The bells continued ringing.
Their deep sound traveled through every corridor of the Sanctuary.
Dmitri watched the signals multiplying across his screen.
"They're moving toward the central district."
Nikola looked at the map.
"How many?"
"At least thirty."
Mikhail rolled his shoulders.
"Then let's make sure they don't reach us."
Roman raised a hand.
"Wait."
Everyone stopped.
Roman looked at Caelum.
"You said only someone from the First Family could have opened those passages."
Caelum nodded.
"Yes."
"Then there's a traitor."
Caelum's expression darkened.
"Possibly."
Artyom looked around the chamber.
The ancient memories.
The twelve thrones.
The empty Thirteenth Throne.
Everything suddenly felt different.
Someone had been waiting inside the Sanctuary.
Someone who had access to its secrets.
Someone who knew exactly where they were.
Viktor noticed Artyom's expression.
"Don't blame yourself."
"I'm not."
Artyom looked toward the entrance.
"I'm trying to figure out who would betray their own family."
A voice answered from the darkness.
"Someone who believes the family betrayed them first."
Everyone turned.
A figure stood at the doorway.
No armor.
No weapon visible.
Just a long dark coat and a silver mask.
Caelum immediately stepped forward.
"Show your face."
The figure laughed quietly.
"You still give orders as if the First Family exists."
Caelum's expression hardened.
"Who are you?"
The stranger slowly removed the mask.
Artyom stared.
He didn't recognize the face.
But Caelum did.
His expression changed completely.
"You..."
Lucien stepped backward.
"No."
Roman narrowed his eyes.
"Who is he?"
Caelum answered quietly.
"The last surviving member of the royal council."
The stranger smiled.
"Not quite."
He looked directly at Artyom.
"I'm the one who refused to kneel."
Artyom frowned.
"Why are you here?"
The stranger's smile disappeared.
"Because your family left us to die."
Silence.
"You disappeared," he continued. "Your ancestors sealed themselves away while the twelve houses fought to survive."
Caelum's voice was low.
"We didn't abandon them."
"You did."
The stranger looked at Artyom.
"And now you return after centuries and expect everyone to welcome you?"
Artyom didn't answer.
The stranger stepped closer.
"I don't want your throne."
A pause.
"I want the truth."
Dmitri suddenly looked at his monitor.
"Something's happening."
The Sanctuary map began changing.
Entire sections turned red.
Nikola looked toward the corridors.
"The invasion isn't moving toward us."
Dmitri's eyes widened.
"They're heading somewhere else."
"Where?"
Dmitri zoomed in.
The destination appeared.
THE MEMORY VAULT
Caelum's face went pale.
"They're going for the original records."
Artyom looked at him.
"What records?"
Caelum answered:
"Everything about your bloodline."
The stranger smiled.
"Exactly."
Then the Sanctuary bells stopped.
All at once.
The silence that followed was worse.
Because the enemy had reached the vault.
And whatever they found there could change everything Artyom believed about his family.