CHAPTER 29: The War Room Part 3

Kairos let out a dry chuckle, leaning back. “Thank you for your input, but we’re not making up names now, Little Thunder.”

Michael moved to pull her down gently when a voice, sharp and unwavering, cut through the room.

“That is my daughter, Kairos. Mind your tone.”

Max Thunder’s words silenced any further mockery. A pause, then his gaze shifted to Phoebe. “Speak.”

Phoebe hesitated for a moment before steadying herself.

“The figure we saw is called Malrik. He attacked us in Sweet Haven. He appeared exactly like in Julian’s version."

Rebel’s eyes narrowed. “That light we saw that day… you’re saying it was him?”

Phoebe nodded.

“What happened after that?” Rebel asked, intrigued.

Phoebe exhaled shakily, struggling to gather her thoughts. Michael saw her distress and stood up. His voice was measured, but his fingers curled at his sides.

“We fought him. Barely. He wasn’t even looking for a fight. I think he was using a third of his strength—maybe less—but even then, he was too powerful for us.” His jaw clenched. “Luckily, we had some help from Adelle and… Jace. The two of them managed to subdue him.”

“Subdue?” Kairos folded his arms. “Do you expect us to believe you children killed that creature when I couldn’t?”

“We did not. I don't think we even managed to strike him at all. In the latter stages of the fight, Adelle became uncontrollable, burning in bright blue flames. She would have died if Malrik had not saved her.”

A murmur rippled through the officials, but it was Kuzan who interrupted.

“She was burning in blue flames?” His eyes sharpened. “Are you sure?”

Michael nodded.

James Castle stood, his expression unreadable. “This is a lot to digest, young Michael.” His gaze flickered to Axel. “We would like a moment to confer with the Four.”

Axel nodded. “Very well. We’ll resume in five minutes.”

Luna Azulon rose, addressing her daughter. “Give us the room, dear.”

Sienna stood and extended her hand, expanding the platform where the Four sat, sealing it off from the rest.

Just before the partition closed, Lexi turned toward Kairos with a smirk. “This is a private meeting. Where do you think you’re going?”

Kairos was already stepping forward when Max Thunder spoke.

“Let him stay.”

Kairos grinned. “Nice to see some people appreciate me around here.”

Axel sat at the head of the now-expanded platform, his fingers steepled in thought. The remaining figures stood in a loose circle, the tension between them thick as a storm cloud before the first crack of thunder. James Castle, however, was far from calm. His hands were clenched into fists, his jaw tight, and the vein at his temple pulsed with restrained fury.

“Did you know?,” James ground out, his voice low and lethal, “ Did you know the real reason why my daughter is in critical condition right now?”

His glare was locked onto Axel, but his fury radiated toward everyone present. Luna Azulon shifted uncomfortably, while Max Thunder remained calm, a small smirk plastered on his face.

“Yes, we learned of the full extent of the situation a short while ago,” Axel said, measured and unwavering. “You have every right to be angry, James, but know that none of this information was deliberately kept from you.”

James let out a sharp, bitter laugh. “Oh, I have every right to be angry? Is that so, Founder’s Head? You mean after hearing from an initiate that my daughter nearly burned herself to death?! That’s how I find out?” He took a step forward, glaring at him. “Don’t patronize me, Axel.”

Kairos, watching from the sidelines, gave a low whistle. “Whew. Family drama, my favorite.”

Lexi turned to him, eyes sharp. “One more word out of you, Kairos, and I swear I’ll personally throw you off this platform.”

Kairos grinned, unfazed. “Touchy, touchy.”

“Let’s all be calm now,” Max Thunder spoke, his voice as smooth as ever. “This tension is highly unbecoming. If we fight amongst ourselves, how are we to fight the deviants at the same time?”

James exhaled sharply, rubbing his temples. “You’re right Max, as always.”

Axel remained composed, but his tone carried the weight of authority. “We knew just as you that Adelle had gotten injured during a battle within the Founders House. But we did not know of this Malrik figure or his role in it.”

James scoffed. “So the children knew before you? They fought him. They saw Adelle burning. And yet we’re only hearing this now?” He exhaled sharply, trying—and failing—to rein in his anger. “If you had even an ounce of sense, Axel, you would have demanded a full debrief the moment those initiates returned. But instead, you sit here acting like we still have time for ‘strategy’ when the enemy is already inside our gates.”

Axel remained still, his face unreadable. “And yet,” he said, voice even, “despite your accusations, I am the one ensuring that we do not fall apart. While you rage, I think. While you point fingers, I look for solutions.” He leaned forward, his presence pressing down on the room like a lead weight. “Tell me, James, how does your anger help us now?”

James’s breath hitched slightly, his fists tightening—but he had no immediate answer.

Scarlett flicked her hair from her face and spoke. “I get it James, I do. I have known Adelle since she was young when I brought her to you. She is my daughter too,” she said her voice calm yet firm. “And I want answers just as much as you do. But Axel is right. We need to stop playing the blame game and focus on what matters. Adelle is stable. I healed her myself. You don’t need to worry."

James exhaled sharply, running a hand through his hair. His anger hadn’t disappeared, but it was contained—for now.

Luna Azulon, ever the diplomat, stepped forward, placing a hand gently on James’s shoulder. "Scarlett is right. Let’s be smart about this. We’ll make sure Adelle didn’t risk herself for nothing."

Axel nodded. “Agreed. What matters now is finding this Malrik and uncovering what he knows.”

A heavy silence fell over them as they considered his words.

Finally, Lexi crossed her arms. “Then let’s start with the initiates. Michael and Phoebe seem to know more than we do. It’s time they told us everything.”

Luna exhaled and snapped her fingers.

The platform beneath them shifted, the once-expanded space collapsing inward like an unseen force was compressing the very air. The walls pulsed with energy as the ground beneath them restructured itself, shrinking back to its original form.

It wasn’t just resizing—it was redistribution, mass shifting in response to Luna’s command. The weight in the air momentarily increased, like gravity itself had thickened, before settling once more.

As the room returned to its normal size, Axel’s voice cut through the quiet.

“Michael and Phoebe,” he said, “please continue with the rest of your story.”

James turned toward them, his gaze sharp.

“Yes,” he said. “Tell us exactly what happened.”

Phoebe glanced at Michael nervously before speaking. "We don’t know exactly what happened. They disappeared into this… void of his for about a minute. And when they came out…"

She hesitated.

"We came to an agreement with him."

Kairos frowned. "What type of agreement? Who’s ‘they’? You mean Adelle and Malrik?"

Michael shook his head. "No. Malrik and Jace."

A murmur rippled through the room. Mael who had been silent for most of the meeting, narrowed his eyes. "Who is this Jace?"

Rebel leaned forward. “Jace Jamerson. He is one of my initiates from the Regens House.”

Axel’s eyes widened and he nodded, staring at a man seated in front, in between Luna Azulon and Max Thunder.

“Jamerson…Isn’t that your son Alaric?”

Alaric lifted his head.

A handsome man in a simple gray coat with sharp dark brown hair and calm, intelligent eyes, adjusted his glasses before finally answering.

“Yes, Axel.”

He smiled.

“Jace Jamerson is my son.”

A beat of silence followed

"Okay, hold up. Who even is this guy, and why the hell does his son matter?" Kairos asked.