The weight of the man's words lingers long after he's gone. Be careful who you keep close. They had been a warning, sharp and deliberate, but to what end? My gaze drifts to the darkened window, the night pressing in around the house like a shroud.
Justin's sudden appearance earlier only deepens my unease. He'd said he wanted to help, but can I trust him? Can I trust anyone at this point?
I tighten my grip on the second pendant. Its weight feels heavier tonight, as though it carries the burdens of my parents, their secrets, and the danger I've inherited. The subtle pulse of its magic is a constant reminder that time is running out.
I move through the house, searching every corner for something—anything—that might hold answers. The pendant burned slightly warmer when I stepped into Cassie's study. My breath catches.
Cassie had always been careful about what she left behind, but I knew her well enough to suspect she would hide things even from me. I run my fingers along the edge of the bookshelves, checking for anything out of place. My hand brushes against a book that doesn't feel right—its spine too thick, its texture coarse. I pull it free, revealing a hollowed-out compartment.
Inside is a weathered leather journal.
My fingers tremble as I open it. The pages are filled with my mother's handwriting. The script is familiar, a connection to a past I could barely remember.
He's getting closer. We can feel his presence now, always watching, waiting for us to slip up. We thought we had more time, but we were wrong. He'll stop at nothing until he has what he wants.
My heart pounds. The entry wasn't dated, but the urgency in her words is unmistakable.
The journal goes on to describe someone my parents had been hiding from, someone they feared.
His control is terrifying. He moves through the mortal world as if it were his own. His power is suffocating, his hunger unrelenting. We've done everything we can to protect Sarah, but I fear it won't be enough. If he finds us, there will be no escaping him.
The description sends a chill down my spine. I close the journal, clutching it tightly to my chest. Who was this man my parents were so afraid of? And why did the words feel like they were meant for me?
The pendant warms again, its pulse steady and insistent, almost like it is urging me to keep searching.
I stand and move back into the living room, scanning the shelves and corners for any additional clues. My mind racing with questions, but before I can focus, a sound breaks the silence.
A faint creak of the floorboards below me.
I freeze, every muscle in my body tensing. Someone is here.
I turn slowly, my heart pounding in my ears. The shadows stretch across the room, and I scan them for movement. The pendant pulses faster now, as though it senses the danger I can't see.
"Who's there?" I call out, my voice steadier than I feel.
No answer.
I move cautiously toward the stairs, every step deliberate. The house feels colder now, the air thick with tension. My pulse quickens as I reach the bottom floor.
The hallway is empty, the doors to the bedrooms slightly ajar. I hold my breath, listening for any sound, but there's nothing.
And then, as I turn back toward the staircase, I see her.
"Natalia?"
She stands at the end of the hall, her face pale and drawn, her arms crossed tightly over her chest. Her presence feels out of place, as though she doesn't belong here.
"Did I startle you?" she asks, her tone light, but there's something off about the way she speaks, her words too measured, too smooth.
"What are you doing here?" I manage, trying to keep the fear out of my voice.
She steps into the room, her presence filling the space in a way that feels unnatural. "I came to check on you. You seem… distracted."
Her gaze flickers to the pendant in my hand, something shifts in her expression. For a moment, it's almost like recognition, but it's gone too quickly to be sure.
"I'm fine," I say, the words sharper than I intended. "You don't need to keep checking on me."
Natalia tilts her head, her blonde hair catching the faint light from the window. "Oh, Sarah. You don't understand, do you? None of this is about need."
The room seems colder now, the charged air pressing down on me. "What do you mean?"
She smiles faintly, a dangerous edge to it. "You'll find out soon enough. I just hope you're ready when the time comes."
Before I can respond, she's gone, slipping back into the shadows of the hallway like she was never there.
My hands tremble as I look down at the note again. My mind races, replaying Natalia's words, her unsettling presence.
I glance at the pendant, its faint hum steady under my touch, A chill runs down my spine as I turn back toward the staircase. Heavy footsteps echo from below, deliberate and steady.
I grip the pendant tightly and descend the stairs. When I reach the bottom, I stop, my breath catching in my throat.
********
I stand in the doorway, my heart pounding in my chest as Justin steps into the room. The moment he crosses the threshold, something shifts—his presence feels almost like a breath of air I didn't know I needed. He's here, and for a moment, I forget everything that's been weighing on me.
His eyes catch mine, warm and intense, and for a brief second, I wonder if I'm imagining things.
"Sarah," Justin says softly, his voice low and steady. "I—"
Before he can finish, I shake my head. "Why are you here?" I ask, though part of me already knows the answer. He's always been here, hasn't he? In ways I didn't fully understand. In ways I still can't.
"I came to make sure you're okay," he says, his gaze never leaving mine. "I know things are… complicated, but I can't just walk away."
I open my mouth, ready to say something sharp, something that'll push him away. But I can't. Not when his words, his voice, feel like something I've been longing to hear for far too long.
"I don't know if I can trust you, Justin," I admit, my voice quieter than I want it to be. "Everything feels so messed up right now."
He doesn't flinch at my words. Instead, he steps closer, closing the distance between us, but not enough to crowd me. His presence is comforting in a way I can't explain, but the weight of everything I'm holding back pulls at me.
"I'm not asking you to trust me all at once," he says, his voice soft. "I'm asking for a chance. I know it's a lot, and I know you're carrying a lot on your shoulders. But I want to help you. I want to be there for you, Sarah."
For a moment, all I can do is look at him. The sincerity in his eyes, the warmth in his voice—it's enough to make my heart ache. But I've been hurt before, and trusting people has never been easy.
"You've been trying to protect me, haven't you?" I say, the question hanging in the air between us.
