《Pentacle》


 Tempest Unbound

    Acacia crouched in the shadowy confines of the closet¡ªaccompanied only by her shallow, trembling breaths. Her heart hammered so hard against her chest that she feared it might give her away. Her gaze shot to the thin sliver of light under the door as the sound of approaching footsteps grew louder. She tensed, holding her breath.


    Her trepidation surged as a shadow passed by the light. The closet air seemed to come alive, responding to her terror. She fought to control her breathing, to no avail. Drawing in a sharp breath, the air inside the closet stirred around her.


    She pressed against the back wall, watching the doorknob twist and the door creak open, flooding the closet with light. Acacia squinted, trying to make out the silhouette of the woman looming in the doorway, arms akimbo.


    ¡°Found her!¡± the woman shouted, exasperated.


    Acacia¡¯s heart sank; she was caught. Releasing a breath, she muttered, ''Fuck.''


    ¡°Language!¡± the woman reprimanded, stepping aside to let Acacia out. As Acacia stormed past, lightning flashed, illuminating her bedroom, followed by a wall-shaking crash of thunder.


    Raindrops splattered against the woman¡¯s arm, drawing her attention to the open window. ¡°How many times have we told you to close the windows when it rains? You¡¯ll ruin the molding.¡±


    She moved to shut the window, pausing as her gaze caught a shrouded figure beneath a streetlight, seemingly watching them. She shook her head, dismissing the absurd thought as she slammed the windowpane closed with a shudder. Surely, no sane person would be out in this deluge.


    ¡°Shit. Forgot,¡± Acacia muttered, flopping onto her bed. ¡°Sorry, Sharon.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s still mom,¡± Sharon corrected her.


    ¡°At least until I file for emancipation,¡± Acacia retorted.


    Sharon smirked. ¡°Or until your dad and I sign you up for reform school for the next four years of your life.¡±


    Acacia rolled her eyes and grabbed her headphones. ¡°You¡¯re hilarious,¡± she said, deadpan.


    ¡°We¡¯ve been looking everywhere for you,¡± Sharon scolded. ¡°We missed your birthday dinner reservations.¡±


    ¡°I told you I wasn¡¯t going if Mickey wasn¡¯t invited,¡± Acacia said defiantly, the tension in the room growing thicker by the second.


    ¡°The restaurant doesn¡¯t allow juvenile delinquents, and neither does this family.¡±


    Ignoring her mom¡¯s retort, Acacia groaned and slid her headphones over her ears, turning up the volume until her mother¡¯s voice was just a distant murmur. She closed her eyes, letting her thoughts drift to Mickey. They met at school last year, and since then, they¡¯d become inseparable. Acacia wasn¡¯t rushing to get married or anything. She was nearly fifteen, not nearly insane.


    It''s just that Mickey loved the bright red streaks ¡°littering¡± Acacia¡¯s beautiful black hair, as her parents put it. He didn¡¯t care that her closet was filled with black, gray, and red ripped or skull-peppered clothing. In fact, he thought it made the blue streaks in her silvery eyes all the more alluring.


    Mickey was everything Acacia¡¯s parents feared. He was the complete opposite of what they wanted in a boyfriend for their daughter, which scared them because it rendered their arguments for her to dress and behave differently moot. They wanted an ordinary daughter, but Acacia wanted to be anything but.


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    As Acacia tried to block out her mother¡¯s nagging, Sharon rummaged through her closet, eliciting a groan of protest. Acacia felt her mother nudge her combat boot and cracked one eye open to see a pale yellow dress dangling over her. She watched her mom¡¯s scowling face and moving lips, but the music successfully drowned out what she was saying.


    Sharon¡¯s eyes narrowed at Acacia¡¯s unresponsiveness, and with a huff, she yanked the headphones off her daughter¡¯s head.


    ¡°Hey!¡± Acacia protested, reaching for the headphones.


    ¡°I mean it, Acacia. Put this dress on and get in the car, or else¡­¡± Sharon trailed off, letting the unspoken threat linger.


    Acacia returned her mother¡¯s surly stare, arms crossed in defiance. But just as they began, their standoff was cut short by a gruff voice coming from the hallway.


    ¡°Now, Acacia!¡± her dad barked, a rare but authoritative intervention that usually left Acacia at an extreme disadvantage.


    ¡°Fine,¡± Acacia huffed, leaping off the bed, too angry to notice the way the bottom of the dress ruffled with her exhale.


    Her mom smirked victoriously. ¡°Hurry up so we can make our new reservation and wipe off some of that eyeliner. We¡¯re not going to a funer¡ª¡±


    Sharon stopped abruptly when she saw the fear etched on her daughter¡¯s face. ¡°Acacia?¡±


    Acacia remained silent, but her mother followed her gaze and gasped at the sight of a man standing behind her. He was clad in layers of tattered, musty brown clothing.


    However, this was no ordinary man. Oh no¡ªmen had eyes, noses, and mouths, but this creature was a far cry from anything that could be classified as human. Its skin appeared to be melting off its body, forming thick, burnished-olive flaps along the sides of its head. The flaps overlapped where its nose and mouth should have been, and it did, in fact, have eyes¡ªglowing crimson sockets devoid of emotion, save for an insatiable hunger aimed at Acacia.


    Without hesitation, Sharon sprang between the monster and her daughter, ready for action. Her body went taut as she drew a pendant from around her neck, reciting, ¡°North, west, south, east,¡± eyes locked on the beast.


    The monster¡¯s flaps quivered in response, and a deafening shriek emanated from it. Enraged by her words, it stretched its head towards the ceiling until the veins in its neck glowed a vibrant yet murky green.


    ¡°Mom¡ª¡± Acacia started, but the monster cut her off, whipping its head towards Sharon, revealing rows of vicious fangs. Each row only became visible after it released a vile sludge ball at Sharon.


    Acacia froze, paralyzed by her mom¡¯s agonizing screams as the sludge encased her, bubbling and hissing as it devoured her flesh. Then, the worst sound Acacia never knew existed flooded the room. Silence.


    Acacia¡¯s stomach churned as the putrid scent of charred flesh assaulted her nostrils, a brutal reminder of her mother¡¯s grim fate. A snicker from across the room sent a jolt of fear through her tense body. She watched as the beast tilted its head, locking its scarlet stare onto her. Her heart raced as she closed her eyes and covered her face, bracing for the creature¡¯s imminent attack.


    But instead of being struck by acidic spit, a powerful gust of wind blew through the room. Opening her eyes, Acacia saw the beast pinned against the wall, struggling against a wind that appeared to emanate from¡ªher hands? She couldn¡¯t understand how it was possible.


    ¡°Who cares?¡± she exclaimed, watching the monster rise from the ground. She spun to flee for the door but stopped when her dad burst in, his eyes darting around the room in panic.


    His gaze found the gruesome remains of his wife, and he let out a cry of despair, ¡°Sharon!¡±


    Acacia¡¯s voice, trembling with terror, pleaded, ¡°Dad, no!¡±


    Her father¡¯s head snapped up from his despair just in time to see the creature pushing off the wall, its bloodthirsty gaze fixed on Acacia. The monster opened its mouth, and a thick bile sped toward her.


    Acacia squeezed her eyes shut, convinced her luck had run out. Then, the second worst sound filled the air. Her father¡¯s screams were more guttural than her mother¡¯s but just as devastating. Acacia crumpled to the floor beside him, her tears swelling as she watched the acid pop and sizzle his skin.


    ¡°Dad! Dad,¡± she sobbed, reaching out to touch him but recoiling as the acid seared her fingers. ¡°Daddy?¡± she whispered, a mix of fear and disbelief in her voice.


    Glancing up, she saw her mother¡¯s lifeless form nearby. Their silence was palpable, a stark reminder that she was now alone.


    A faint gust of wind whooshed past Acacia, sending her a chilling reassurance she wasn¡¯t entirely alone. Her body trembled uncontrollably like a leaf caught in the violent storm outside.


    Now, on either side of the monster, an additional abomination leered at her. They reveled in her anguish, hissing and cackling with wicked delight as they bared their razor-sharp fangs. The grotesque trio seemed to feed off Acacia¡¯s distress, their presence amplifying the darkness that enveloped the room.


    Acacia¡¯s vision blurred as she scooted towards the closet, too terrified and despondent to flee from their menacing advance.

 Smoky Veils of Home

    Petunia Everthorne stood within a dense, white fog, her breath hitching as the image of the terrified girl faded away. The haunted mist illustration clung to her olive complexion, sending shivers down her spine. She swept her long, ebony hair behind her ear and surveyed her new surroundings: an endless wooden path flanked by an abyss on either side. Her violet eyes narrowed as she glanced behind, only to find the same never-ending trail, leaving her with little choice of where to go.


    Suddenly, the air rippled a few feet in front of her, causing her to groan in protest. A moment later, an elderly woman with long silvery hair and lilac eyes materialized from the once lively atmosphere. Petunia''s heart skipped a beat as she recognized the woman. She was as mesmerizing as Petunia, with a twinkle in her gaze and a warm smile.


    ¡°I told you to stop doing this, Aggie,¡± Petunia scowled, crossing her arms, unfazed by the woman''s unusual arrival.


    ¡°You never listened to me when you were growing up, so I think I¡¯ve earned the right to ignore you now,¡± Aggie replied, the creases around her eyes deepening as the edge of her lips curled upward. She approached Petunia, closing the gap between them. ¡°So, no hello for your great aunt, huh?¡±


    ¡°What do you want?¡± Petunia asked, her tone sharp.


    ¡°It¡¯s time to come home,¡± Aggie answered.


