A vicious battle earlier in the night had left Jace and Lucien trapped in the warehouse.
It had been an unbearably long night for Jace as if it were two completely different worlds from his previous school life.
Jace leaned against the wall, drowsy, the pain of the stab wounds on his arms and shoulders unbearable, as if pricked by needles, blood seeping into the cloth of Lucien's trench coat that he had torn off, staining it red.
He stared at Lucien Storm's back, the guy was still standing in front of the warehouse, like a soldier on guard duty, guarding him.
This familiar and unfamiliar feeling was too much like his older brother, who had once spoiled him, but who had taken his life in a sudden car accident when he was eight years old.
Since then, no one had ever cared for him as much as his brother had.
A wave of warmth welled up inside Jace as he looked up at Lucien with blurry eyes, realizing that his handsome features did indeed resemble his brother's in some way.
Lucien had just blocked the door with a worn-out iron barrel, and as the roar of the motorcycle faded into the distance, Jace realized that those dark shadows wouldn't give up easily.
"Have they left?" Jace gasped, his voice as hoarse as a broken gong.
He clenched his fists, his mind full of the sight of that water column just now - the river broke through its bonds and smashed the drone as violently as if it had been brought to life.
The scene was as bizarre as a movie special effect, but the fact that water was still dripping from his hands and that the blood on his arms was mixing with the river was a brutal reminder that it was all real.
Lucien turned and glanced at him coldly, "They haven't gotten far." He walked towards the window, lifting the tattered curtains and gazing out.
The wind and snow had caused the river to flood with layers of white waves, and the lights on the bridge in the distance were dim, like candles about to go out.
Lucien frowned and whispered a warning, "They will be back, you must learn to control that power."
Jace clenched his teeth and tried to retort, but the words stopped at his mouth. A descendant of the Water God? Control? He wasn't even sure how he did it.
He gasped and glared angrily at Lucien, "You said they want me dead, why? I'm just a fucking college student!"
Lucien was silent for a moment and turned to him, his boots shattering the glass on the floor, "Because you're a threat to them, and the descendants of gods and demons can destroy their plans."
Jace's mind buzzed, it sounded like madness, but the column of water and the light of the Shadow Clan's blade made it impossible for him to disbelieve.
He was about to press on when his cell phone suddenly vibrated and the screen lit up with it.
He took out his phone to check it, and a text message came to his eyes, the sender's number unfamiliar: "Tomorrow night at 7:00 pm, top floor of Willis Tower, Charles Kane invites you to a charity gala. Do not be late." The text message came with an address at the end.
Jace froze, his hands trembling slightly. Charles Kane? Wasn't that Chicago's financial magnate, the head of the Kane Consortium? His name often appeared in newspaper headlines.
He looked up at Lucien, "Who sent this?"
Lucien walked over and scanned the screen, his brow furrowed, "Trouble is coming." He paused, his tone carrying a warning, "Don't go, he's not who you think he is."
Jace asked in disbelief, "Don't go? Why, Charles Kane is my role model and I aspire so much to be like him."
He gripped his cell phone tightly, his mind racing with thoughts.
Lucien sneered, "Suit yourself, but don't expect me to save you a second time."
Possibly receiving a message from the Shadow Group, the Dark Shadows left the warehouse on their motorcycles.
When Jace woke up again, it was slightly light, but Lucien was already gone, his black trench coat covered himself instead.
After the day's lesson, Jace headed down to the Willis Tower as he had promised, and was greeted not only by the night but also by the wind and snow, which he had to squint at.
The skyscraper loomed large, its glass facade reflecting dazzlingly against Chicago's glittering nightscape like an aloof giant.
Despite being wrapped in a tattered sweatshirt and with the cut on his arm still aching, Jace stepped firmly into the building's lobby.
The lobby's marble floors were so shiny that the security guard cast a scornful glance, but when he caught a glimpse of the invitation, he signaled Jace that he could pass.
