Gabriel Agreste paced across the room of his personal office, Nooroo trailing nervously behind. Numerous videos on numerous screens showed different akuma battles. Gabriel paused at one screen after the next, rewinding and replaying certain scenes.

"I don't understand, Nooroo," he said, sitting at his desk before turning his office chair around to look at the videos once more.

"Understand what, Master," Nooroo asked, wringing his hands.

"Ladybug and Cat Noir don't have any new powers, none that have been publicized, and yet stuff like this keeps happening."

"Look here," he said, rewinding one particular video before playing it.

The akuma, Speed, was chasing Cat Noir through an alleyway surrounded by buildings. Just as he was ready to tackle the mangy feline, Cat Noir ducked through the open window of one building in particular. Speed followed him, but the cat was nowhere to be found. Speed turned around and walked straight into Cat's awaiting cataclysm, destroying the headband that housed the akuma.

"It's like he teleported," Gabriel said, clenching his fist.

"Maybe it was the result of the horse miraculous," Nooroo said.

"No, the horse miraculous is too flashy, too noticeable. This is something else. Cat Nor, lucky charms, Ladybug herself all disappearing and reappearing at random times, and this has been happening at every single battle for weeks now."

Gabriel turned to his desk and pulled a picture out of the bottom drawer.

A younger Emilie Agreste was pictured in a flowing orange sundress, a navy blue sunhat covering most of her head as her hands held her pregnant belly. A black and emerald panja bracelet covered her right, circling all four fingers.

"We found the tiger miraculous in Tibet just before we found out about Emilie's pregnancy. She refused to let it out of her site after that, constantly wearing it and refusing to let me even touch it. After our daughter passed, the tiger miraculous disappeared soon after. Emilie blamed it and Roaar for Cassandra's death. It took years for me to convince her to go back to Tibet with me and search for others," Gabriel said, running a finger down his wife's cheek.

"What if this was the work of the tiger miraculous, Nooroo? What if someone else has found it after all this time and is working with them," Gabriel said, storing the picture in its place once more before turning the screens on the opposite wall to the news.

"World-renowned fashion model Adrien Agreste was seen once more having lunch with prima ballerina Cassandra Taylor. Could love be in the air between these two blonde bombshells," the news anchor said, as Gabriel turned his chair, pausing the screen once more.

Cassandra and Adrien sat at a table at a local restaurant, laughing at something or another, Cassandra's fork in the middle of bringing it to her mouth, the silver bracelet visible on her hand.

Gabriel studied her face, zooming in on her eyes and smile before moving the screen to the bracelet on her hand.

"Nathalie," he said, hitting a button on his phone.

"Yes, Sir," he answered.

"Please tell my son to invite his new friend over for dinner. The press seems to be picking up on a budding relationship, and I would like to meet her in person," Gabriel said, eyes never leaving the screen.

"Of course, Sir. I'll tell Adrien right away."

"Excellent," he said, releasing the button.

"I can't go, Adrien," she said, rising from her plie before walking over to her bag and grabbing a bottle of water.

"Cassandra, you have no choice. He's asking for you personally. Something about how the press sees us or whatever," Adrien said.

"I have a choice, and my answer is no," she said, gulping down the water.

"You don't understand. If you disobey him, I'll never be able to see you again."

"We'll still see each other as you know who and you know who," she said, putting the half-drunk bottle back in her bag, flashing her brother a smile in the process.

"Cassandra, my, our,"he corrected, "father is a very powerful man. He can have you kicked out of the ballet company and have you blacklisted from all others. He'll do whatever he can to break you down so you'll do what he wants. I don't put it past him to punish me if he wants you there bad enough."

"Do you really think he'll do that," Cassandra asked, looking at him as if for the first time.

"Nothing surprises me with him anymore. You don't have to do it for me, but I really hope you do it for yourself."

"Fine," Cassandra said, sitting on the barre, "On one condition."

"What," Adrien asked.

"If I tell you that I need to get out of there, you have to let me no questions asked. And you need to cover for me with him," she said, swinging her legs back and forth.