    ¡°Not happening,¡± Petunia snapped, determined to keep moving down the path despite not knowing where it led.


    ¡°You¡¯ve always been so stubborn,¡± Aggie grumbled as she followed her. ¡°But you don¡¯t have a choice, Nia.¡±


    ¡°Orders like that is exactly why I¡¯m not going back,¡± Petunia retorted, quickening her pace, hoping to lose her great aunt in the darkness.


    "Petunia, you can''t keep running away from your responsibilities. You saw what''s happening, I know it," Aggie''s voice reverberated through Petunia''s mind as she materialized in front of her. She grabbed Petunia''s arm with a vice-like grip, her countenance solemn. "We don''t have much time left."


    "I said no, Aggie! Let go of me¡ªand stay out of my dreams," Petunia snapped, jerking her arm from Aggie''s grasp. Her momentum betrayed her, sending her tumbling over the edge to plummet into the dark void¡¯s depths.


    ***


    Petunia bolted upright in bed, heart pounding, lungs gasping for air, and eyes still clenched shut. Even though she knew it was only a dream, the sensation of falling to her doom was never an easy one. A piercing scream wrenched her from the lingering traces of her daze.


    "Mommy!" cried a shrill, desperate voice, every syllable laced with urgency. "Mommy!"


    ¡°Zinny?¡± Petunia tried to respond, but her words were garbled by a bout of coughing. Opening her eyes, she was greeted by a thick plume of black smoke that stung them. She instantly realized flames were devouring the room, the fire hungrily inching down the hallway. ¡°Zinnia!¡±


    Petunia sprang from her bed, guided by the faint, terrified cries that led to her daughter''s bedroom door, now consumed in a roaring inferno.


    ¡°Zinny, it¡¯s okay, Mommy¡¯s here,¡± Petunia shouted, her voice cutting through the curtain of fire.


    ¡°Mommy!¡± The tiny voice broke through a fit of coughs.


    Extending her hand towards the burning wall, Petunia quickly withdrew it, feeling her skin blister from the searing heat.


    ¡°You can do this. You have to do this,¡± she whispered fiercely to herself, pacing before the doorway, but what exactly was she going to do? Zinnia''s anguished scream spurred her into action. Petunia¡¯s eyes flashed a silvery blue, and a matching crackling light swathed her like a suit of armor. She rushed into the room, coughing and wheezing, as she sprinted to Zinnia, who was huddled in the corner of her once pink bedroom. The young girl whimpered, cradling her scorched leg.


    ¡°It¡¯s alright,¡± Petunia soothed, pulling Zinnia into a hug as the blue shield expanded to surround them both. She immediately dashed from the room and down the fiery staircase, only to skid to a halt when a beam crashed down, blocking the door¡ªand their path to freedom.


    Gasping and choking from the acrid fumes, Petunia frantically searched for another way out, but every direction welcomed her with the same inferno leaping towards them, eager to devour everything in its path.


    Petunia grabbed her head as she cradled Zinnia close. Her vision ebbed in and out as the noxious fumes overpowered her. She shook her dizzying head, fighting to focus, but it was futile. Gradually, her protective shield waned along with her vision until the searing heat touched her skin directly, and the sweltering roar of the flames drowned out her excruciating screams.


    ¡°It¡¯s alright. We¡¯re alright,¡± Petunia murmured, more to reassure herself than her wailing daughter. She clutched Zinnia tighter as her legs began to tremble and buckle under the strain, her vision blurring further. She collapsed to her knees, coughing violently. Looking into her daughter¡¯s tear-filled dark brown eyes, glowing in the firelight, she made one last attempt to stand for her sake, But her strength deserted her. She closed her eyes, rocking Zinnia softly. ¡°It¡¯s okay. It¡¯s okay. It¡¯s¡ª¡±


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    A gentle breeze brushed against Petunia¡¯s face, chilling tears she hadn¡¯t realized stained her cheeks. Her eyes snapped open, and she stared in shock at the scene before her. Flames danced and twisted around their house as if mocking their plight, but now she and Zinnia sat safely on the sidewalk across the street. She coughed, her lungs greedily pulling in the fresh air, as she looked down at Zinnia.


    The girl, breathing more easily now, appeared more exhausted than scared. She snuggled into Petunia as she continued to rock her. Petunia kept her gaze on the vestiges of what was once their beloved home. The heat within the house accumulated until all the windows shattered, sending glass shards flying in all directions. In the distance, the faint sound of firetrucks grew louder, their sirens blaring as they neared.


    Petunia let out a shaky breath and hugged Zinnia closer. ¡°We¡¯re okay,¡± she whispered, unable to yet believe it herself.


    ***


    ¡°That girl,¡± Aggie Everthorne murmured, her eyes wearily fluttering open. She massaged her temples and shook her head. Contacting Petunia had been a long shot, but she had to try. Petunia needed to return home. Hopefully, she¡¯d have better luck with Petunia¡¯s sister, Briar-Rose.


    Aggie arched her back, attempting to ease the stiffness from forcing herself to sit cross-legged for so long. She was no stranger to the practice required for projecting her spirit, having done it since before she could remember. But as time passed, maintaining the position had become more challenging than it was in her youth.


    She chuckled softly, realizing the futility of reminiscing and dwelling on the unchangeable. Her magic granted her many abilities, but ceasing the aging process wasn¡¯t one of them¡ªnot if she wished to stay on the right side of the magical divide anyway. And she¡¯d worked too hard and for too long to risk slipping to the darker side, especially for vanity of all things. She stretched her arms towards the sky, releasing the last remnants of tension in her stiff limbs.


    Her gaze landed on the circle of white-lit candles around her, each puddled and half consumed by their tiny flames. With a swift motion, she flipped her palm from facing the floor to twisting it up into a fist. Instantly, the candles extinguished, leaving thin wisps of smoke rising from their charred wicks.


    As Aggie stood up, the candles levitated alongside her as if an extension of her very being. She frowned at the hardened wax surrounding each candle. Then, lifting her hands, she began pulsing her fingertips toward her palms. Her fingertips glowed a burnt orange, pressing the air until the wax around each candle liquefied.


    With focused precision, Aggie delicately raised her fingers toward the ceiling, causing the wax to reshape back onto the candles, leaving only small indentations with a hole in their centers. A glint of satisfaction crossed her eyes as she made a mental note to replace the burnt-out wicks later.


    Once satisfied, she gestured towards one of the many bookcases lining the walls that held an assortment of bottles, bowls, and herbs. The candles floated to a shelf stocked with various colored candles, only faltering briefly when Aggie detected a faint sound at the door.


    The soft clicking of metal had caught her attention. Her eyes flashed a metallic blue, and the doorknob matched their hue, eliciting a crackling noise against the metal. The sparks only ceased when an ¡°Ouch!¡± was heard.


    Once the candles were in their proper place, Aggie released a slow, calming breath. Then, one by one, the bookshelves emptied and rearranged themselves, leaving behind only a few scattered books. The intricate etchings adorning the walls and floors faded away, and a large chest under a row of windows vanished. Only a table with a few chairs, the now sparse bookcases, a sofa, and an old armchair remained. Nodding, pleased with her work, she ambled to the door and opened it.


    ¡°We don¡¯t take kindly to eavesdroppers in this house,¡± Aggie told a bewildered boy, who appeared no older than fifteen. She watched him cradle his right hand¡ªpresumably the one that had been on the doorknob¡ªin his left, blowing on it as though it were aflame.


    The boy shifted his gaze from his throbbing hand to Aggie, his jade eyes narrowing and brows furrowing. ¡°I wasn¡¯t eavesdropping!¡± he protested. ¡°What do I care what some wack job old lady does behind closed doors?¡±


    ¡°We don¡¯t take kindly to pick locks either,¡± she countered, arching a brow and tilting her head as she sighed at the smoldering metal tools beside him. ¡°Jason¡ª¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s Jace, and I was just trying to get you,¡± said Jace, pushing back his chestnut bangs with his uninjured hand, his steely gaze locked on Aggie. He tapped his tools warily, then slid them into his back pocket, pulling away when she reached out to help him to his feet. ¡°I tried yelling, but you didn¡¯t answer. I figured you croaked because you know¡­ you¡¯re old.¡±


    ¡°Sorry. You¡¯re stuck with me for the time being,¡± Aggie said with a grin. ¡°Now, what do you need?¡±


    ¡°The chick¡ª¡±


    ¡°Harper,¡± Aggie corrected Jace.


    ¡°Yeah, whatever. She won¡¯t stop bawling. You can hear it everywhere,¡± Jace groaned, annoyance etched on his face.


    ¡°She did just lose her parents last week,¡± Aggie replied softly, empathy permeating her tone. ¡°It¡¯s expected.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s annoying.¡±


    ¡°No one would think less of you if you felt like crying,¡± Aggie said, inching closer to him. ¡°You lost your parents too.¡±


    ¡°Foster parents,¡± Jace corrected her. ¡°And they weren¡¯t worth the dirt they¡¯ll be buried in.¡±


    ¡°Jace¡­.¡± Aggie¡¯s voice faltered, followed by a sigh, before offering him a smile. ¡°How about we find Harper¡ª¡±


    ¡°Just follow the sobbing brick moans,¡± Jace muttered under his breath.


    ¡°¡ªand then, I¡¯ll make us some tea and a batch of my famously scrumptious cookies,¡± Aggie continued, ignoring Jace¡¯s sarcastic remark. ¡°After that, maybe you can help me clear out a few rooms.¡±


    ¡°Why?¡± Jace asked, flexing his sore hand. He¡¯d been in a lot of weird foster homes in his life, but Aggie¡¯s was by far the strangest. His social worker dropped him at the house two weeks ago, and he still found her eerie, or at the very least peculiar.


