Ashcroft Estate — Midnight


    The clock in the grand hall struck twelve, its chime echoing faintly through the vast corridors of the Ashcroft estate. The mansion was quiet, save for the soft hiss of the gas lamps and the distant creak of old wooden beams settling into the night.


    In her room, Selena Ashcroft sat at her desk, the flicker of her brass lamp casting long shadows across the walls. Papers were strewn before her — financial reports, shipping manifests, and other documents from Ashcog Industries. Yet, her eyes skimmed over them without focus. Her thoughts kept drifting back to Silas and the incident at the market.


    She sighed, leaning back in her chair. What was he doing in that alley? Victor hadn’t told her much, and Silas himself had been quiet since returning home. A mother’s worry gnawed at her. Finally, she decided. I should go talk to him.


    Rising from her seat, she grabbed a shawl and stepped into the dark hallway. Her footsteps echoed softly against the marble floors, the gas lamps along the walls casting a dim amber glow. The estate always felt colder at night, the silence heavy, almost watchful.


    As she approached Silas’s room, the faint rustling of papers caught her ear. She knocked softly.


    Knock, knock…


    “Silas… are you awake?”


    There was a brief pause, then a soft exhale from the other side.


    “Yeah… come in.”


    Selena pushed open the door, the hinges groaning softly. Silas sat at his desk, hunched over a spread of newspapers. His room was dimly lit, the only light coming from a small lamp on the nightstand. Selena’s eyes swept across the clutter — stacks of paper, old books, and half-burnt candles. It looked more like a detective’s workspace than a bedroom.


    “What’s with all the newspapers?” she asked, brow furrowed.


    Silas glanced at the mess, then back at her. “It’s nothing. Just… research.”


    Selena frowned but didn’t press further. Instead, she stepped closer, her gaze lingering on the worn papers. “Why did you go to that back alley?”


    Silas opened his mouth to respond — when suddenly, a loud clattering sound echoed through the house. The door at the end of the hall slammed open, footsteps pounding against the floor. Silas tensed, instincts flaring. He pushed himself off the bed, wincing as his injured ankle protested.


    “Stay here,” Selena urged. “Your ankle—”


    “I’m fine,” Silas muttered, ignoring the pain.


    They heard someone racing up the stairs. Moments later, a guard burst into the hallway, breathless and wide-eyed.


    “Master Victor has been attacked!” the man gasped. “He was shot — he’s in the hospital now!”


    Selena’s face drained of color. Her knees buckled, and she collapsed against the wall. Silas lunged forward, catching her just before she fell.


    “Mother!” Silas steadied her, his heart pounding. She clung to his arm, shaking her head as if trying to process the words.


    “I… I’m okay, Silas,” she whispered, though her body trembled. “You can let go.”


    Silas reluctantly released her, turning to the guard. “What happened? How bad is it?”


    The guard wiped the sweat from his brow. “We’re not sure, sir. One of our men rushed back to the estate. Said Master Victor was ambushed on his way home. He’s in Windmere General Hospital now.”


    “Get the carriage ready,” Silas ordered. “We’re going to the hospital.”


    From the other end of the hall, a soft voice broke the tension.


    “What’s going on?”


    Clara stood in the doorway to her room, rubbing sleep from her eyes. Her hair was tousled, and she clutched a pillow to her chest. “Why is everyone yelling?”


    Silas and Selena exchanged glances. Silas forced a smile. “Edgar got sick. We’re heading to the hospital.”


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    Clara frowned. “What about Father? Why isn’t he back yet?”


    Silas hesitated. “He’s with Edgar. We’ll be back soon.”


    Clara pursed her lips. “Then I’m coming too.”


    Selena shook her head. “Clara, it’s late. Stay here where it’s safe.”


    “No!” Clara stomped her foot. “I want to see Edgar!” Before either could protest, she turned on her heel. “I’ll get dressed.”


    Silas sighed. “She’s stubborn.”


    Selena placed a hand on his arm. “Let her come. It’s better than leaving her here alone.”


    “It’s more dangerous outside,” Silas argued. “You heard what happened to Victor.”


    Selena squeezed his arm gently. “They already attacked Victor. They won’t strike again tonight. And Clara… she needs to see her father.”


    Silas clenched his jaw but nodded. “Alright.”


    As Selena went to get ready, Silas limped back to his room. He changed quickly into a white shirt, black pants, and a brown coat. Before leaving, he wrapped his ankle tightly with bandages, wincing at the pressure. The pain dulled slightly.


    Then, his eyes fell on the twin pistols resting on his nightstand. The robbers didn’t take them. That still bothered him. They’d taken his money, but left the weapons untouched. Almost like they weren’t after valuables.


    Frowning, he holstered the pistols on either side of his belt, then grabbed his hat.


    ---


    Fifteen minutes later, the Ashcrofts stood at the estate’s grand entrance. The carriage waited, horses stamping impatiently against the cobblestones. Clara was bundled in a black dress and long coat, her face pale and worried. Selena stood beside her, composed but visibly tense.


    Silas climbed into the carriage last, settling across from them. As the horses lurched forward, he glanced out the window, the city passing in a blur of gas lamps and shadows. His mind raced.


    An ambush.


    Was it a random attack? Or something more deliberate? Victor was a powerful man, and Ashcog Industries had no shortage of enemies. But the timing… and those symbols…


    —


    The steady rhythm of hooves striking the cobblestone streets echoed through the quiet city. Inside the carriage, the flickering gas lamps outside cast fleeting shadows across their faces, illuminating the tension hanging thick between them.


    Silas sat with his arms crossed, staring at the blurred streets outside, his mind working through the night’s events. Clara, seated across from him, was silent, but the anger rolling off her was palpable. Her hands clutched the fabric of her coat so tightly that her knuckles turned white.


