“What are we doing in the cellar, and why are you smiling so hard?” why is Salvatore whispering like he doesn’t own this place?

“Because behind this door iis an interesting little show… and part of your problem.”

Why do you have your fingers raised

Because its show time. Three… two… and one.” I always wanted to kick down a door like this.. “Time to shine.”

What the-

“Enjoying your dance?” I asked casually before , angie stepped into the room like casually Time to play mind games. I’m sure he didn’t expect me to do this.but it should throw him off enough and make this easy.

Volere scrambled to cover himself. “What the hell are you doing?”

“Don’t worry about buttoning your pants.I’ve seen plenty already.”

Lyn flinched, grabbing for her clothes. Oh noLyn your first. Volere growled. “Why the fuck are you interrupting us?”

I ignored him. “Didn’t know you had it in you, Volere. You surprise me every day.”

“Don’t ignore me!” He snapped. “What the fuck are you doing in here?”

“Who, me?” I widened my eyes like I was confused. “Well, this is the storage room, right? For food? Figured I’d come get some… storage done. Hi, Lyn. Don’t rush to get dressed. I’ll be leaving soon.”

“She can’t hear you,” Volere muttered. “Or speak. Or read or write. Not in Italian or Japanese, anyway.”

Thats right angie you got this. Make the smile reach your eyes. It will make them uneasy and unsure of where im going. “But she can read Russian. And she knows Russian sign language.”

I signed to her: Isn’t that right?

Lyn’s hands moved fast: It’s not what it looks like.

“Oh, it looks like something I explicitly told you not to do,” I replied.

“IJust because you helped me doesn't mean I’m your slave,” she snapped, fingers trembling. “I can choose who I associate with.”

“Yeah… but I don’t like traitors.”

Volere laughed. “What? Witch, what the hell are you talking about? We’re on the same side. What does us hooking up have to do with betraying you?”

God, he is dumb. “I’m glad you asked, Volere. You know… it’s weird. How long have you known Russian sign language?”

He froze. His face going pale.

“…What?”

“Because you understood what we were saying. And I didn’t interpret it. So how do you know it?”

Stammering, oh your caught ol boy, “I—it’s just something I picked up when I was young.”

“Right. And did you pick up reading and writing it too? Or just enough to pass notes to your friends outside?”

His blinking tells me everything I need to know.

“Witch,” he warns. “Watch what you say next.”

Salvatore’s voice came cold from behind me. “Why should she? Is there something she shouldn’t say?”

Volere turned, startled. “Sir, I—”

“You were going to answer her questions.”

“I don’t know what she’s implying!” Volere barked. “It’s just something I picked up. It’s nothing big.”

“That’d be believable,” I said, “if you weren’t using it to communicate with outsiders.”

I casually pulled my tablet from behind my back.

“I’m no rat,” Volere hissed.

“No,” I replied. “You’re worse. You’re a weasel. I hate people like you. You claim loyalty just to stab someone in the back. Just like the bastard standing next to me. Once I’m done with you, I’ll deal with him too.”

“She’s lying,” Volere snapped.

I clicked the screen. “Would be convincing… if I hadn’t hacked your files. Not my best skill, but turns out your passwords are garbage. Here—let’s take a look.”

In Russian:

“She will be at The Rooster Pouch Restaurant today. Start there.”

“Who’s taking her?”

“Driver Cole. He doesn’t pay attention. Pop him quick, and throw him in the truck.”

“What about her body?”

“Dump it. Make it look like she ran off with some cash.”

“Got it.”

“Don’t forget the laptop. She’s been looking into things not meant for her. The maid said as much.”

“And the books?”

“The maid will get them. Once we have it all, I’ll take care of her too. Dead men keep secrets.”

I looked up. “So. Care to explain?”

Volere’s jaw clenched. “I don’t have to explain anything to you, half-breed.”

My voice dropped. “What did you just call me?”

