The Million-Dollar Heart

Whitford's face twisted in agony as he crumbled to the floor of the cramped cell, his cries reverberating against the cold, grey walls.

Vivienne and Percival barely had time to register what had happened when the guards rushed in. They surveyed the bent iron bars with confusion etched on their faces. "Odd, the energy scan showed he wasn't this powerful. How'd he manage to warp reinforced steel like that?"

Vivienne's ears perked up. "Energy scan?"

You've got to be kidding me! How do you even measure such an intangible thing?

But the guards were dead serious. "The device was sent specifically from the top brass. Developed by some tech whiz, I don't get the science behind it, but the tech guy assured us Whitford wasn't a threat." Yet Whitford had just bent the bars. That meant either the device was a fake, or the technician in charge was a mole from the ancient warrior lineage, planted to monitor any prisoners of their kind! The couple realized this at the same moment.

Without hesitation, Vivienne pushed past the guards and strode into the cell. She fished out a pill from her pocket, pried Whitford's mouth open, and shoved it down his throat. Her movements were so smooth that Whitford had swallowed the pill before the guards could react.

One of them grabbed Vivienne's wrist. "What did you give him?!"

"Xiomara!"

"Vivienne!"

stepped in, separating Vivienne from the guard named Xiomara. "We're from the NH Bureau, and during an investigation, we're authorized to use any means necessary on suspects. Let go of her!" "Xiomara,

impatience that she finally let go, "But you can't just shove anything down a prisoner's throat, don't they have

or marvel at her simplicity. "Sweetheart, how old are you? Didn't your teacher tell you the scum in here have done things so vile that dying a hundred

and seemingly older than Vivienne, flushed in embarrassment and anger at

you've got churning in your gut is the same poison I fed your brother. I don't care what other plans your ancient warrior lineage has,

are you?!" Whitford glared, his voice trembling as

abdomen was relentless, amplified by whatever Vivienne had slipped into the pill. It kept him in a state of

at him, her gaze cold and menacing. "I'm your

The room fell silent.

thought she was one

fierce woman was and why she

knew that Vivienne was always

was shocked by her audacity, not expecting such a delicate-looking woman to speak with such venom. It took another wave of crippling pain to snap him out of

to purple to black as he

the torment, he conceded. "Fine... I'll testify for you... but... you

back, Vivienne mulled over their next move, and before she could ask, Percival knew what was on her mind. "Want to look into that so-called

with gratitude as she

the road ahead. "There's no question of doability. If you want to do it, you do it. I'm with you all the way. The ancient warrior

ranks, he might have some insight into the Grimshaw family's influence." Vivienne, her chin resting on her hand, suddenly remembered the old manuscript. "Once this is over,

ancient text is bound to be

had to deal with the pressing matter of