Shadows Between Us (Stella and Sebastian) novel Chapter 319

Chapter 319

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The three elders glided forward, their robes fluttering and feet barely skimming the ground, exuding an ethereal presence,

as if masters were straight out of old legends. Tony and his crew from Haliville could only stare in stunned disbelief.

It was like someone had hit the mute button on Bar Street, and everything went dead silent in an instant.

As the elders approached, one by one, the bar managers stepped out with serious looks on their faces.

It was a sight to behold, truly overwhelming.

Just like a scene straight out of a gangster film, full of loyalty and brotherhood.

The blaring music cut out instantly.

The leader of the bleached punks shot a smug grin, raising his brows. “Hey, elders, over here!” he called out, waving. “Scared yet?”

Serpentina didn’t even bother to hide her disdain, and she just rolled her eyes hard.

“Did he just ask if we’re scared?” she glanced sideways at her crew her tone full of mockery.

ViperShade chimed in, “Yeah, scared to death.”

Just as the three elders were about to float over, gearing up for action against the crowd across from them, Dashiell looked surprised and said, “Samuel, why do those folks over there look so familiar?”

Halcyon agreed, “Yeah, me, too…”

Someone was holding a tattered cloth sack.

Someone had a bleached skull.

Someone was clutching an encyclopedia.

Someone was carrying a giant hammer.

And there was someone dressed in a striking red robe, with a fat bird in tow.

‘Hold on, isn’t this exactly how the legendary Five High Elders are described?‘ they thought.

The three were stunned.

They thought, ‘Wait, the Five High Elders!

‘Our Jaffina branch has been collecting dust for over ten years, and now, they just dropped the ultimate bomb on us?”

Meanwhile, on Serpentina’s side, Geezer, clutching the little white skull, locked his gaze onto Dashiell’s wand.

Geezer’s eyes narrowed.

“Our elders are absolute legends! You old–timers better apologize now. Don’t wait till they’re right in your face. Ah-” the leader of the bleached punks was boasting, but his words were cut short in an instant.

The very next moment, he was booted from behind so hard he was sent flying through the air.

Whoosh, he was just like wind.

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Chapter 319

Everyone was too terrified to make a noise.

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They watched as the guy traced a yellow arc through the air before crashing down with a thud.

But Halcyon, ever the hothead, wasn’t finished. He stomped down on the guy’s back and yelled, “You little punk, who do you think you’re mouthing off to? Crawl for me, now!”

Halcyon totally lost it.

Everyone was too stunned to make a noise.

The sudden twist left everyone completely floored. As Jareth and Dashiell caught their breath, Dashiell instinctively tried to hold his wand, only to realize his hand felt weirdly empty. He looked down, completely blanked out.

Dashiell wondered, ‘Where the heck is my wand?

Who the heck swiped my crazy expensive custom wand?‘

Then, as if something finally clicked, Dashiell looked up and was totally stunned.

His precious wand, swinging around in Geezer’s hand on the other side. Geezer gave it a few exaggerated flicks, then shamelessly jammed it between the bones of the little white skull Stella was holding.

“Ow! That hurts!” the leader of the bleached punks grabbed his head, wincing in pain, too terrified to dodge in case he pissed off Halcyon even more.

Everyone stood there, left speechless.

Seeing this, Serpentina just rolled her eyes, bored out of her mind, and flicked her wrist. The tiny bells jingled as her snakes scattered like a tidal wave, making everyone’s skin crawl. “What a letdown,” she muttered.

She was this close to letting her snakes swallow them whole.

Dashiell kept awkwardly reaching out to Geezer, his hand half–raised and mouth opening and closing, clearly wanting to say something but just couldn’t get the words out.

“Enough!” Professor Cipher, holding the encyclopedia, pushed up his glasses and spoke with quiet authority.

At his words, Jareth finally snapped out of his shock. He clasped his hands together and called out, “All branch members, listen up!”

With just that one command, everyone behind him gathered together..

The thugs exchanged glances, then dropped their steel pipes and clasped their hands together, standing respectfully in unison.

