The following morning, the sun rose over the city in a cold, pale grey. Inside Adrian’s modern penthouse.Adrian sat at the dining table as he slowly drank a cup of black coffee. Across from him, Clara was humming softly to herself, moving her scrambled eggs around her plate.The peace was suddenly shattered when Adrian's phone rang.He glanced at the screen, it was Sophia... He did not pick up as he was going to call her back, but then she called again and again and again... He had no other choice but to pick.He swiped to answer, bringing the phone to his ear. "Sophia? It’s early.""Adrian, why have you not been picking up?" Her voice came through, thin and breathless. "Have you seen it? Have you heard?"Adrian frowned, his grip tightening on his mug. "Heard what?""Turn on the news. Right now. Channel six."Adrian grabbed the remote and flicked on the large wall-mounted television. The screen flickered to life, revealing a chaotic scene. A news reporter stood in front of the Iron

Adrian gripped the floor, his knuckles turning white. He tried to stand, but the field was a physical weight, pressing down on his shoulders. "Let… me… out," he rasped, his voice a low growl."Don't bother struggling," Vesper said, leaning back in her chair on the screen. "We spent days of research and millions of dollars to build this cage just for you.""We know all about that purple energy of yours. When our men went to the auction for the Key, they saw it.""It was shocking. No human should have that kind of power. Only creatures from the Maw possess it. I don’t know how you harnessed it, Adrian, but I know exactly how to stop it."Adrian managed to lift his head, his eyes glowing with a faint, defiant purple light. "Stop this madness, Vesper. Hand over the Key and let me out of here. If you don't, I will burn this building to the ground with everyone in it. You have no idea what you’re playing with."The multiple faces on the screens erupted into a chorus of mocking laughter."Yo

Isabella walked up to the pinned Sophia, her black boots inches from Sophia’s face. She reached down and grabbed Sophia by the throat, hoisting her upward just enough to look into her eyes. Isabella’s gaze traveled over Sophia’s perfect, unscarred skin with a look of pure, murderous envy."You think you're so beautiful," Isabella whispered. "You think you're so safe."WHAM!Isabella drew back her fist and delivered a brutal, heavy blow to the side of Sophia’s head. Sophia’s eyes rolled back, and then she blacked out.A dull, throbbing pain pulsed through Sophia’s skull as her eyes slowly flickered open. The world was a blur of grey smoke and flickering orange light. She tried to move her hands, but the sharp bite of plastic zip ties dug deep into her wrists.She wasn't alone. Bundled together on the cold marble floor like a heap of discarded luggage were Gerald, Sarah, and Elena. They were all bound, their faces tear-stained and smudged with soot."Please, Isabella! Have mercy!" G

He watched as his ex-wife rose into the air, surrounded by a swirling storm of three elements. He watched his ex-wife into terrifying voids of swirling power.Director Vesper appeared on the corner of the screen, her face twisted in a mocking sneer. "You came here thinking you could win, you fool? Look at her! She is a god now. Once she is done with the Aldridges, I will have her wipe out every person who ever carries the Lancaster name!"Adrian’s body began to hum. violently as he tapped into his dragon energy.BOOM!Suddenly, the ceiling of the facility exploded.Lyra dropped down like a shooting star, her staff glowing with a blinding golden light. She landed gracefully just as Adrian unleashed a roar of pure rage. The glass of the cell shattered into a million pieces, the dampening machine exploding in a shower of sparks.Adrian stepped out of the ruins, his breathing heavy. He looked at Lyra, who was calmly dusting off her shoulder."How did you find me?" Adrian rasped.Lyra

By the time the wound was sealed, Sophia’s eyes had drifted shut; she wasn't dead, just unconscious. Adrian lifted her gently and placed her into Sarah’s trembling arms."Take her inside," Adrian commanded, his voice now devoid of any emotion. "Keep her safe. Don't come out until I say so."The Aldridge family hurried back into the ruins of their home. They carried Sophia like she was the most fragile thing in the world.Adrian stood up slowly. He turned around to see a figure crawling out of a pile of rubble hundreds of yards away.Isabella was a mess. Her tactical suit was shredded, and she was coughing up dust. Despite the power of the three stones coursing through her, the impact of Adrian’s blast had left her vision swimming and her body feeling like it had been hit by a high-speed train.She looked up, her dizzy eyes fixing on the man who was supposed to be in a cage.Adrian didn't say a word. He simply vanished in a blur of purple light.Before Isabella could even raise a han