STELLA – POV
Feeling exhausted, I glanced around and noticed the red paint splattered on the floor. Corpses of guards were strewn about, and the metallic scent in the air made my stomach churn. I walked further into the penthouse, but there was no sign of Mia. Frustration welled up inside me—I had planned to confront her, but she wasn't even here. I should have known she wouldn’t stay idle.
As I walked back to the living room, the eerie energy returned. I took a deep breath, exhaled slowly, and concentrated on my palm, visualizing the fire glow as Hilda had taught me to harness my power. A silhouette appeared. I aimed my magic at it and took cover. When I peeked, I realized it was Julie, Dexter, and Eric—who was now writhing in pain from my attack.
“Oh God, what happened here?” Julie fr