“You don’t scare me,” he spat. “I summon my Fate!”

He screamed, glowing in a sudden burst of purple light.

“You will know—my fate is not in your hands!”

“What the hell?” I gasped as Volere’s eyes lit up with energy.

A beam shot toward me. Salvatore moved fast, pulling me to safety—leaving the maid behind.

The light struck her. Her body crumpled.

“WHAT THE HELL WAS THAT?” I shouted. The maid she's dead.

“We’ll talk later,” Salvatore said. “Do you still have that gun that doesn’t exist?”

I nodded.

“Use it. He’s still human. Hide. Aim for the head.”

He stepped forward, glowing bright blue.

“Justice will always be with the Velmora clan.”

He launched himself at Volere, punching him so hard he flew into the rubble. Blood dripped from Volere’s mouth as he stood. A purple-glowing spear appeared in his hand, crackling with electricity.

Volere grinned. “If that’s all you’ve got, this’ll be over fast.”

He charged, wrapping a glowing hand around Salvatore’s throat. They levitated—then shot through the ceiling. I ran to the hole just in time to see them in the sky.

Volere sneered. “Half-breeds are a disgrace to our goddess.”

Then he dropped him.

I couldnt help but to scream “Salvatore!”

Salvatore fell—

Then disappeared midair.

He reappeared on the ground. Volere blinked in behind him and slammed his head into the dirt.

The fight exploded into chaos. Powers, blood, weapons clashing. Volere chanted:

“Your fate ends here, by the name of my goddess!”

He fired a beam.

Salvatore ducked behind a stone wall, then whispered, “I’ll only die by my sword.”

He teleported, slashing Volere from behind. The man flew across the room, crashing through beams and shelves.

I ran into position. Volere rose, looking for me—but Salvatore kept him distracted.

I took the shot.

Right in the heart.

Volere stumbled, clutching his chest. “H-How? My fate… it’s not in your hands…”

I leaned in.

“Motherfer, I don’t think it was ever in yours either.”

At that moment his body went limp and stopped glowing.

Silence.

Then:

“So,” I said breathlessly, “about the purple-glowing electric hand thing. That’s… new.”

Sal wiped blood from his face. “Seems your mother had good reason to hate Fate, after all.”

Someone new stepped into the room.

“Thallas.”

“This is more dangerous than anticipated,” he said. “It seems the bet may be off. And not in a good way.”

“What are you doing here?” I asked.

He looked annoyed. “Unfortunately, someone decided to make a run for it.”

“Who?”

“Fate,” he said simply. “She doesn’t like being beheaded, apparently. I tried to explain it’d hurt her more than me, but I guess my offer of comfort didn’t reach her heart.”

He smirked.

“Wait—you can see him?”

“Yes. And hear him.”

“How? I thought only I could—why aren’t you freaking out?!”

“Because he and I already had a little chat. One involving… a public argument. And almost mutual bloodshed.”

“…When?! How—?”

“Now is not the time, darling,” he cut in. “We’ll discuss later. Right now, we’ve got a problem.”

“What kind of problem?”

“My hands are tied. I can’t kill mortals. A group of them is on the way. I can… slow them down. Make them uncomfortable. But I can’t stop them.”

“What do you mean?”

“They’re weak beings,” he said. “But don’t worry—if any get close, he will protect you.”

Sal stepped beside me. “I’ll do so with my life.”

“You better,” Thallas muttered. “Fate may have pushed her own demise into your hands… but it doesn’t change how I feel about you.”

He turned.

“Louis—what do you say about helping them?”

“Yes, sire.” Louis appeared out of nowhere.

“LAWYER KIM?!” I yelled. “What the hell is going on?!”

Louis gave a small smile. “Quite a bit, my lady. We’ll discuss it later. For now, we need to move to the front of the house. Inform your people. Prepare.”

“Yes, Master,” Salvatore said.

I blinked in surprise at this all. “Wait—who’s your master? What’s going on?!”