    ¡°I think we might be having a few visitors soon.¡±


    ¡°Whatever,¡± Jace huffed. The last time Aggie cleared out a room, she received a call about the crying girl needing a place to stay the next day. ¡°But I doubt a tea party¡¯s gonna make that girl forget her parents bit it.¡±


    ¡°Perhaps not, but it might make her pain a bit more bearable.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re putting a lot of stock in your cookies,¡± Jace said, eyeing his eccentric new foster parent.


    ¡°Trust me,¡± said Aggie, draping her arm around Jace¡¯s shoulder. He resisted her embrace at first but relented as she persisted. Leading him down the hallway away from the room, Aggie continued with a playful twinkle in her eye, "They''re magically delicious."

 Fragmented Horrors Beyond the Yellow Tape

    Under the shadow of night, red and blue lights splattered the sky, casting their eerie glow on the neighboring homes of a once-quaint two-story house, now cordoned off by yellow police tape. Neighbors huddled around the yellow barrier, their whispers filled with curiosity and fear over the grisly fate that had befallen the poor, unfortunate souls who resided in the home.


    A black SUV rolled onto the street, its subtly flashing dashboard the only indication it was another police vehicle. Officers parted the crowd as a tall, well-built man in a dark suit and tie stepped out of the car.


    ¡°Detective Faulkner,¡± an officer greeted him with a nod as they walked toward the house.


    ¡°Gilbert,¡± Faulkner returned the nod. ¡°How¡¯s the mini officer?¡±


    ¡°Loud. Never knew a tiny baby could make so much noise.¡±


    ¡°Well, with a dad that¡¯s such a big mouth, what did you expect?¡± Faulkner said with a grin.


    ¡°Yeah,¡± Gilbert managed a small laugh before his features quickly turned somber. ¡°I was the first on the scene¡­. It¡¯s pretty bad in there.¡±


    ¡°Wilder?¡±


    ¡°Got here a while ago.¡±


    Detective Faulkner offered a comforting pat on Gilbert¡¯s shoulder before entering the house. He navigated through a sea of forensic photographers until he reached a door sealed with yellow tape. He ducked under the tape and entered a bedroom, where an officer handed him gloves. He quickly covered his nose with them to shield him from the nauseating stench of charred and decaying flesh that permeated the room.


    ¡°Detective Faulkner, kind of you to grace us with your presence,¡± a woman said, crouched over one of two skeletal remains.


    ¡°We can¡¯t all sleep in our cars or listen to the scanner to pass the time,¡± Faulkner replied, grinning as he donned his gloves, his stomach adjusting to the horrific odor. ¡°And we¡¯ve been partners for five months. Is it that hard to call me Eugene, Denise?¡±


    Denise rose from the victim, her icy blue eyes narrowing as her lips formed a scowl.


    ¡°Right, Detective Wilder. What we got?¡± Eugene asked, ignoring the snickers from the officers as they continued their work.


    ¡°Two vics. Male and female, both in their forties,¡± Denise said, watching Eugene¡¯s eyes dart around the room. She¡¯d only been his partner for a short time, but she recognized his calculating gaze. He was trying to piece together the series of events that led to the gruesome scene before them. ¡°Coroner suspects cause of death is some cocktail of acidic chemicals¡ªlike the other two cases. And look at this.¡±


    Eugene moved to join his partner, crouching to inspect a silver chain that hung around the victim¡¯s neck. Pulling a pen from his jacket pocket, he used it to lift the necklace, revealing a pendant: a star encircled by a ring. He eyed the second body, noticing a similar silver cord melded to the bone.


    ¡°Same pentacle as the others,¡± Eugene noted, his face sullen.


    ¡°Pentacle?¡± Denise echoed as if the word was foreign. She raised an inquisitive brow as she handed Eugene a bag to put the necklace in.


    ¡°A Wiccan talisman of protection,¡± Eugene explained, moving to collect the other pendant.


    ¡°Humph,¡± Denise scoffed, standing. ¡°Doesn¡¯t look like it did them much good.¡±


    ¡°We might be dealing with someone targeting occult members.¡±


    ¡°A serial killer,¡± Denise said, shaking her head as Eugene handed the bags to an officer. ¡°Just lurking around.¡±


    The words set heavy in Eugene¡¯s gut. He¡¯d hoped the similarities in the other previous cases were mere coincidences, but with this new case, he knew Denise was right. Some twisted psycho was on the loose in the city.


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    ¡°Any witnesses?¡± Eugene asked.


    ¡°The daughter. She called it in.¡±


    ¡°Where¡¯s she now?¡±


    ¡°Living room,¡± Denise replied, peeling off her gloves. ¡°She¡¯s pretty shaken.¡±


    ¡°Let¡¯s go,¡± Eugene said, giving the macabre scene a final glance before letting his partner lead the way to the girl.


    ***


    Acacia sat on the couch, numb, as police officers bustled through her house, their shoes clicking against the hardwood floor, their notepads and cameras documenting every horrid detail. Beside her sat a long-haired boy, his strong arm wrapped around her as though he could shield her from the surrounding chaos and pain. Mickey had arrived after¡­ the incident. Acacia didn¡¯t remember how long she¡¯d lain on the floor with her parents before he came and lifted her from the ground.


    ¡°Acacia?¡± Eugene¡¯s warm tone broke through her trancelike state.


    She looked up, meeting his pity-filled brown eyes. She opened her mouth to reply, but her voice failed her, and she nodded instead.


    ¡°I¡¯m Detective Faulkner, and this is my partner, Detective Wilder,¡± Eugene said, gesturing to Denise while trying to keep his voice soothing despite Acacia¡¯s hollow stare. Clearing his throat, he continued, ¡°We know this is difficult, but we need to ask you a few questions.¡±


    ¡°Dude, she just watched her parents die. Can¡¯t this shit wait?¡±


    ¡°And you are?¡± Wilder asked, raising an eyebrow at Mickey, who appeared to be a few years the girl¡¯s senior.


    ¡°Her boyfriend,¡± he said, puffing out his chest and drawing Acacia closer.


    ¡°Okay, boyfriend, we get you¡¯re trying to protect Acacia, but the sooner we know the facts, the sooner we find the people responsible,¡± Denise replied.


    ¡°It¡¯s okay, Mickey,¡± Acacia found her voice, moving out of Mickey¡¯s protective embrace. Noticing her concern, she attempted to smile but was unsuccessful. ¡°I¡¯m okay.¡± Turning to Eugene, she asked, ¡°What do you need to know?¡±


    ¡°Did you get a good look at the intruders?¡±


    ¡°Yeah¡­.¡± Acacia¡¯s silvery gaze drifted to the wall behind Eugene, her voice trailing off.


    Denise nudged Eugene, leaning closer to him.


    ¡°Maybe we should wait for social services,¡± she suggested, her gaze fixed on Acacia.


    Eugene almost agreed, but then Acacia¡¯s gaze met his firmly.


    ¡°It was a monster,¡± Acacia answered unnervingly, her stare unwavering.


    Eugene exchanged a look with his partner, both sharing the same disconcerting expression.


    ¡°Where were you when this happened?¡± Eugene continued, hoping for a clearer response.


    ¡°I was there when¡­.¡± Acacia closed her eyes, trying to recall the details correctly. ¡°It opened its mouth, and my mom¡­. Then my dad tried to protect me, so¡ªhe died too.¡±


    ¡°How did you escape?¡± Denise asked.


    ¡°I¡ªI¡­¡± Acacia''s gaze fell to her quivering hand, which she clenched tightly. Her lower lip trembled, tears welling in her eyes before she diverted them to the floor, shaking her head as she broke down crying. ¡°I don¡¯t know.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s enough!¡± Mickey barked, wrapping his arm around Acacia again.


    Acacia initially resisted Mickey¡¯s hold but then allowed herself to melt into him, letting her tears flow freely into him.


    ¡°Thank you, Acacia. We¡¯ll contact you if we need more information,¡± Eugene said before heading towards the foyer, Denise following closely behind.


    Once out of earshot, Eugene turned to Denise and asked, "What do you think?"


    Denise inhaled deeply, savoring the fresh night air, before responding, "I think she''s traumatized."


    ¡°Three murders in three weeks. The other two eyewitnesses said the same thing.¡±


    ¡°Yeah, the boogeyman came to their house,¡± Denise replied. Turning to Eugene, she continued, ¡°They¡¯re kids who saw some messed-up things that their minds are struggling to make sense of. And from what I saw, monsters are responsible. It¡¯s our job to find them, put them behind bars, and give these kids and other potential victims some peace.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re right,¡± Eugene said, squeezing his eyelids together with his hand.


    ¡°It¡¯s late. The scene¡¯s nearly cleaned up. We¡¯ve questioned the witness. Get some rest: we¡¯ll start fresh in the morning,¡± Denise told Eugene, who continued to stare at the house. ¡°There¡¯s nothing more we can do here tonight, Faulkner.¡±


    Denise was right. The bodies were gone, and the once-gathered crowd had dwindled to a few stragglers. She guided Eugene to his car and waited for him to get inside.


    ¡°Who knows, maybe we¡¯ll catch a break come morning,¡± Denise said with a short, barely audible, half chuckle.


    ¡°Right,¡± Eugene replied with a grin, switching off his police lights and starting the car. ¡°Maybe a confession and a pickup location will be on our desks.¡±


    ¡°If only. See ya tomorrow,¡± Denise said, waving as she walked to her car.


