“You’ll be conducting your interview sessions here on the main level in two of our private meeting rooms. Most of the common areas are located on this level, including the visitation center, the main dining hall, the recreation areas, and the gardens,” Warden Bloom explained as he led them through a large glass atrium.
Flourishing trees and flowers grew inside the elegant atrium, making it look like it belonged in the lobby of a five-star luxury hotel rather than inside the most secure prison in the six realms. Obviously, the fairies didn’t believe aesthetics and security were mutually exclusive.
“The upper floors are where most of the cells are located,” Warden Bloom continued. “The prisoners are contained in different units based on the severity of their offenses.”
“Are the worst offenders housed in the towers?” Lana asked, glancing around the room and up through the glass ceiling toward the towers above.
Warden Crowe shook his head. “No, the most dangerous prisoners are kept far below the waterline on the three lower levels.”
It made sense to hold the most dangerous inmates beneath the water as an extra, unforgiving layer of security. One that stone walls and metal bars alone could never provide. Below the water, escape would be nearly impossible. The crushing weight of the surrounding depths, the cold, the darkness, it all served as a deterrent against any attempt to escape.
Just the thought of living down there made Lana want to shiver.
“I will remain with Claudia while she conducts the initial interviews before your sessions with the prisoners,” Warden Crowe explained. “That way, any information you are able to extract with your ability can be compared later.”
“Sounds good,” Claudia said. “Lana, are we ready to begin?”
“I am, if you are,” Lana confirmed.
At Claudia’s nod, Warden Crowe gestured to one of the guards. “Go get the first prisoner and bring him down.”
Lana noticed the way Warden Crowe had mentioned her ability. It wasn’t an outright sneer, but it wasn’t exactly benign either. She knew there were bound to be a lot of doubters until she was able to prove herself, but that didn’t bother her. She knew what she was capable of, so she was up for the challenge.
“See you in a few,” Claudia said before disappearing around the corner with Warden Crowe and two of the guards.
“This could take a while. Would you like a tour while we wait?” Warden Bloom asked.
Lana turned toward her own chaperon. “We can do that?”
“Only in certain areas.”
“Yes, I would definitely love a tour.”
When they started walking again, she noticed that he kept glancing at her. Not in an admiring way. It was more like she was a test subject he was studying.
“Is something wrong?”
“I’m just curious. You are the first students to have been granted special permission by the Supernatural Council and the Board of Wardens to come here. Your ability could potentially help clear the innocent, or reaffirm the guilt of others.”
“But?” she asked, voicing the unspoken word for him.
“I am just looking forward to seeing what you can do.”
Her lips curved into a wry grin. “I’m sure a lot of people feel the same.”
“Before I forget, I have something for you.” Warden Bloom came to a stop and pulled a phone out of his pocket, holding it out to her.
Taking it, she glanced down at the sparkly purple case curiously. “You’re giving me a phone?”
“Not me. It’s a gift from Devon Lightbringer. She had the phones sent here for you and your friend. While she is working on creating a surveillance system that will work inside the prison, it hasn’t been completed yet. But the council requested that both of you record your sessions with the prisoners, and this is the easiest way to do that. You won’t be able to make calls out of the prison since there are still too many safeguards in place, but you should be able to record the interviews in the meeting rooms.”
Devon Lightbringer’s new nickname was the Goddess of Tech, and for good reason. Not only had she created theArcane Assist app, she had also created phones that could work throughout the six realms. Calling the magical phones she created a hot commodity would have been a massive understatement. Every supernatural wanted one, but they weren’t available for purchase.
At least, not yet.
Lana powered it on and blinked in shock when she saw the same wallpaper she used on her personal phone. Then, she realized she shouldn’t be surprised when it came to the gods and what they were capable of. All of her photos and contacts had been transferred to the new phone. In addition, all of her apps were downloaded as well, including the Arcane Assist app that pulsed with purple light.
She wasn’t sure why, but seeing it gave her a strange sense of foreboding.
