The sky was pitch-black, not a single star in sight, choked by air thick with industrial exhaust. Even the moon hid itself behind layers of cloud. Perhaps that was why Astralis was always drenched in neon, lights of every color blazing nonstop, trying to mask the darkness that was slowly devouring the city from within.
Serein sat perched on the desk by the window, her fingers gliding endlessly across a holographic screen. Cold, pale-blue light washed over her pensive face. Reflected in her deep black eyes were images and data files, all of them belonging to Archangel Orphanage.
Founded in 2003. Still operating today. Over fifty years now.
Five decades again. Did that stretch of time connect to what had been happening lately?
Archangel's director had once been the CEO of a pharmaceutical company. That small enterprise had since grown into one of the nation's largest conglomerates. A detail that lined up all too neatly with the growth stimulants found in Leila's body.
