The Sovereign's Curse

The rest of the drive to the tower was steeped in silence, a whirlwind of thoughts churning in Xander's mind.

The sensation of being watched lingered, a persistent itch at the back of his neck. Does someone know about his discovery. But who? And why did the thought send a cold shiver down his spine?

---

Arriving at Hawthorne Tower, with Aeternis tucked away in his pocket Xander stepped through the sleek revolving door, the hum of the building's evening rhythm washing over him. Employees moved in opposite streams—some heading out after a long day, others just starting their shifts. The air buzzed with muted conversations and lingering glances. Raised eyebrows, whispered side comments—he noticed them all but let none of it phase him.

His mind was elsewhere as he crossed the bustling lobby. Reaching the elevator, he swiped his key card without hesitation. The doors closed, sealing him in, and the ascent began. Moments later, he stepped onto his sister's floor, heading straight for her office.

Xander nodded politely at a few employees he passed, offering them a faint smile as he strode through the hallway. When he reached her office door, he swiped his key card, and the door slid open with a soft beep. He stepped inside and was greeted by a strikingly familiar yet beautiful sight.

Elaine's office was a seamless blend of efficiency and warmth, a perfect mirror of her personality. The space was drenched in soft, golden light streaming through a wall of floor-to-ceiling windows, which framed a stunning view of the city skyline. At the center of the room stood a sleek, minimalist desk. On it was a delicate porcelain figurine of a hawk... A subtle homage to their family name, an elegant pen set, and a single framed photo of her and Xander from years ago—a rare, candid moment frozen in time.

Behind the desk, a high-backed chair faced a cozy seating area, complete with plush armchairs and a sleek glass coffee table—perfect for informal meetings. The entire room exuded calm authority, a testament to Elaine's meticulous nature and sharp mind.

Elaine sat in one of the armchairs, engrossed in a phone call. She glanced up as he entered, raising a hand in acknowledgment. Xander nodded back, pacing slowly across the room as he waited. His steps were deliberate, almost hesitant, as if gathering the courage to speak.

When Elaine ended her call, she stood and approached him with a warm smile. Without hesitation, she pulled him into a brief hug. "Someone smells nice," she teased, pulling back to meet his eyes. "Alright, spill it. What's going on?" she asked, her tone light but curious.

Xander's hand slipped into his pocket, his fingers brushing Aeternis. His eyes darted around the room, scanning as though searching for invisible eavesdroppers. Elaine's brows furrowed with concern as she placed a hand on his shoulder. "Xander?" she asked gently.

He took a deep breath, steadying himself. Her presence, her touch—it made him feel safe, even when his thoughts were chaotic. "I'll get straight to the point," he said finally, his voice low but firm. "I found a hidden workshop in Dad's office."

Elaine's eyebrows shot up in confusion. "A hidden workshop?" she echoed, tilting her head.

"Yes. It looked old—like something Mum and Dad might've used. It's tucked away behind his bookcase," Xander explained quickly.

Elaine crossed her arms, skepticism written all over her face. "Wait. You were in Dad's office?"

"The door wasn't fully closed," Xander defended, holding up his hands. "That's not like him, so I figured I'd take a quick look. Then I saw this weird book on his shelf, when I reached for it, a whole secret stairwell opened."

Elaine rubbed her temples, turning away. A gesture he recognized as her processing complex information. "Slow down, Xander. You're dumping a lot on me right now."

"I'm serious, Elaine," he pressed. Reaching into his pocket, he pulled out Aeternis and held it up. "I found this down there."

The sphere hovered out of his grasp, its surface gleaming with an otherworldly light. "Hello, Elaine," it said, its voice smooth and unnervingly calm.

Elaine flinched, took an instinctive step backward. Her hand darted toward her desk—whether for support or protection, Xander couldn't tell. "What—what is that?" she stammered, her scientific mind divided between professional curiosity and genuine shock.

"Aeternis, meet my sister Elaine. Elaine, this is Aeternis," Xander said, a hint of excitement breaking through his controlled demeanor.

"A sphere with no visible power source, functioning perfectly?" Elaine muttered, her analytical side already dissecting the impossible. "It defies every technological principle I know."

"Interesting," Aeternis responded, a note of amusement in its synthetic voice. "He wasn't lying when he said you're the smart one."

Elaine arched a skeptical brow, her tension not entirely dissipating. "Flattery's not going to earn you any points," she muttered, still watching the sphere like it might suddenly sprout arms and attack.