Tony, at the very back, just stared, dumbfounded.

In his panic, he awkwardly mimicked the gesture and turned to face the other side.

The three elders took up a triangular stance at the front, bowing with utmost respect to the five elders across from them. “High Elders!” they called out.

Half an hour later, inside the main hall, the three elders, looking every bit the ethereal masters, stood respectfully off to the side, giving up the main seats without a word.

Everyone else stood at attention on either side, not daring to make a sound. As for the bleached punks, who’d started all the

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trouble, they were knocked to the ground, faces swollen and bruised, every trace of their earlier swagger gone.

Tony and his crew, at the very bottom of the food chain, stood nervously by the door, barely daring to breathe..

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“High Elders, may we ask what brings you here today?” Jareth, with his hair neatly tied up, asked with a serious and respectful tone.

For over a decade, the Jaffina branch had been left out in the cold, ignored by the main headquarters. This time, they were determined to seize this opportunity.

“Nothing in particular,” Professor Cipher replied with a refined smile, his tone gentle and easygoing. He seemed like someone you could actually talk to.

But Jareth didn’t dare let his guard down for a second.

This man controlled over 85% of the world’s academic resources. Every heavyweight scholar people could name was his student. And Professor Cipher was none other than the legendary, untouchable founder of Rhaesia University. His status was unshakable.

“Just wanted you all to get to know our Stella,” Serpentina said, and the other four all nodded.

She was their pride and joy.

The three elders just stared, lost for words.

‘Is this the one from the legends, the new High Elder?‘ they wondered.

Just then, Razorstrike clipped his giant hammer to his belt, fished out a portrait from inside his robe with an expressionless face, and handed it to Jareth. “Memorize this face.”

He’d poured his heart into every stroke of that drawing.

Jareth’s nerves went taut as he accepted the portrait with both hands.

Everyone’s eyes were glued to the portrait.

Everyone was curious.

Jareth unfolded it and then just froze, speechless. W

He blinked.

Halcyon couldn’t hold back. “Well? What’s it look like?”

Jareth looked up, and his face was a storm of emotions, clearly wanting to say something, but the words just wouldn’t come. Halcyon, getting impatient, leaned over for a look himself, and then fell silent, too.

Dashiell was confused.

Dashiell wondered, ‘Why is everyone so quiet all of a sudden?

‘Is our Young Sovereign’s face really that terrifying?‘

Still full of questions, Dashiell looked down, “What the…”

‘Seriously, what is this supposed to be?‘ Dashiell thought.

The paper was just a chaotic mess of black ink splatters.

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After tilting and squinting at it from every angle, the three of them finally managed to spot what might be a face, giant, bugged–out eyes, a rough, flared nose, and a gaping mouth that looked ready to eat someone alive.

‘Are you

sure this isn’t some kind of demon king?‘ they wondered.

Jareth, Halcyon, and Dashiell were left speechless.

‘Even if Young Sovereign showed up right in front of us, we’d still have no clue who he is!‘ Dashiell thought, utterly speechless.

Razorstrike crossed his arms and arched his thick brows with pride.

He was looking super pleased with himself.

‘Bet you’re all totally stunned by my masterpiece, huh?‘ Razorstrike thought.

After a long silence, Jareth finally worked up the nerve to speak, Um… Do you happen to have a clearer portrait of Young Sovereign?” He turned the paper toward the other four.

The other four were left speechless.

Razorstrike beamed with pride. “Isn’t it a masterpiece?”

‘Damn. Masterpiece, my foot!‘ they thought.

IT

Professor Cipher smiled, “Actually, we do.” He pulled up the photo Stella had sent to Geezer and showed it to the three elders.

The three instantly burned the image into their minds, determined not to forget it.

Meanwhile, the branch bosses down below, who weren’t allowed a peek at the photo, were craning their necks, dying of curiosity.

Professor Cipher said, “Stella has been pampered by all of us since she was little. She’s the most ‘obedient‘ kid ever…”

ViperShade chimed in, “Always ‘so polite.”

Geezer added, “And ‘always reasonable.”