The elevator reached the 103rd floor, and warm air greeted him as the doors opened.
The top floor was a luxurious hall, crystal chandeliers twinkling like stars, rich and powerful people in gorgeous dresses holding champagne, laughter, and piano melodies intertwined.
Jace stood in the doorway, head bowed to hide his face, feeling like a lamb that had strayed into a wolf pack.
Just then a low voice came from the side, "Jace Raven, welcome."
He looked up and there stood Charles Kane, his suit straightened, his gray hair combed back, his smile kind as a kindly elder.
He was in his fifties, with fine lines at the corners of his eyes, but his eyes were as sharp as knives as if they could see into Jace's heart as they swept past him.
Charles handed over a glass of champagne, "I've heard you're an interesting man, a college student from the South End, no mean feat."
Jace didn't take it and stared at him through gritted teeth, "What do you want with me?"
Charles was still smiling, his smile unchanged, but there was a hint of coldness in his eyes, "Don't be nervous, I'm always interested in people with potential."
He paused and whispered, "I heard you saved the passengers of the L train yesterday, that was remarkable."
Jace felt his heart stop, how did he know? He clenched his fists as Lucien's warning echoed in his mind, "He's not what you think he is."
He clenched his teeth, "That has nothing to do with me."
Charles laughed softly and patted him on the shoulder, not too gently, "Don't be modest, I've got a project here, about superhuman research, which could revolutionize your destiny. Are you interested in that?"
Jace took a step back, his thoughts racing. Superpowers? Does this guy know about his powers? He tried to say no, but Charles didn't give him the chance, turning toward the center of the hall, raising his glass, and shouting, "Ladies and gentlemen, the spotlight of the evening has arrived!"
The crowd applauded and their eyes turned to Jace in unison, like a pack of hungry wolves staring at their prey.
Jace gritted his teeth and ducked his head to escape, but two men in suits blocked the doorway, their eyes as cold as Shadow Clan's swordsmen.
His heart sank to the bottom, and he turned to look at Charles, who stood on the stage, smiling, but with eyes that seemed to say, You have nowhere to run.
Just then, a whisper came to his ear, so cold it was chilling, "Watch out."
Jace's head snapped up as the voice rang out again as if echoing directly in his mind.
Charles walked over and whispered, "Come with me, I want to show you something."
He turned toward the side door to the hall, and Jace gritted his teeth to follow, his mind in turmoil.
He didn't know Charles' true intentions, but his instincts told him that this wasn't a charity gala, but an elaborate trap.
Behind the side door was a conference room with floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking Chicago at night, lights like stars spilling over the river.
Charles closed the door and turned to pick up a document from the table, handing it to Jace, "Sign it and you will be my partner."
Jace swept a glance at the document, which read "Super Power Program", followed by dense numbers and terms and conditions.
He gritted his teeth, "I won't sign it."
Charles' smile instantly froze, his gaze as cold as ice: "You don't have a choice, kid."
He flicked the remote control on his desk, and the screen on the wall then lit up and began to play a video: surveillance footage from the L station, Jace pulling the brake lever, the carriages coming to a sudden stop, and the passengers screaming in horror.
The screen flickers and switches to Lakeshore Boulevard, the scene of Brad's crash, and Jace standing alone on the curb.
Jace's thoughts are in turmoil, and he understands it all! He clenches his fists and stares angrily at Charles, "What the hell do you want?"
Charles sneered and approached slowly, whispering, "I need your powers, Jace. You are my key."
He paused, his eyes becoming colder, "Sign this agreement, or - die."
Jace backed up against the wall, his heart beating as fast as a drum.
He tried to escape, but footsteps came from outside the door and men in suits blocked the exit.
Charles watched him coldly, like a hunter watching his prey.
It was at this tense moment that a dark shadow swept past the window like a ghost crossing the night sky.
Jace's head snapped up and Lucien's figure came to mind.
He gritted his teeth and clenched his fists, with only one firm thought in his mind: run.