Gia's POV
I sat in the interrogation room, the harsh white light glaring down on me so brightly it felt like needles stabbing into my eyes. My foot tapped against the cold floor in a relentless rhythm I couldn't stop.
I hate this.
I hate being trapped in a room filled with humans.
It usually doesn't end well for them.
The metal door creaked open, and one of the cops stepped inside, his expression a mix of authority and forced calm. He dropped into the chair opposite me.
"Hello, Gia Hammington," he said as he settled in.
"You already know what you are being accused of, so I'll cut the chase and go straight to the point. Were you at the theater house on the day of the explosion?" he asked.
I stared at him in silence, my foot still tapping the ground.
"Did you cause the explosion of the theater house?" he asked again, but I only kept staring.
"I know you have the right to be silent, but I'll advise you to speak up if you want to ever leave this place," he said. "And will you stop tapping your leg?!"
"Come and make me," I replied.
"I see you are a stubborn one," he muttered, leaning closer until his breath almost touched my face. "But you should be well aware, I run things in this place. If you want to ever get out of here, you better start cooperating with me."
I breathed out silently, and a freezing gust of air escaped my mouth, washing over his face. Frost crackled faintly on the table between us.
"What the….? Why the hell is it suddenly so cold? Did anyone turn up the AC?" he said, scrambling toward the door.
"I won't be here by tomorrow evening," I said.
He paused and turned back. "What did you say?"
"Either you release me freely or I walk out of this place after destroying you all. Either way, you won't be seeing me here by eve tomorrow," I smiled.
Dianna's POV
I paced around the room, my nerves frayed.
"Are we seriously going to obey Eva and not go save our sister?!!" Eric snapped.
"She said she'll get her out," I replied.
"So we'll just believe her words?! You'll trust her with Gia's life? What happened to family comes first in everything? Or don't tell me you are suddenly scared of this head of witches and that's why you refuse to go save our sister!!" Eric yelled.
"Enough of your ranting, Eric. Gia is not a kid, and she's most capable of taking care of herself. So do not use this as an avenue to disrespect Dianna. She's the eldest Ravenson, and you must accord her that respect!!" Ivan cut in, his voice cold and thunderous.
Eric fell silent for a moment, then shook his head.
"I knew you'll always support her," he muttered before walking out.
"Ivan.…" I breathed.
"I wasn't supporting you, Dianna. If Eva doesn't do anything about Gia's release by tomorrow morning, I will get her out of that place myself. Even if it means unleashing my whole powers and burning the city to the ground. Destruction is my specialty after all," Ivan said and headed up the stairs.
A wave of dizziness washed over me, and I slumped onto the couch.
"What is going on?…" I whispered.
Eric's POV
I climbed out of the cab in front of Eva's mansion, my anger boiling beneath my skin. Two witches tried blocking my path.
"I'm not in a good mood, ladies," I warned and lightning erupted from my body. The witches flew backwards, crashing into the courtyard walls.
I stormed inside, and more witches rushed toward me.
"Where's Eva?!!" I roared, sending them flying with another surge of lightning.
"Eva!!!" I bellowed as thunder rumbled from the sky outside.
"Eric," her voice called as she descended the stairs slowly.
"You!" I charged toward her, but she quickly cast a boundary spell that halted me inches away.
"A mere boundary spell, Eva? Do you really think that's going to save you from my wrath?"
"It will give me the time I need to quench your wrath," she said calmly.
"Well go on then, try quenching my wrath," I challenged.
"I just got off the phone with the head of the humans. I explained things to him, and though it was not an easy task, I was able to convince him to get Gia released. Your sister will be back home by tomorrow morning, Eric Ravenson," Eva said.
"And if she's not back by tomorrow morning?"
"I'm sure you guys are already planning on rescuing your sister, even if it means killing everyone that stands in your way. And even Gia herself isn't exactly the calm Ravenson. Each moment that she spends in that station, the cops continue to be in mortal danger. So it's actually in my best interest to get Gia out of that station as soon as possible," Eva said.
"Tomorrow morning then, Eva. Gia should be back by tomorrow, else along with killing all the cops, I'll come for your throat too," I said.
"It's already getting dark, Eric. Goodnight," she said with a faint smile.
"Tomorrow morning," I repeated and walked out.
Gia's POV
Morning came, and I hadn't slept a single second.
I spent the long, dragging night wrestling with myself, trying not to lose control.
But my resistance was thinning, crumbling, slipping away like sand through fingers.
The door opened, and yesterday's cop walked in.
"Seems knowing people of high calibre has worked again," he said as he uncuffed me. "You are free to go, Gia Ravenson. I got orders from the higher ups to let you go."
I smiled as I rose. "I told you, didn't I? Today's eve will not meet me here."
He stepped closer.
"I'm only letting you go because I was ordered to. It doesn't mean I'm convinced of your innocence. I'm going to keep tabs on you, Gia Ravenson, so be careful."
"If I see you anywhere around me again, I will freeze you to death," I said and walked out.
Outside, Eric waited in front of a car.
"I came to pick you up. Get in," he said.
I got in, and he drove in silence through the dim morning air.
"I'm sorry we took so long to get you out," he said finally.
"I was going to escape on my own even without you guys' help, so I'm good," I replied.
We arrived home and stepped inside to find Dianna lying on the couch.
"And to think I almost went to jail because of her, and here she is, sleeping peacefully," I muttered.
"She's not asleep," Eva said sharply as she barged into the house.
"What's going on?" Ivan asked as he came down the stairs, his expression shifting when he saw me.
"You are back."
"You didn't think I was going to stay away for too long, did you, brother?" I smirked.
Eva moved to Dianna and touched her forehead.
"Is she pregnant?" she asked.
"What is going on, Eva?" Ivan demanded.
"I had a vision this morning," she said.
"What vision?" Eric asked.
"A vision of Dianna's death. Her and her unborn child," Eva said softly.
"Come on, sister is just asleep, she isn't dying," I said.
"Try waking her up then, Gia. Your sister isn't in an ordinary sleep. She's in what we call the death slumber. And this doesn't happen naturally. Dianna was spelled and drawn into the death slumber. If she doesn't wake up before tomorrow, she will sleep forever," Eva explained.
"Who is behind this?!" I asked.
"Only very few powerful witches are capable of casting the death slumber spell, so I believe this was an act of revenge. I believe it was done by..."
"Aria Dixon, the Guardian of the Hell Gates," Ivan finished.
"How do we wake her up and break the spell?" Eric asked.
"The death slumber spell can only be broken when the victim wakes up. And the victim wakes up only when the witch who cast the spell decides to let her go," Eva said.
Ivan chuckled, dark, cold, dangerous.
"Your sister and her unborn child are dying. The last thing I expected of you is laughter. Where is the legendary Ravenson family dedication to each other?" Eva frowned.
"Do not worry, Eva. Dianna is not dying today. If I kill the witch that cast the spell, will Dianna and her baby be fine?" Ivan asked.
"If you are able to do that before tomorrow, yes, she will wake up. What are you planning to do, Ivan Ravenson?" Eva asked.
"Stay with my sister. I'll be back before nightfall, and I'll deliver to you the Guardian's head on a spike," Ivan said coldly and walked out.