    Eugene waved as she drove off. He couldn¡¯t help but glance back at the house once more before driving away. As he did, he saw a woman escorted by an officer, who he assumed was the social worker, enter the house briefly before emerging with Acacia and Mickey. The officer nodded to them, and the woman ushered Acacia to her car and departed while Mickey remained on the sidewalk, waving after them.


    ¡°Need a ride?¡± Eugene asked, calling out his window to Mickey.


    ¡°Fuck off!¡± Mickey spat back, starting to walk away.


    ¡°Kids,¡± Eugene huffed, rolling up his window and driving down the street, leaving behind the police tape and lone patrol officer as the only grim reminders of the horrors that occurred that night.

 Coffee Mugs and Chaos

    Briar-Rose Everthorne slumped into the chair, surrounded by the dull walls of her cubicle. Her gaze fell on the cluttered desk, strewn with papers listing names of people she was supposed to call and inquire about their current life insurance plans. But, she couldn¡¯t find it in her to call and disrupt someone¡¯s perfectly fine morning with morbid scenarios in which their deaths would leave their loved ones unprotected. She groaned, sipping her coffee, then grimaced at its frigid, stale taste, trickling it back into the mug.


    ¡°Hideously cold, right?¡± a male voice chimed in.


    ¡°Well, it¡¯s not warm,¡± Briar-Rose replied, eyeing the man leaning against her cubicle entrance with his own mug. ¡°Hey, Grant.¡±


    ¡°Seriously, it¡¯s like, which chick around here do we have to teach to make a decent cup of coffee?¡± Grant grinned, his gaze drifting from her eyes to resting comfortably on her chest.


    "Did you need something?" Briar-Rose asked, ignoring his blatant lack of decency.


    ¡°Uh, yeah,¡± Grant leaned in, brushing Briar-Rose¡¯s jet-black hair behind her ear to meet her deep blue eyes. ¡°You still owe me a date.¡±


    ¡°What?¡± Briar-Rose spat, oblivious to the coffee in her mug beginning to sway.


    ¡°Remember, last week, I covered for your big loss with Clifford, and you said you owed me one.¡±


    ¡°Yeah, a favor,¡± Briar-Rose insisted.


    ¡°But wouldn¡¯t dinner,¡± Grant traced a heart shape with his finger on her leg just below her skirt line, ¡°and a show be more fun?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m busy,¡± Briar-Rose stated, redirecting his finger away before it ventured further up her thigh.


    ¡°I didn¡¯t give a date,¡± Grant laughed.


    ¡°Consider me busy indefinitely for gross womanizing pigs.¡± Briar turned back to her desk. ¡°Is that it? Because I have work to catch up on.¡±


    ¡°Fucking Amish tease,¡± Grant huffed, striding across the aisle to his cubicle.


    Briar-Rose sighed, struggling to regain her composure when her purse buzzed. She rummaged through it, quickly extracting her phone.


    ¡°No personal calls!¡± Grant shouted from his desk.


    Briar-Rose rolled her eyes and hunched over her phone, her long hair concealing it as she pressed it to her ear.


    ¡°Hey, Aggie. Now¡¯s not a good time.¡±


    ¡°I just wanted to remind you you¡¯re coming by tomorrow.¡±


    ¡°Oh, yeah. I don¡¯t think¡ª¡±


    ¡°Briar-Rose Everthorne, you better not be blowing me off¡­ again,¡± Aggie scolded. ¡°When was the last time you actually made it over here?¡±


    ¡°I know it¡¯s been a while since my last visit, Aggie,¡± she whispered.


    ¡°Two and a half months,¡± Aggie replied, laden with disappointment. ¡°Honestly, if I¡¯d known both you and Nia were going to abandon me in my old age, I¡¯d¡¯ve found a proper boy thing to keep me company.¡±


    ¡°You mean a husband?¡± Briar-Rose asked, unable to restrain the smile creeping up her face or the small giggle that slipped through her lips. She almost forgot she wasn¡¯t supposed to be on the phone.


    ¡°You and titles. You know I don¡¯t believe in such constraints,¡± Aggie huffed. ¡°So, will I be seeing you tomorrow?¡±


    ¡°Aggie, I¡¯m swamped with work, and I have to do well here,¡± Briar-Rose said. She glanced over her shoulder and caught Grant glowering at her. ¡°I have to work late tonight and probably tomorrow too.¡±


    ¡°Briar¡­.¡± Aggie¡¯s voice faltered. ¡°Indulge this old, lonely woman one more time¡­ while you still have the chance.¡±


    ¡°Resorting to guilt? An Aggie classic.¡± Briar''s grin vanished upon seeing Grant speak with a man in a sleek, expensive suit. When Grant pointed at her, the man''s scowl intensified. Feeling her cheeks flush, she swiftly redirected her attention to her phone. ¡°Okay, Aggie, I¡¯ll try, but I really have to go now.¡±


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    She ended the call before Aggie could respond. She mustered a smile as the man in the tailored suit approached her desk. ¡°Mr. Clifford,¡± Briar greeted, her smile strained over her flushed cheeks. ¡°You look ni¡ª¡±


    ¡°Miss. Everthorne. My office, please.¡± Mr. Clifford¡¯s interjected, his tone brisk. He walked down the hallway toward his office at the far end without waiting for her response.


    Casting a sharp glare at Grant, Briar rose from her desk and started towards the office.


    ¡°I¡¯m guessing there¡¯s gonna be a ton of free time in your calendar soon,¡± Grant sneered.


    Briar paused in the aisle, a low growl forming in her throat. As she growled, the coffee in Grant''s mug started to boil. Grant, oblivious, raised the steaming mug to his lips with a laugh.


    "Shit!" Grant shouted, pulling the scalding cup away from his mouth. Reacting instinctively, he dropped the hot mug onto his lap. He sprang up, howling in pain. "Oh, God! Shit! Shit! Shit!"


    A wicked grin crossed Briar''s face as she heard Grant''s screams while entering Mr. Clifford''s office. She wasn¡¯t sure the cause, but she suspected one of the many other women in the office had finally grown tired of his dickish ways.


    ***


    ¡°A-Aggie said the cups go in the far cupboard,¡± a frail, trembling lilt voice said behind Jace as he crammed two glasses into an overcrowded cabinet brimming with bowls.


    ¡°It doesn¡¯t matter where they go, Orphan Annie,¡± Jace retorted, annoyance saturating his tone as he snatched another dish from the dishwasher.


    ¡°I told you, it¡¯s Harper,¡± she corrected sharply, bristling at the macabre nickname. A wave of irritation swept through her, mirrored in the flicker of her auburn eyes. She exhaled sharply through her nose, the breath stirring the untamed red curls that framed her burning cheeks. She reached for a plate, determined to put it away properly.


    ¡°It¡¯s not like we¡¯re gonna be here long enough for your name to matter to me,¡± Jace shot back. ¡°And, like I said, it doesn¡¯t matter where things go ¡®cause the old lady¡¯s just trying to keep us busy, so we don¡¯t think about our dead folks.¡±


    Harper paused, Jace''s offhand remark about their parents'' murders unsettling her. She lowered her head, even more disturbed, realizing that was the first time she¡¯d felt sad about them since yesterday.


    ¡°Not true,¡± Aggie¡¯s warm voice cut through Harper¡¯s sorrow, her motherly aura enveloping the room as she walked in with another girl around Harper and Jace''s age.


    The girl remained eerily quiet while Aggie guided her to a seat at the table, offering her a cookie from the previous night¡¯s batch. Aggie then grabbed two more cookies, distributing them to Jace and Harper before giving a tender nudge for them to go sit. She proceeded to retrieve the glasses Jace had misplaced and put them in their proper home. ¡°You never know when a properly placed dish could save a life. And, I¡¯m not that old¡­yet,¡± she said, winking at Jace.


    Harper giggled at Aggie''s joke, nibbling on her cookie, while Jace just rolled his eyes and took a bite. He sat opposite the newest arrival, whose attention shifted from the uneaten cookie to him. He scrunched his brows together, his curiosity piqued when he noticed some blue specks swirling in her irises, but her gaze dropped before he could study them closer.


    ¡°What¡¯s with the ghost of Christmas yet to come?¡± Jace asked, nodding toward the somber, darkly clothed girl while biting into his cookie.


    Aggie rummaged through a drawer by the dishwasher, eventually pulling out a white twine bracelet. ¡°Where¡¯s my head?¡± she exclaimed, returning to the girl¡¯s side.


    ¡°Probably floating in a bong somewhere in the sixties," Jace muttered under his breath, earning a disapproving glare from Harper.


    ¡°Jace and Harper, this is Acacia,¡± Aggie said, securing the twine bracelet around Acacia¡¯s wrist, which changed a light tan when she released it. She placed a comforting hand on Acacia¡¯s shoulder. ¡°She¡¯ll be staying with us for a while.¡±


    ¡°Ex juvie?¡± Jace inquired suspiciously.


    ¡°No. Acacia lost her parents last night,¡± Aggie paused, taking Acacia¡¯s untouched cookie from its napkin and placing it in her hand. ¡°Eat, dear.¡±


    Acacia''s vacant stare pierced through Aggie, who simply smiled back. "Eating might help settle your stomach."


    Acacia¡¯s gaze shifted between Aggie and the cookie before she took a small, tentative bite. Her eyelids fluttered shut as a symphony of flavors danced upon her tongue. She savored the taste, holding the cookie in her mouth far longer than necessary. When she finally swallowed, a sense of lightness washed over her for the first time since the harrowing events of the previous night.


