Kieren

Kieren climbed the scaffolding of House Venus’s regal mansion, the structure clearly in need of repairs, perhaps from weather or simple erosion. Now, under the cover of night, Kieren clung to the beams, feeling the cold October wind bite at his rolled-up sleeves, goosebumps rising on his skin as the gusts swept through.

“Kieren!” Mateo hissed up from below, his voice tense but careful not to be too loud. He glared upward. “Be careful up there! Look around, man, it doesn’t seem secure.”

Kieren shifted his foot cautiously, sweat sliding down his brow as the wood beneath him groaned ominously. He cringed but pushed forward. “I-It’ll be fine…” he muttered through clenched teeth.

He glanced down at the other squires gathered below. “You know what to do—mess with them,” Kieren ordered, raising a fist for emphasis.

Wilbur and Franklin nodded eagerly, but Mateo, less convinced, cast a sharp look at the group. “So this is what you’re all planning to do? What’s enough, Kieren? We need to know the limits.”

Kieren only rolled his eyes, his voice laced with impatience. “I expect you to figure that out,” he called back before scrambling higher up the structure.

Wilbur and Franklin shared a look of excitement, their eyes gleaming with anticipation. Wilbur hefted the duffel bag and turned to the others. “The Squires of House Mars…” he said with a smirk, “choose your weapons.”

He unzipped the bag, revealing its contents: rolls of toilet paper, cartons of eggs, and cans of brightly colored spray paint.

“We’re gonna hit these rich bastards hard,” Franklin said with a dangerous glint in his eye.

“For Henryk,” Mateo added, his voice firm.

The others exchanged glances before nodding in agreement, raising their fists. “For Henryk, and House Mars.”

They slipped around to a more secluded spot at the back of the manor. It was a random weekday—quiet, uneventful. Campus had been relatively peaceful since the chaos of Oceana. But unbeknownst to Ed, House Mars was about to reignite the flames.

Wilbur pulled a roll of toilet paper from the duffel bag and lobbed it over the trees toward the mansion. After the first throw, he hesitated, waiting with bated breath, his mouth dry as he listened for any reaction. But the muffled hum of music and conversation continued to drift out from the dimmed, opaque windows.

“These rich assholes won’t know what hit ’em,” he murmured, turning to the others with a sly grin. Even Mateo couldn’t help but let a smirk creep across his face.

Grabbing a handful of eggs, Mateo hurled them at the walls, watching as they splattered across the pristine exterior. The sound of stifled giggles broke the silence, but it was Franklin who really let loose. The rattle of his spray can filled the night air as he shook it vigorously, the quiet quickly vanishing.

Franklin started laughing, holding up the can of deep purple paint—picked deliberately to match the planet’s colors—and began drawing on the walls.

“A penis, bro!” Wilbur burst into laughter as Franklin, the tallest of the group, took his time. He meticulously added obscene details, making the design as huge and difficult to clean as possible. The others chuckled along, all too caught up in the mischief to notice what was really going on inside House Venus.

Blinded by the adrenaline rush of pulling off their prank, they had no idea what the house members were dealing with—why they hadn't heard the commotion outside. But at that moment, the three boys didn’t care. They were high on the thrill.

Meanwhile, Kieren was climbing higher, finding a ladder propped against the building. As he ascended, the wood beneath him creaked ominously, less stable with each step. He felt the cool October wind lash against his face, whipping his hair as he reached new heights. From here, he could see the entire campus—the forest lines, the skyscrapers looming like a concrete rectangle around the city.

Kieren glanced skyward, catching sight of the twin moons and the scatter of stars above. But his focus quickly returned to the level just above him: the top floor, where he knew the House President’s office and private room were located.

A smirk spread across his face—this was the perfect way to mess with them.

Reaching into his pocket, he pulled out a spray can, ready to cause some real damage. But as he climbed the final rung of the ladder, he realized something—the railing was missing. He wobbled, arms outstretched as he fought to regain his balance, his heart racing. Now directly in front of the window, he was focused on not falling, but then his eyes caught sight of something nearby—a toolbox, filled with tools.

An idea sparked in his mind, and Kieren’s smirk widened. This was going to be more than just a prank. It was going to be legendary.

Hannah

“You sound fucking crazy!” Jace slurred, his voice thick with alcohol.

