Chapter 13 - The FatherLondon.
Rain hammered the windows of an abandoned hotel.
Clara walked into the penthouse alone.
A man stood by the window.
Older.
Silver at the temples.
Still unmistakable.
Her father.
Clara couldn't breathe.
"You."
He turned.
"Hello, Clara."
She stared at him.
"I watched them bury you."
"I know."
"I cried for you."
"I know."
"Why?"
He looked away.
"Because you needed to hate me."
Clara's voice shook.
"You destroyed my life."
"I destroyed the version of your life that would have gotten you killed."
She laughed.
"You murdered your own identity."
"I had to."
"You let me believe my father was dead."
"I let everyone believe it."
"Even my mother."
"Especially her."
Clara stepped closer.
"Why?"
He answered without turning.
"Because your mother betrayed Black Meridian."
Clara stopped.
"She wanted to destroy it."
"Yes."
"And you?"
"I wanted to control it."
Clara's expression hardened.
"Then you're the villain."
Her father smiled sadly.
"Perhaps."
He reached into his coat.
He removed a small black key.
"This is what they want."
Clara stared.
"A key?"
"Not exactly."
He handed it to her.
"This is the activation token for the original Meridian vault."
"Where is it?"
"Under the first Bennett bank."
Clara's heart pounded.
"Why give it to me?"
"Because I want you to finish what I couldn't."
She looked at him.
"You want me to destroy Black Meridian?"
"No."
Her father finally turned.
His eyes were cold.
"I want you to own it."
Clara froze.
"I don't want it."
"You say that now."
He stepped closer.
"Power doesn't ask whether you want it."
"It asks whether someone else will take it."
He pointed toward the city.
"Victoria believes she can control you."
"Evelyn believes she can save you."
"Adrian believes he can love you."
"Your mother believes she can redeem herself."
He smiled.
"But none of them understand what you are."
Clara whispered:
"What am I?"
"Your father's daughter."
Then the penthouse doors exploded.
Armed men flooded the room.
Clara grabbed the key.
Her father shouted.
"Go!"
She ran.
Gunfire filled the hallway.
She reached the elevator.
Before the doors closed, she looked back.
Her father stood surrounded by armed men.
He smiled.
The elevator doors shut.
Clara descended into darkness.
Then her phone rang.
Victoria.
"You found him."
Clara didn't answer.
Victoria laughed.
"Now you understand."
"Understand what?"
"Your father was never trying to protect you."
"Then what was he doing?"
Victoria's voice became almost affectionate.
"Training you."
The call ended.
Clara stared at the black key in her hand.
Suddenly she noticed a tiny inscription.
A date.
Her birth date.
And beneath it...
May you like
A second name.
Not hers.