Razorstrike said, “She hardly ever throws a punch unless she really has to.”

Serpentina rested her chin in her palm. “If she ever throws hands, trust me, it’s always the other guy’s fault.”

Everyone else was speechless.

‘It does sound reasonable, but why does it still feel kinda off?‘ they all wondered.

The five High Elders all turned to Dashiell, Halcyon, and Jareth. Their presence was so intense that it felt like a weight pressing down on their souls. “You’d better do exactly as she says or else.”

The High Elders were all smiles, but their eyes warned: Don’t listen, and you’re done for.

The three elders were left speechless, staring in stunned silence.

With their hands clasped and long sleeves hanging down, these elders, whose combined age was well over two centuries, bowed low, showing utmost respect. “We swear to follow Young Sovereign to the death!”

The hundred–plus branch bosses below followed suit.

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“We swear to follow Young Sovereign to the death!”

Their voices thundered through the hall, brimming with loyalty and guts.

Geezer gave the little white skull a satisfied pat on the head. “So, bout that…”

Jareth replied, “Please, go ahead.”

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Geezer rubbed his hands together like a fly, eyes sparkling with excitement. “So, where in Jaffina can we find those things? You know, the kind with tons of treasure? You know what I mean right?” He waggled his eyebrows, practically bouncing with anticipation.

With a little pop, he whipped out his beloved cartoon figure charm from inside his robe.

Jareth blinked, a bit lost. “Uh… I… I know?”

Jareth looked totally confused.

“Oh, I know where!” Halcyon slapped his thigh with a loud smack. Geezer’s eyes went wide, practically burning with excitement.

Geezer was bouncing on his toes, nearly shouting, “Where? Where?”

He could barely contain himself, and he was ready to bolt out the door right now.

Halcyon puffed out his chest, chin held high, and declared with absolute confidence, “The National Museum of Heritage!”

They were all treasures, everywhere.

Every single one was a national treasure.

Geezer just stared, totally speechless.

Geezer thought, ‘Are you freaking kidding me?

‘Even thieves have their own code!

‘I’d never rip off my own people!‘

Professor Cipher tilted his head and said. “So, you want to drop off those treasures Stella brought back from Yaloria last time at the museum? Let me call Karson right now.” He whipped out is phone.

Geezer just stared, lost for words.

When Professor Cipher actually dialed the number, Geezer was so stunned he couldn’t even come up with a comeback.

Geezer thought, I’m The Phantom Thief.

‘Seriously? Ever heard of a same–day delivery app? You could’ve just called one instead of dragging me into this!”

In Sandridge Island, Stella was still half–asleep when she caught he fresh, clean scent of a guy fresh out of the shower.

She slowly opened her eyes.

Sebastian was sitting on the edge of the bed, those eyes that always seemed haunted and brooding now lowered, lashes brushing his cheeks.

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Chapter 319

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His hair, still damp from the shower, fell naturally around his face, and his collar was left half–open, dangerously attractive but still holding back, as he was fighting temptation.

If only his hand weren’t busy trying to steal the chocolate Lucas ad stashed away.

He was acting all sneaky.

Stella just gave him a classic deadpan stare.

Suddenly, as if he could sense her watching, Sebastian looked up

Sebastian, caught in the act, was momentarily awkward.

Stella sighed helplessly.

Stella thought it over, decided to cut him some slack, gave a lazy yawn, and shut her eyes again. Only for Sebastian to sneakily tug at the end of her hair.

She slammed her eyes shut again.

“Stella,” Sebastian teased, giving her hair another gentle pull.

She slammed her eyes shut again.

“Stella,” he called again, tugging her hair yet another time.

Stella let out a sigh, finally giving in. “Yeah?”

But then Sebastian said, in a tone more serious thar

than usual, “I’m back.”

He was being so sweet, like a good boy.

She gave him a small smile.

Stella’s heart just melted on the spot.

Of course, Stella just pretended not to see him sneak that chocolate into his pocket when he thought she wasn’t looking.

Stella lifted the thin blanket and patted the pillow beside her, inviting him over.