. Her fists clenched around the blade at her side, still slick with blood from the scout who thought he could f

ircle had eye

the storm, blood on his hands that wasn't his. He didn't sp

of time," Aria said

lied. "And they'

me to com

gue. "Then w

isn't just war for you, is it? There

family into monsters, then locked us in cages of obed

eart hammering. "Then

ntacts gave them a location: a compound hidden in the Black Hollow Forest, where magic and madness

ack Hollow and ca

wasted. Every mile closer brought the wei

ived at

l wrapped in ancient wards and watchtowers. Armed guards patrolled the pe

ng the outer wall with a scope. "Two guards every t

ounds?" L

ded. "F

d. "Let t

rs. Five cameras.

ked. "Lea

nny precision, Luca disabling guards without sound. When they r

nds," she

r explo

s shr

for su

ll of glass and steel, her blades flashing

hrough the chaos. The beast was beautiful and bruta

" Aria shouted, duc

aled with biometric locks. She pulled out the blood-stained drive Luca ha

ered. The sc

ked to life: Talia

re," Aria

r hisse

ushed

d. Tubes ran from her veins to machines humming

touched her

ed. Whisper

ould respond, the

echoed through

in the shadows, darl

a f

ew tha

" she wh

above flick

legant, cruel, ageless. The woman A

Cassandra said. "Always senti

mbled. "You're b

were supposed to inherit it. But you ran. Now I'l

electrified cage, panting, blood drippin

gas filled the room-th

tried to cover h

hing b

oice slithere

You'll wake up exact

world w

oke sh

ffs, suppressing magic and strength.

was

stone walls marke

r in the

er meant to e

look

dark-dressed in a crimson robe, c

. "Now the real

e cage, Lu

ed through

rtbeat fading-sense her

ng inside h

east

cage s