""And... and he once told me his plan over a call when I picked up by mistake. He said he'd sweet-talk Caroline, make me look like the villain in her eyes, and then double-date both of us. And now, that's exactly what he's doing..." Amber's voice trembled before she continued. "Who's even scared of that wild jerk? I don't know why, but I feel so guilty. Why didn't I just kill him there, when he passed out on the sofa?"
"Oh my goodness! Do you think so low of yourself?" Nancy exclaimed, her eyes wide. "Amber Dubois, you're just like my elder sister Ari—but you lack humanity."
Amber finally stopped crying. "Well..." she sniffled, wiping her eyes. "Shall we eat now, before the food goes cold?" she asked with a soft, charming smile.
"Yes!" Nancy replied, her energy returning.
The two headed toward the table.
Meanwhile...
At the headquarters of the Black Vane Organisation…
A knock echoed through the Boss's office.
"May I come in, sir?" a calm voice asked.
"Enter."
Crimson Night stepped into the blackened office, her heels echoing against the cold floor. She laid down a set of documents in front of the masked Boss.
"Are these the reports from Northern Dark?" he asked.
"Yes, sir. I've reviewed them. He and his daughters have shifted to different mansions. He suspects that undercover members from other heads may try to seize them."
"Did he provide the addresses?"
"No, sir."
"Then instruct your undercover agents to keep watch on him constantly. I no longer trust him."
"But Boss, under our current policy, no head is allowed to assign surveillance on another member's agents—unless that member has left the organisation."
"Don't worry," the Boss said coldly. "I'll be passing a renewed policy today. Gather all members and heads in the meeting room."
"Understood, Boss." Crimson Night turned elegantly and exited the room.
Soon after, letters arrived for every member of the organisation—bearing the inkblade seal of the Black Vane:
"When the wind is still, the vane does not sleep—it listens."
To the Watchers and Offenders in Shadow,
The signal has been given. Our silence ends where the wind stirs again.
Gather beneath the third bell tower in Marrow's End—two nights from now.
No colors. No names. Your eyes must see; your tongues must not.
Crimson Night has spoken. The vane turns.
Penned in shadow,
— Virell, Inkblade of the Vane
All members—undercover and official—gathered in the secret meeting hall. Each one burned their letters in the wall-mounted heater until they turned to black ash.
Even Northern Dark—Thomas Oak—sat quietly among them.
Then the Boss entered. The room fell silent as the air grew heavier.
"This meeting begins with the introduction of our renewed policy regarding undercover operatives," the Boss announced. Faces tensed. Shadows flickered.
"Especially regarding our once-trusted member—Northern Dark. Correct?"
All heads turned.
The room grew darker still.
And in that moment, Northern Dark's face—partly concealed in the shadows—glinted with his sharp, piercing green eyes…