"Stop it, Anna." Henry said disappointedly. "Do you believe what that woman tells you? Thiago was her son with a werewolf. I'll talk about this story with you another time. I did order you to kill her without him, but it was after she had killed his mother. I had to get revenge somehow. I wanted her to suffer. You must remember him. He was always around."
"Yes. I remember that he looked a lot like you."
"That doesn't make us related, Anna. People look like other people."
Anna believed Henry, because his story made so much more sense. And also because she loved him. She didn't want to be forced to hate him.
"How do you know that Sarah doesn't know about the diary?"
"Believe me, my child, I can read her every expression and gesture. In time, in this life I lead, this knowledge could be the difference between living or dying."
"But only trusted people enter that mansion. I don't think anyone else has done that."
"But he did. And Sarah knows who did it."
"So why don't you use all your experience and get her to talk? She seems to be afraid even of your presence."
"Because she's trying to be clever. She won't reveal anything because she believes that this secret will prolong her life long enough for her to escape. I can assure you that right now, she's making all kinds of offers to the men who are left downstairs. But this is also theater. She doesn't want to live in that old body any more. Sarah is very vain."
"And what do you intend to do then?"
"In the end, she'll say a name to try and save your life when she finds out that they won't be able to use the transfer spell on you. All it takes is for you to be firm and maintain a look of indifference, and she'll realize at the last moment that there's no way out, and she'll say a name."
"Did she intend to do a body transfer with me?"
"Yes. That's still her plan."
"Why are you so sure that she won't be able to do this transfer?"
Henry's eyes turned dark.
"Because you've awakened the Bruma inside you, Anna."
"What does that mean?"
"It means that you're the most powerful witch there is now, but it also means the awakening of someone who's going to fight for something that... you won't like."
"If it's not putting my children in danger, I don't care... Were you watching my torture sessions?"
"Adam gave me access. I saw everything, yes."
"What kind of agreement do you have?"
"None. We're just friends. I'm very fond of him and his family. I think he feels affection for me too. We've known each other since he was born..."
"What about me? Doesn't he say anything?"
"He's not stupid enough to do that." Anna's father said, and looked at the watch on his wrist. "The wall should be ready by now."
"Won't it collapse? It's still very fresh, maybe we should put it off until tomorrow."
"No, Anna. Whatever you've become, you still don't know how to use it and... I don't want you locked up with that woman for another day. Do it today, and never come back here. The wall won't crumble. And this place will be cursed."
"I thought I'd never go down those stairs again..." Dad, finish it for me."
"No. I've already taught you about the consequences of our decisions. You need to learn to go all the way."
Anna remembered the man who had been shot in the head because of her and kept quiet. Her father wasn't going to do the dirty work this time. She stood up resignedly.
"You're not even coming down with me?"
"Yes. I'll walk with you." He said and stood up.
They both went to the door leading to the basement and went down together. Anna felt something bad inside her. A feeling that she was doing something very reprehensible, and she didn't like that feeling.
Sarah spoke obscene words to the men who were standing around, staring at each other in silence. Anna's father encouraged her to go ahead and stopped next to the chair where Sarah was sitting.
Anna stopped behind her and began to untie her. Once untied, Sarah leaned on Anna, then hugged herself, and looked at Anna, who had gone to the side of the wall that had just been made right in front of her, with a look of suspicion and surprise.
"You've awakened, but you still haven't allowed the Bruma to manifest! You tricked me, you bitch! What does that mean? Are you going to let me go?"
Anna looked at the men, and one of them, understanding that look as a gesture that the right moment had arrived, approached, made Sarah leave the corner she was in and guided her until she was between the two walls. Sarah had to cross her arms in front of her chest in order to stay in that tight spot. Then the men returned to their work and began to close the front of the wall.
Sarah, at that moment, seemed to realize what Anna had planned for her and began to beg.
"Don't do this, Anna! Please! I'll tell you everything! I know all about your mother. Come closer to me. You're a Bruma now, one touch from you and you'll know the whole truth about your family!"
Anna stood firm and looked indifferent as her father directed her, even though deep down she was regretting it. She knew she had to avenge her mother, but Sarah had been her friend for a while. She knew she couldn't forgive her, but she couldn't tell her heart to stop bleeding for her. It was an involuntary feeling. She would never be like her father. As much as she wished she had his coolness. Sarah wanted just one touch from her, but she feared that this was the witch's way of taking over her body. Nevertheless, she longed to try it. To know everything, with just one touch. She would try to find out more about these Mists.
Anna looked at Henry, and he seemed calm. But wasn't he, like her, hiding his feelings? She would never know. He was the proudest man she knew. And something she hadn't thought of before came to her mind at that moment.
"Dad... Wasn't the man who kept you as his prisoner at Allister's request in love with Mom? He must know things about her... I don't understand. Wasn't she promised to a man from your land?"