"That's two things, but okay," Adrien said, offering his hand.

She shook it, sighing. "I guess I'm meeting my father."

Adrien's car arrived right on schedule the next day. Cassandra wiped her sweaty hands on her dark blue dress. She twirled the few framing pieces around her face, the rest having been swept up in a braided bun. A touch of light pink lip gloss, and she forced herself out the door.

Adrien's bodyguard opened the door for her, and they sped off toward the Agreste mansion.

Cassandra stared out the window, willing the mansion to never arrive. Roaar hid in her hair, trying to comfort her holder the best she could.

Unfortunately, the mansion appeared in record time, and the Gorilla opened the door once more.

Nathalie greeted her at the door, trusty tablet in hand. "Good evening, Ms. Taylor. Mr. Agreste was quite pleased when you told Adrien you could make it tonight."

"It's always an honor to meet someone of Mr. Agreste's stature even though I'm afraid his reasoning is a bit misguided," Cassandra said, standing tall as she allowed the older woman to lead her throughout the house.

"How so," Nathalie said, looking back at her.

"Adrien and I are not interested in each other romantically. We have simply developed a fast friendship," Cassandra said, thankful the shakiness was in her hands instead of her voice.

"Nevertheless, Mr. Agreste enjoys meeting friends of his son as well," Nathalie said, opening the door to the dining room and allowing Cassandra to walk in without her.

"Mr. Agreste and Adrien should be down shortly. Please, make yourself at home," Nathalie said, leaving the room.

Cassandra walked around the room, noticing how oversized the table was and wondering if there were ever more than two or three places set at it.

The door opened, and an older gentleman with graying hair and red pants walked in.

"You must be Ms. Cassandra Taylor. My son speaks of you often," he said, offering his hand to shake.

Cassandra accepted, recalling the numerous times Adrien said that he never spoke to his father outside of official or school-related business. Why lie, she wondered as she smiled politely.

"Of course. He has become a great friend to me since I moved to Paris," she said, smiling.

As she tried to pull her hand away, Gabriel held onto it, turning her wrist left and right.

"That's a beautiful bracelet. Where did you get it," he said, voice even but eyes sharp.

"It was a gift from a friend," she said, never losing her smile.

"You must have had this friend for a long time," he said, letting her hand go, "I have seen numerous pictures of you in various magazines and news articles. You've been wearing it since you stepped into the spotlight, possibly even before."

"She gave it to me before my first recital," Cassandra said, and part of her wondered if this was a conversation or a chess match against a formidable opponent.

Adrien entered the room, and the hairs on his arms stood as he looked between father and daughter. "Father, you don't have to interrogate my friends."

Gabriel looked at Adrien and straightened his collar. "Of course not. I simply wondered who designed your friend's bracelet. It is quite unique."

"Unfortunately, it has been some time. I could ask my friend, but I doubt she even remembers giving it to me. Much less where she bought it from," Cassandra said, sitting down in her chair.

"No, that's quite alright," Gabriel said, taking his own seat at the head of the table.

Adrien sat down beside of Cassandra, at the opposite of his father. He ran a thumb along her hand, and she responded by squeezing it to the point that Adrien jumped a little in his chair.

"Are you alright, Adrien," Gabriel asked, taking a sip of his water.

"Of course, Father. The chair was just cold on my back is all," he said, chuckling as he rubbed the back of his neck.

The servers worked around the trio, filling cups and bringing plates of food. They ate in silence, but Cassandra refused to release the tension from her shoulders.

"So, tell me, Cassandra," Gabriel said, wiping his mouth with his napkin, "are your parents in Paris as well?"

"Actually, they are still in London. They preferred not to uproot their lives," she said.

"And I understand that you are adopted, yes," Gabriel asked.

"That is correct. I never met my birth family," Cassandra said, realizing that was actually a lie now.

"It must be quite lonely to be on your own like that. I'm sure you have been grateful to my son for his company."

"Adrien has been a wonderful friend despite the press thinking there is something more to the relationship," Cassandra said, glancing at Adrien.