His eyes flicker, and he steps even closer, almost within arm's reach now. "It's not just about protecting you," he says, his voice low, as if speaking the words carries more weight than I can understand. "It's about making sure you don't have to face everything alone. You're stronger than you think, Sarah. But you don't have to do this by yourself."
I look away, my mind racing. This is too much. Too soon. But his words… They tug at something deep inside me.
"You don't know everything," I murmur, feeling the weight of the pendant in my pocket. "I can't let you get caught up in all of this."
He's quiet for a beat, and then, in the softest voice, he says, "I'm already caught up in it, Sarah. Whether you want me here or not. I'm not going anywhere. And neither are you."
A shiver runs through me, the truth of his words sinking in deeper than I want it to.
"I just want you to be safe," he adds quietly, his hand almost reaching for mine, but stopping just short. "I can't make any promises about what comes next, but I promise I'll do everything I can to help you through it."
I don't know what to say. The words catch in my throat. So instead, I just nod. Slowly, reluctantly. But it's enough. For now.
He watches me for a long moment, a hint of something unreadable in his gaze. But then, just like that, the tension eases, and he gives me a small, almost imperceptible smile. "Take care of yourself, Sarah. I'll be here when you're ready."
Before I can respond, he turns and walks out of the room, leaving me standing in the silence, a thousand thoughts swirling through my head.
A part of me wants to shut it all down, keep him at arm's length, but another part—something deeper—longs for the connection he offers. Help. He wants to help me. But how much can I let him in?
I shake my head, trying to clear the swirling thoughts. I need to focus. The truth is, I don't have the luxury of time. The Court is coming, and so is Ryan's brother. There's no time to think about what Justin wants from me, or if I can trust him.
With a sigh, I walk back to the desk, the weight of the pendant heavy in my pocket. I pull it out, tracing the intricate patterns with my fingers. What am I supposed to do with this power?
My thoughts are interrupted by a soft knock at the door. I freeze, my breath catching in my throat. Who else could it be? My pulse quickens as I make my way to the door and open it cautiously.
There's no one there. Only the cold, still night outside, the air thick with something unspoken. But my gut tells me something's not right. I step outside cautiously, my senses on high alert. The street is quiet, empty. No sign of movement.
A sudden breeze ruffles my hair, and I turn, expecting to find Justin standing there, but instead, I see a shadow in the distance. Someone—or something—watching. I can feel it, the weight of their gaze.
I take a step back, my hand reaching instinctively for the pendant. It thrums under my fingers, and I can almost hear it, a low hum that matches the rhythm of my heartbeat. I'm being watched.
I don't know how, but I know it's true. I spin on my heel, making my way back inside, locking the door behind me.
The feeling lingers though—the strange, oppressive sense that I'm not alone, that something—or someone—is waiting for me in the shadows.
I take a deep breath, trying to steady myself. No. I can't be afraid. Not now.
But the quiet stillness of the house feels more like a trap than a sanctuary now. My mind flashes to Justin's words earlier—I'm already caught up in it—and I realize with a jolt that this is bigger than I thought.
Because now, I know: it's not just my past that's haunting me. It's my future too.
*******
Natalia's words echo in my mind: You'll find out soon enough. I just hope you're ready when the time comes.
Her presence felt wrong, but the worst part was the look in her eyes—cold, calculating, and almost… knowing. She saw the pendant. She recognized it.
I tighten my grip on the pendant and glance at the journal still sitting on the desk. My parents left me these fragments of their lives, clues to a past I barely understand. But none of it feels like enough.
The sound of heavy footsteps echoes in my ears again, though I know it's just a memory. Or is it? My skin prickles as I glance toward the shadows stretching across the living room.
I stand, the weight of the pendant grounding me, and make my way back to the desk. The journal lies open, its pages filled with my mother's hurried script. My fingers tremble as I flip to another entry, hoping for something—anything—that might make sense of what's happening.
The Court is relentless. They've already sent their first emissary. If he's found us, it's only a matter of time before the others follow. Sarah must never know. Not until she's ready.
I close the journal and grip the edges of the desk, trying to steady myself. Natalia's presence, the pendant's pulsing heat, the shadow watching from the street—it's all connected. I just don't know how.
The house feels too quiet, the shadows too deep. I glance at the time on my phone. Midnight. It's late, but I know I won't sleep tonight. Not with the sense of something pressing in on all sides.
I grab the pendant and the journal and head upstairs, back to my room. The air feels colder here, heavier. The moonlight spills through the window, painting the room in pale silver.
Sitting on the edge of my bed, I open the journal again, skimming through the pages. The entries grow darker, more frantic, as if my mother had been running out of time.
Ryan thought we could outrun this. I'm not so sure anymore. Their reach is endless, and their patience is absolute. He didn't understand the cost of what he'd done. If we fail, it's not just us who'll pay the price—it's her. It's Sarah.
The pendant warms in my hand, its pulse steady, almost reassuring. I glance down at its intricate patterns, tracing them with my thumb. I don't understand its power, but I can feel it now, alive and waiting.
A faint rustling sound pulls me from my thoughts. My head snaps up, and my gaze darts to the window. For a moment, I see nothing but the swaying branches of the tree outside.
And then, a shadow moves.
It's quick, barely more than a flicker, but I know I'm not imagining it. Someone's out there. Watching.
I grip the pendant tighter, its heat flaring in response, and stand slowly. My pulse thunders in my ears as I cross the room and reach for the curtain.
The shadow is gone.
But the feeling of being watched lingers, wrapping around me like a suffocating fog.
I take a step back, the pendant's glow faint but steady, and close the curtain. Whatever's out there, it can wait until morning.
For now, I need to be ready—the answers are coming, whether I'm ready for them or not.