Chapter 20 - The Black Fleet
Before Evelyn could respond, the sky outside the conservatory turned dark.
A low, vibrating hum began to rattle the floorboards of the mansion. The crystal chandelier above the dining table swayed violently, its glass droplets chiming in frantic dissonance.
Lily, playing in the corner with her wooden blocks, suddenly looked up at the ceiling, pointing her tiny finger toward the sky. "Birdies?" she babbled innocently.
Marcus rushed to the window, his hand immediately flying to his tactical radio. "Command! This is Agent Marcus at Bennett Estate! Do we have authorized federal airspace corridors over the Hudson Valley right now?!"
Only static screamed through his radio.
Evelyn ran to the terrace glass doors.
Emerging from the heavy cloud cover above the mountains were three massive, unmarked black stealth tilt-rotor aircraft—completely devoid of military insignias or civilian registration numbers. They hovered silently over the estate, their searchlights cutting through the twilight like twin blades of ice.
"Mom!" Evelyn screamed into the satellite phone. "Who are they?!"
Through the speaker, over the deafening roar of the descent engines outside, Sarah’s voice broke through in a desperate, agonized sob:
*"Evie, listen to me! Run to the underground vault! The man who owns those ships... he doesn't want Lily's blood anymore!"*
*"Who is he, Mom?!"*
The satellite line crackled violently as an electromagnetic pulse swept through the valley, killing all the lights in the mansion instantly, plunging the estate into absolute blackness.
Through the dying speaker, Sarah’s final words echoed in the dark:
*"He’s your real father, Evelyn. And he’s coming to take you back."*
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*THUD!*
The reinforced glass of the conservatory ceiling shattered into ten thousand falling diamonds as black-clad figures began rappelling directly into the room.