Hannah stood before him in a sleek black dress, the soft fabric trailing down her wrist and into her palm, giving her some sense of control. Her hair was perfectly styled, not a strand out of place, and her piercing purple eyes blazed as she stared at her brother.

“Jace, you can’t just ignore all the evidence! We have every reason to be worried,” she shouted, her voice sharp with urgency.

But Jace shook his head, staggering drunkenly toward the kitchen. His hand fumbled along the counter as he moved. Her dress swept across the floor as she followed, frustration building inside her. He should’ve been ready by now!

“You had dinner plans with the Headmaster and Sirine!” she yelled, her voice rising.

Jace waved her off dismissively. “I forgot about it,” he mumbled, pausing briefly before throwing his arms out to the sides. “Come on, Han, like you actually wanted me to go to that.”

A lazy smile stretched across his face, his eyes half-closed in drunken confidence. That was when her hand connected sharply with his cheek.

His eyes widened, but that ridiculous smile stayed, as if he was too far gone to fully register the slap. Hannah grabbed his collar, pulling him close, her eyes burning into his. “Listen to me, you idiot. That witch has your seed. Do you understand what that means? She can control you—manipulate you.”

Jace rolled his eyes, the alcohol numbing any real sense of alarm. “That’s if you actually believe all this magic crap.”

Hannah’s eyes flared with anger. “Jace, we’re in the middle of a dangerous game, and you might have made a terrible mistake. I see her, always hanging around with her little circle of witches, and because she has you wrapped around her finger, I can’t do a damn thing about it.”

She sighed, her voice softening as she gestured at him. “How do you even know you’re yourself right now?”

Jace’s smile faltered, and he squinted at her. “What are you talking about?”

Hannah’s voice grew more intense, each word sharper than the last. “There are ways they can influence you, Jace. The seed… witches can control men through it. It starts small, little things at first, but how do you know there isn’t something making you pick up that bottle? Or pulling you somewhere you shouldn’t be?”

Jace chuckled bitterly, reaching under his bar to grab another drink. “Well, I guess I’ll have to thank the witch for giving me a damn good excuse,” he muttered, glancing at his sister as she seethed with frustration.

“Come on, Sis,” he continued, his tone lazy and indifferent. “House Venus isn’t tied up in anything major. We’re still on that plan with Henryk, and you and I both know that nothing’s going to come back on us.”

But as he watched, Hannah’s posture sagged, her exhaustion evident. The fight seemed to drain out of her all at once. “Jace, I don’t know if we should keep doing this.”

Jace eyed her strangely, his expression unreadable.

Hannah continued, her voice steady but tinged with frustration. "I get it, Jace. Henryk… he tried, but he didn’t succeed. I hate him as much as you do, but I don’t want this blowing back on the house. So please, just drop it."

For a moment, there was silence. Then, slowly, Jace rose from his seat and walked toward her. “Jace,” she said, lifting her gaze to meet his as he approached. The faint smile still lingered on his face as he pulled her into a deep hug.

“You’re my darling little sister,” he murmured into her ear, and she giggled softly, resting her head beneath his chin.

But then, Jace’s hand slid gently toward her chin, tilting her face upward to meet his eyes. His smile remained, familiar and warm, just like the countless times before. He leaned in, drawing her closer, and pressed his lips against hers.

When they separated, both were smiling. “I…I’m the only one allowed to touch you,” Jace whispered, his tone possessive, almost tender.

But as those words left his lips, both of them stiffened. A sharp sound echoed from behind—a crack, like something breaking. Jace’s smile vanished, and in an instant, the haze of drunkenness lifted as he spun toward the noise, instincts kicking in.

“What is it, Jace?” Hannah asked, her voice laced with sudden alarm.

“The fucking scaffolding collapsed,” Jace muttered, his eyes wide as he peered out the window.

But then his gaze caught something—a figure moving in the shadows, barely visible but undeniably there.

Jace’s eyes narrowed, his body tensing with anger. He turned sharply toward his sister. “Hannah, call the guys. Someone’s trying to get inside.”

Kieren

Kieren saw it all, though he doubted he'd remember it.

The last thing he truly noticed was the vast cosmos unfurling before him like a magnificent painting. His hands and legs floated helplessly in front of him as time seemed to slow. Memories flickered in his mind like a fading slideshow—his dad teaching him how to ride a bike, the warmth of his mom’s hugs, his first kiss, the day he was accepted into the academy. And now, here he was.