    Selena, sitting beside her, finally broke the silence. "Clara, sweetheart—"


    "Why did you lie to me?" Clara''s voice cut through the air like a blade.


    Silas exhaled slowly. He had been expecting this.


    Clara’s gaze burned into him. “You told me Edgar was sick. That we were going to the hospital for him.”


    Silas met her eyes evenly. “We didn’t want you to panic.”


    “Panic?” Clara’s voice rose in pitch, her body trembling with barely contained rage. “Do you think I’m a child? Do you think I can’t handle the truth?”


    "Clara, please—" Selena started, but Clara ignored her, turning her full anger onto Silas.


    "You always act so cold, so calculating! You never tell me anything! You think you know what''s best for everyone, but you don''t!" Her breathing was heavy, furious. "You don''t even have parents—how would you know what this pain feels like?!"


    Silas froze.


    The words hit him harder than any bullet ever could. His grip on his coat tightened as something inside him twisted, deep and sharp.


    Selena''s eyes flashed with anger as she grabbed Clara’s wrist. "That is enough, Clara!" Her voice was firm, unwavering. "That was cruel and uncalled for."


    Clara’s chest rose and fell in rapid breaths, her eyes still burning with anger—but now, there was something else beneath it. Guilt. Regret.


    Silas looked away, his expression unreadable. He had expected anger from Clara, but not this. Not that kind of wound.


    Clara lowered her gaze, but she didn''t apologize. Instead, she crossed her arms and turned toward the window, her jaw clenched tight.


    The rest of the ride was suffocatingly silent.


    ---


    When they arrived at the hospital, the sight of constables stationed outside confirmed what Silas already suspected—this was no ordinary attack.


    The hospital was dimly lit, the scent of antiseptic hanging in the air. Nurses bustled past them, their hurried footsteps echoing through the hall.


    A doctor approached, his silver-rimmed glasses catching the light. "You are the Ashcroft family?"


    "Yes," Selena said immediately. "How is my husband?"


    The doctor adjusted his glasses. "He was lucky. The bullet lodged in his shoulder but missed any vital organs. He lost a lot of blood, but he is stable."


    Selena let out a breath, her fingers tightening around the fabric of her dress.


    Silas remained silent, but a small part of him eased.


    Clara, however, stood still. Her lips parted slightly, as if she was only now truly realizing the gravity of the situation.


    "Can we see him?" Selena asked.


    The doctor hesitated before nodding. "Briefly. He needs rest."


    They followed him down the hall, where Edgar stood outside Victor’s room. His forearm was wrapped in a bandage, his face lined with exhaustion.


    Silas immediately caught the injury. “You’re hurt.”


    Edgar managed a tired smirk. “It’s nothing compared to what Victor took.”


    Selena touched Edgar’s arm gently. “Thank you for protecting him.”


    Edgar nodded. “Always.”


    The doctor opened the door, and they stepped inside.


    Victor lay against the white sheets, his left shoulder heavily bandaged, his usual imposing figure looking far too still. But when his eyes flickered open, a weak smirk tugged at his lips.


    "You all look like you’ve seen a ghost." His voice was rough, strained.


    Selena was by his side in an instant, gripping his uninjured hand. Her fingers trembled, but her voice remained steady. "You scared me, Victor."


    Victor’s smirk softened. "I know."


    Before anyone else could speak, Clara stepped forward. Her hands were shaking, her lips pressed into a thin line. Then, without warning, she punched Victor lightly on his uninjured arm.


    Victor winced. "Ow—Clara!"


    "You idiot!" she yelled, her voice breaking. Her fists clenched tightly at her sides. "Do you have any idea how worried I was?! How scared I was?! You should’ve come home earlier! You should’ve—"


    Her voice faltered, and suddenly, she was gripping his shirt, burying her face into his chest.


    Victor exhaled, his uninjured arm wrapping around her. "I''m sorry, my little star."


    Clara didn''t say anything—just held onto him as if she were afraid he''d slip away again.


    Silas watched the scene quietly. His earlier pain from Clara’s words still lingered, but he knew she hadn’t meant it. She was just afraid. And deep down, he understood that fear all too well.


    After a long moment, Clara finally pulled away, rubbing at her eyes furiously. "You better not get shot again," she muttered.


    Victor chuckled weakly. "I''ll do my best."


    Silas, standing near the foot of the bed, finally spoke. “This wasn’t random. They targeted you specifically.”


    Victor’s expression darkened. "I know."


    Silas folded his arms. "I''ll look into it."


    But before he could say anything more, Victor’s voice turned firm. "No, you won’t."


    Silas frowned. “What?”


    Victor sighed, shifting slightly against the pillows. "I know how you are, Silas. You won’t stop until you have answers. But this isn''t something you should involve yourself in."


    Silas clenched his jaw. “Victor, they shot you.”


    "And that’s exactly why you should stay out of it." Victor met his gaze evenly. "They wanted to send a message. If you go digging too deep, you might not like what you find."


    Silas’s hands curled into fists. He hated feeling powerless.


    Selena spoke up, her voice quiet but firm. "Victor… do you know who’s behind this?"


    Victor hesitated for a moment. Then he shook his head. "Not yet. But I have a feeling."


    Silas’s gaze didn’t waver. He didn’t like this. He didn’t like being told to stand down. But he also knew Victor well enough to recognize when he was serious.


    For now, he would wait. But not forever.


    Selena let out a slow breath and placed a gentle hand on Victor’s face. "We almost lost you tonight."


    Victor’s smirk softened. "But you didn’t."


    Silas looked between them, his mind still whirling. This wasn’t over. Not by a long shot.


    But for now, they were together. And for tonight, that was enough.


    —