us her attention as she elaborated.
"On the outside, you were kidnapped, correct?"
"Yes." I nodded, having given her and Ivy the rundown of my grave circumstances last week.
"Then? Fabricate a lie. Leave a trail that seems as though you've perished in the depths of a forest. The sea."
"Fake my death?" I inquired.
"Temporarily." There was that hint of a smile as her eyes darkened and began to glow a deep purple.
I gulped, fighting the urge to be lost in her eyes.
"When you escape from here, fake your death. You have people that love you outside of these walls. Let them play the same game. If the person who put you here is close to those you love, let her fall into the very trap you're setting. She wants you dead, so be it. Once the news spreads, whatever plan she's been desperate to initiate will commence as soon as possible. Why? Because she'll be desperate to have things in order, especially when those you love are at their most vulnerable."
Her smile widened as she closed her eyes.
"If those men you were talking about are powerful and have some sort of high status, let them play along. Let them sob on television. Let them mourn your death, and let many come to love you, even though you're gone. If you're just as important to them as they are to you, I can guarantee an outrage of people will start a revolution and want more information on your death. She won't stall once it reaches headlines. She'll leave a messy trail and all you have to do is relax and wait."
"Relax and wait," I whispered.
"Or you can train." Ivy was grinning from ear to ear, her eyes now a bright gold.
"Good to see you, Vix. Enjoying my diabolical plan?" Alisha seemed amused and I stared at her, trying to figure out if that truly was Ivy's wolf in control. She noticed my stunned expression.
"Vix. Wolves can take over their owner's mind if they're powerful enough. It doesn't have to be only when we shift."
"Alpha wolves," Alisha corrected.
"Minor details." Vix leaned back and looked my way once again. "Train. You have power and it's about time you figured it out. Whether you do that within these walls or outdoors is beyond my concern, but I've seen enough of Alisha's predictions coming true to encourage you to take this seriously," she warned.
"By training, are you talking physical?"
"Physical, emotional, magical. Not many supernaturals can use magic unless they surpass the Mageri rank. Mageri is the true form of magic that any shifter can accomplish if they unlock it with immense meditation within nature's finest places. The middle of an ocean, a serene hidden waterfall, the depths of the rainforest, or in the vast desert. It's why many supernaturals have gone to Dubai as of late. It's in the papers if you know exactly what articles to read."
"How do you know all of this?"
"I may have been homeless, but I made sure I grasped every bit of knowledge from any newspaper, outdoor news outlet, and massive TVs downtown that display the news. This world is a cruel one if you're naive, stupid, and can't defend yourself. The only mistake I made was letting my guard down and trusting those who I thought were my friends. I wouldn't do that again if we got out of here."
We must have referred to her and Ivy.
"Will I have enough time to learn?"
"It'll fall into place when you least expect it. You may get a chance to go to Dubai if you're lucky."
"Would be nice," I sighed. "Fake my death. Disappear. Can't travel if I'm dead."
"If you unlock your power, you may not have to." Alisha picked her fork back up and cut a part of her crumble. "Transformations can be a blessing in disguise."
That was all she said, then she returned to eating. Vix did the same, her eyes fading back to their grey tones. I noticed the guards outside of the cafeteria room had returned.
"At least this dessert is a blessing," I whispered with a smile.
"Indeed, it is," Ivy agreed while Alisha nodded.
* * *
The memory of our dinner must have helped me doze off because I stirred when something brushed my cheek.
"Five more minutes," I muttered. "Want to finish dinner."
"All you think about is food. Not like I'm far off, though."
I almost thought Omarion was in my dream, and the thought made me giggle and roll to my side. "Go away, Omarion. My dinner...not yours." I'd fight him if