As Sabir and Warren went through, the Voltaire estate’s iron gates creaked open, with gray clouds covering the sky late into the afternoon. Sabir looked behind him to see the estate sprawled before them. When he had arrived at Sector 5 he had passed out from his injuries, he sustained in The Commons. The grandeur that seemed to stretch infinitely over the horizon, Sabir tried to see the end of the building to no success. He drank the sheer scale of the architecture. The imposing façade of the tall buildings and the elaborate network of cobblestone roads winding through the well-kept gardens made everything seem so foreign.
“Wow,” Sabir muttered, his amazement slipping out almost involuntarily.
Warren glanced at him, a knowing smile playing on his lips. “You didn’t think our land was this big, did you?”
Sabir shook his head, still captivated by the breathtaking view. “No way! I mean c’mon, The Limbo was big, but this… this is huge.”
This one estate eclipsed the limits of what a family could and should own. Multiple buildings dotted the landscape, each distinct in its style. Covered bridges and elaborate walkways connected, some towered, their architecture a mix of contemporary and gothic, while others were more subdued and tucked away among trees that were more than likely imported from Sector 3, forming a maze.
Warren chuckled softly at Sabir’s awe-struck expression. “This entire area is probably four times the size of The Limbo,” he said, his tone casual, as if such magnificence were a common thing. “And it’s all for the Voltaire family. Hell, we own the entire sector.”
Sabir shook his head. “Why would you need all of this? It’s just excessive.”
“Yes, well,” Warren gestured broadly at their surroundings, “This is all for the main family, at least. The collateral families live here too, but they’re separated from the main house and grounds. They’ve got their own spaces, their own lives.”
Sabir frowned, his mind whirring as he tried to grasp the scale of what Warren was saying. “Just how big is your family?”
Warren paused, considering how to explain. “Over the years, the noble heads have married several women, some for power, some for alliances. And if you go further back in our history, there were countless consorts, all to strengthen our numbers and influence. It’s how the nobility operates.”
Sabir’s eyes widened slightly as the enormity of it all sank in. “Hundreds of consorts…? So, some people who live here are barely related to you?”
Warren nodded. “Exactly. Many share my surname, but the connection is often several generations back. We’re all descended from the same ancestors, but the ties have become… diluted over time.”
As they continued walking, the imposing walls of the estate seemed to enclose them, guiding them toward the massive gates at the far end. It was here that they found Elektra waiting, leaning casually against a sleek black car with tinted windows. Her eyes flickered with impatience, her foot tapped rhythmically against the cobblestone ground.
Dressed in a white sports skirt and a black waistcoat, Elektra stood tall with her chin jutted upwards, physically looking down at Warren and Sabir. Her long black boots gleamed in the fading light, and Sabir couldn’t mistake the intensity in her eyes.
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“Warren, you finally decided to show up,” her voice tinged with mild irritation. “Your Lucky this isn’t sparring, or I’d have left you bruised and battered by now.”
Warren offered a small, apologetic smile. “I’m sorry, Elektra. Got caught up explaining some things to Sabir.”
Elektra’s eyes flicked to Sabir, and her expression shifted to one of disdain. “And what’s this? My pathetic brother needs his own bodyguard now?” She crossed her arms over her chest, her tone mocking. “You shouldn’t even be here, but I suppose I’ll let it slide… for now. You’re on limited time, Sabir.”
Sabir met her gaze steadily, unfazed by her cutting words. Her lips twitched slightly, a flicker of annoyance crossing her face as she realized her attempt to provoke him had failed.
Her expression hardened as she took a step closer to Sabir. “But don’t think for a second that I won’t turn you to ash if you try anything stupid, like running away,” she hissed, her voice low and threatening. To emphasize her point, she raised one arm, and a crackling arc of electricity danced across her skin, a vivid warning of what she was capable of.
Sabir didn’t flinch. He simply stared back at her, his expression impassive. After a tense moment, Elektra huffed in frustration, clearly displeased by his lack of reaction. She dropped her arm; the electricity dissipating as quickly as it had appeared.
“Let’s get going,” Warren interjected quickly, sensing the growing tension. “We’ve got some distance to cover.”
Elektra nodded, though the irritation in her eyes hadn’t completely faded. “You’re right. We need to get Vincent back home. He’s more likely to listen to you anyway,” she said, casting Warren a sidelong glance.
Warren’s expression softened slightly at the mention of their older brother. “Vincent’s always been a bit stubborn. But he knows what’s best for the family.”
Elektra scoffed, rolling her eyes. “I still can’t understand why he prefers that half-breed over his own sister. It’s ridiculous.”
Warren chose not to respond, instead moving toward the car. Sabir followed, his mind buzzing with questions about Vincent, the mysterious sibling he had yet to meet. He noted in his mind that Vincent and Elektra didn’t get along, whilst he was friendly with Warren. If that was anything to go by, Vincent had the potential to be a nice guy. Although Sabir knew not to get his hopes up.
Vincent was still a Voltaire, after all.
Elektra told the driver waiting inside the car to unlock the door. With the sound of a soft click, Elektra used it as a signal to open the passenger door, motioning Warren and Sabir to enter with a scowl. To his annoyance, Warren pushed Sabir in first, as he scrambled inside to find a seat. He felt the plush leather seats against his rough hands and the tinted windows that hid him from the rest of the world.
Once everyone settled in, and Warren forced Sabir tp wear his seatbelt. The engine hummed to life, moving towards where Vincent resided. Sabir glanced out the window, catching a last glimpse of the estate as they pulled away. That estate encapsulated the Voltaire family. Their history and bloodline were all just a facade to flaunt their wealth and power.
Yet Sabir knew he had only scratched the surface of the Voltaire lineage. He realized how much deeper the rabbit hole went. That there was an entire world of shadows and deceit that lied within the life of a noble. It was a dangerous world, something he would’ve never thought had he never left the Limbo. Everyone had their struggles. Sabir understood that now.
Sabir couldn’t help but wonder the life of a noble versus that of a slum rat like himself. Which life contained more virtue? Was he morally superior to that of a noble, having known struggle, superior to Warren?
Sabir turned to see Warren as he leaned back in his seat, a pensive expression on his face, while Elektra sat opposite him, her arms crossed and a scowl etched into her features. What made these people in charge? Was power the only determiner?
Sabir remained unsure. He wasn’t even sure what he was trying to understand. Pushing such deep thoughts out of his mind, he refocused on the road ahead. He needed to meet the man known as Vincent Voltaire, from there he’ll finally know the truth.
Hopefully.