Adrianna followed Lenny's every movement when she was sitting with Dmitri on the dais and receiving guests. She had to think strategically on what to do next. Her mind was already into looking many steps ahead. She reminisced about the information she had. Inyanga had talked about some cult theory. She had mentioned inverted trident tattoos with three staffs on it. Adrianna closed her eyes for a moment and shuffled the pages of her memory. She went back to the time when Inyanga had offered her explanation. She had also mentioned that there was a woman she saw in the gathering at Niiya's place who had the same tattoo on the back of her neck—a human. Adrianna opened her eyes with fire raging in them when she realized that it could be none other than Pryce.

Now she had to solve the problem meticulously and identify all the patterns and forecast the problems. She knew that if she wasn't highly logical this time, she would lose Dmitri—and that was unacceptable. She would bring a mountain down if that happened.

Unbeknownst to Lenny, Nefasky had formed a group of five Mozias who were watching her.

Adrianna had called Cora and informed her of the problem just before coming to the party. Cora was in a shock. She looked at Adrianna as her body teetered and her knees were wobbly. Adrianna caught hold of her and said,

"I will get Dmitri back as soon as possible in the bedroom so that no one notices his problem. They should, at the max, think that he is having fever.

"

Cora gulped and nodded.

Adrianna assured her,

"Let's hope for the best.

"

---

In the function, when Lenny talked about giving Dmitri more importance than his Luna and tried to gain support from the audience, she failed miserably. No one dared to come up against Adrianna. Such was the power she wielded on her packs. Lenny sulked immediately knowing by the dagger looks Adrianna shot her way. She stepped down the dais quietly as others watched her with dubiety and walked away to a far corner where she picked a strawberry shake from the counter. As she sipped it nervously, she watched the royal couple receiving gifts. At the same time she hoped that her Master would keep well.

It wasn't long when she observed that there was a flurry of movements on the dais. With the help of servants, Dmitri was being walked out of the stage. Lenny held her glass tightly as she followed the activity closely. She saw that Adrianna was still on the platform receiving the guests. Cora and Pierre flanked her on both the sides. Their faces were stone cold.

She ambled her way to a group of werewolves who were speaking in low tones.

"What happened? Is something wrong with the Alpha?

" she asked with curiosity.

The group eyed her with wariness. They didn't like the way she spoke on the stage. Was she trying to get in between their Alpha and Luna? One of the boy's dismissed her,

"It is none of your concern. He is just having fever and will be fine soon.

"

Lenny nodded slightly and distanced herself from there. This was her chance. She watched the servants helping Dmitri to the manor. She waited for five minutes and then slipped away from there slowly. Once inside the manor, she ran to her room, and prepared the red potion again. Once again she rushed to Dmitri's chamber from the balcony. This time she was relieved to see that the room was dark on the inside. She opened the glass door of the balcony. It was pitch dark inside.

"Master,

" she called Dmitri softly.

She took her wand out and lit a very dim light just enough not to attract attention from the outside. In the light, she saw Dmitri lying on the mattress with hands on both the sides. His body was cold. She had to make him drink the potion otherwise she was scared that the coldness might affect the body. Slowly, like a cat, she tiptoed to reach him. As soon as she was near him, she took the potion out. She was about to open the bottle when the lights of the room came alive.

"Hello Lenny.

"

Shocked, Lenny turned around sharply.

Isidorus and Haldir were standing there with their wands pointed towards her.

"Hello Lenny,

" said Isidorus again.

Lenny grabbed her wand but she was too late.

Haldir had already cast a spell on her. Each and every muscle of her body froze. She couldn't even move her tongue. He walked to her, took the red potion and emptied its contents in the bathroom.

"So would you tell us about it or do we enter your cell?

" asked Isidorus.

"No, she is mine!

" Adrianna's voice boomed from behind.

Adrianna stomped all the way to her and with the back of her hand slapped her tight on the face. The impact was so huge, that Lenny fell on the floor. There was a stinging sensation on her lips as they split and the blood oozed out. Lenny couldn't do a thing except bear the pain. Adrianna caught her with her hair, pulled her up again and slapped her on the other cheek. Her hand got imprinted on Lenny's fair skin.

"I am going to kill you slowly,

" said Adrianna with vengeance that flowed out of her mouth like molten lava.

"I am going to make you see how I kill you.

" She picked Lenny and held her chin so hard that her nails dug inside her flesh.

"You have blocked your cell so that no one can enter it. Don't you think I know? I respected your decision. But guess what? Now I will break your mental shield and get inside your cell. Can you think what will happen? You will experience pain beyond imagination.

" Adrianna snarled.

Lenny's tears fell on her hand.

In her fury, Adrianna picked up Lenny in the air with her neck and thrust her on the floor with a bone-crushing sound. When Lenny crashed on the floor, some bones must have cracked inside as one could hear the sound.

Haldir and Isidorus watched her. They flinched. They hadn't seen Adrianna going on such a rampage on anyone. It was like she was on a personal agenda.

Adrianna removed the spell from Lenny and the room got filled with a blood curdling scream that came from Lenny.

"I am going to skin you alive,

" Adrianna lashed in a dangerous tone.

Through her red eyes, Lenny glanced at Adrianna.

"You won't be able to do anything. My Master is too strong.

"

Adrianna took her wand out. She lit fire on its end and etched

"Traitor

" very slowly, very agonizingly on Lenny's broken hand. Lenny cried as Adrianna tormented her by burning her skin.

"This is just the beginning,

" Adrianna growled.

Then she looked at Isidorus and asked,

"How much time do we have? When do we start our journey to the Land of Gaira?

"

"We cannot start before an hour. The portals of the Land of Gaira open twice during the day—once when the sun rises and once when it sets.

"

"So I have an hour,

" she said with a twisted mouth as a vein popped in her forehead.

---

Adrianna had summoned Isidorus and Haldir after the Healer had made the potion.

Haldir was with Inyanga when the wizard servant appeared and informed him. Once again Haldir jumped. He was half naked. Inyanga chuckled while he was dressing up. When he reached the intended location, Isidorus was in conversation with Adrianna.