Sometimes I question my insanity, like now, when I planned to break into Erwin's stronghold unannounced after he threw my live kicking body to the rats. Yes, everyone has proclaimed my stupidity. But what's worse: letting said man manipulate and use you without consequences. I'll fight and crawl my way back before I throw in the towel.

He's an arrogant prick. Correction, a hot, sexy, arrogant prick. But one nonetheless.

Every part of my being that existed on Verdina wanted that smoldering man. Imagine the bedroom acts we'd commit, it had me panting like a heat stricken dog. His fingertips held a touch capable of silencing the most demanding chick alive. Yet, there was one big error he made. He threw me away.

No one throws me away. Not unless they wanted to keep their sexual orientation straight.

I covered myself with a thin layer of energy, concealing my appearance and presence from sight. A second, but heavier pull directed to my hands for gouging through the metal door. The energy peeled through the door like stripping dried paint, the edges irregular.

Sending my hand through the opening, I drew the bolt back unlocking the door. Efficient and silent, giving them no time to react. A sidelong glance to Sebastian and I saw his own form blend into the background.

We walked in, the glass enclosure to my right accompanied by the mocking memory of defeat. Expanding before us were the white pristine walls blaring back. The color strengthened by my changed vision. Still, the laboratory was empty. Only cleaned and organized utensils lined the workbenches. Though they erased the research and spell construction, the place left and unavoidable trace of darkness energy.

The overhead lights appeared a pale gray, brighter than the benchtop outlines. They may be on, but the electricity supplied to them was minimal. I scanned the lab, searching for any hint of spell usage. My gaze moved at a snail pace, stopping at each nook and cranny. Missing a single spot would be my undying doom and I'd never live the mistake down.

Without a single spell creeping into my vision, I charged through the uncontested zone and into the hallway leading to the cells. My guess, the container holding the stolen energy would be located offshoot the jailed area. There were multiple paths and guards patrolled the place. Why leave your most prized possession in a poorly defended location? Erwin wasn't dumb.

The exit opened into the spell laced hallway. I paused, eyes traveling to the spells ready to blast warnings to its inhabitants. Breathing a lungful of scorched morbid air, I stepped onto the path. Sirens screamed, but I sauntered towards the edge meeting the wide open room. Guards raced to defend the exit with firearms in hand. Their caps were pulled low, covering much of their hair and shadowing their eyes. Black suited and ready to capture their prey, oh so scary, not.

"Seb, look at the party here to greet us." I licked my lips, enjoying the development.

Sebastian walked before me. "Go." He growled with hair standing on end and tail straight up.

I bit my lip. My furball sure had confidence. But we both knew he had the skills and capabilities to back up said words. Without retorting, I strode ahead to the left.

"Stop!" a guard shouted, racing to block my path. His serious and battle stricken face mutated. Both eyes grew wide and his mouth hung wide.

A film of water diffused across the room's surface. The temperature plunged, but my heart raced with excitement. I couldn't withhold the opportunity to look. Swinging my head around, I gazed upon the monster that once inhabited the petite frame of a cat. He rose to the ceiling's height, his head craned and body spreading around the room. Scales protruded from his aquamarine body from head to toe, with a spiked tail at the end. Enormous teeth lined the inside of his mouth and his yellow eyes pierced through the weakest of souls. A full-grown Leviathan crammed into an underground jailhouse.

I spared one last glance before hightailing into an adjacent hallway. One of two options had remained. However, this entrance reeked of overdone curses and hesitating in my decision would lead only to death, either by friend or foe.

The path lacked the similar spell structure found on the previous hallway, but it extended farther with offshoots. Each door I passed was the same metal block with no handle attached. Honestly, without my pure luck, I'd freak out like a miserable wretch. But given my gorgeous and esteemed self, such a habit was pathetic and incomprehensible.

My hand trailed the wall, checking each door as I passed. A curse, a spell, or some magic contraption was the key to unlocking this puzzle. All I needed was the single hint to unwrap my chocolate treat.

Gunfire broke through the silence accompanied by chaotic shouts. The sounds provoked me, pushing me forward. One step more, another hallway over, and still my goal evaded the search.

