Dianna's POV
I stared at Harriet's lifeless body on the floor, with blood still spurting from her slashed throat like a spring.
"Ivan.…"
"Let's go," he said and walked out without looking back.
I looked once more at Harriet's body and sighed. The Guardian will be absolutely infuriated when she sees her mother like this. My only regret is that I won't be here to witness the look on her face.
I stared at the flowing blood, and an idea popped into my head.
I placed my flaming hand on Harriet's throat, burning through her neck. Once her head separated from her body, I grabbed a plastic bag and dropped it inside.
"Messy," I muttered.
Then I dipped a stick into the blood and wrote boldly across the floor:
"You want your mother's head?
Then come find us, Aria Dixon."
"Bingo. Trap set," I smiled and walked out with the plastic bag.
.....
I walked into the mansion and found Eric in the sitting room.
"Is Ivan back?" I asked, and he shook his head.
"No."
"I guess he needs some me-time after that brutal murder," I sighed as I sat down and dropped the bag on the floor.
"You guys killed someone? Why the hell am I not surprised?" Eric said, and I shrugged.
"It's not me. Ivan lost control."
"But you could've stopped him if you wanted to," Eric said.
"But I didn't want to. She deserved death for her utterance. I'd have killed her if Ivan hadn't," I said, and Eric sighed.
"I feel like I'm the only cool headed person among all of the Ravenson s."
"You? Cool headed?" I laughed.
"In all the centuries we've spent together, have you ever seen me lose control like you all do? Don't think so," he said.
"Right, Eric. Continue living in your self made lie. But you should know this, the composed ones are always the worst when they finally lose control, because they've been bottling up everything. The day those emotions explode, Eric, everyone around you will suffer for it," I said, and he hesitated.
"I've not been bottling up any emotions, Dianna. I always say whatever's on my mind."
"Right. Where's Gia?" I asked.
"She got angry with me and went off. What were you thinking pairing us together?!" he asked, and I shrugged.
"I was assuming some alone time would pave the way for you guys to settle your differences," I said, and Eric smiled.
"Our differences run deeper than you think."
"What exactly happened between you and Gia? You killed the man she loved, and so what? It's not the first time we've hurt each other, so why's she taking it to heart for so long?"
"Ask Gia that question whenever you see her," Eric said, and I shrugged.
"So I assume you guys weren't able to get any information on the Guardian?" I asked, and he nodded.
"Our investigation was cut short early. What about you guys?" Eric asked.
"The Guardian's name is Aria Dixon, and she turned out to be a murderous psychopath who killed all her siblings to gain the Guardian's power. We left a gift for her, though, courtesy of Ivan," I said.
"What gift?"
"Her mother's dead body," I smiled. "Without her head."
"Without her head?" Eric asked, wide eyed. "Where did her head go? You haven't started eating witches' heads, have you?"
"Shut up, Eric," I said and threw the plastic bag at him. "There it is."
He peeked inside and gagged. "You are so devious, Dianna."
"With the head gone, the Guardian will be infuriated and desperate to reclaim it. That way we don't need to search for her, she'll come to us. It's not called being devious, Eric. It's called being smart," I smiled.
Ivan's POV
"Another glass!" I yelled at the bartender, and she walked up to me.
"You've had eleven already, sir, and you're obviously drunk," she said.
"I am never drunk. Do your job and get me another glass," I said.
"I'm sorry, sir, but we're closing. Our working hours have ended."
"Do you know who I am?" I asked.
"I don't think that matters, sir," she said, and I laughed.
"It really matters, love. If you knew who I am, you'd run so fast without looking back."
"Now I'm curious. Who are you, sir?" she asked, and I stared at her.
"Ivan Ravenson."
"I'm Sophie Griffith. I would say nice to meet you, Ivan, but that'd be a lie, you're making me work past my closing hours. So who are you, Mr. Ivan Ravenson?" she asked, and I blinked at her.
"I just told you who I am."
"You told me your name. Not what makes you so scary that I should run. After all, you look pretty harmless to me."
I broke into laughter.
"Have I said anything funny?" she asked.
"Obviously. I'm anything but harmless, love. Have you never heard of the Cursed Ravensons?"
"The Cursed Ravensons? No. Who are they?" she asked, and I shook my head.