    Acacia inspected her new bracelet with a frown. It clashed awkwardly against her collection of vibrant bands. She began to remove it, but Aggie¡¯s hand intervened.


    ¡°Please, keep it on. For your own protection,¡± Aggie urged.


    Acacia raised a skeptical brow at her.


    ¡°She¡¯s old, so she¡¯s superstitious,¡± Jace said, spinning his finger around his temple. He then flaunted his arm, revealing a similar wristlet.


    Acacia noticed Harper also wore one and, with a resigned sigh, stopped fiddling with hers. Aggie gave an approving smile and returned to unloading the dishes.


    ¡°So, how long is Morticia gonna be here?¡± Jace asked, mouth full of cookie as he eyed Acacia¡¯s gothic attire. ¡°You know they make colors beside ¡®death¡¯ and ¡®the blood of entitled children,¡¯ right?¡±


    ¡°Says the boy whose fashion comes from ¡®Dumpsters ¡®R¡¯ Us,¡¯¡± Acacia shot back, glancing at Jace¡¯s hole-riddled long-sleeved shirt and frayed pants.


    Harper let out a snicker but quickly composed herself, diligently collecting the crumbs in front of her onto a napkin as Jace released a menacing snarl.


    ¡°Children, please¡­¡± Aggie''s reprimanding tone faded as she placed a mug on a nearby shelf; her words hung unfinished in the air as a potent surge gripped her, depleting her strength. Her head leaned heavily against the shelf, and the mug slipped from her limp grasp, crashing onto the floor in a fatal concerto of shards.


    "Aggie?" Harper''s voice trembled as she rose, her expression mirroring her deep concern.


    Aggie attempted to give Harper a reassuring smile but couldn¡¯t. Her jaw tightened as her consciousness spiraled into an all-encompassing darkness.


    You thought you could protect them¡­. A voice, harsh and grating like a rusted knife scraping a steel plate, echoed through the nothingness ensnaring Aggie.

 Chants of Old

    Aggie stood in the heart of the desolate darkness, with the ominous echo of a malevolent voice ringing in her ears, muttering in a tongue foreign to her. Pain, like cold iron bands, constricted her, siphoning her remaining vitality into the abyss.


    Stricken with terror yet resolute, Aggie scanned the vast void, searching for her tormentor. Finding nothing, she closed her eyes, concentrating on her dwindling power, willing it to cocoon her. Upon reopening them, they sparkled with the luminescence of a thousand violets as she began a chant of her own. "North, west, south, east. Evil forces must now cease!"


    Aggie''s voice, clear and steadfast, rippled across the void. The darkness snarled and hissed, yet her chant remained undeterred, and gradually, the void receded, relinquishing its grasp on Aggie''s powers.


    She sighed in relief, reclaiming the reins of her mind and body. Harper''s hand, quivering slightly, rested on Aggie''s shoulder, which Aggie responded to with a reassuring pat.


    ¡°I¡¯m alright, dear,¡± Aggie assured her, peering into Harper¡¯s watery eyes. She glanced at Acacia and Jace, who shared a fleeting look of concern until they caught her gaze. As Aggie bent down to collect the broken shards, she wobbled slightly; luckily, Harper was quick to steady her.


    ¡°You should sit,¡± she suggested, guiding her toward the others. ¡°I¡¯ll clean this up.¡±


    ¡°The broom¡¯s in¡ª¡±


    ¡°The laundry room,¡± Harper finished her sentence, her steps already steering her toward the adjacent room. "I remember from last night."


    Harper came back with broom and dustpan in hand and began clearing the mess. Silence filled the room until the scrape of bristles against the tile became the only sound.


    ¡°What was that?¡± Acacia asked, finally breaking the silence.


    ¡°Just a dizzy spell,¡± Aggie replied with a grin, but Acacia didn¡¯t seem eased by the gesture.


    Her expression remained sober as she stared past Aggie. ¡°No. North, south, west¡­. Those words¡ª¡± Acacia''s voice broke off. ¡°I heard them before. M-my mom before she¡­.¡± She turned away, clearing her throat before her gaze locked on Aggie. ¡°What do they mean?¡±


    ¡°Oh, it¡¯s a sort of¡­ blessing,¡± Aggie explained. ¡°To banish evil forces.¡±


    ¡°Like a prayer?¡± Harper asked, returning to the table.


    ¡°Precisely,¡± Aggie replied.


    Jace scoffed, his disbelief apparent. "So, now an old lady dropping a cup means evil forces are at work?" He reached for another cookie, but Aggie snatched it from his grasp.


    ¡°An apple should suffice your sweet tooth,¡± she said, sliding a bowl of fresh fruit towards him. ¡°Too much of a good thing, and it ceases to be good.¡±


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    ¡°Whatever,¡± Jace muttered, leaning back in his chair and tossing the apple in the air.


    ¡°How does it go?¡± Acacia asked, trying to guide Aggie back to her topic.


    ¡°You¡¯re all familiar with the four basic elements. Earth,¡± Aggie began, lifting a green apple from the fruit bowl. ¡°Air.¡± She set a yellow apple next to the green one on the table. ¡°Fire,¡± she continued, choosing a red apple. ¡°And water.¡± She finished, placing a saltshaker beside the apples.


    Jace, intrigued, raised an eyebrow. "Why is water salt?"


    "It symbolizes salt water," Harper replied, her grin revealing her pleasure in providing the obvious answer.


    ¡°Hmm? Sure,¡± Aggie laughed. ¡°I just figured there aren¡¯t any blue apples.¡±


    Acacia, visibly impatient with the detour in conversation, let out a low growl.


    ¡°Right,¡± Aggie said, acknowledging Acacia¡¯s irritation. ¡°Each element corresponds to a direction. Earth is north, water is west, fire is south, and air is east.¡± She arranged the apples and salt to outline a plus sign on the table. ¡°So, when you speak each direction, you¡¯re actually calling the elements to aid you in destroying¡ª¡±


    ¡°Frankenstein and his minions?¡± Jace cut in, a smirk on his lips.


    ¡°Yes, but also any evil presence present,¡± Aggie replied, offering a playful wink.


    Jace stopped tossing his apple and inspected Aggie¡¯s serious demeanor.


    ¡°What?¡± Aggie asked.


    ¡°Just checking for signs of stroke damage,¡± Jace answered.


    ¡°See anything wrong?¡± Aggie asked, her eyes twinkling with amusement.


    "Just that you''re crazy," Jace retorted. His gaze shifted from Acacia, who was fixated on the apples, then to Harper, who nervously fidgeted with a cross pendant dangling from her neck. "You''re all nuts."


    ¡°No one¡¯s forcing you to stay,¡± Acacia spat. ¡°Door¡¯s that way.¡±


    ¡°I can¡¯t wait till my social worker pulls me from this looney bin,¡± Jace groaned but remained seated, slouching deeper into his chair and taking a bite of his apple.


    ¡°Where were we?¡± Aggie resumed. ¡°Oh, yes. Invoking the four elements have been used for centuries to keep evil at bay.¡±


    Acacia''s patience was wearing thin. "But how do the words go?" she pressed, her hands gripping the table so hard her knuckles whitened.


    Aggie lifted the green apple. ¡°First is north, to have the earth ground your intentions; then west, to have the water help mold your request. Next, south, so the fire can amplify the power behind your words; and finally, east, so the air can direct your desire toward the focused location. Then you just say, ¡®Evil forces must now cease.¡¯¡±


    ¡°So¡­ North, west, south, east. Evil forces must now cease,¡± Harper repeated softly, clutching her cross so fiercely that her nails dug into her palm. To her, the words themselves felt evil.


    Aggie nodded.


    "This is idiotic," Jace muttered under his breath.


    ¡°She just had to finish?¡± Acacia whispered to herself, turning away to hide her teary eyes from the others, ¡°The asshole¡¯s right. This is stupid.¡±


    ¡°Perhaps,¡± Aggie conceded, placing a comforting hand on Acacia¡¯s shoulder and slipping another cookie into her clenched hand while Harper returned the apples to their bowl and placed the salt back next to the pepper shaker.


    "Hey!" Jace protested through a mouthful of apple when Aggie gave Acacia a cookie.


    Aggie ignored the boy¡¯s gripes and began putting the dishes away again.


    ¡°Aggie, you should rest. We¡¯ll finish,¡± Harper said, looking for support from the others, but neither acknowledged her existence. Her cheeks warmed, but after taking a deep breath, she offered Aggie a smile. ¡°I¡¯ll finish.¡±


    ¡°Thank you, dear,¡± Aggie said, patting Harper¡¯s cheek before leaving the kitchen.


    As soon as the door swung close, Jace reached for another cookie.


    Without returning, Aggie called out, ¡°Jason, finish your apple.¡±


    Jace grumbled as he took another bite of his apple. He crossed his arms and leaned back too far in his chair, which sent him crashing to the floor with a resounding thud. His face reddened as the girls burst into laughter. "I hate creepy old ladies.¡±

 Through the Gates of the Past

    A warm summer breeze rustled the verdant trees lining the road as the yellow taxi wove through the idyllic streets.


    ¡°What brings you to Willow Creek?¡± the taxi driver asked in a jovial tone, glancing in his rearview mirror at Petunia and Zinnia.


    ¡°Our house blew up,¡± Zinnia blurted, throwing her hands in the air for emphasis.


    ¡°Zinnia!¡± Petunia scolded, hushing her and lowering the girl¡¯s hands back around her doll. ¡°Kids,¡± she said as she gave the driver a playful chuckle when he cocked a brow at her. ¡°We¡¯re visiting family.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s always fun,¡± the driver replied.


