Chapter 79 Pier’s Reckoning
CHAPTER SEVENTY NINE
valenticia's POV~
I was on Seryne’s pier, the waves beating below, a roaring noise, blitzed by the fear in my chest. Ravi Patel stood at the end of the pier, a silhouette against the lights, smirk chilling, slowly turning my way. “You’re late, Clawford.” Mentz snarled, that cutting-in-the-air voice of his, which sounded like sanding boards across salt air. My heart pounded, fear sharp—Christ, he’s Gregor’s mole, but how much more does he know? The tape recorder in my pocket hummed, awaiting his confession, heavy with Rosanna’s file, my satchel. Eleanor’s locket was warm against my clothes, and my mother’s voice whispered against the locket-- Hush, my star--and I was determined. “Speak, Ravi,” I said sternly — “why would you betray us?” His laughter was ice, “Stefan has delivered you to Gregor - your lover has sold you out”. My heart split, agony shard piercing through—Stefan?
Fear spiked, piercing doubt—are we already lost? I held the phone, live-feed of Seryne’s underground, my tone level: “Bend over, Ravi — you are Gregor’s dog.” His sneering grin grew wider. “I am his greatest organic weapon. Galden’s serum, warheads — it’s power you can’t reach.” I hit record, my heart pounding, his words a noose tightening. “You gave him my plans,” I accused, and I stepped forward, the boards of the pier groaning. ” He shrugged, “You are a gnat, Valenticia. Stefan has given it all to us— your safehouses, your leaks”. It burned with pain, and Stefan’s cryptic text—I’m sorry—a ghost transpierced me. Hell no, I thought, determination burning, I’m going to have you out in the open. I leaked his confession, Traitor Exposed. My voice was harsh: “ Truth wins”.
Ravi’s eyes flashed—his hand was twitching—he had some kind of weapon. Fear throbbed, but I lunged, took the knife from him, and his knife had fallen to the pier. His smirk never stilled, the sense of unease gnawing at him—what is he hiding? “Too late,” he hissed, “Gregor’s safe”. I pressed him, my knee on his chest, “Not today”. My burner buzzed, Rosanna calling, her voice a balm, “You are Eleanor’s heart, child—fight.” Her words anchored me, my mother’s struggle — her whistleblowing about Gregor, her very cousin’s son — a fire in my blood. I loosened my hold on Ravi, his fake-ass grin sending shudders down my spine— he’s way too relaxed. He scurried up and ran off into the night, but his phone got away from him and dropped to the floorboards.
I snatched it up, heart pounding, the screen glowing with a message from “M”: “Stefan made a deal at sword’s point — get him out”. I gasped out, a realization unraveling.— Was Stefan threatened? It resolved Stefan’s betrayal while opening more questions—who’s M, who’s controlling him? DOOM Fear rushed through me, my heart raw, thoughts of Stefan’s touch—his kiss in the rose garden—fighting with his café rendezvous with Natasha. I want the truth, I thought. Eleanor’s locket with its hidden chip, pulsed multiplied against my heart: her struggle feeding me as I fought. Ravi’s taunt — Stefan traded your secrets — gnawed, doubt a shadow, but “M’s” message was as a lifeline — he’s still mine.
My phone buzzed again, it was a tip from Marcus: Shipment at docks—serum, Natasha’s. She felt fear spike—a lead, or a trap? I ran, stumbling and damp, to the ports, Seryne’s alleyways blurring, the locket a promise—I’ll stop this. The docks rose high, cranes etched against the moon, crates cluttered in stacks. According to Marcus’s intel, Natasha’s decoy shipment was bait, her knife-sharp cunningness dangerous. Fear thrummed in my veins as I inched forward, my recorder off, my gun out— she’s waiting. Flashlight of a guard swept , and I crouched behind a crate, heart pounding—too many. Natasha’s voice rang out, an edict, “Find her!” My blood chilled—she’s here.
I hacked a tracker on a crate, the screen on my burner blipping out, showing a decoy—empty vials, no serum. Cunning, I thought, as terror surged-she’s trying to shag me. Radioed the guard, “Clawford’s at pier—move!” I felt my body freeze, fear gripping me, fear as a vice given by Ravi? I skidded toward an exit, the docks a labyrinth, waves crashing like my pulse. A memory of Eleanor’s chip — Protect the antidote — stilled me, her sacrifice a burden. Natasha's guards moved in with an ominous thud of boots, and I leapt behind the barrel, fear shooting—I'm trapped. The phone shook. Rosanna’s message: Safehouse Delta—now. I ran, dodging a guard’s snatching hand, lungs aching, drowning in Seryne’s darkness.
The trap was sprung, Natasha’s cunningness a blade, but I’d escaped it — just barely. I trembled with fear, my heart so raw, Stefan’s coerced bargain—track him—a flaming question. Was he coerced? I thought, responding to a question I already knew the answer to, but raising yet more of them—who’s controlling him? Natasha had bait-and-switched me to the wrong container yard, which was a trap I nearly walked into, my blood pounding. I promised to search out Stefan's heart raw, the truth of his deal a searing question drawing me deep into Seryen’s shadows, to resolution.