daughter, rip electrodes away.
"Ivory, wake up!"
Her eyes flutter. "Mommy?"
"I'm here. We're leaving."
I scoop her up.
"Impressive."
I spin.
My father stands in the doorway, flanked by six armed hunters.
"You actually made it," Thaddeus says. "I'm almost proud."
"Get out of my way."
"I can't. You're a threat." He gestures. "Subdue her. Kill the demon. Take the child."
I set Ivory down. "Run, baby. Find the tunnel. Don't look back."
"But Mommy—"
"RUN!"
She runs.
The hunters lunge.
I pull Nyx's power with everything I have. My eyes burn crimson. Code erupts, forming weapons, shields.
The fight is brutal. I'm outmatched but vicious. A mother protecting her child.
I destroy the first hunter's spirit. Blind the second. The third gets close—I grab his face, push raw power into his brain. He drops screaming.
The others hesitate.
My father pulls out a device. "I designed this for you."
He presses a button.
Agony explodes through my contract seal. The connection to Nyx severs. I scream, collapsing.
"Anti-demon disruptor," Thaddeus explains. "Nyx is trapped in digital limbo now."
I feel Nyx screaming through our severed bond. Trapped. Helpless.
Hunters grab my arms. My father approaches with a glowing syringe.
"This will make conversion easier."
The needle moves toward my neck.
The entire facility shakes.
Massive explosions.
My father stumbles.
A voice over speakers: "Attention. This is Dorian Vex. I'm broadcasting on every news channel. The world is watching."
My father's face drains.
"For three years, I've investigated this facility. Tonight, I have all the proof. Every file, every victim, every name. I'm releasing everything. Right now. Live."
Screens flicker. PROJECT GHOST HARVEST displays. Videos. Documents. My father's name everywhere.
"If Vesper and her daughter don't walk out in five minutes," Dorian continues, "I'm releasing evidence linking these to the Sanctum's highest officials. Your choice."
Silence.
My father's phone explodes with calls. His face goes gray.
"Stand down," he whispers. "Let her go."
They release me.
I grab the disruptor, smash it. The connection snaps back.
Nyx manifests, fury incarnate. "Say the word."
I want to. But Ivory needs me more.
"We're leaving."
My father watches with dead eyes. "This isn't over."
"Yes. It is."
Outside, Dorian Vex waits by a black car. Tall, handsome, powerful.
"Impressive timing," Nyx says.
"I've been tracking this facility for months." Dorian smiles. "You're either brave or stupid."
"Both."
"Good. I like that." He opens the door. "My offer still stands. Job. Protection. Partnership. Interested?"
I look at Ivory sleeping in my arms. At Nyx. At the facility swarming with news crews.
I have nothing. No home. No money.
But I have my daughter. My power. My demon.
And Dorian offering a future.
"Yes. I'm interested."
"Welcome to Vex Industries. Let's change the world."
We drive away.
Ivory stirs. "Mommy? Are we safe?"
"Getting there, baby."
My phone buzzes. Attorney Chen: "Custody hearing tomorrow 9 AM. You'll win. Quillan's finished."
Another message. Quillan: "What have you done? I'll make you pay."
I delete it.
One more. Unknown number: "Well played, Sovereign. But the game isn't over. —The Council"
I show Nyx.
"The Council. If they're interested..."
"We deal with them when they come." I lean back, exhausted. "Right now, I just want custody and a fresh start."
Dorian glances back. "My lawyers are the best. About your digital necromancy—it's the future. Let's build it together."
I close my eyes. Three days ago, I was invisible.
Now I'm Sovereign-class, wanted by councils, employed by the richest man in spirit-tech.
"Vesper?" Nyx says softly. "You're smiling."
"I just realized—for the first time, I'm not scared."
"You should be. They'll all come for you."
"Let them." My eyes glow red. "I'm done hiding. If they want war, I'll give them one they'll never forget."
Nyx smiles. "There's my Sovereign."
The car drives through night toward uncertain future.
But uncertainty doesn't feel like drowning anymore.
It feels like flying.