    ¡°Not if you knew my family,¡± Petunia muttered under her breath.


    ¡°What¡¯s that?¡±


    ¡°It should be interesting,¡± she said, forcing a smile, her eyes revealing a subtle hint of apprehension.


    The taxi curved into a cul-de-sac driveway that led to the street¡¯s sole house. The cabbie checked the address on his navigation system and then marveled at the imposing structure before them. The house¡¯s exterior boasted intricate stone and brickwork, adorned with delicate carvings and elaborate patterns hinting at the creators¡¯ masterful craftsmanship and artistic vision. The sprawling estate was an exquisite marriage of gothic and Victorian elements, demanding attention. Various turrets of different heights and sizes graced the architecture, their tapering roofs piercing the skies.


    Stain-glass windows, adorned in vibrant purples, greens, blues, reds, and gold, splashed a kaleidoscope of colors across the sloped lawn. At several corners, lifelike statues exuded an aura of both whimsy and sagacity. High above, grand spires and ornate towers stretched skyward, draped in a veil of ivy and vines.


    The cabbie gawked at the estate, dumbfounded. ¡°You live there?¡±


    ¡°Used to,¡± Petunia replied, digging through her new purse. Her fingers trembled slightly as she rifled through the bag, her fingertips grazing the lining as they searched in vain for cash, a growing confusion entering her thoughts. She¡¯d withdrawn more than enough cash for a replacement license so they could fly there. A frown creased her forehead, the stark realization hitting her¡ªshe''d used her last bill for Zinny¡¯s doll. ¡°Great.¡±


    ¡°Thirty-four eighty-six,¡± the driver stated, eyeing her expectantly.


    ¡°Right. Let me just go inside and get some cash¡ª¡±


    ¡°Sure, and then not come back? Nobody gets a free ride through the city, lady.¡±


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    ¡°I¡¯m not asking for a free ride,¡± Petunia said, her brows furrowing. This was the last thing she needed at the moment. ¡°I¡¯m asking to go get money.¡±


    ¡°What kind of scam are you trying to pull here?¡± the driver asked, his suspicion rising as he narrowed his gaze. ¡°I bet you don¡¯t even live here. What? Are you casing the place?¡±


    ¡°Yeah,¡± Petunia scoffed at the accusation. ¡°In broad daylight. By taxi. You got me. Lock me up.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ll pay,¡± a gentle female voice said through the open window.


    Petunia turned to a woman on a bicycle, extending a card to the taxi driver. Her delicate features and kind eyes were unmistakable, and Petunia''s heart swelled with a mixture of relief and guilt. She gave a tentative smile to her little sister, and Briar-Rose returned the gesture.


    The driver scowled, swiping the card through his machine. It beeped, and his scowl deepened. ¡°Declined.¡±


    Briar-Rose¡¯s cheeks flushed a deep scarlet. She pulled out another card and handed it to him. Petunia¡¯s brows furrowed as the new card was met with the same fate.


    Frustration coated Briar¡¯s voice as she said, ¡°Okay, hold on.¡± She rummaged through her bag, pulling out a wad of single dollar bills and scraping together the change from her wallet¡¯s zipper pocket. She dropped it into the driver¡¯s hands as Petunia and Zinny slid out of the car.


    He counted it and grumbled. ¡°No tip?¡±


    Briar-Rose turned to Petunia with a playful grin and said, ¡°I see you got a comedian for a cabby.¡±


    Petunia slammed the door closed. ¡°Thanks for the ride,¡± she said as the taxi sped off, not bothering to make sure they were safely on the cul-de-sac island.


    Petunia sighed, brushing her fingers through her hair as she glanced at the house with an instant pang of regret. This was the last place she wanted to be. Memories tugged at the edges of her thoughts, reminding her of all the good and bad time she shared with her sister there before everything fell apart.


    ¡°You too?¡± Briar asked, her gaze drifting across the driveway to the iron-fenced property.


    ¡°She¡¯s a hard woman to ignore,¡± Petunia shrugged, her eyes flickering over the imposing house with a grimace. Her gaze never shifted as she spoke to Briar-Rose. "How have you been?"


    ¡°Can¡¯t complain,¡± Briar said, her tone light and casual. ¡°You?¡±


    ¡°Same.¡±


    An awkward silence fell between the sisters. They stood rooted to the circular patch of grass, unable to make the great pilgrimage to the house. It was as if it were some terrible beast waiting to swallow them whole.


    Petunia shifted uncomfortably, crossing her arms as she cast a glance at the towering spires. She bit her lower lip and rubbed her forearm before finally looking at Briar, her expression somber. ¡°Hey¡­¡±


    ¡°Huh?¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re not a prostitute, right?¡± Petunia asked, her serious expression breaking into a small grin. ¡°I mean, you are twenty-three.¡±


    Briar laughed, and the tension instantly dissipated ¡ª Petunia could always lighten up a situation. ¡°Right, these are my prime lady of the night years.¡±


    ¡°My point exactly.¡±


    Briar mustered a smile as silence crept back in, settling between them. ¡°Well¡­ I guess we should go in.¡±


    ¡°Yep.¡±


    Seeing Petunia''s hesitation, Briar took it upon herself to lead the way. The gate creaked open as she approached, as if sensing her presence, revealing a cobblestone path and steps lined with vibrant flowerbeds.


    With a resigned sigh, Petunia fought the urge to walk in the opposite direction. She took Zinnia''s hand and trailed Briar towards the house. The air around them grew heavy, laden with their collective anticipation.


    ¡°Mommy, who¡¯s that?¡± Zinny whispered, her eyes wide with curiosity as she stared at Briar¡¯s back.


    ¡°Your aunt,¡± Petunia said quickly, her voice strained with emotion. She quickened her pace to join Briar-Rose on the veranda.

 Destiny鈥檚 Unwanted Call

    Petunia let out a prolonged, steadying breath as she pressed the doorbell. Acacia cracked the door open and stood in the doorway with an impassive stare.


    ¡°Who the hell are you?¡± Acacia spat, her eyes narrowing.


    ¡°Back at cha,¡± Petunia retorted, mirroring the sulky, heavily eyelinered girl¡¯s glare. Petunia cocked her head, a flicker of recognition in her eyes, but she couldn¡¯t pinpoint where she¡¯d seen the girl before. Aggie¡¯s melodious voice, calling from inside, broke her concentration.


    ¡°Acacia, who is it?¡±


    Aggie swung the door open further and beamed at Petunia, Zinnia, and Briar-Rose.


    ¡°Acacia, can you tell the others to meet us in the living room?¡±


    With an eye roll, Acacia vanished into the depths of the house.


    Aggie ushered the girls into the living room, where a welcoming tray of tea and cookies sat on the coffee table. Briar-Rose and Petunia made themselves comfortable on the couch while Zinnia, drawn by the cookies, inched toward the edge of her seat near her mom.


    ¡°Go on. Take one,¡± Aggie encouraged, noticing the girl¡¯s eager gaze.


    Zinny looked at her mom for confirmation. Once Petunia gave her an approving nod, she gleefully grabbed a cookie and beamed her thanks to Aggie. Briar-Rose smiled, reaching for a cup of tea and a cookie for herself.


    ¡°Your house looks like a castle,¡± Zinny exclaimed, crumbs tumbling from her mouth as she spoke.


    ¡°Zinny, manners!¡± Petunia scolded.


    Aggie displayed a joyous smile as she watched Petunia brush crumbs from Zinny¡¯s lap. ¡°Both my girls in this house again. What a glorious homecoming.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s not permanent,¡± Petunia assured her, placing a handful of crumbs onto the tray.


    ¡°Nothing is,¡± Aggie replied, shifting her attention to Briar. ¡°I¡¯m glad you were able to get out of work.¡±


    Briar choked on her cookie, and her tea began to boil. She cringed at the sight of the bubbles and shakingly put the cup on the table.


    ¡°Actually¡­¡± Briar cleared her throat, ¡°I got fired.¡±


    ¡°You lost your job?¡± Petunia asked, lifting a teacup. ¡°Seriously?¡±


    ¡°That insurance job was a waste of your talents,¡± Aggie said dismissively, swatting her hand in the air.


    Petunia sputtered on her tea, sending a spray across the room. ¡°You were an insurance agent?¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t know why you worked there as long as you did,¡± Aggie continued, ignoring Petunia¡¯s comment.


    ¡°Pretty sure it was to pay her bills. Not that it seemed to be helping,¡± Petunia said, turning to Briar. ¡°You honestly got fired?¡±


    Briar parted her lips to speak but instead slumped back against the couch in defeat.


    Petunia watched her sister fiddle with the crimson, rose-shaped gem on her drop necklace, feeling a sudden wave of guilt wash over her.


    It¡¯s been a while since you¡¯ve played the older sister role. Aggie¡¯s voice rang in Petunia¡¯s head. But you must remember enough to know you¡¯re being too harsh on Briar.


    Petunia sighed, knowing Aggie was right. ¡°What happened?¡± Petunia asked softly.


    ¡°This jerk at work¡ª¡±


    ¡°No, I mean, when I left home, you were good,¡± Petunia interrupted Briar. ¡°Sure, you were shy, but you were going to go to college. And now¡ªI don¡¯t even know if you finished a degree.¡±


    ¡°That was a long time ago,¡± Briar replied.


    ¡°I don¡¯t get it,¡± Petunia pushed on, ¡°You were so smart.¡±


    ¡°Well, a lot can happen to people after you abandon them,¡± Briar retorted, and the teapot began to rattle on the tray. ¡°And you¡¯re seven years too late for the motherly lecture.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re right,¡± Petunia conceded, setting her cup down.


