President's Daughter's Bodyguard-Chapter 117: Two Monsters

Chapter 117: Two Monsters

But the true betrayal waited far from Theo, miles away across secured lines and dark rooms.

While Theo’s body struggled against unconsciousness, Zack and President Elias sat in a private office that was locked behind two layers of biometric walls.

They sat facing each other at a large table that once hosted friendly agreements, shared meals, and celebrations between families that pretended to care for each other.

Now, they stared like men who had both lost and stolen something.

Zack poured himself a drink. His hand shook once before he hid it behind a controlled sip. Elias noticed it immediately.

Elias finally spoke. "He hung up on you."

Zack set the glass down. "He saw the explosion. Anyone would lose control."

"Control was what we needed him to keep," Elias replied. "I told you the boy was a risk from the very beginning."

Zack let out a humorless breath. "You also told me he would obey you forever. Yet here we are."

Elias leaned back in his chair and crossed his arms. "You raised him wrong. You let him love."

Zack’s eyes flashed like meteors. "That girl was never supposed to become anything important. She was just a piece."

Elias tapped the table. "A tool that matters more than you think. Her mother promised her to the cult before she was even born."

Zack’s mouth twitched. "Yes. And I kept that secret buried for years."

"You kept it because you were afraid of the cult," Elias responded. "And because you were afraid of the truth as well."

For a moment Zacked looked twenty years older. Then he hardened again, smoothing his hair back with a trembling hand.

"Theo was never meant to get close to her. He was never meant to fall for her. He was supposed to assist the process, not destroy it."

Elias raised an eyebrow. "You never understood the boy. He is nothing like you."

Zack stiffened. "He is everything like me. He has my mind. My ambition. My strength."

"No," Elias said with a smirk. "He has Helena’s blood. And her blood doesn’t obey you."

Zack froze. His hand slipped from the glass. The name hit him like a stone thrown into still water.

Elias continued gently, like he enjoyed pressing into the wound. "You really believed you could erase all that. You really believed the cult would forget about him. Your own son. A Helena born from the line they worship. You thought hiding him behind your name would protect you."

Zack swallowed hard. "I did what was necessary."

"You did what was cowardly," Elias muttered calmly. "That is why Argash still holds power over you. That is why you answer his calls like a servant."

Zack slammed his palm against the table. "Careful."

"Or what?" Elias asked, unafraid. "Will you threaten me again? You will try to kill me again? That worked so well the first time."

Zack looked away.

A long, ugly silence filled the room.

Finally, Zack spoke in a softer voice. "The explosion was real, Elias. Frank’s body is gone. The jet is gone. She might be gone."

Elias stared at him for a long time. Then he smiled... "And that is good."

Zack flinched. "Don’t say that."

"It is good," Elias repeated. "Because now he has nothing left. No family or love. No weakness."

"You are wrong," Zack answered through his teeth. "His weakness is rage."

"That is exactly why we need him," Elias replied. "Broken men can be shaped. And Theo will break faster now that he believes the girl died."

Zack looked down at the floor. A small tremor passed through his fingertips. "I didn’t want him to see it."

"I did," Elias muttered. "He needed the shock. The grief. The emptiness. Only then can we finish what the cult began."

Zack exhaled. "If he finds out the truth, he will kill us both."

Elias let out a small laugh. "Then do not let him find out."

Zack pressed a hand to his forehead. For the first time in years, he looked exhausted. "I never wanted this path."

"Yes you did," Elias whispered. "You wanted power. You wanted the seat that belonged to me. You wanted influence. Protection. Immortality. You wanted to be untouchable."

Elias leaned in. "And you joined the cult to get it."

Zack’s voice cracked. "I joined because Helena died. And I needed answers."

Elias almost softened. Almost. "You will not get them today."

Zack took another breath. "Argash will get Theo to the temple. Then everything will unfold according to the prophecy."

Elias nodded. "And then the boy will have no choice but to follow the path."

Zack stared straight into his old enemy’s eyes. "He will never obey you willingly."

"He will obey when he has no one else," Elias answered simply.

Zack looked at his hands. They were shaking again, and this time he did not hide it. "He will hate me forever."

"He always did," Elias said without sympathy.

Zack looked up slowly. "If the girl survived, he will find her."

Elias laughed. "She is gone, Zack. Argash made sure of it."

"Are you certain?"

"Absolutely."

Zack leaned back. He looked pale. "Send the next jet for Theo. He must not bleed out before he reaches the mountain."

Elias nodded. "Already done."

"And if he asks questions?"

"He will not," Elias replied. "He will be too broken to speak."

Zack closed his eyes. "I hope so."

Elias smiled faintly. "You always underestimated your own son."

Zack shook his head. "No. I underestimated her. Danielle made him stronger than I expected."

"And that," Elias said, standing up, "is why she had to die."

Zack looked at him with something like fear. "If he finds out she survived the explosion..."

"He will never find out," Elias answered with chilling certainty.

But at that very moment, miles away in the mountain temple, a soft breath escaped someone wrapped in red robes inside a stone chamber.

Someone with blond hair.

Someone with blood on her face.

Someone who whispered a single word in her sleep.

"Theo..."