Eliana's pov:
The underground hall was carved from stone, far beyond the Don's estate and routes. His empire ended at the forest line and mine began there.
I knew a day would eventually come, he would no longer tolerate me. So I prepared myself. Secretly building my own empire, getting trusted army by paying them more. All through his influence, I built mine. When Mateo called me that night for security inspection, I knew my time has come. I sent words to my men immediately.
My men stood in formation before me, they weren't much but they were enough. Disciplined, skilled and loyal. They were men who had daughters, families, some have lost their loved ones to the trade and pain creates the strongest allegiance.
I stepped forward slowly, my boots echo against the stone. "You all know what happened," I began calmly with authority, "He tried to eliminate me."
A murmur stirred briefly, but one sharp look from Kael, my second-in-command silenced the noise immediately.
"They failed," I continued, "And now he knows we exist."
I turned towards the largest map on the wall, my fingers brushed across the red marks. "None of this was about his throne," I said. "None of this was about competing with him."
My men listened carefully.
"This has always been about one thing." I turned to face them fully, "My sister."
Some of them already knew the fragments of the story but not all. "Some years back," I continued, "I was separated from the only love I know, which was her and I promised I would get her back".
I had burned the tears out of myself long ago, I had tried to search for her on my own through Don but I found no official records of her where about. "So the only option I have, is to track down the auction boss and his cohort.
Kael spoke quietly, "We've confirmed, there's at least four auction circuits operating under different aliases."
"Dates?" I asked.
"Rotational. Every six weeks. Locations vary, and it holds in ten days."
Ten days, that is enough for us to prepare , I walked toward the center of the chamber. "Listen carefully," I said "our mission remains unchanged. We are not thieves, we are not rebels, we are not seeking territory. We are only going to dismantle traffickers."
The hall fell silent, everyone listening to me as I speak "we'll ruin everyone connected to the trade."
One of the younger recruits shifted "What about the Don?" he asked cautiously.
A few heads turned, I considered my answer carefully before making decision "my empire is still connected to his, indirectly he funds and protect this empire". I have not gathered enough funds and influence to pull out totally from his empire, "he doesn't tolerate threat and that is his nature."
I let the weight of that settle before continuing "But this mission?" I continued, "is not about him."
Kael's jaw tightened slightly, he knew better than anyone that the Don's routes overlapped some of the same shipping channels and conflict would be inevitable.
"If he stands in our way?" the recruit pressed.
"Then he becomes part of the ruin." I answered simply.
I'll assign scouts the following day to begin the search , "find every whisper connected to a girl named Diane." Her name felt foreign in my mouth after years of silence. "Age nineteen now. Scar on her left wrist, loves humming when she's nervous."
The silence that followed was heavy, the underground hall became empty. Leaving me and Kael alone in the hall. I marked the location of the next auction night, ten days. Ten days until I either found Diane or confirm she's no more. But I can still feel it in my veins, my blood is somewhere still alive. I've missed her, I wonder how grown she would be.
Kael approached quietly, "There's something else," he said.
I did not turn. I simply lifted my hand giving him a go ahead to proceed "Our scout at the western dock intercepted coded shipment logs."
I turned to him, "from?"
"The shipment is disguised as imported marble, but weight distribution suggests human cargo compartments."
Of course, the trade would weave itself through powerful men's routes. Illegal operation thrives beneath legitimate empires and the Don's network was vast, the question is does he know and knowingly allowed it or was his empire being used beneath his notice? Either answer carried consequences.
"If he is complicit.." Kael began, "he becomes a target."
The words were simple but cold, my chest tightened a little I felt a feeling of recognition. He had saved me from death before but had also tried to eliminate me because I threatened his control. If I attacked one his allied ports, he would see it as a war. This fight would not just free girls, it would ignite something larger. It won't be easy to just stop the trade. I stepped closer to the table and unrolled a small parchment containing names of buyers, facilitators, middle men. Some were minor criminals, some politicians and one name stood out. A shipping broker directly connected to the Don's Southern trade corridor. My fingers hovered over the name.
"If we strike," Kael said, "his routes will be exposed, and he will retaliate. Are you prepared to fight him?".
I am prepared to finish what I started, to do anything that would save my sister and stop the trade of girls. I am prepared to take steps that would make men value women.
Kael looked at me for a brief second, then left quietly. I moved toward the far corner of the underground chamber where a small wooden chest rested, I knelt and unlocked it. Inside was a small neck piece shaped like a heart. It was Diane's.
It was the last gift our mother gave us before she passed, I had mine too.
"I'm coming," I murmured softly into the air, not just an empty promise but a vow said in certainty. Few years ago, I had been powerless, unable to save you from our father. I had searched blindly, cried quietly. Begged for scrap informations but never again.
Now I had men, an army and when I strike , I swear to make them kneel till they learn my sister's name. Diane.