Help! My Moms Are Overpowered Tyrants, and I'm Stuck as Their Baby!-Chapter 161: All Hail the Drama Club

POV Riven

If there was one thing I’d learned during my years of questionable friendship with Elyzara Thorne, it was that trouble never came alone. It usually arrived escorted by chaos, drama, and occasionally a well-meaning but overly enthusiastic Aria.

Today had all three.

I stood beside Aria in the shadowed alcove of the southern wing, watching Mara and Elira discuss our next move with quiet, measured intensity. Mara leaned casually against the stone wall, while Elira paced back and forth, her silver eyes flashing with a mix of annoyance and genuine concern. Watching them strategize was strangely reassuring, like observing two generals planning a siege.

Aria elbowed me gently in the ribs. "Stop staring, you look suspicious."

I scowled at her. "You’re invisible half the time, and I look suspicious?"

She shrugged cheerfully, adjusting the glittery pendant around her neck. "It’s my brand. Invisible and fabulous."

Elira paused her pacing and shot us both a pointed look. "Could you two at least pretend to pay attention?"

"We’re paying attention," I said defensively. "Mostly."

"Sort of," Aria added helpfully.

Elira sighed dramatically, rubbing her forehead as if fending off a headache. "Why did we agree to bring them again?"

Mara smiled faintly, eyes glinting with amusement. "Because Elyzara trusts them. Or because we needed comedic relief. Take your pick."

"I regret everything," Elira murmured darkly.

Ignoring their banter, Aria leaned closer, eyes sparkling conspiratorially. "I still say it’s an illicit love story. Velka, Elyzara alone at midnight in the forbidden wing? Forbidden romance practically writes itself."

I rolled my eyes, pretending not to feel intrigued by the idea. "Or they’re secretly plotting world domination. Again."

Aria smirked knowingly. "Romance, plotting same difference."

Mara stepped away from the wall, her tone shifting to something more serious. "Whatever it is, they’re clearly onto something significant. If Velka and Elyzara went through all that trouble to hide it, it’s worth our attention."

Elira crossed her arms, glancing toward us. "Agreed. Which means we need a solid lead. Any ideas?"

Aria brightened immediately, nearly vibrating with excitement. "Professor Nightshade! She’s suspicious." freёwebnoѵel.com

I frowned. "You think every professor who assigns homework is suspicious."

Aria tossed her curls dismissively. "True. But Nightshade is different. She always avoids questions about the forbidden wing, and whenever someone mentions it, she gets twitchy."

"Twitchy?" Mara raised an eyebrow, skeptical but intrigued.

"Very twitchy," Aria insisted earnestly.

Mara exchanged a glance with Elira, who finally shrugged. "It’s better than nothing. Let’s start with Professor Twitchy."

We found Nightshade in her usual spot: tucked away in a quiet corner of the gardens, perched like a raven in her flowing black robes, scribbling in a leather-bound notebook. Her black hair spilled like ink down her shoulders, eyes hidden behind large, circular glasses. She had always seemed harmlessly odd to me like someone who’d wandered out of a gothic novel and never found her way back.

But today, there was something different about her. A nervousness that radiated off her like steam.

Aria cleared her throat dramatically. "Good afternoon, Professor."

Nightshade jolted as if shocked, clutching her notebook to her chest. "Ah good afternoon, children. What can I" She stopped, eyeing us warily. "Why are you all staring?"

"We have questions," Aria began ominously.

"Many questions," I added, trying to sound intimidating and only partly succeeding.

Nightshade’s gaze flicked nervously between us, her fingers twitching against the notebook’s cover. "Regarding?"

"The forbidden wing," Mara said quietly, stepping forward with a look that could have frozen flames. "We have reason to believe someone possibly a professor is hiding information from students."

Nightshade’s eyes widened behind her glasses, panic briefly flashing across her pale face. She quickly composed herself, attempting a weak smile. "Ridiculous rumors. Children love their ghost stories."

Elira narrowed her eyes. "And professors love deflecting uncomfortable questions."

Nightshade took a shaky step back, her breath quickening. "I have no idea what you mean. There’s nothing hidden here. Just books, dust, and unnecessary curiosity."

"Really?" Aria crossed her arms smugly. "Then why does every mention of the forbidden wing make you twitchy?"

Nightshade flushed, indignation mingling with fear. "I’m not twitchy!"

"You’re twitching right now," I pointed out helpfully.

"I am not!" She nearly dropped her notebook, stumbling back into the rose bushes.

Mara stepped forward again, tone gentle but firm. "Professor, we’re not accusing you. But something is wrong. Something dangerous. Elyzara and Velka uncovered something something powerful enough to frighten even them."

Nightshade stiffened, her eyes flitting toward the shadows of the garden. "You , you don’t understand," she whispered urgently. "There are powers at work here older and darker than you realize. You shouldn’t be asking these questions."

"But we are," Elira said coldly, stepping forward. "And we need answers."

Nightshade shook her head frantically. "Please. Forget this. Forget all of it. For your own sakes stop digging."

Her voice cracked with desperation, and something cold settled in my stomach. The humor had vanished; tension now thickened the air around us.

Mara narrowed her eyes suspiciously. "Why are you so afraid?"

Nightshade opened her mouth to respond, but suddenly froze, eyes wide with terror. She spun around, cloak swirling dramatically, dropping her notebook as she fled toward the main building.

"Wait!" Mara shouted, sprinting after her.

We chased Nightshade through the winding paths, her robes billowing wildly. We nearly caught her when suddenly she stumbled to a halt, backing away in terror from something in the shadows ahead.

Figures stepped from the darkness—guards I’d never seen before, cloaked entirely in black, their faces hidden behind polished helmets. They moved with unsettling precision, surrounding the professor in seconds.

"No—please!" Nightshade screamed, voice shrill with terror. She struggled as they grabbed her arms, eyes wild. "I didn’t tell them! I swear—I told them nothing!"

The guards ignored her pleas, silent and mechanical in their movements. As they began to drag her away, she twisted toward us one final time, eyes meeting ours with a look of desperate urgency.

"They know!" she shrieked, voice echoing through the courtyard, chilling us all to the bone. "They know! The bloodline awakens!"

Then the shadows swallowed them whole, leaving only eerie silence behind.

We stood frozen, heartbeats pounding wildly, exchanging stunned glances.

Aria finally cleared her throat, voice small. "So… that’s not good."

I exhaled shakily, running a trembling hand through my hair. "Understatement of the year, Aria."

Elira folded her arms tightly, expression grim. "Bloodlines awakening. Secret guards. I think our little investigation just escalated."

Mara glanced toward the darkened path, expression unreadable but determined. "Then we’d better find Elyzara and Velka fast. Because I think we’re all in more danger than we realized."

Aria clapped excitedly, despite the fear lingering in her eyes. "It’s official, everyone. All hail the Drama Club!"

I groaned softly, shaking my head. "Stars help us."