    Before Petunia could offer a further apology, the mood was shattered by Acacia storming into the living room, followed closely by Harper and Jace.


    Aggie beamed, happy for a reprieve from the tension the teens welcomed. ¡°Children, good! I¡¯d like you to meet Briar-Rose, Petunia, and Zinnia.¡± She then nodded towards Briar and Petunia with a warm smile. ¡°You¡¯ve already met Acacia. This is Harper.¡±


    ¡°Nice to meet you,¡± Harper mumbled, never fully looking up at them.


    ¡°And Jason.¡±


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    ¡°It¡¯s Jace,¡± he corrected with a scowl.


    ¡°Nobody cares,¡± Acacia groaned.


    ¡°Go dig up a grave,¡± Jace hissed in a venomous tone.


    ¡°Only if I get to push you in it,¡± Acacia shot back, her voice just as lethal.


    Petunia watched the two teens bicker while the red-headed girl, Harper, stood silently, her gaze fixed on the floorboards.


    ¡°Are we done showcasing the orphans?¡± Acacia huffed, crossing her arms, clearly bored of fighting with Jace.


    ¡°Yes, dear, but would you mind taking Zinnia with you so we can talk?¡± Aggie asked with a smile.


    ¡°Yes,¡± Acacia and Jace said in unison.


    ¡°We¡¯ll watch her,¡± Harper replied, sending Acacia and Jace a sharp scolding stare before turning to Aggie with a sweet smile. She reached for Zinnia¡¯s hesitant hand and led her toward the kitchen. ¡°Come on. I think Aggie just bought apple juice boxes.¡±


    Petunia rose to her feet, her eyes tracking her daughter as she left with the strangers.


    ¡°She¡¯ll be fine,¡± Aggie reassured her, her voice steady and confident.


    ¡°So, you¡¯re a lonely old woman?¡± Briar asked Aggie with a raised brow.


    ¡°Perspective, dear.¡±


    ¡°Uh-huh,¡± Briar said, nibbling at her cookie.


    Aggie observed Petunia¡¯s lingering gaze on the closed door, noting her furrowed brows. ¡°They¡¯re good kids. They¡¯re just¡­ still adjusting.¡±


    ¡°Adjusting?¡± echoed Petunia, concern lacing her voice.


    ¡°Yes. They¡¯ve all lost their parents in the last three weeks,¡± Aggie said softly, shaking her head, her eyes clouding with sorrow as she sipped her tea.


    Acacia¡¯s face flashed in Petunia¡¯s mind again, and she remembered where she¡¯d seen her.


    ¡°She¡¯s the girl from my dream,¡± Petunia said.


    ¡°Yes,¡± Aggie answered.


    ¡°What dream?¡± Briar asked, her confusion evident.


    What exactly are you planning with us and those kids?¡¯ Petunia asked, her attention locked on Aggie.


    Briar cast a sidelong glance back at the door that led to the kitchen with a hint of puzzlement. ¡°They didn¡¯t seem like they¡¯re in mourning.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯d be amazed at what a little burdock root, dandelion, and lavender tea, along with Hawthorne berry cookies, can do to heal a broken heart,¡± Aggie said, winking at Briar.


    Petunia rolled her eyes. ¡°You spelled them.¡±


    ¡°I helped them,¡± Aggie corrected. ¡°We¡¯re witches, dear. That¡¯s what we do.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re a witch.¡± Petunia practically hissed. She pointed at Briar and herself. ¡°We¡¯re mortal.¡±


    Aggie¡¯s lips tightened into a thin line as she set down her cup and glowered at Petunia. She opened her mouth to speak, but Briar was quicker.


    ¡°Aggie, not that we aren¡¯t happy to see you and meet¡­the kids¡ª¡±


    ¡°Random kids,¡± Petunia grumbled into her mug.


    ¡°But¡ª¡±


    ¡°Why the hell did you summon us here?¡± Petunia finished, cutting Briar off.


    ¡°I don¡¯t appreciate your tone, Nia,¡± Aggie chastised, furrowing her brows.


    ¡°Aggie, Nia didn¡¯t mean any harm; she¡¯s just¡ªwe¡¯re just¡ª curious about why you¡¯ve called us here,¡± Briar said calmly, attempting to keep the peace. Ignoring Petunia¡¯s subtle snarl, Briar massaged her temple, feeling the weight of their old family dynamics.


    She¡¯d forgotten how it felt to be the mediator between these two. Growing up, it felt like half of her childhood consisted of defending Aggie¡¯s reasoning to Petunia or explaining Petunia¡¯s point of view to Aggie. A shiver ran down her spine as she sank into the couch, nervously fiddling with her necklace again. It was unsettling how effortlessly they all fell back into their old patterns.


    Petunia huffed, regretting her decision to return home as she reached for a cookie. Her fingers barely grazed her sweet distraction from Aggie¡¯s glare when a spark leaped from her hand, igniting the cookie ablaze. She quickly doused the flames by pouring her tea over it.


    ¡°Aggie, what the heck¡¯s going on?¡± Petunia demanded, her frown deepening as she stared at the soggy cookie platter.


    When Aggie didn¡¯t respond, Petunia¡¯s festering frustration grew. She remembered how Aggie would give her the silent treatment whenever Petunia refused to admit she was acting disrespectfully. But Aggie had to have seen the pyrotechnic display just now, yet she still refused to say anything.


    This seemed too childish, even for Aggie¡¯s¡­ unique parenting style. Petunia¡¯s brows furrowed, and she tore her gaze from the cookies, determined to force Aggie to speak to her but faltered, noticing the somber expression that had overtaken Aggie¡¯s face.


    Aggie turned away from her and Briar after seeing their concerned stares, but Petunia caught a fleeting glimpse of despair in Aggie¡¯s eyes. Her own expression softened. ¡°Aggie, what¡¯s wrong?¡±


    ¡°Charles is dead,¡± the words passed Aggie¡¯s lips, barely audible.


    ¡°Oh,¡± Briar exhaled, covering her mouth with her hands.


    ¡°Sorry to hear that, Aggie,¡± Petunia said, placing a comforting hand on Briar¡¯s leg. She knew her sister found death unsettling, especially after their mother died when they were children. ¡°Really.¡±


    ¡°Yes, well.¡± Aggie cleared her throat, her voice trembling as she fought to hold back tears on the edge of cascading. ¡°With his passing, it¡¯s imperative that you both take your place in the coven.¡±


    ¡°What?¡± Briar gasped, her eyes bulging, threatening to leave their sockets.


    ¡°No way,¡± Petunia declared, her tone resolute.


    ¡°Nia, you can¡¯t shy away from your destiny forever,¡± Aggie replied.


    ¡°I¡¯m not shying away. I¡¯m refusing it,¡± Petunia retorted. She huffed at Aggie¡¯s nerve. ¡°What did you expect us to do? Briar and I already have lives, and magic doesn¡¯t have a place in them.¡±


    Aggie let out a weary sigh. She knew this wouldn¡¯t be the easiest task of her last few chaotic weeks but had hoped it would go smoother than this.


    ¡°Charles was the last member of our circle. He¡¯s all I had to help contain yours and the others¡¯ powers,¡± Aggie explained. ¡°Without him, I can barely handle it.¡±


    Petunia glanced at the burnt, soggy cookie, then slumped into the sofa. ¡°I guess that explains my house burning down.¡±


    ¡°Wait? What?¡± Briar exclaimed, her expression utter shock. She stared at Petunia as if she¡¯d gone mad for the casual mention of her house catching fire. As the gravity of Petunia¡¯s words sank in, the tea kettle on the table began to shudder and ultimately tipped over, flooding the tray. Briar-Rose sprang forward, reaching for napkins to mop up the spill, then halted, her attention snapping to Aggie. ¡°Aggie? What others?¡±


    Petunia and Briar followed Aggie¡¯s gaze towards the door the teens led Zinny through earlier.


    ¡°You don¡¯t mean?¡± Briar asked, her features screwing.


    ¡°Yes, they¡¯re all coven descendants.¡±


    ¡°You gotta be kidding me. This coven¡¯s like cockroaches,¡± Petunia said, nostrils flared. ¡°More always seem to creep out of the baseboards.¡±


    ¡°Together, you¡¯ll replace the old coven as the protectors of the innocent,¡± Aggie finished, undeterred by Petunia¡¯s outburst.


    That was the last straw for Petunia. She stood sharply, her patience frayed.


    ¡°I¡ªno.¡± Petunia snatched her purse. ¡°I¡¯m sorry about Charles, Aggie, but next time, save me the trip and use a phone. Zinnia!¡±


    Zinny burst through the door, her face alight with a giddy smile. ¡°Mommy, guess what?¡± Her enthusiasm faded as her mother grabbed her hand, steering her out of the living room and towards the foyer.


    ¡°Tell me later. We¡¯re leaving.¡±


    Grumbling under her breath, Petunia yanked the front door open, only to stop short, taken aback by the sight of a man in a suit poised to ring the doorbell. She tilted her head, squinting slightly, as recognition dawned. She knew the younger version of the man standing before her. ¡°Gene?¡±

 Lucky

    Sunlight dappled across Eugene¡¯s face as he flashed Petunia a warm, crooked grin, his brown eyes sparkling with memories of their youth.


    ¡°Nia Everthorne.¡± His smile broadened, his voice rich and resonant like a deep, melodious song. He looked down at Zinnia, who was clutching Petunia¡¯s hand. As soon as their eyes met, she quickly stepped behind her mom. ¡°And little girl behind Nia.¡±


    ¡°Zinnia,¡± Petunia said, returning his smile. She looked down at Zinnia. ¡°Go back inside with your aunt.¡±


    ¡°You said we were leaving,¡± Zinnia whined, her small voice holding an edge of defiance.


