Among The Shadows

" You're home late." Blake said as she saw that Logan walked into the mansion.

Logan glared at his mother as she started walking down the stairs. Dressed in her usual attire as she carried a black umbrella. She was looking at Logan's clothes, the same ones that he wore when he left. Yet it looked depraved and messed up as if he was tugging on it. She blinked before looking at Logan again.

Logan looked away from his mother before he walked past her. "That is none of your business." Blake shrugged her shoulders. She continued to walk down the stairs.

"Your father would like to see you later. He wants you to do something." Blake said to him.

Logan only scoffed at his mother's words. "Why can't Asher do it?"

Blake sighed. She looked at her older son with a blank expression. Her eyes showed no emotions. "It's something you have to do as heir of the household." Blake noticed the twisted expression on his face as she sighed. " Your father still hasn't given up on you."

Logan wrinkled his nose as he leered at his mother. "Like how you gave up on me, over someone who isn't your real blood."

Blake frowned at Logan. " You're not capable anymore. You don't take this seriously and you think it is something that you earn because you're the firstborn son. There are other things that are holding you back but that is all unclear." Logan swallowed heavily as he leered at her. "So far Asher shows much more potential than you."

"Of course he does. He's smarter and better than me after all." Logan said while looking away from his mother.

Blake narrowed her eyes at Logan. "There is a future where you become a capable heir." Logan stopped when he glared at Blake. "The course of it just changes. Why it changes is completely up to the people involved."

Logan rolled his eyes. "Is it because you brought him here?"

Blake sighed. Her eyes lowered sadly as she spoke. "Asher had nothing to do with it." Logan stiffen.

Logan shook as his eyes narrowed at his mother. "You kept him here. Things changed because you and Father brought him here."

" Because he needed a family and he was your brother. Whether he was illegitimate or not. Asher was going to be a great asset to you." Blake whispered. She sighed and shook her head. Logan growled as she watched him with a frown. She let out a deep breath. "The fault lies on me."

Logan stilled as his mother looked at him blankly. He swallowed heavily as Blake walked to the dining room. " Be sure to see your father."

Logan watched his mother go as he closed his mouth shut.

Meanwhile, back at the Wheatfire estate, in the main house. Daisy paced around in her baby pink room as Clover sat on one of her sister's sofas. Mostly nibbling on a cookie as she watched the wreck that is her big sister.

Daisy hadn't gotten any sleep since Abidemi left, they were just waiting for Eden now. She understands that Daisy was worried but she'll pass out from pacing and lack of sleep. Clover sighed as she looked at her exhausted sister. "You should sleep. You've been up all night."

Daisy peeks at Clover before but goes back to looking at the floor. Clover only sighed as she grabbed another cookie.

She has been telling Daisy all night to relax but the older woman won't listen. She could tell their mother but their mother could only convince Daisy as much. Clover looked out the window and frowned.

'It's almost morning too.' Clover thought with a long sigh. She looked at Daisy one more time and was going to speak up until someone opened the door. Eden walked in the room which made Daisy stop pacing. Clover let out a sigh of relief as she got up from her seat.

"Eden. You're back." Clover said to him.

"Yeah." Eden said. Eden let out a small yell when Daisy rushed over to him. "Easy, Daisy."

"Is she alright?" Daisy asked him. Eden blinked as he noticed the redness in her eyes. Probably from all the crying. " Did you see her off? Did you catch a glimpse of that crown prince?"

"Easy. Easy. She's fine. Everyone made it to the ship fine. I even watched when they set sail." Eden said to Daisy. Daisy instantly relaxed as he looked over to Clover who was walking over to them. "Did she sleep at all?"

"No. Not at all." Clover said while shaking her head. Eden sighed and looked over to Daisy with a frown. "I told her many times to rest but she won't listen."

Eden shook his head and started to push Daisy to bed. "Okay, bed." Daisy gasped as her little cousin pushed her. She looked as if she'll protest but she yawned instead. "Don't be surprised. You knew that this was coming."

It was a good thing that Daisy was already in her nightgown too. Once Daisy was in bed, with her head on her pillow, she had quickly fallen asleep. Clover quickly pulled a blanket over Daisy and smiled warmly at her older sister.

Then Clover looked at Eden as he looked at her back. He scratched the back of his neck as frowned at his other cousin. "Clover."

" I'll take you to your room." Clover said. Eden was going to call out to her but Clover had already left. He sighed and followed after her. Eden finally caught up to her as he tried to keep up with his cousin's pace.

She was always faster than she looked. Despite wearing long skirts and those mary janes. It always puzzled him how she could move so quickly.

"You really don't have to do this Clover. I could walk to my room." Eden said.

Clover looked at him. A pink around her iris appeared. "I know. I just need to talk to you." she said to him. Eden blinked at Clover's words. Clover looked away from him as she walked. "I didn't want to talk around Daisy because she needed to sleep."

Eden blinked at Clover before asking. "What do you wanna talk about?"

Clover hummed as she closed her eyes. She stopped before looking at him. "About your Shadow training."

"About my…" Eden started out. His eye lowered to Clover who was watching him blankly. "Oh."

" Yes. Oh." Clover said. She looked at the ceiling. She looked as if she was thinking of something. " My ranking is eleven, right after ten."

Eden looked at Clover oddly. "Is this a good idea? Telling me that you're a shadow?"

Clover cocked her head. "You're going to become one really soon. Plus I was told to tell you. Along with telling Daisy as well but I'll tell her once she is well rested and has something to eat."

Eden blinked at Clover. "Why now?"Clover gave Eden a look that made him say. "Besides Demi's and Daisy's test results. Why is it a big deal?"

"I know some of the reasons. One of the older shadows said it was some kind of tradition or something." Clover said, which made Eden narrow his eyes at her. " I don't know everything and there are traitors among us in the shadows and out. Protecting the Crown Princess Candidates is one the most important things to do right now."

Eden narrowed his eyes at Clover. "And which Shadow is going to protect them? You said that they are traitors among you guys."

Clover smiled at Eden. "Which is why we were told to reveal ourselves. Only if we wanted to. I know Ten is definitely going to reveal himself and a few others." Eden blinked at Clover's words. "The ones that revealed themselves are going to protect the princesses."

"Daisy isn't going to like this." Eden said with a frown.

Clover shrugged her shoulders. "Then she'll have to deal with it."

Eden sighed. "She could have you removed." Clover shrugged her shoulders. "Clover."

"I'm not leaving her side. She'll have to deal." Clover said as she bobbed her head at every word. Clover opened her eyes. "Right now, we have to take Aunt Freya into custody."

Eden frowned deeply. "That's right. Mother." He sighed. "What's going to happen to her?"

Clover narrowed her eyes at Eden. There was a dark look in her eyes as they became emotionless. "She will pay." Eden blinked as Clover cleared her throat. Clover started to walk again. "Let's get going. You need to rest."

Eden only nodded his head as he followed after her. "You still didn't tell me about my training."

Clover hummed before saying. "As soon as the ship leaves Valtis. Right now. The ship is getting supplies and other things for the long trip. That will be two or three days. It should give you time to pack."

Eden arched an eyebrow at Clover. "Pack."

"Valtis training grounds are mostly located in The Forest Of Usoi, in the temple of the Sleeping Princess." Clover said.

Eden's eye twitched. "That part of the woods…"

"Has a ton of dangerous creatures and monsters. Yes." Clover said for him. She looked over her shoulder with a smile. "So be sure to pack accordingly."

"Geez. Thanks Clover." Eden said flatly.

"You're welcome." Clover responded.