Meanwhile, at the Vorn Estate, Sebastian sat in his quarters, his face pale, his hands trembling against the communication rune on his wrist. Static answered him—FZZZ, FZZZ—the encrypted channel to the Clown returning nothing but dead air. The Clown was already far from the House of Crimson base.
Sebastian's mind raced. Cassandra had convened the council. The Blood Resonance Compass had been activated. He didn't know these details—not exactly—but the corrupted servant he had planted in the estate's servant corps had reported Cassandra's aura exploding through the estate, the elders being summoned, and something ancient being retrieved from the clan's deepest vault.
If Cassandra was looking for Kael, she would find him. And if she found Kael, she would find the House of Crimson. And if she found the House of Crimson, she would find Isabella—soulless, mind-controlled, a weapon turned against her own family. And from Isabella, the trail led directly to Sebastian.
