some temporary immunity to death. Can't get a coupon from the angel of death for a Thirty-day Free Trial, now can I?"
"That would be convenient," he grumbled and pinched his nose. "I need Omarion. He's the only chance we have."
"Why is the witch snake hag coming here?"
"To finish you off."
"What did I do?"
"That's the problem," he huffed. "It's what you didn't do, which is die from the venom."
"I'm not following."
"I told the hag that you were having complications. She wanted to come and see your dead body long ago, but I used the excuse that it would be far too risky when you've just arrived in prison. When you were unconscious, I first said you were in a coma, thinking you'd be knocked out for at least a month. If that had occurred, I would have been able to make a better excuse or even say you passed away and then hidden your body somewhere safe until you woke up."
My dissatisfied look with his previous plan made him huff in impatience. "You're a valuable specimen. I would have found a way to ensure your body was kept safe, warm, and breathing."
"That doesn't make me feel any better, but sure. Carry on."
"You woke up in less than a week, leaving Omarion and me to fabricate some excuses. However, you took the bait with the gorilla woman and then the mine setup."
"Bait?" I inquired. “I'm aware of the gorilla woman, but the mine incident was bait as well?”
"You're aware that Psychic Prison's walls are supposed to suppress your ability to shift. Your men are a special case, wearing the bracelets I designed, but that woman shouldn't have been able to reach that size. Add to that the obvious fact of only human guards staffed that morning. Then there was the fight that specifically targeted Tristan, who was literally minding his own business doing other stuff. Do you think that was of coincidence?"
"You believe she was involved and set up that trap as well?"
"I don't believe, my dear, I know. And your display of power and the news of construction and reform of the prison rules reached her tingling ears. Any hint of you being supernatural is becoming more obvious and if she doesn't get rid you now, her little secret will come out."
"But why now?" I stressed. "It's been two and a half months. I'm sure people have forgotten about me by now."
He chuckled, shaking his head before he carried on with the pacing.
"Someone like you surrounded by four powerful men? You may have been a target of envy in the public eye, but your disappearance has struck outrage, for both humans and supernaturals. No one knows what you are, which only emphasizes the escalating problem of the kidnappings. More people are coming forward about their disappearing family members, friends, classmates. Even a few homeless individuals have started to come forward about those who have been missing for months."
"Why is that a problem?"
"Evil people don't like public scrutiny or outcry. That leads to police and those higher up finally getting off their asses and having no choice but to solve their problems. The greater the outrage, the further the reach, and the greater number of politicians and supernatural leaders leaving their sacred gold couches and seven-star suites to tackle the problem once and for all. That leaves the enemy scrambling to cover up loose ends. You're a big loose end, Cassandra, and if you unlock those powers inside you…" He stopped and actually looked excited. "The tables will turn, and shit will go down."
"Where does that leave you?" I pondered. His grin only widened.
"On the winning side," he said with pride. "I can already see you making alliances."
"What do you mean?" I was trying to act naive, but I was sure he saw right through me.
"Alisha. Ivy. Who's next to be intrigued by your personality and power? There's something about you that draws the powerful in. You fall into the worst-case scenarios and end up coming out victorious each time. That opens doors."
"What about those doors that close? Like the supernaturals who scurry away from me whenever I enter the cafeteria?"
"Cowards in the line of battle. You don't need those individuals on your side or in your life. They're lightweights, and you need warriors for what's to come."
"Are you only helping me solely because I'm on this winning side, or is there something in it for you?"
"Tricky question," he noted. "I do what's most beneficial for me, but I'd love to unlock