Page 25 of The Light Within

Over the past decade, Lucien Montaigne has faced increasing scrutiny due to HorizonTech’s acquisition of an estimated ninety per cent of new motetech patents. In addition to his role at HorizonTech, Montaigne holds board positions in six other companies. With HorizonTech’s annual turnover exceeding ten million F, Montaigne is often accused of monopolising the industry.

The exact objectives of the Arcane Purifier organisation in utilising BM to gain information about Montaigne remain unconfirmed. Consequently, a specialised team has been assigned to monitor and document BM’s activities.

-¦¦¦¦¦¦

Cinn touched the mysterious blacked-out sign off. Underneath, another lengthy paragraph awaited him.

Darcy tapped her finger next to it. “This one is dated a week or so after she died.”

Béatrice Montaigne’s central personnel file records that she died in Cagayan Valley, Philippines, while serving voluntarily for AAIoES’s branch of WorldAid. At the time of her death, she was allegedly alone, her body discovered five hours later. The autopsy report indicated unusual tissue damage, suggesting her flesh had been exposed to extremely high temperatures. The remaining skin exhibited evidence of umbraphage lacerations. Additionally, a silver necklace found attached to her neck bore tiny traces of mote residue, indicating the object functioned as an amplifier.

Elliot unleashed a long, low hiss. “Fuck. You said, Cinn,that Béatrice told you there was an umbraphage there, before her locket amplified her mote channelling or whatever. But I didn’t want to believe you.”

Cinn leaned away from the table, folding his arms uncomfortably.I told yousoseemed inappropriate.

Across his shirt, Elliot’s fingers traced the path of the wound on his chest, gifted to him by a single strike of umbraphage tentacles when he’d stepped in to save Cinn. Guilt burrowed through Cinn. He’d never even properly thanked Elliot.

“I hope she went quickly,” Elliot said, voice thick with emotion. “Because if she felt double the pain I did…”

The sick feeling in the pit of Cinn’s stomach grew. When he was attacked at the lantern parade, the umbraphage picked him up and shook him like a doll. But it hadn’t actually hurt him…

Aside from rendering him unconscious and locking him in the shadowrealm, of course.

“There are another couple of lines on the other side,” said Julien.

Due to BM’s suspected homicide, an investigation has been commissioned to determine her death’s connection to the Arcane Purifiers.

“So…” Cinn turned to Julien. “Everyone told you her death was an accident, even though some people at least knew it wasn’t?”

Julien didn’t look away from staring into the fire. “Eleanor lied to my face. Multiple times.”

Julien’s voice shook with so much tightly wound rage, Cinn’s breath caught in his throat. He gripped the edge of his armchair, as if any sudden movement might shatter the fragile tension hanging in the air.

After an age, Darcy coughed. “Is there any more, Julien? The results of the investigation?”

“No.”

“Nothing?”

“Non.”

With a single sweep of his arm, Julien collected every sheet of paper, then flicked through them like a flipbook, staring at them like he could force them to reveal more secrets.

The haunted look on Julien’s face made Cinn ache for him. If the other two weren’t there, he’d cross the room, scoop him up against his chest and hold him close. Press kisses against his neck until he put the paper down and walked away from it all. However, Cinn wasn’t quite sure what the rules were in front of his friends—theirfriends—and this certainly wasn’t the time to test anything.

“But, if Madame Sinclair prepared this file, andwas,for some unknown reason, responsible for her murder, why would she write evidence of a suspected homicide?” Darcy waved a hysterical hand in the air. “This makes little sense. Who did she prepare it for, anyway? The consortium? But it doesn’t talk favourably about your father…”

“I don’t know, Darcy,” Julien replied through gritted teeth. “I’m sorry. But months later we’re still going round in circles and I’m sick of it!” He threw the papers to the floor, where they scattered dramatically across the rug.

Darcy raised one expectant eyebrow, looking between Julien and the mess he’d made.

Julien picked them up.

After a tired stretch, Elliot leaned back, throwing his feet up onto the sofa. “We also don’t knowshewrote any of this, Julien, before you march up to her shaking your fist. This could easily have been prepared by someone else and given to her.”

“Regardless, she still lied.”

“I just can’t see Madame Sinclair being involved in all this. I really can’t,” said Darcy.

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