"So, let me get this straight," Elaine began, crossing her arms as she leaned back against her desk. Her eyes locked on Xander, her tone laced with disbelief. "You're telling me there's a hidden workshop in Dad's office. An office, mind you, that you're weren't supposed to be anywhere near considering the strained relationship between the two of you?"

"In my defense, it wasn't—" Xander started, his hands raised as if pleading his case, but Elaine silenced him with a single raised finger.

"And then," she continued, narrowing her eyes, "You found a hovering sphere."

"Uh, it's Aeternis," the sphere interjected, its voice cutting in awkwardly.

Elaine turned to Aeternis, flashing a forced smile that didn't reach her eyes. "Right. You found Aeternis." Her gaze shifted back to Xander, her eyebrows lifting expectantly. "How, pray tell, did you not get caught?"

Xander scratched the back of his neck, his lips curving into a sheepish grin. "Actually… I was," he admitted, his voice dropping into a quieter tone. "Dad caught me but only after I was back in his office."

Elaine's jaw tensed, and she pinched the bridge of her nose, clearly exasperated. "Xander…" she muttered, shaking her head.

"Look, I really appreciate you looking out for me," Xander said, his voice unsteady as he ran a hand through his hair. His fingers trembled slightly, and his eyes darted around the room before settling on Elaine. "But I'm having the strangest day of my life, and I honestly think I'm going to lose my mind."

Elaine studied him for a moment, her expression softening as she caught the desperation in his eyes. She let out a long sigh, uncrossing her arms and leaning forward. "Alright, You didn't come all the way here just to tell me about some hidden room and a shiny new toy. No offense," she said, throwing a brief glance at Aeternis.

"None taken," Aeternis replied, hovering slightly higher as if trying to appear more involved. "When he reactivated me, I didn't regain all my memories. He believes you might be able to help."

Elaine tilted her head, her brow furrowing in suspicion. "And what happens if you turn out to be some kind of violent killing machine?" she asked dryly, arching an eyebrow.

"Oh, come on, Elaine!" Xander groaned, throwing up his hands. "Do you really think Mum and Dad would build a dangerous weapon and just hide it in a basement?" He gestured emphatically to Aeternis, who emitted a soft hum, seemingly in agreement.

Elaine didn't reply immediately. She narrowed her eyes, her fingers drumming against the edge of her desk as she weighed his words. "You want me to check the family archives and the company's database," she said finally, her voice even. "You really think this thing has some connection to us?"

"I know it does," Xander insisted, leaning closer. His voice cracked slightly, betraying the urgency behind his words. "Please, Elaine. I have to know why it was hidden down there. Why I found it."

Elaine's lips pressed into a thin line. She could see the spark in his eyes, the rare light of determination that she hadn't seen in him for what felt like ages. He wasn't just desperate; he was alive in a way she hadn't expected.

Her expression softened as she let out another sigh, this time tinged with resignation. "Alright, fine," she said, raising a hand to stop his immediate burst of gratitude. "But I swear, Xander, if this thing turns out to be trouble, it's your mess to clean up."

Xander grinned, relief washing over his face. "Thank you, sis."

"Yeah, yeah," she muttered, shaking her head as she turned to her console. "But you owe me. Big time."

Elaine sat down at her sleek console, her fingers flying over the illuminated keyboard. The holographic screen above the desk sprang to life, casting a soft blue glow across her face. She quickly navigated through the encrypted layers of the family archives, her brow furrowing in concentration.

"So," she said without looking up, "this workshop… did it seem abandoned, or did it look like someone's been using it recently?"

Xander hesitated, rubbing the back of his neck. "It was dusty. Old, but… not forgotten, if that makes sense. Like whoever set it up left it there for a reason."

Elaine hummed thoughtfully, her eyes scanning the database. "Mum's old research logs are encrypted, but her name does appear linked to something called 'Project Aeternis.' It's buried deep, though—like really deep. Someone went through a lot of trouble to hide it."

Aeternis hovered closer, its glowing surface pulsing faintly. "That name feels… familiar. But I cannot access it fully," it admitted, its voice quieter now.

"Figures," Elaine muttered, clicking her tongue as she tried another backdoor into the files. "Xander, I don't know what you've gotten us into, but this isn't some casual tech experiment. If Mum was involved, it's big."

Xander stepped closer, his heart pounding. "Big how?"

Elaine turned to face him, her expression grave. "Big enough that someone didn't want anyone finding it. And we may have just kicked a hornet's nest."