Falling backward off a building, heading straight for the ground. He could only hope the impact would kill him outright, sparing him a lifetime of being a cripple.

The other three squires froze when they heard the unmistakable thud of Kieren’s body hitting the earth, followed by the clattering of wood and metal as the scaffolding crashed down beside him.

“Kieren…” Mateo was the first to utter his name. The others immediately abandoned what they were doing.

“Wait, my ID’s in there!” Franklin shouted, panic lacing his words, but then he saw the look on Mateo’s face. His eyes were wide with shock.

“Oh my God,” Mateo whispered, and Franklin’s complaints died on his tongue. He and Wilbur rushed toward Kieren, dread sinking in as they took in the sight.

Kieren’s left leg was twisted at an unnatural angle, clearly broken. His wrist hung limp, mangled. Blood oozed from his lips and dripped steadily from his nose. “Oh fuck…” Mateo breathed, horrified.

“What do we do?” Franklin asked, voice trembling.

Wilbur was panting, his eyes darting from the wrecked scaffolding to Kieren's shattered body. Expulsion was the least of their worries now—House Venus would crucify them for this. The consequences… they could be endless.

“Franklin!” Mateo’s voice cut through the panic, snapping Franklin’s attention to him. “Grab him… you’re the biggest of us. We need to move, now!”

Without another word, Franklin nodded, scooping Kieren’s broken form into his arms. Wilbur hurried to help support him, even as more blood trickled from Kieren's mouth.

“What the hell happened?” Wilbur finally managed to ask as they broke through the edge of the forest.

“Fuck if I know. He must’ve fallen,” Franklin muttered, his face pale.

“Doesn’t matter,” Mateo said, shaking his head. “What matters is getting the hell out of here before they come after us—and getting him to a hospital.”

Wilbur nodded, digging into his pocket for his phone, his hands shaking.

Mateo frowned. “That… doesn’t sound like you’re calling a hospital.”

“I’m not,” Wilbur replied, his voice tense. “I’m calling Ed and House Mars. They need to know.”

“Are you serious?” Mateo snapped, pointing to Kieren’s limp body between them. “If Kieren doesn’t get help soon, he’s going to die!”

“You think I don’t know that?” Wilbur barked back, frustration and fear flashing in his eyes. “But this was Kieren’s idea, and I’m not getting expelled or kicked out of House Mars over this. You want me to self-narc? I’d rather die.”

The phone rang, cutting through the tense air. Mateo bit back whatever retort he had as the call connected.

A yawn echoed through the speaker, followed by Edward’s groggy voice. “Hello... this is Wilbur, right?”

Wilbur took a deep breath, glancing once more at Kieren's unconscious form. “President Edward, there’s been a problem.”

The author's narrative has been misappropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon.

There was no hesitation on the other end. “Report.”

Bea

Bea had been sleeping in the same room she had for as long as she could remember. Even after her father died, the cold wind outside still seeped through the walls, and no amount of blankets could keep it at bay. Or maybe, she thought, there had never been warmth to begin with.

But that fleeting comfort ended when her phone buzzed beside her. Groggy and disoriented, she fumbled for it, her eyes struggling to adjust to the light.

“Y-yeah?” she answered, her voice hoarse. She squinted at the screen. “Ed?” Her eyes flicked to the alarm clock on her nightstand. “It’s four in the morning... what the hell are you doing calling me?”

She listened, her expression growing more serious by the second. “It’s going to cost you, you know that,” she said, irritation clear in her tone. She sat up, brushing the sleep from her mind. “And it’ll take me a minute to get everything ready.”

Ed’s voice rattled on the other end, and Bea’s frown deepened, the annoyance slowly draining from her face.

“How bad is it?” she asked, her voice tightening.

Then her eyes went wide. “His spine!” she exclaimed, jumping from her bed.

Adaline, her sister, was already awake, having been roused by Bea’s shouting. Still in her pajamas, Adaline dashed through the room, draping a blanket around herself like a cape as she hurried down the stairs. They could already hear the sound of a car pulling up outside the shop.

Bea fished her keys out of her pocket, fumbling in her haste. As soon as the door unlocked, Ed practically barreled through, carrying Kieren in his arms. The rest of the squires followed behind, looking frantic, while Vinnie juggled medical instruments that were spilling from his hands. Something was hooked up to Kieren, a mess of tubes and wires trailing behind.