"And here I thought we were popular," I said as I stood up. "Thank you for cheering me up, Sophie Griffith. A tip for your time." I dropped a 10 dollar bill on the table and walked out.
Her voice echoed in my head as I walked down the road
"After all, you look pretty harmless to me."
I chuckled.
"Something funny, brother?" someone said, and I turned to see Gia.
"And where are you coming from?" I asked.
"Why? Keeping tabs on me now?" she asked.
"Maybe I should. You have a knack for making trouble everywhere you go."
"I don't make trouble, brother. Trouble finds me."
"Meaning?"
"I'm always on my own, enjoying my company, and each time, trouble finds me. And I have no choice but to retaliate." she said.
"Did something happen today?" I asked.
"A human recognized me from the theater explosion."
"And?"
"They made me feel like a freak," she said.
"You remember their faces? Say the word and they're dead," I said, and she laughed.
"I won't lie to make you feel better by saying we aren't freaks, because we are. We're the worst freaks walking the earth. But people don't know what these freaks have been through, and they never will. We're already going through enough shit to care about how mere humans see us. If they see us as monsters, then monsters we shall be. Never give people the power to make you feel bad. They don't deserve it."
"Brother…"
"Don't say anything cheesy."
"I was going to say I didn't know you could give such an amazing elder brother speech," Gia said.
"Yeah, it's a miracle. Never knew I still had it in me," I said, and she smiled.
.....
We reached the mansion and found Eric and Dianna eating in the dining room.
"Did you two go MIA together?" Dianna asked.
"We met outside. What's with all the food? Expecting someone?" I asked.
"I'm pregnant now, Ivan. I'm eating for two, so I have a monstrous appetite," Dianna said, still digging in.
Gia went to sit on the couch while I joined the others at the dining table.
"What the fuck is this?!" Gia yelled as she entered the dining room holding a plastic bag.
"What's that?" I asked.
"That's what I'm asking. See for yourself," Gia said, emptying the bag. Harriet's severed head rolled across the floor.
"Stop! You'll stain the floor with the blood!" Dianna said, and we all turned to her.
"Let me save you the trouble of asking, yes, she did it. It's her strategy to lure the Guardian," Eric said.
"Why didn't I think of such an amazing idea?!" I said.
Gia glared. "You're backing her up?!"
"Well, you can't deny that this is one hell of a strategy. We have her mother's head, after all."
"Thank you, Ivan. You're the only one who always understands me," Dianna said.
Suddenly, police sirens blared. The door burst open, and cops stormed inside. I quickly kicked the severed head under the table.
"What is going on here?" Dianna asked, standing.
"You are under arrest for orchestrating the Arcane Theater House explosion, Gia Ravenson," one of the cops said while cuffing her.
"What the fuck are you saying?!" Eric snapped.
"We conducted our investigation, and multiple witnesses identified Gia at the scene," the officer said.
"You can't be serious!" Gia shouted.
"You'll have to come with us for questioning."
"Touch her, and she'll be the last person you touch with those hands," Dianna warned.
"You will not harm them, Dianna," a voice said, Eva Jones stepped in.
"Eva.…"
"Gia did wrong, and she will be taken to the station as per the law. She'll be released if found not guilty. Proceed," Eva told the cops, and they led Gia away.
"You better have a good explanation," I said.
"The cops believe she caused the explosion because she was the only one recognized," Eva explained
"But I'm the one behind it! Gia was trying to help," Dianna said.
"Yes, we know that. The cops don't."
"Help us make them know, Eva. They have to release Gia," Eric said.
"Considering the news reaching me that you mutilated a certain Harriet Dixon, forgive me if I'm not inclined to help you lot" Eva said.
"Harriet died because she deserved it," I said.
"She was a mother trapped by her own daughter. Did she really deserve death?" Eva asked. "Even if she did, did you have to disrespect her body by cutting off her head? Be grateful I haven't reported that too."
"Let's face it, Eva, you have no power over us. If we want, we can destroy this whole city in minutes. Next time you speak to us, I suggest choose your words wisely," Dianna said.
"We're only asking you to get Gia released, not for us, but for the safety of the cops. You know very well that if they get on Gia's nerves, she's capable of killing them all," Eric said.
Eva hesitated.
"I'll see what I can do about Gia's release. In the meantime, stay your hands, Ravensons. Destruction and death follow wherever you go. Just stay put," she said and left.