"Lana, I think we had a misunderstanding," Janet started. Lana scoffed and cocked her head to the side, scrutinizing her.
"How so?" Lana asked.
"I am not of my right mind. I am just upset because…" Janet started but Lana interrupted her.
"My truth serum is 90% accurate, Janet. You are just fine. You only had the neck injury and it is already starting to heal due to how easy it is for you to talk now. You can't lie your way out of this one," Lana explained.
Janet's mind raced, searching for a way to break to get herself out of this. She saw now how Lana and Kasia were related. This wasn't the shy, compassionate girl she thought she knew.
"This isn't like you, Lana," Janet said. "What happened to you? Did something happen to make you act like this? Are they putting you up to this?"
Lana's lip curled slightly, a hint of amusement in her voice. "No one is putting me up to this. I wanted to do this."
Janet's heart sank. She had underestimated Lana, mistaking her kindness for weakness. Now, as she lay helpless before her, Janet realized just how dangerous that assumption had been.
"We're friends. You could've just asked me. You didn't have to drug me," Janet stated as she was attempting to think of angle to work.
Lana leaned in closer, her auburn hair falling like a curtain around them. "Friends don't set each other up to get hurt or killed."
"What are you talking about? I didn't set you up," Janet stammered.
"How did the Hunters know where to find me? How did the Hunters find out about Milo?" Lana asked.
"I told them about Milo. I didn't tell them about you," Janet answered honestly. She closed her eyes, fighting back tears of frustration.
"Milo was a friend and you set him up to be murdered," Lana snapped.
Janet's eyes snapped open. "He's dead?"
Lana sneered. "Don't act surprised. You knew what they were planning to do to him. He must've been close to finding you out and you had to get rid of him, right?"
"He knew too much and I didn't need him revealing anything to Ethan until everything was put in place," Janet replied. "Look Lana, you don't know the full story. I have a reason for doing this. You just have to trust me."
Lana's eyes narrowed, a flicker of something unreadable passing through them. She reached for the glass of water on the nightstand, the same one she'd offered Janet earlier.
"You keep forgetting what and who I am," Lana said, her voice low and controlled. Without breaking eye contact, she raised the glass to her lips and drank deeply.
Janet's eyes widened in surprise. "What are you doing?"
Lana set the empty glass down with a soft clink. "I'm thirsty and I have nothing to hide unlike you."
"This isn't like you, Lana," Janet repeated, desperately searching for any sign of the gentle soul she once considered a friend. "You were always so kind, so hesitant to hurt anyone. What happened to you?"
Lana leaned in close. "Not every hunter can be a fighter like Kasia," she said, her voice taking on a dangerous edge. "Some of us are better suited to... other methods."
Janet's heart raced. She'd gravely underestimated Lana's capabilities, and now she was paying the price.
Lana pulled back slightly. "I never wanted it to come to this, especially not with someone I once called a friend." A flicker of genuine sadness crossed her face before hardening once more. "But it doesn't matter now. I'll do anything - anything - to protect my sister."
Janet's throat constricted, her voice barely a whisper. "What do you want from me, Lana?"
Lana's lips curved into a cold smile. "The truth, Janet. When did you decide to betray Ethan?"
Janet's mind raced. The truth serum coursed through her veins. She clamped her hand over her mouth, desperately fighting the urge to speak.
Lana's eyes glinted with a mix of excitement and disappointment. She reached into her pocket, producing a switchblade with a metallic click. "I really didn't want to do it this way," she said. Her eyes flickered with regret but that was soon replaced with excitement. "But I can't deny, it's getting my blood pumping."
Janet attempted to lunge forward, but her limbs felt like lead. Panic surged through her as she felt weak. She couldn't even lengthen her nails into claws.
Lana's lips curled into a cruel smirk. "Oh, did I forget to mention? It wasn't just truth serum in that water."
With surprising agility, Lana climbed onto the bed, straddling Janet's weakened form. The cool metal of the blade traced Janet's cheekbone.
"Are you going to keep resisting?" Lana asked. "Or are you ready to talk?"
Janet kept her mouth closed and Lana sliced Janet's cheek, earning a yelp of pain. "What the hell are you doing?" Janet exclaimed.
"I told you I would do ANYTHING to protect my sister. I need to know everything you're involved in," Lana explained. "I put enough wolfsbane in your water to keep you weak for about an hour. There is a lot I can do within an hour."
Janet refused to say anything. She could handle this. She could still withstand Lana. Lana smirked and began to cut into Janet. Janet's screams filled the room as Lana pinned her arms with one hand and continued to stab and cut at Janet.
The door to Janet's hospital room opened and Lily entered. "What is going in here?" Lily questioned and then covered her mouth in shock as she saw the bloody mess.
"I'm getting her to talk," Lana said simply and Lily closed the door behind her.
"Help me," Janet exclaimed. "Lana has lost her mind."
"She can't help you only I can help you," Lana snapped, slapping Janet across the face.
"Lily, please, help me," Janet moaned in pain.
Lily looked conflicted but she shook her head at Janet. "I'm sorry Janet. She's right. If you don't answer her questions, you're going to the dungeon."
"See I'm doing you a kindness. What do you think your pack will do to you now they know you're a traitor," Lily mused.
Janet's resolve crumbled. This meant everyone knew. There was no way she was getting out of this now. "What…what do you want to know Lana?" she asked.
"Finally, you get it. How long were you planning this?" Lana asked as she released Janet and got off the bed to wipe her bloody hands clean.
"It's been years," Janet choked out, tears stinging her eyes. "First with the rogues, then... then the hunters."
Lana's eyebrows furrowed. "Why would you betray your own kind? How could you?"
"I never swore allegiance to Ethan as we are related. I am not bound by the pack bond and Ethan never forced it. He was always too trusting," Janet replied. Lana and Lily didn't agree with that as Ethan was quick to get rid of rogues or any threats to the pack. If that was too lenient, then they wouldn't want to find out how strict she wanted Ethan to be.
"That doesn't explain your betrayal," Lana said.
"He's the reason my entire family died,"