“We need to get him on a table, now!” Ed shouted, his voice thick with urgency.

Adaline and Bea’s eyes adjusted to the darkness, but it was Adaline who gasped first, her hand flying to her mouth. "Oh my God," she muttered, her voice barely audible.

Bea’s eyes widened as well before narrowing in anger. "You idiots should’ve taken him to a hospital!" she shouted.

Ed, still carrying Kieren, was heading toward the secret compartment in the shop. He threw a sharp glance over his shoulder at Mateo, Franklin, and Wilbur. "No. If they’d gone to a hospital, they’d have been logged, flagged. These idiots…" Ed muttered, his frustration palpable as he kept moving. "Just praying no one saw you."

The three boys remained silent, though Franklin had a bead of sweat running down his temple. Someone had to have noticed…

"Were you wearing your colors?" Ed asked, already knowing the answer. His eyes flicked over their uniforms. "Of course, you lot fucking were."

Bea shook her head in disbelief as they reached the door. "You went out there in your school uniforms? Are you insane?"

For a brief moment, there was silence as the elevator took them down to the next level. The doors slid open, revealing the underground workshop.

Mateo finally broke the silence, his voice tight, tears streaking his face. "We'd get in even more trouble without our uniforms." He glanced down at his red-painted sleeve. "Especially after Mars’ censure."

Adaline frowned, exchanging a quick look with Bea. "But why…? Why would you risk it?" Adaline asked, confusion and frustration coloring her voice.

Ed interrupted with a sneer, not bothering to let Mateo respond. "Because they were being a pack of idiots," he snapped as they rushed into the workshop.

Bea immediately began clearing off a worktable, while Vinnie, still focused on Kieren’s condition, remained wordless, making sure the boy was stable. "What kind of medical tech do you have here?" Vinnie finally asked, his voice tight with concern.

Adaline hurried toward the shelves along the far wall, scanning for supplies. "We’ve got everything," she called back, already pulling down kits. "Dad was always getting beat up, but criminals and pirates ate this stuff up." She grabbed a blue plastic case packed with surgical instruments and tossed it into Vinnie’s waiting hand.

Vinnie tore open the blue surgical veil and quickly snapped on a pair of gloves. “I need light here!” he barked, his voice sharp with urgency as everyone scrambled into action.

Bea flicked on the overhead lamp, casting a harsh, sterile glow over Kieren’s broken form. “Shit, his arm’s bent all wrong…,” Franklin started, but he swallowed the rest of his words, his hands clenching into fists.

Wilbur was the first to approach, his face pale as he surveyed the damage. Kieren’s right arm had a bone jutting through the skin, his left leg was twisted at an impossible angle, but what caught Wilbur’s eye was the matted towel hastily stuffed under Kieren’s elbow. A jagged piece of wood from the scaffolding had punctured his lower abdomen, and blood was pooling, dripping off the edge of the metal table in a steady rhythm.

“Fuck, he’s losing a lot of blood,” Vinnie muttered through gritted teeth. “We need blood packs—now!” He paused, then snapped his fingers. “Wait… Kieren’s O-negative… shit, he’s universal! Anyone here O-negative?” he shouted, scanning the room.

“Adaline!” Bea called out, her voice sharp.

Adaline’s eyes darted through the crowd. “She’s the only match,” Vinnie said, exasperation rising in his voice.

A beat of tense silence followed.

“For fuck’s sake, come on!” Vinnie shouted again, turning his head toward Ed. “Ed, we’ve got a kid bleeding out here, man.”

“And Adaline’s the same blood type,” Ed shot back, his voice thick with frustration.

“She’s a sixteen-year-old girl!” Vinnie yelled, slamming his hand down on the table. “Kieren’s twenty, nearly twice her size. He needs more blood than she can give!”

“Well, technically seventeen,” Adaline interjected with a shrug, her expression oddly calm amidst the chaos. “I’ll be eighteen in a couple of months. But that’s not the real problem.” She made a face at Vinnie as he turned back to Kieren, the tension thick in the room.

“It’s not just the blood,” Vinnie agreed, his gaze hardening as he looked back at the group. “Before Kieren passed out in the car, he said…”

“He said he couldn’t feel his legs,” Wilbur finished in a low, hollow voice. His eyes were distant, haunted. “He was crying for his mom… calling himself a cripple… and…” His voice cracked, but Mateo’s hand on his shoulder grounded him, offering silent support.