"Who can blame them, really? Two young, attractive people developing a friendship so quickly. It was quite sudden," Gabriel said, taking another bite of his steak.

When the teenagers didn't respond, Gabriel changed directions. "So, Cassandra, you're seventeen as well, yes?"

"Yes, I turn eighteen in a couple of months," Cassandra said.

"Actually, you turn eighteen next month same as my son. Unless, all of those news reports are wrong," Gabriel said, already knowing the answer.

"Time must have escaped me with all of the traveling and performing," Cassandra said while a string of various curse words ran through her mind.

"Of course," he said.

"Father, how is the company doing," Adrien said, and Cassandra almost forgot he was still in the room.

"While the two of you discuss business, I will excuse myself to the lavatory," Cassandra said, standing.

"Do you need help finding your way around," Adrien asked, eyes questioning.

"I'm sure I can manage. Please, don't stop the fun on my account," Cassandra said, trying to project her thoughts to Adrien.

She walked out of the room as fast as she could without arousing suspicion. Wondering the halls, looking for anything that could point to the type of man her father was, she came across her mother's portrait.

Cassandra leaned against the wall to keep her knees from buckling underneath her. Breathing in through her nose and out through her mouth, she forced the tears to stay at bay. Reaching a shaky hand to brush her mother's cheek, she closed her eyes. Imagining what it would feel like to feel warmth, life, beneath her fingertips instead of dried paint and canvas.

"That's Adrien's mother, Emilie," a voice appeared behind her, causing her to jump away from the painting.

"Of course," she said, turning to face Gabriel, "I was just admiring it. It's really beautiful work. He looks just like her, doesn't he?"

Gabriel nodded, facing the painting instead of her. "You know, Adrien was a twin. We keep the information private, no need to constantly dig up the past, and the press just loves a good story. She passed when she was born. I always wondered what she would've looked like. If she would've taken after her mother like Adrien did or if some of my traits would've shown through."

Cassandra's blood turned to ice in her veins, causing a shiver to run up her spine before she could subdue it. "I'm sure she would've been lovely, Mr. Agreste."

"Don't mention any of this to Adrien, of course. He doesn't need any more heartache in his life."

"I can't imagine how hard it must've been for him when his mother disappeared. On both of you," she said, genuine empathy flooding through her.

"I would do anything to bring her back to us," Gabriel said, and Cassandra looked at him.

Gabriel was excellent at hiding emotion from other people. The man commanded the room, intimidating anyone in his path who got too close to what he possibly could be feeling, thinking. But, in that moment, Cassandra did not think he was merely making a hypothetical comment. Something about the firmness in his jaw, the raw determination in his eyes. What his voice hid so well, his body language could not hide entirely.

"I really must get home and go over my choreography once more. One can never be too prepared. Would you please tell Adrien that I'm sorry for not staying longer," Cassandra said, moving away from the man.

"Of course. It was nice meeting you, Ms. Taylor. Dare I call it enlightening," Gabriel said, offering her his hand.

She took it, shaking it a little more forcefully than necessary, forcing herself to meet his steel blue-grey eyes before walking to the front door.

Gorilla waited for her by the car, opening the door.

"Thank you for the offer, but I believe I need to walk. Clear my head and all," she said, smiling at the man.

He nodded, shutting the door once more.

Cassandra walked down the street, waiting for the mansion to disappear from view before ducking behind the nearest dumpster and calling on her transformation.

She ran across rooftops, using her camouflage ability to hide from the Parisians before scaling the wall of her home and hopping through the window.

"Roaar, stripes off," she said, the kwami flying out of her bracelet and collapsing in her hands.

Roaar slowly flew to face her holder. "Are you okay?"

At those words, Cassandra's legs gave out, sending the girl to the ground with a resounding thud. Tears came hard and fast, flowing past her fingers. Roaar touched her cheek, leaning her head against Cassandra.

Cassandra spoke hesitantly, struggling to spit out the words that did not fit in her mouth but ones that needed to be said. "I think my father is Shadowmoth."