"You're blaming the wrong people," Lana tried again, her voice firm but measured. "You should be blaming the humans that caused all this. At least Ethan is trying to fix-"
"Fix it?" Janet spat, cutting Lana off, her tone laced with venom. "He stood there, Lana. Stood right beside his father while all this was going on. Do you understand what that means? He didn't just watch- he condoned it!"
"You don't know that," Lana countered, her patience fraying. "Did you actually see him just stand there? Did you see him not lift a finger to help? Or are you assuming the worst because it's easier to hate him?"
For a moment, Janet faltered, her gaze flickering with uncertainty. But it was gone as quickly as it appeared. "Don't. Don't try to manipulate me with your 'what-ifs.' Ethan wasn't some clueless kid! He knew exactly what was happening. He could've challenged his father. He could've stopped all of this at any time."
"Have you ever asked him if he did that?" Lily interjected from her corner. "Have you ever just sat down and asked him what happened? Really listened?"
"I didn't need to." Janet's response was defensive, sharp.
"So, that's a no then. You didn't even hear him out," Lily grimaced, shaking her head in disappointment.
"I know what happened. I don't need him to fill in the blanks." Her fists clenched, trembling at her sides as her voice dropped into a low growl. "I just want him broken. I want him to feel every ounce of what I felt that night. Every scream, every betrayal, every drop of blood burned into his soul until it crushes him."
"This- this isn't justice," Lily said, shaking her head. "It's madness, Janet. You can't bring back what you lost by destroying him. You know that, deep down."
"Don't you dare talk to me about justice!" Janet's voice cracked as she spat the words. "Justice died with my family! This isn't about bringing anything back. Nothing can fix that. This is about making sure he feels it. Feels all of it."
"You don't think he already feels it?" Lily pushed, her tone softening. "You don't think he doesn't feel guilt about the situation?"
Janet let out a bitter laugh, hollow and raw. "Of course he does. He covered it up, but I want him to pay. I want revenge. Revenge is all I have left. And I will burn everything- and everyone- if it means ruining him."
"Even yourself? Is that really all you want? To destroy him, even if it destroys you too?" Lana questioned.
"Especially if it destroys me." Janet's laugh was colder this time. "Because then maybe-" her voice cracked again, this time harder to conceal, "maybe I'll finally stop feeling this... emptiness."
"You didn't have to work with the Hunters to do this, though," Lana said. "You could have continued working with the rogues."
"The rogues were useless and the Hunters were more organized and had conviction," Janet explained, "but they just like rogues were nothing but pawns on the board. Tools. Weapons to wield when convenient."
"Convenient?" Lana snapped, her composure cracking under the heat of Janet's words. "Are you that egotistical? Do you really think you have the upper hand with them? That they won't stab you in the back the moment they're done using you?"
"This isn't about trust or loyalty, Lana." Janet's voice was low, menacing. "I don't care what they do afterward. I only care that they do what they promised: destroy everything Ethan holds dear."
"You're insane," Lana breathed, shaking her head in disbelief. "I thought- hoped- there was a way to reach you. But you're just… insane."
"Do you think I wanted this?!" Janet shouted, her voice cracking like thunder in the small room. "Do you think I chose to become this… this thing? This hollow shell that's nothing but hate and rage?"
"You didn't have to let it consume you," Lana countered, her voice rising. "You could have relied on others- trusted the people who care about you- but instead, you chose to stay angry."
"What do you know about this pain? You know nothing!" Janet snapped, her words venomous.
"Stop trying to be a martyr. You are not the only person that was harmed," Lana said firmly, her eyes locking onto Janet's. "My family was taken from me too. They were slaughtered. And I didn't let it destroy me."
"Good for you," Janet spat sarcastically.
Lana stared at her, anger and frustration warring with the pity that threatened to overwhelm her. How dare Janet sit there, so smug in her hatred, after all the harm she'd caused? But then there was the other feeling, just as fierce and unwelcome: pity.
"It's not too late to stop. To try and make things right," Lana continued, her voice softening further.
Janet's laugh was humorless, her eyes filled with despair. "Make things right? Are you playing good cop now? Don't sit here and act like you weren't threatening to torture not even a few minutes ago. There's no going back from this. There's no 'right' left, Lana. I knew that when I put everything into motion."
"That's not true," Lily said, stepping forward hesitantly. "It's never too late to try."
"What Lily? Do you think I'll have a redeeming moment like your ex and die valiantly trying to help?" Janet taunted. "You're a fool if you think that. I don't want to be saved. I don't regret anything."
Silence hung between them. Neither Lana nor Lily knew what to say. Lily looked away from Janet with pure disgust. She couldn't understand how someone so close to her could be a selfish traitor. Lana scoffed, twirling the knife in her hand as she felt no attachment to Janet. Once she found out she was the traitor, she had already written her off even more, knowing that she was doing this all for her selfish desires and she wasn't being manipulated.
"You've lost though," Lana said finally, her voice steady. "We found all of your plans. You won't be able to finish what you started. We'll make sure of it."
Janet's gaze hardened, her walls slamming back into place. "If that's what you think, then leave. Stop wasting both of our time. Send me to the dungeons and be done with it."