“He might have been in shock,” Ed said, his tone uncertain. He glanced at Vinnie, searching for any sign of reassurance.

Yet, Vinnie hesitated, his gaze shifting to Adaline and her sister instead of answering Ed directly. “Do you have any medical-grade X-rays or imaging equipment?”

Both Bea and Adaline shook their heads.

“Fuck,” Vinnie muttered under his breath. “Ed, I get what you're saying, but based on what the Squires described, that was one hell of a fall. Protocol would dictate we check everything—how the hell am I supposed to even realign his bones properly without knowing the full extent of the damage?”

“Do the best you can with what we’ve got,” Ed ordered simply, his tone unwavering.

Vinnie shot him a hard look, his eyes narrowing. “I’m telling you, with the lack of proper medical tools, I’m not qualified to treat Kieren in this condition.” He paused, letting the weight of his words hang in the air. “We need to get him to a hospital. Punishment or not.”

For a beat, the room fell silent. The truth settled heavily, and everyone seemed to grasp the gravity of the situation. But it was Ed whose eyes blazed with fury, cutting through the silence like a blade.

He stormed over to Vinnie, jabbing a finger into his chest. “I’m the acting president of House Mars. Kieren and the rest have jeopardized our house. You will do what you can, and they will not know about this.”

Vinnie’s eyes widened, incredulous. “Are you seriously pulling this shit right now?” he challenged. “I already told you—I’m doing my best, but Adaline can only sustain him for so long. The long-term damage—”

“Long-term damage?” Ed cut in, his voice a low growl. His eyes narrowed dangerously. “You don’t know the first thing about long-term damage.”

Bea’s face twisted in disgust. “This is absolutely disgusting. Isn’t this one of your own?” she snapped, stepping forward. “You’re putting your reputation at the Academy ahead of his life?”

“Shut up and stay out of this, Bea,” Ed retorted curtly, barely sparing her a glance.

Her eyes widened in disbelief. “The fuck? Who the hell do you think you are—?”

But Ed was already dismissing her, his focus still locked on Vinnie. “So, you’re worried about his spine. That’s it, right?” Ed asked, extending his arms as he glanced around at the squires.

Vinnie nodded slowly, clearly torn. “Y-yeah,” he stammered.

“Okay, then.” Ed paused, reaching into his pocket and pulling out a small vial. All eyes turned to the strange, opaque container, but Vinnie’s eyes widened in recognition.

“You took it from the gene banks?” Vinnie asked, his voice rising. “From the freaking medical bay? I had a password on that system for a reason!” He shouted, eyes wide with disbelief.

Ed grinned cheekily. “I’m the House President. I have overrides,” he replied, holding up the vial between them, the opaque liquid swirling inside. “The spikes are fresh, and they’ll accept a strong host like Kieren.”

“A strong host?” Mateo muttered, his gaze shifting uneasily around the room. Franklin and Wilbur stared in stunned silence, not knowing what to make of what they were witnessing.

This was their first time seeing something like this, the first time they had truly come face-to-face with Martian power. Kieren, broken and battered, had somehow gotten the attention he’d always craved.

Bea snorted, drawing all eyes to her. “Unbelievable,” she muttered. “You’re really going to put those spikes in him, while he’s unconscious?” she asked incredulously.

Ed waved a dismissive hand. “Isn’t this what Kieren wanted?” he said, directing his question toward Vinnie and completely ignoring Bea’s outrage. “He’d be ecstatic to wake up with the spikes. Arthur’s line has quick healers. This is exactly what he needs,” he added, gripping the vial tighter.

Vinnie’s voice was the only one cutting through the tension. “He won’t be human anymore,” he said, staring grimly at the vial in Ed’s hand. “Once you cross into divinity, there’s no coming back, Edward. Not even for something this small.”

Ed’s expression remained unphased. “He’s leading Executor. Back in ancient times, this was tradition.”

Vinnie frowned. “I know what Kieren and Henryk are like. I get that Kieren’s rowdy—this just proves it.” He paused, glancing toward Kieren’s motionless body. “You’re right, Edward, this could save his life—if all goes well. But Kieren isn’t ready for this. We should put it to a vote.”

“A vote, now?” Franklin interjected angrily from the corner, pointing at Kieren’s prone figure. “He’s dying over there, and you want to waste time on a vote?”

