Chapter Three
The Supernatural Prison stood upon a lonely island at the center of an enchanted lake, deep within the heart of the Fairy Realm.
From a distance, it resembled an ancient castle torn from the pages of a storybook, its towering silver spires rising through curtains of pale pink mist that drifted endlessly across the shimmering water.
Sunlight glistened across the lake’s glass-like surface, the faintly glowing water shimmering with the ancient magic hidden within its depths.
A dense forest of towering trees surrounded the lake, forming a natural barrier that few dared to cross.
The prison was feared throughout the six realms and was widely regarded as one of the most secure and impenetrable strongholds ever created.
However, its reputation came from far more than its massive walls, enchanted gates, or the countless magical safeguards woven into every stone that made up its foundation.
The fairies and pixies wielded unparalleled power over the forces of nature, making them the perfect guardians to watch over the prison grounds.
Powerful illusion spells concealed watchtowers hidden throughout the forest, and monstrous stone guardians came to life whenever danger approached.
The very land itself was alive with ancient protective magic, turning the entire area surrounding the island into a veritable deathtrap against any potential intruder.
The lake confused any unwanted guests, causing boats to drift in endless circles until their occupants lost their minds to hallucinations whispered on the wind.
Even the very air surrounding the prison prevented escape.
Teleportation magic failed within its boundaries, shifter abilities were suppressed, and all other supernatural powers were weakened.
But those defenses paled in comparison to the prison itself.
Each and every stone that made up the Supernatural prison was imbued with powerful spells that drained the magic from its inhabitants.
The more magic that was discharged, the more powerful the prison’s defenses became.
It was a terrifying cycle of efficiency, but it was necessary to keep the prisoners safely locked away.
Only the most dangerous beings in existence were brought to the prison, including rogue shifters, psychotic demons, corrupt mages, and fallen immortals so ancient their names had been erased from history.
Every inmate was locked behind layers of enchanted iron, sacred runes, and powerful spells designed specifically to contain their unique abilities.
To the wardens, guards, and magical protectors who maintained it, the prison was a source of immense honor and pride.
Defending its walls was considered one of the highest callings in the Fairy Realm, entrusted only to the most disciplined and loyal.
They were strong spellcasters and fierce warriors bound by sacred oaths who dedicated their lives to ensuring that no one imprisoned within those walls would ever escape.
They did not merely guard the prisoners. They safeguarded peace itself, standing as the final barrier between order and chaos.
Tales of the prison were spoken of in hushed voices, its reputation carrying a mythical weight that reached every corner within the six realms. For the guilty, merely hearing its name was enough to stir fear deep within their hearts.
For others, the prison was more than a fortress.
It stood as a powerful symbol woven into the very fabric of their society.
A grim warning to those who dared threaten the balance between good and evil, and a solemn promise that justice would always endure.
“I don’t know whether to thank you or punch you for including me in your little prison project,” Claudia Snow grumbled.
Lana sent her friend an amused grin. Despite the snow leopard’s snarky remarks, she knew Claudia would have been supremely pissed if she hadn’t been included.
“You know you wanted to come with me.”
“I really do,” Claudia admitted with a little laugh. “When else would I have the chance to visit the Supernatural Prison? This way, I don’t even have to commit a crime to appease my curiosity.”
It was a little surprising that she and her roommate got along so well.
Lana had expected tension, awkward silences, or at least the usual discomfort that came from sharing a living space with someone she had never met before.
But she got along with Claudia Snow better than she could have ever expected.
Originally, she had every intention of securing a private suite at the magical academy.
She valued her space, her privacy, and the ability to keep certain parts of her life carefully guarded.
Still, when the acceptance letter from the magical academy arrived, and she noticed she had been assigned a roommate, she hadn’t complained.
Living alone might have been more comfortable, but it would have made it harder to connect with other students. Especially since that was something she freely admitted having trouble doing.
Of course, trusting a stranger came with risks, especially in a school filled with other supernaturals. As soon as she received her information, Lana immediately began looking into Claudia Snow. However, the deeper she looked, the less concerned she became.
In fact, she was enviably normal.
Born and raised in Mystic, Claudia came from a pride whose members mostly lived within the city limits.
She was a tall, imposing figure who carried herself like some sort of modern Valkyrie.
Her black and white hair was untouched by dyes or glamour spells, framing a beautiful face with sharp features in dramatic contrast. Combined with her easy confidence and cool sense of style, it made her nearly impossible to ignore.
Despite her rather intimidating appearance, Claudia exuded a warmth that put people at ease.
She had grown up surrounded by siblings, noise, and constant activity.
Her parents adored their children and had built a home filled with love, laughter, arguments, and chaos in equal measure.
They lived on the other side of the city, but it was close enough that she could return home whenever she wanted.
Even though Lana and Claudia could not have been more different in personality, the two of them had become fast friends.
While Lana could be spoiled, arrogant, and deceptively secretive, Claudia was refreshingly straightforward.
She said what she meant and wore her emotions openly instead of hiding behind carefully crafted walls.
They had only known each other for a few months, but sometimes, that was all it took to form a true friendship. Claudia was the first one Lana had consulted when she considered writing her thesis about how she could utilize her ability during investigations.
The snow leopard shifter had noticed her aversion to being touched and had cut through the bullshit and directly asked her why.
Rather than being surprised or scared of what she could do, Claudia had been curious about Lana’s ability.
In fact, she had immediately offered to see what Lana could read off of her and wouldn’t stop nagging her until she reluctantly agreed.
She had breathed out a sigh of relief when the darkest secret she saw was when Claudia had injured a member of her pride during a sparring match. While that alone wasn’t cause for any concern, the fact that she had wished she had done even more damage to the asshole made her feel guilty.
In Lana’s opinion, the wanker probably deserved it.
Weighing the pros and cons, she decided to move forward with her thesis about her ability for her independent studies course.
After thoroughly vetting Professor Aurelia Towers, she figured she would be a good sounding board for her project.
The professor had willingly allowed Lana to read her in order to test her ability.
When she had accurately discovered her extreme dislike for her mother-in-law, the professor hadn’t been embarrassed or angry.
Actually, she’d been delighted that Lana read her accurately.
Of course, that was a secret she had promised to keep between them.
Professor Towers had been the one to encourage her to submit her proposal to the Supernatural Council along with a revised version of her thesis.
While Lana had never truly considered the council would approve her proposal this early on, she and Claudia were now waiting on the shoreline for their official escort to pick them up and transport them to the prison in order to test her secret-extracting ability.
“The carriage ride through the forest was kind of cool, but waiting for a boat to take us to the island feels a little like we are entering purgatory,” Claudia pointed out.
“I was thinking the same thing. It’s a little creepy, but you have to admit, the view of the lake is quite lovely,” Lana said, trying to sound more cheerful than she felt. “Even though we can’t see the entire structure, it looks like a castle floating on an island made of pink clouds.”
“Yeah, it’s almost too pretty to be a prison. It’s strange. Normally, I would have the urge to stick my hands or feet into the water to test the temperature, but I’m not even the least bit tempted. Maybe the water is cursed.”
Lana groaned softly. “Don’t say that. I’m already not too keen about having to sail across it.”
“I’m surprised the fairies who brought us here just left us by ourselves.”
“I’m sure someone is still watching us. Same goes for the guest cottage they have us staying in.”