"Dammit," I muttered as I reached an intersection. I pointed at the first hallway then cycled through them. "Eeny, meeny, miny, moe. Where does Erwin hold his soul? Is it there, is it here, or is it..." My finger landed on the last choice combined with the dark energy traces unfolding from the path. "Bingo."

I chose the path, heading down the hallway that turned back directionally opposite my previous trek. The walls were the same metal trapping, mapped with doors spaced out. The overhead lights flickered then extinguished. I blinked at the shut off and waited for my eyes to adjust.

Finally, the edges cut through the bleakness, forming blurred outlines of my environment. The path led on, but midway the doors disappeared until only one existed. How laughable was this outcome? I mean, how could anyone but me obtain this result. Ah, life was too easy sometimes.

Scanning the door once for good measure, I noted several curses and at separate locations entwined together. Erwin must have created this spell structure why else would there be an attempt at hindering a dark attribute holder? Multiple spell points to create a star like architecture. Erasing the curse altogether would be difficult for even the most experienced Witches. If I destroyed one part, the curse would activate, snaring me in its grasp.

I giggled at the sad attempt. Please, like my grand self would be fooled by a petty star system map. All the points need to be destroyed simultaneously. But what thwarted most Witches was being unable to control and produce a large enough spell to cover the points. Wizards can't dismantle spells unlike Witches, though they still outdid us on strength. Well, most of us.

Spreading my energy into a fine layer, I expanded it to encompass the five points. The darkness held firm without a ripple to perturb the solid like nature I exerted. Gently, I placed the dark energy over the spell and released it.

I watched the spell fizzle and steam when contacted with my energy, but slowly, the structure disintegrated, leaving a soot mark behind. Who could destroy a spell better than myself? No one. Ha, I'll show you Erwin. I can't wait to see your face twisted in annoyance at my revenge.

Applying another portion of energy, I cut around the approximate location of the lock and opened the door. I honed my vision, searching for a trap. One could never trust a man like Erwin.

On each side of the door were giant spell structures. Each comparable to the danger laced on the door, but not detrimental to my goal. A single wide net encircled the two and a sweep of my hand propelled my energy forwarded demolishing his trap. Magic fatigue be damned, I loved the lack of consequences when my familiar was nearby providing me his aid. If only he contributed to rent more often.

Heading into the vacant room, I scanned the space. Empty, which may or may not create a tad bit of worry deep down. But who actually acknowledged such things? I can't even accept the fact Trevor clasped my fictitious heart in his hands. Yet, the intelligent part of me—yes, it exists—sent a warning to my body. I'd be ready for whatever foul primitive play Erwin had planned.

I strode forward, keeping my sight activated. Maybe a mechanical switch that drops me into a tank of sharks. I could imagine Erwin acting the bad guy part to the letter T. Wait. I stopped in the middle, tapping my chin. Perhaps, a hydra? I'd like to see one.

"Oh, dear." I laughed at my distraction, but continued through the next door.

My skin chilled as I entered a wide room with tall towers behind metal honeycomb sheets. I peered in the columns at the flashing green, yellow, and red lights combined with black boxes layered from floor to ceiling. Following the row of equipment Normal's found technology suave, I reached the room's epicenter. A large glass cylinder with green liquid. The top was sealed, but the bottom connected to a control panel off to my side.

My, my, what do we have here? The energy bursting from the slime like composition had me entranced. The vitality pulled my soul with such power, drawing me into an adrenaline rush akin to a giant release of energy.

I rubbed my cheeks, a numbness having fallen over my body. The blood flowing through my veins and the slow steady beat of my heart disappeared. Even the unsettled block sitting at the base of my stomach evaporated. Was this an energy overload?

Breathing out a long breath of air, I steadied myself and attempted to regain control. Focus on the energy, the form and signature. Seek out the path that drew me into this hypnotic state.

The traces became brighter, each color defined. The signatures were no longer condensed into the sewer green. Yes, this was Erwin's storage container. The amount of spells interlaid into this device to contain the energy was massive. I've never seen such a wealth before. There were multiple spells for stability of the energy alone. For all Verdina's delectable sweets, this conglomerate of intricacies far exceeded my wildest thoughts. The Lernaens, this was what they were known for.