Vinnie raised a hand, trying to calm Franklin. “Relax, Frank. The spikes aren’t just some casual decision. With them, Kieren won’t tire like a normal person. He’ll move faster, be stronger—a true Knight of Mars in training.” He paused, letting the weight of his words settle over the room. “But this isn’t something we can just do without the proper tools and space.”

“Tools or space?” Ed scoffed. “Vinnie, they’ve been doing these procedures in termite-ridden castles for centuries.”

"...and a lot of people died due to the lack of basic medical knowledge," Vinnie cut in sharply. "Even if we put the spikes in him, like I said, there are only two true Sons of Mars here. We've always made these decisions together. The others will be furious that we acted without them."

"It will save his life and buy time for the house," Ed countered. "I know it's short-sighted, but we can't take him to a hospital. God forbid someone caught sight of the car or saw us running. Who knows what kind of trouble we'd be in."

“I just don’t understand why you guys won’t take him to a hospital!” Adaline’s voice cracked, her words trembling with fear. “He’s right! Kieren is dying, and you’re just standing here arguing—"

“It’s not that simple,” Ed interjected, his voice taking on a hard edge. “The Academy is... different from a lot of schools in this sector. Hell, the whole universe.”

Bea sneered. “No shit. We’ve been hearing all about what you guys do on the internet.”

Ed sighed heavily, rubbing the bridge of his nose. “The Academy, I don’t know the full story behind it, but the culture—it’s always been twisted in a strange way. On the surface, it’s like any other school. There are classes, dorms. But then you’ve got the Guild's heavy presence and the missions…” He paused to collect his thoughts, turning to face Bea, her crimson skin catching the dim light. “The Kingdom of Mars always clashed with the Royals of Venus. Small conflicts that the emperor used to put down. But even at the Academy, it’s never just normal school life—there are pranks, fights, parties, drugs, alcohol... and then there's this."

He gestured toward Kieren's broken form. "Right now, there’s a delicate peace at the Academy. Everyone’s focused on bigger threats, but one wrong move, and who knows what the other Houses will do.”

“You’re making it sound like they’d hunt us down,” Wilbur said nervously from the corner, but Ed’s expression told him everything.

“What are you talking about?” Mateo asked.

Ed met their questioning eyes. “Exactly what I’m saying. We’re all technically first-years here. Have any of you ever heard of a House Execution?”

A wave of shaking heads answered him.

"Well, a couple of years ago, House Mercury pissed off two rival Houses. They showed up and wiped them out—ten to one.”

The room fell silent. For a moment, the weight of Ed’s words hung in the air—until Bea suddenly burst into laughter. The others turned to her, bewildered.

“You think this is funny?” Ed asked, his voice deadly serious. Bea’s laughter died on her lips as the gravity of the situation hit her.

“Do you really expect me and my sister to believe that your school has cleanses where everyone dies?” Bea asked, her voice sharp with disbelief.

Ed shrugged, his expression neutral. “It’s the truth,” he said. “You don’t have to believe me, but I’ve read the records, talked to people about the history of this place. House Mercury was only saved because of the years that followed.”

“Did anyone survive?” Adaline asked quietly.

“Adaline…” Bea tried to hush her, but Ed answered.

“One. Zephyr, the current president. From what I heard, he was the only survivor. Saw the whole thing go down.” He paused. “The same thing happened to House Mars before that.”

The room fell silent as everyone’s eyes widened. Ed raised an eyebrow. “Come on, you lot can’t all be surprised. Mars was destroyed. Our territories were picked apart—still are. I’ve read the final message from the last president. Every one of them.”

“All of what?” Bea asked, her tone hardening.

Ed snorted, then continued. “Every single House—from Earth to Saturn. Some of them are probably seniors now.” He chuckled darkly. “They all came at once. And wiped us out.”

The weight of his words pressed down on the room. Wilbur, pale and queasy, sank into a chair. “T-they just killed them all…”

Franklin opened his mouth, but no words came out.

Ed sighed deeply. “Now do you understand why we can’t get caught?” His voice rose, cutting through the silence as his eyes flicked to each person in the room. “The hospital is connected to the Academy. They’ll ask questions. And House Venus is definitely not going to be happy about how you trashed their place…”

“You trashed their place?” Vinnie interrupted, incredulous.

