The first impact came from beneath.
Not above.
Not outside.
Below.
The floor jumped beneath Denise’s feet.
A violent jolt.
The marble cracked further.
Long black fractures raced through the hall like lightning trapped in stone.
The servants screamed.
This time from fear.
Real fear.
The kind that bypassed training.
Bypassed loyalty.
Bypassed centuries of obedience.
Whatever was waking beneath the mansion—
they knew it.
And they were terrified.
“Liam.”
His name left her mouth automatically.
His attention never left the floor.
Not the Witness.
Not the sky.
The floor.
Listening.
Waiting.
The expression on his face made her pulse quicken.
Because it wasn’t anger anymore.
It was concern.
The First Witness noticed too.
Its smile slowly faded.
“That’s unfortunate.”
L
