My Revenge Begins With a Divorce

Chapter 9: The Abyss Stares Back

The Mediterranean was a cold, indifferent tomb.

Sixty feet below the surface, the wreckage of the stealth transport was pinned against a jagged reef. Bubbles escaped from the cracked cockpit like the last gasps of a dying beast. Inside, the emergency red lights flickered, casting a bloody hue over Leon Ardent’s face.

"Albert," Leon croaked, his voice muffled by the water filling his lungs.

There was no response. Albert was slumped against the co-pilot seat, unconscious, his head bleeding from the impact.

Leon felt the crushing weight of the ocean pressing against his chest. His lungs burned. His vision was beginning to tunnel into a black void. For a moment, the image of Sarah laughing in her cheap red dress flashed before his eyes. Then, the image of Elena Thorne, waiting in the command center, holding the line.

Not like this, Leon thought. I didn't survive three years of dirt to drown in silk.

He reached into his tactical vest and pulled out a small, pressurized oxygen canister. He took a single, sharp breath and slammed his elbow against the weakened glass of the cockpit. The pressure equalized with a violent roar, throwing him back against the seat.

He grabbed Albert by the harness, unhooking him with trembling fingers. With a final, desperate kick, Leon pushed off the wreckage, dragging Albert toward the faint, glowing lights moving through the dark water.

The massive, mechanical eyes of the Ghost Fleet loomed ahead. A docking hatch on the lead submarine, the Leviathan, slid open like the maw of a leviathan.

Leon swam with every ounce of strength he had left. Just as his vision went dark, a pair of strong arms reached out and hauled them into the air-lock.

The hatch slammed shut. The water drained.

Leon fell onto the steel floor, gasping for air, his chest heaving. A group of men in black tactical gear surrounded them, their faces hidden behind gas masks. They didn't move to help. They stood with their weapons at their sides, waiting.

"Identity," a cold, synthesized voice commanded from the intercom.

Leon looked up, his wet hair plastered to his forehead. He reached for the silver chain around his neck and pulled out a heavy, obsidian key shaped like a dragon’s claw. He slammed it onto the floor.

"I am the Sovereign," Leon hissed, his voice raw. "And if you don't start the engines in the next ten seconds, I will be the last thing you ever see."

The soldiers instantly dropped to one knee.

"Welcome back, My Lord," the lead soldier said, his voice trembling with a mixture of fear and reverence. "We thought the line had ended."

"The line ends when I say it ends," Leon said, standing up on shaky legs. "Get Albert to the infirmary. And get me a line to Northwood. Now."

Ten minutes later, Leon stood in the submarine’s command center. He was wrapped in a thermal blanket, a glass of amber liquid in his hand. The screen in front of him flickered to life, showing Elena Thorne’s face. She looked like she hadn't slept in a week, even though it had only been hours.

"Leon!" she gasped, her hands flying to her mouth. "The news... they said your transport was destroyed. They said there were no survivors."

"The news says what Marcus tells them to say, Elena," Leon said, taking a sip of the drink. "Is the city still ours?"

"The Four Families tried to move the moment the report hit," Elena said, her voice regaining its iron. "Silas Crawford’s brother tried to seize the docks. I had him arrested for treason within the hour. But Leon, the European Council has officially recognized Sarah. They’ve granted her access to the Ardent family’s dormant accounts in Monaco."

"How much?"

"Two billion," Elena whispered. "And that’s just the liquid assets. If she signs the secondary protocols, she’ll have control over the maritime fleet."

Leon stared at the holographic map. "She won't sign them. Not yet. Marcus needs her to be the 'victim' for a few more days to win over the board of directors. He’ll wait for the public funeral."

"The funeral?"

"My funeral," Leon said, a dark smile touching his lips. "Marcus is going to hold a memorial service for me at the Azure Fortress. He wants the world to see him comforting the 'grieving widow' while he officially takes the crown."

"What are you going to do?"

"I’m going to attend my own funeral, Elena. But I’m not going as a mourner. I’m going as the reaper."

"Leon, the Fortress is a death trap," Elena warned. "It’s guarded by the Council’s elite. You can't just walk in."

"I’m not walking in," Leon said. "I’m already there."

He turned to the lead soldier. "Commander, is the 'Ghost Protocol' active?"

"Yes, My Lord. We are currently invisible to all Ardent radar. We are six miles off the coast of Monaco."

"Prepare the submersible. I’m going in alone."

"Alone? Sir, that’s suicide!" the Commander protested.

"Marcus expects an army," Leon said. "He doesn't expect a ghost. And he certainly doesn't expect the man he just 'killed' to be standing in his bedroom."

Meanwhile, inside the Azure Fortress, the atmosphere was one of silent, oppressive luxury.

Sarah Miller sat at a vanity table, staring at her reflection. She was wearing a black lace dress, the fabric so fine it felt like a second skin. On her neck sat a ruby necklace that Marcus had given her an hour ago.

"You look like a Queen, Sarah," Marcus said, stepping into the room. He adjusted the collar of his suit in the mirror.

"I feel like a statue," Sarah said, her voice hollow. "Why do I have to wear black? You said he was gone."

"Public image, my dear," Marcus said, his hand lingering on her shoulder. "The world needs to see your grief. It makes your claim more legitimate. Tomorrow, at the memorial, you will cry. You will speak of Leon’s 'instability.' And then, you will sign the documents transferring the Sovereign’s powers to the Council."