Franklin shrugged, trying to look indifferent. “We drew a massive penis on their wall.”

“Huh?” Ed’s face twisted in disbelief as he slapped both hands over his face.

Mateo let out a heavy sigh. “We also, uh... egged the hell out of the place, and... I’m not sure, but I think Wilbur threw a brick?”

“A f-fucking brick?!” Vinnie exploded, his voice echoing through the room.

Wilbur shrugged, raising his hands as if to admit defeat. "We used everything we had— toilet paper, eggs, spray paint—and Kieren got involved because he wanted to mess with the president’s room."

“Fuck... looks like you guys are screwed,” Bea muttered offhandedly, though her expression shifted when she saw everyone’s faces turn green at the thought.

Ed continued, his voice tense. “Venus will come at us full force if they find out. They had problems with Henryk, but the girl let it go, and her brother seemed to have moved on too... until now. This is going to reignite a fire we don’t need.” He paused, catching his breath.

“It’s not just that,” Ed went on. “Think about the missions, Vinnie. Henryk ran into House Pluto because of the contact.”

Bea’s face twisted in shock. “What? The contact was tied to House Pluto?”

Ed sneered. “That guild guy? Yeah, he played both sides. If Henryk had crossed paths with House Neptune instead, he wouldn’t have made it out…”

“What would they have done to him?” Adaline asked, her voice quiet but tense.

“Fucking lynch him,” Vinnie replied, almost too casually, letting his arms fall to his sides.

“Alright, you’re right... we don’t have much of a choice.” Vinnie glanced at Kieren’s mangled body and sighed. “I’ll authorize it, but we need a place to keep him for two to three days, max. No more than that, Ed. Remember that.”

“Fine, fine,” Ed muttered, turning to the sisters. “Do you have a place to keep him?”

“Dad had a small cell for guys who needed to be held for a while,” Adaline said.

“Down here?” Wilbur asked, his eyes scanning the room. He gestured toward the high-tech weapons and lab equipment cluttering the space. “Is that... plasma tech? You’ve got stub-makers down here?”

Bea, still hugging herself tightly, shrugged. “The cops usually don’t believe anyone who’s being hunted by the last of a genetically enhanced race.”

Wilbur slapped his forehead in disbelief.

Vinnie turned sharply to Bea. “That mission secured us funds. I’ll be doing routine inspections of Kieren here to make sure there are no issues with his spikes.”

“What do we have to look out for?” Adaline asked, her eyes drifting toward her sister. “Why didn’t Dad teach us about this?”

Bea rolled her eyes. “Because we’re girls.”

Vinnie sneered at that. “I don’t care what your dad says. Fuck the Knights of Mars and their crazy medieval mumbo jumbo,” he exclaimed. Bea smiled, amused.

She glanced over at Ed. “I like this one,” she said.

Vinnie sighed. “Two to three days, max. I’m going to need to swing by the manor to pick up more Martian medical gear,” he added.

Ed shrugged. “Bea and Adaline are daughters of a Knight of Mars. He probably has medical instruments lying around.”

Vinnie snapped his fingers, his gaze shifting to the sisters. “You’ve got a cell, and for the next couple of days, you two will need to pay close attention to the instruments. I hate missing class, and my professors will be pissed…”

“I’ll write to them and get you an exemption,” Ed said dismissively.

Vinnie gave a thumbs-up. “He’s stable, at least for now,” he said before turning back to the sisters. “But these instruments are going to check for mutation. The first day is going to be the hardest since we didn’t have time to prep. If one of his body functions starts to fail, we need to know immediately.”

“Mutation?” Adaline asked, eyes wide.

Vinnie nodded. “Arthur grew his spikes naturally because no one cut them, which is good for us. Now we’ve got four to spare. But I didn’t have time to check for mutations.”

“Wait... are you saying he could mutate?” Mateo asked, his voice edged with fear.

Vinnie’s expression darkened as he nodded slowly. “It’s a possibility.”

“Like Ty?” Mateo’s voice trembled. “He could turn into a freak?”

“This is exactly how Ty became a mutant,” Vinnie admitted, though he sighed heavily afterward.

Bea’s voice cut in, sharp and to the point. “It’s going to cost you.”

“Like Vinnie said, we’re good for it,” Ed replied curtly, though Bea could tell her attitude was finally starting to get under his skin. That alone made her smile.