Demonic Po*nstar System

Chapter 627: Alexandra’s Decision

Alexandra sat with her back pressed to the wall, with her knees drawn close. She felt the coolness of the structure even through her clothes.

The voices reached her. Soft, careful voices, lowered out of worry, the kind people used when they thought love could cushion the weight of what they were saying.

They loved her. She knew that. Every word carried it, every pause, every hesitation when they spoke her name, as if it might break if they said it too loudly.

They talked about helping her, about fixing what had been shattered, about how they didn’t know how to make her whole again but desperately wanted to try.

That was what hurt the most.

Whole again.

The phrase lodged itself in her chest and refused to move. Her throat tightened as emotions flooded in all at once. Gratitude, shame, fear, a crushing sense of being broken beyond repair.

She didn’t want to be a problem they had to solve. She didn’t want to be something missing pieces.

Her fingers dug into the fabric at her knees as her breathing grew uneven, memories pressing close, the past clawing at the edges of her thoughts no matter how hard she tried to keep it buried.

Nyx sat on one side of her, close enough that Alexandra could feel her steady heartbeat, while Alice occupied the other side. Neither said anything.

Then the decision steeled itself in Alexandra’s mind.

”I... can’t,” Alexandra whimpered quietly. She didn’t look at either of them as she shifted, pushing herself up with careful movements, as if moving too fast might make everything spill over. ”I can’t meet them.”

Alice turned toward her immediately, concern written openly across her face, while Nyx’s expression tightened with an old and protective emotion that flickered behind her eyes. Alexandra offered them a small smile that didn’t reach her eyes, the kind meant to reassure even when reassurance was impossible.

”I’m so sorry for being such a scaredy cat...” she whispered and stepped away before either of them could argue. After a brief hesitation, Nyx rose and followed, worry overriding whatever words she might have wanted to say.

Alexandra didn’t tell her not to. She was grateful for the company, even if she didn’t know how to explain what was breaking apart inside her.

Alice remained where she was, watching the two of them disappear down the corridor. Something settled heavily in her chest as the distance grew, a realization forming slowly and painfully.

Her hand lifted without her thinking about it, fingers brushing beneath her eye. She blinked in surprise when moisture smeared against her skin.

”...Why am I like this?” she murmured to herself, voice barely audible in the empty space. ”Do I really care so much...?”

The answer came easily. A small, bittersweet smile curved her lips as her shoulders sagged.

”Of course I do.”

She stood and ran hurriedly inside.

Kaiden was there, and the moment she saw him, the tightness inside her chest finally loosened ever so slightly. She didn’t know what to do with her strong emotions, but what she did know was that being in her beloved big brother’s presence would surely help.

Without a word, she crossed the room, climbed into his lap, and wrapped her arms around him, pressing her face into his chest, letting his cloth soak her tears. His warmth grounded her, the familiar solidity of him anchoring her before she could spiral further.

She reached for his arms, guiding them around her waist, needy in a way she didn’t bother disguising. ”I want to be hugged... Is that okay?”

Kaiden looked at her for a long moment before answering, his gaze heavy with understanding. He didn’t need to ask what had happened. The way Alice clung to him, the tremor she tried and failed to hide, told him everything.

Alexandra had made her choice, and the confrontation with her parents would have to wait, pushed aside by wounds that were still too raw to touch.

”It’s okay,” he said quietly, pulling her closer, holding her the way she needed.

Alice relaxed against him with a shaky breath, letting herself be held, letting the weight ease just a little as she hid her tears and borrowed his strength for as long as she needed.

Marcus was the first to break the quiet.

He cleared his throat softly, careful, as if even that might be too loud for the moment, and exchanged a glance with Elena that carried more weight than words ever could. There was redness around her eyes she hadn’t bothered to hide, and his hand rested at the small of her back in a way that spoke of shared strain and long years of standing together through difficult things.

”We would like to take our leave... This... talk stirred up more emotions than we expected.”

Elena nodded in agreement, offering a small, apologetic smile.

Kaiden lifted his gaze to them. His arms were still wrapped around Alice as she clung to him, but his expression was open and sincere. ”Thank you for being honest. For caring so deeply about her. I’m glad Alexandra has parents who think of her so highly.”

That did it. Elena’s smile softened, warmth and pain mingling in her eyes as she pressed her lips together to keep them from trembling.

”Please,” she said quietly, her voice thick with emotion, ”take good care of our wonderful girl.”

Kaiden didn’t hesitate. He nodded once, firmly, naturally, as if there had never been another possible answer. ”Of course.”

Marcus inclined his head in thanks, and together they turned to leave.

After ensuring they were out of earshot, Kaiden took one hand off Alice’s waist and lifted it toward his mother with his palm open, expectant.

He didn’t say a word.

Vespera’s gaze moved to him, then down to Alice clinging to his chest with desperation, fingers still fisted in his clothing as if letting go might send her drifting apart. For a brief moment, something unreadable flickered behind Vespera’s eyes. Then, without a change in expression and without a single word spoken, she reached into the inner pocket of her coat.

Her fingers closed around a small artifact no larger than a coin. She placed it into Kaiden’s open palm without ceremony.

Kaiden curled his fingers around it and lifted it to his mouth. ”This is Kaiden speaking. I need you to ensure the blonde girl who arrived with me does not cross paths with Marcus and Elena as they exit. Reroute if necessary. Quietly.”

There was the briefest pause, less than a second.

The soldier on the other end almost responded with a ’yes, ma’am’ out of pure habit. After all, this was Vespera’s artifact. The tone spoken was even, just as cold and authoritative as the one his boss used when speaking to him.

But it was undoubtedly a man’s voice, and Kaiden even introduced himself, thus he managed to catch himself in time.

”Acknowledged.”

The soldier didn’t ask why Kaiden’s voice was coming through Vespera’s personal artifact.

He didn’t question the authority, the request, or the circumstance. Whatever flicker of surprise had crossed his mind was buried beneath training and understanding. Everyone under Vespera’s command knew what Kaiden was to her. Some things did not need explaining.

”The perimeter will be adjusted right away, sir,” the guard captain added.

”Make sure they don’t suspect a thing.”

”Yes, sir.”

The connection went quiet.