The room inside Julien's house was silent.
Too silent.
Kaela Vox sat chained to the heavy chair in the center of the room, silver restraints glowing faintly around her wrists.
Velik stood beside the wall like a statue.
Nine hundred years of patience in his eyes.
Lucas sat casually on the table, swinging one leg slowly.
He looked completely relaxed.
Like the situation wasn't dangerous at all.
But the tension in the air said otherwise.
Eva stood in front of Kaela.
Her eyes glowed faintly again.
The floor beneath her feet trembled.
Zoe noticed it immediately.
"Eva…"
But Eva didn't answer.
Her breathing became heavier.
Kaela smirked.
"Oh look."
"The witch is about to explode again."
Lucas raised a finger.
"To be fair…"
He looked around the cracked walls.
"She already exploded once."
Julien shot him an annoyed look.
"Lucas."
Lucas shrugged.
"What? I'm just describing the situation."
Eva suddenly stepped forward.
Her voice was colder than before.
"You said something is forcing you."
Kaela leaned back slightly.
"I did."
Eva's magic started crackling again.
The chandelier above them began swinging violently.
"Then tell me who."
Kaela's smile slowly disappeared.
"I can't."
The lights flickered wildly.
Glass on the table cracked.
"If I say anything…"
Kaela whispered.
"It will know."
Lucas raised an eyebrow.
"Well that's comforting."
Eva's anger grew stronger.
Wind rushed through the room.
The walls began shaking again.
Zoe quickly stepped between them.
"Eva stop!"
But the magic around Eva only grew stronger.
"I can't stop it!"
Books flew from shelves.
The entire house seemed to tremble.
Lucas jumped down from the table and moved closer.
For once his expression looked serious.
"Okay witch…"
He spoke calmly.
"Deep breath."
Eva looked at him angrily.
"I can't control it!"
Lucas shrugged.
"Sure you can."
He pointed at her.
"You died and came back."
"Compared to that, controlling magic should be easy."
Eva glared at him.
But somehow his tone made her breathing slow slightly.
Zoe placed her hands on Eva's shoulders.
"I can help you."
Eva looked at her.
"How?"
Zoe closed her eyes slowly.
"Because I can hear them now."
The room went quiet again.
Lucas blinked.
"…Hear who?"
Zoe's voice became softer.
"The spirits."
A faint glow appeared around her hands.
Lucas leaned toward Velik and whispered—
"Okay that's definitely new."
Velik nodded slowly.
Zoe's eyes suddenly opened.
But they looked different.
Older.
Ancient whispers filled the room.
Soft voices that no one else could understand.
Except Zoe.
She looked around slowly.
"They're warning us."
Julien frowned.
"About what?"
Zoe's face became pale.
"They can't show it clearly."
Lucas crossed his arms.
"Let me guess."
"Something ancient and terrifying?"
Zoe nodded slowly.
"Yes."
Kaela looked away quietly.
Zoe continued speaking.
"They say something has awakened."
"The earth remembers it."
Nora suddenly stepped forward.
Her eyes glowed slightly golden.
"Earth remembers?"
She clenched her fists.
"I can feel something too."
Lucas looked at her.
"Oh great."
"Now the wolf has supernatural instincts."
Nora ignored him.
Her breathing became deeper.
Her senses sharper.
The forest outside suddenly felt louder to her.
She could hear everything.
The wind.
The trees.
The ground itself.
Her wolf power was growing stronger.
Velik observed her carefully.
"The wolf is evolving."
Lucas smirked.
"Fantastic."
"We're building a supernatural Avengers team."
Kaela suddenly laughed quietly.
"You think you're ready."
Everyone turned to her.
"You have no idea what's coming."
Lucas walked slowly toward her.
His smile returned.
"Oh don't worry."
"We deal with dramatic villains every week."
He leaned closer to her.
"Now here's the deal."
He tapped the silver chains.
"You're not going anywhere."
Kaela looked at him calmly.
"I know."
Lucas's voice became slightly colder.
"But we are going to keep asking questions."
He shrugged casually.
"Until you finally answer."
Kaela smiled again.
"You'll get tired before I do."
Lucas grinned.
"Oh honey…"
"I've been bored for two hundred years."
Julien stepped forward again.
"We are not killing her."
He looked at everyone.
"She knows something important."
Velik nodded.
"Keeping her alive is smarter."
Zoe looked at Kaela seriously.
"The spirits are afraid."
Kaela's expression changed slightly.
Lucas noticed it immediately.
"Oh."
He pointed at her.
"That reaction was interesting."
Kaela said nothing.
Lucas leaned back.
"Relax."
He stretched his arms.
"We have time."
Then he looked at Eva.
"And you…"
He pointed at her glowing hands.
"You really need to learn to control that before the house explodes again."
Eva looked exhausted.
Her magic still flickering uncontrollably.
Zoe held her hands.
"I'll help you."
Eva whispered quietly—
"I don't think this power will ever leave me."
Zoe shook her head.
"Then we learn to control it."
Outside the house…
The wind suddenly stopped.
The forest became silent.
As if something deep beneath the earth had opened its eyes.
And whatever it was…
It was far older than vampires.
Older than wolves.
Older than witches.
And it had already started moving