~~~~~~~~~Jade's POV~~~~~~~~~

"You've been trapped in here for the past week..?" Nathan asked, to which I nodded. He looked at Cassie and Jake, I could tell he had many questions inside his head. "But.. why would she want us here..?!"

"We don't know.." Cassie answered, Jake giving a shrug with a sad expression.

Lara had been gone for a while now, and I grew curious to what was in this room. I began to walk around, seeing the stone brick walls and flooring. At the end of the room was a stone chair, sort of like a thrown, and a big tank with water resting on it.

There was water inside, along with a human-like shadow. I couldn't see anything about them, but the presence alone gave a terrifying aura.

I tensed up at the sound of the doors opening again, seeing Lara walking back over. Just then, more chains were tied on all of us, forcing us to kneel on the ground as pink glowing circles appeared underneath us.

"Let us go, Lara!!"

She ignored me, walking over to be in front of the talk as she stared at it. I kept struggling against the chains, asking so many questions, anything that might trigger anything.

"Why do you need us?!? Why have we been locked up?!? WHY ARE YOU DOING THIS?!?"

"FOR HIM!!!"

I didn't understand what she meant, I didn't know who the person inside the talk was!

"What are you-?!"

"You all have dark magic, I need it!!! I don't care if your magic is your life source, I need all of it!!!"

"Why?!? Who is he?!?"

"... my father." She turned to us, her snake-like pupils thinning. "The Rivertons will be avenged, and nothing will stop me until I bring him back from the d-!!!"

There was a blue explosion behind her, her eyes widening for a few seconds before falling forward, revealing-

My eyes widened. "Gabe?!? Fi?!?"

"JADE!!!" They ran over to me, wrapping me in a tight embrace as a wide smile grew on my face, feeling the tears forming in my eyes.

They pulled away, Fiona had the same smile as me, while Gabe was more worried as he spoke. "A-are you okay?!? Are you hurt?!? Any injuries?!?"

"No, no, I'm okay!!"

Fiona then looked to my side, her eyes widening. "Nathan?! What are you doing here too?!"

"He was brought in today, they want our magic!"

"You know we have magic?!" Gabe asked, his eyes widen.

They were both already breaking our chains setting us free as Fi spoke. "We should continue this conversation when we're in a safer place."

We all ran out of the room and down a few halls. Everything looked the same, and we couldn't cast a tracking spell to our home until we were out.

After introducing everyone to everyone, we entered a room with a cold atmosphere. It was in some strange way familiar, we didn't understand why..

There were a lot of mirrors and pictures apart from each other along the wall. After a while, there was a picture that made Fi, Gabe, and I stop.

There was a young boy who looked a lot like Gabe, only with really dark hair. Gabe and I exchanged a glance.

"Is that.. Dad..?"

"I think so.." Gabe replied to me, before looking at the other boy. This one had red hair, light skin, and the same eyes as Lara.

Green snake eyes.

...

"I think.. that's Lara's dad.. Something Riverton..?" I said, turning to my brother and cousin. However, I grow a bit more afraid as their eyes widened at the name, sharing a glance.

"Riverton..? As in Ryan Riverton..?!" Fiona asked.

I have a shrug. "She didn't mention his first name.."

There were some seconds of silence, then Gabe let out a sigh. "We have been staying with an old friend of our parents.. She has told us stories about Mom's old boss, a guy called Ryan Riverton, who would kill and torture anyone who bothered him in the smallest way.."

"And she said he was part snake.." Fiona added, making me look back at the picture.

"Then how does Dad know him..?"

When I didn't get an answer, I turned to look behind me, seeing I was all alone. My blood turned cold as the slithering sound emanated from inside the walls, when a cold zap suddenly filled my body..

And everything turned black..

Thanks for reading!!! 'Till next time!!!

❤️❤️❤️