Sarah looked at the silver coin on the table. "He gave me this. He said it was what I was worth."

"He was a cruel boy who didn't understand your value," Marcus lied smoothly. "I am the only one who sees you for who you truly are. An Ardent. A ruler."

"Am I?" Sarah asked, turning to him. Her eyes were wide, a strange, flickering light behind them. "Because every time I close my eyes, I see him in the mud. He told me I’d be in a gold cage. Is this it, Marcus? Is this the cage?"

Marcus’s smile didn't reach his eyes. "It’s only a cage if you try to leave, Sarah. Stay within the walls, and the world is yours."

He turned to leave the room. "The guards are outside. Don't leave your quarters until the morning. We have a big day tomorrow."

As the heavy oak door locked with a metallic click, Sarah stood up. Вshe walked to the window, looking out at the dark Mediterranean. The moon was obscured by clouds.

"A cage," she whispered, touching the ruby necklace. "He was right. He’s always right."

Suddenly, the lights in her room flickered. The hum of the air conditioning died. A heavy, unnatural silence filled the space.

"Marcus?" Sarah called out.

No answer.

A shadow moved in the corner of the room, near the balcony doors. Sarah froze, her heart hammering against her ribs. She reached for a heavy glass perfume bottle on the vanity.

"Who’s there? I’ll call the guards!"

The shadow stepped into the faint moonlight. He was drenched, his black tactical gear dripping water onto the expensive Persian rug. He pulled off his mask, revealing a face that was pale, scarred, and filled with a cold, terrifying calm.

Sarah’s hand shook so violently the perfume bottle fell and shattered. The scent of jasmine filled the room, mixing with the smell of salt water.

"Leon?" she gasped, her voice barely a whisper. "No. You’re dead. I saw the explosion."

"You should know by now, Sarah," Leon said, walking toward her. Each footstep left a wet print on the floor. "I don't die until I’ve collected my debts."

Sarah stumbled back, her back hitting the vanity. "Stay away! I’ll scream! The soldiers are right outside!"

"The soldiers are currently enjoying a localized blackout," Leon said. He stopped three feet away from her. "And the door is reinforced. No one can hear you."

"What do you want?" she sobbed. "You already took everything! I have a father now! I have a crown!"

"You have a leash, Sarah," Leon said. He reached out and grabbed the ruby necklace, his fingers cold against her skin. With a sudden jerk, he snapped the gold chain. He tossed the rubies onto the floor as if they were trash.

"Hey! That was a gift!"

"That was a collar," Leon corrected. "I’m here to give you a message, Sarah. One that Marcus won't tell you."

"What message?"

Leon leaned in, his lips inches from her ear. The scent of the abyss was all over him. "The DNA report was a lie."

Sarah’s eyes widened. "What?"

"Marcus didn't find a daughter," Leon whispered. "He found a sacrifice. Do you know why he needs you to sign those papers tomorrow? Because the Ardent Charter requires a 'Blood Offering' to unlock the main vault. Once you sign, your life is no longer a requirement for the Syndicate’s success."

"You’re lying! You’re just jealous because I found a family!"

"Check your tea, Sarah," Leon said, nodding toward the cup on her nightstand. "Check the medication he gives you every night. Why do you think you feel so 'statue-like'?"

Sarah looked at the cup, her mind spinning.

"He’s going to kill you the moment the ink is dry," Leon said. "And he’s going to blame it on 'grief' for your late husband. Two birds, one stone."

"Why are you telling me this?" Sarah asked, her voice cracking. "You hate me."

"I do hate you," Leon admitted. "But I hate Marcus more. And I don't like people touching my trash before I’m finished with it."

Suddenly, the red emergency lights of the fortress began to pulse. A siren wailed in the distance.

"They found the breach," Leon said, pulling his mask back on.

"Leon, wait!" Sarah cried, reaching for his arm. "If you’re telling the truth... what do I do?"

Leon looked at her through the dark lenses of his mask. "Tomorrow, at the funeral, Marcus will give you a gold pen. Don't sign the papers. Sign the 'Declaration of Forfeit'."

"What does that do?"

"It transfers all your 'Ardent' rights to the Northwood Treasury," Leon said. "It makes you worthless to him. And in this family, being worthless is the only way to stay alive."

Leon turned and vaulted over the balcony railing, disappearing into the darkness just as the bedroom door was kicked open by five armed guards.

"Ms. Ardent! Are you alright?" the captain shouted.

Sarah stood in the middle of the room, her hand clutching the broken ruby necklace. She looked at the cup of tea on the nightstand.

"I’m fine," she said, her voice suddenly cold and sharp. "I just realized that I don't like the color red anymore."

Down in the waters of the Mediterranean, Leon swam toward the waiting submersible. He knew he had just planted a seed of chaos that would tear Marcus’s plan apart from the inside.

"Sir," Albert’s voice crackled in his ear. "We’ve just intercepted a message from the Capital Families. They’ve joined forces with your uncle. They are sending a hit squad to Northwood to take out Elena Thorne tonight."

Leon stopped mid-stroke. His blood turned to ice.

"They’re going after Elena?"

"Yes, sir. They think you’re dead, so she’s the only target left."

Leon looked back at the fortress, then at the dark ocean ahead.

"Change the course," Leon commanded. "We’re not going back to the fleet."

"Then where are we going, sir?"

Leon’s eyes glowed with a murderous intent that would have terrified even Marcus.

"We’re going to show the Capital Families why you never touch the Sovereign’s heart."