    ¡°Zinnia.¡± The single word carried a stern warning as Petunia''s gaze hardened.


    ¡°But I don¡¯t even know her,¡± Zinnia continued to protest, her bottom lip jutting out in a pout.


    Petunia shot Zinnia a sharp glare, silently warning her not to continue. Reluctantly, Zinnia retreated into the house. With a soft click, Petunia closed the heavy oak door behind her, leaving the two of them on the porch. The air was heavy with the scent of blooming flowers, and the sunlight cast a warm glow on them.


    ¡°So, you¡¯re back home,¡± Eugene said, bending the corner of a manila folder in his fingers. His voice was gentle, portraying no judgment.


    ¡°It¡¯s not permanent,¡± Petunia said softly, her eyes meeting his for a moment before looking away.


    ¡°I didn¡¯t think I was that lucky," he replied with a wistful smile.


    Petunia''s cheeks warmed in his presence, the familiar comfort of his company wrapping her like a soft blanket. She couldn''t recall the last time she felt so light and at ease so quickly.


    ¡°So¡­what brings you here?¡± she asked, curiosity threading through her voice. ¡°Visiting Aggie?¡±


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    ¡°I should be,¡± Eugene admitted with a trace of regret. ¡°It¡¯s been too long since I¡¯ve checked in on her.¡±


    ¡°You check up on her?¡± Petunia asked, a fondness creeping into her tone as she realized he still thought of Aggie¡ªwhich was more than she could say about herself for the past few years.


    ¡°Not enough,¡± Eugene confessed, his expression growing serious. ¡°And unfortunately, not today. Today is business,¡± he added, lifting the folder in his hands slightly for emphasis. ¡°I¡¯m investigating a string of murders.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re a detective?¡± Petunia''s eyes widened in surprise. ¡°Your dad must¡ª¡±


    ¡°Hate that I didn¡¯t go into the family business? Yep, but I¡¯m happy,¡± Eugene shrugged, his grin lively and unapologetic.


    ¡°Following your own path. You?... I like it, but what does Aggie have to do with your case?¡± Petunia said, her lashes fluttered as she flashed him a quick smile. ¡°She¡¯s not a suspect, is she?¡±


    ¡°I couldn¡¯t tell you if she was¡ªactive case and all,¡± Eugene replied with a deeper, firmer voice, a sly smile dancing on his lips as he played along. ¡°Actually, I¡¯m looking for a witness from the most recent murder. Found out through social services, she and the other two survivors wound up here.¡± His voice slid back into its natural gravelly timbre.


    ¡°Weird,¡± Petunia said, averting her eyes briefly before continuing the conversation. ¡°Who are you looking for?¡± she asked, rubbing her arm in an attempt to seem casual.


    Eugene opened his folder. ¡°An Acacia Everthorne,¡± he said, looking up from the papers, his gaze piercing. ¡°I¡¯m guessing she¡¯s a relative?¡±


    Petunia¡¯s brows knit together, her thoughts racing as she debated whether to call Zinnia back and leave the manor¡ªalong with whatever mess waited inside. She gave a small sigh and forced a polite smile on her face.


    ¡°Uh, yeah¡­. Gene, this really isn¡¯t the best time. Could we come by the station later, maybe?¡±


    ¡°Well¡ª¡±


    ¡°Please.¡±


    Eugene leaned in closer, his eyes softening with the smirk of a schoolboy speaking to his crush. He shook his head a little, the corners of his eyes crinkling. ¡°I never was good at saying no to you.¡±


    ¡°I remember that being mutual,¡± Petunia replied, a hint of nostalgia in her voice.


    She placed her hand gingerly on his arm, lingering longer than intended before turning back toward the house. As she stepped inside, she heard Eugene call out softly, "Nia..."


    Petunia paused in the doorway but didn''t turn to face him. The air grew heavier, the moment stretching between them like a taut string.


    ¡°She¡¯s not yours.¡±


    Eugene lowered his head as he turned to leave, her words echoing in his mind like distant thunder. His shoulders drooped slightly, and his lips tightened. The sunlight seemed to fade around him, the once vibrant colors on the porch dulling.


    His voice barely a whisper as he walked away, "I never was that lucky."

 Sharp Jabs and Sharper Tongues

    Jace groaned, retrieving a small, rusted pocketknife from his back pocket¡ªa relic he¡¯d found in one of the house¡¯s many vacant rooms. He stretched his hand across the marble countertop of the kitchen island, starting to stab the knife down between his splayed fingers. He jabbed the knife as a distraction from the three bothersome girls he was stuck with.


    Ever since Aggie banished them to the kitchen, Acacia spent the time whining on her phone to her boyfriend while Harper entertained the tiny, fluttery brat with a ¡®dolly tea party.¡¯ Jace felt winded just from listening to the child¡¯s relentless, energetic chatter. It was all he could do to not to barf from all the girliness infecting his brain. At least once the Zinnia left, Harper moved on to cleaning¡­ again. The girl had a serious issue with neatness.


    A smirk tugged at Jace¡¯s lips as he watched Harper flinch with every thud of the knife against the granite countertop.


    From the table, Acacia groaned into her phone, ¡°This place sucks.¡± She glanced at Jace, still stabbing the knife between his fingers, then at Harper, busy sorting the spice cabinet, and sighed. ¡°The other kids here are total wack jobs... I miss you more.¡±


    ¡°Wait, so you mean you miss your boo-boo bear?¡± Jace taunted, satisfaction bubbling up as a scowl darkened Acacia''s face and she flipped him off. If he had to listen to her whine about missing her boyfriend one more time, he''d gladly jam the switchblade into his own eardrums for relief.


    ¡°Can you please stop that?¡± Harper asked, her voice strained.


    ¡°What?¡± Jace asked, quickening the pace of the knife¡¯s jabs between his fingers once noting Harper¡¯s twitching eye and fixed gaze on the blade.


    ¡°You could hurt yourself,¡± Harper said, trying to focus on alphabetizing the herbs, though her shoulders tensed with every slam of the knife on the counter.


    ¡°Didn¡¯t know you cared so much, Little Red,¡± Jace replied, sarcasm soaking his words.


    ¡°I don¡¯t, but you could cut yourself, and blood is messy,¡± Harper replied, restraining herself from digging her nails into her palms as the stabbing persisted. ¡°"We¡¯d need to use bleach to clean it properly, and even then, bleach is only 99 percent effective at disinfecting, but I guess we could¡ª"


    ¡°Shut up!¡± Jace yelled, lifting his hands in surrender after he slid the knife back into his pocket. He smacked the countertop with his hands as he stood to pull a bottle of orange juice from the fridge. "And here I thought the baby had already left the room."


    Jace flicked the cap across the island, deliberately placing it within Harper''s line of sight. He strolled over to the table and plopped down beside Acacia, snickering as Harper scurried to retrieve the cap. He then turned his attention to Acacia, who promptly pivoted her body away from him.


    ¡°Oh, Edward, I simply can¡¯t bear spending another moment apart from your eternal presence,¡± Jace whined, mimicking a high-pitched girl¡¯s voice. ¡°Everything means nothing without you.¡±


    ¡°Hey, Pigpen, I get you¡¯re new to having¡­¡± Acacia scanned him from head to toe. ¡°Anything. But those of us from actual homes understand this concept called personal space. Might wanna give it a try.¡±


    Jace scratched his head, took a long swig of orange juice, then leaned in closer to Acacia and let out a loud belch. ¡°Personal space? What bees that, Ms. Cacia?¡±


    ¡°Mickey, I¡¯ll call you back,¡± Acacia gagged, shoving Jace so hard he nearly fell to the floor. ¡°Are you completely deranged or just mentally damaged or something?¡±


    ¡°He¡¯s insufferable!¡± Harper exclaimed, quickly covering her mouth and tracing a cross over herself.


    ¡°Church mouse¡¯s right, but I¡¯d raise her a fucking psychotic,¡± Acacia hissed while Jace cackled in amusement.


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    ¡°Mommy says people shouldn¡¯t use bad words when they¡¯re upset ¡®cause they¡¯ll regret it later," Zinny chimed in from the doorway leading to the dining room.


    ¡°Great! Baby¡¯s back,¡± Jace said, his face souring.


    ¡°I¡¯m not a baby!¡± Zinny protested.


    ¡°I thought you left with your mom,¡± Harper said in a soft tone as Zinny approached the table and began playing with her doll.


    ¡°I did, but then she told me to go to my aunt, and the old lady told me to come back in here,¡± Zinny huffed, glancing up from her toy. ¡°She also said you guys hafta stay in here ¡®cause they¡¯re still having grown-up talks.¡±


    Acacia and Jace let out weary groans, dismayed at being trapped together and with the loquacious little girl. They didn¡¯t understand why they had to be stuck in the kitchen, of all places, in this gigantic house.


    ¡°Awesome,¡± Acacia muttered.


    Zinnia eyed the other kids and set down her doll. ¡°Hey,¡± she said, tilting her head to the side.


    ¡°Yes?¡± Harper responded, offering a soft smile, noting how deep in thought Zinnia seemed.


    ¡°What¡¯s a prostitute?¡±


    Harper blushed; Jace choked on the last of his juice, and Acacia stifled a laugh.


    ¡°Where did you hear that word?¡± Harper asked, sending an accusatory glare toward Jace.


    ¡°My mommy said my aunt was one¡­. I think.¡±


    Jace burst into laughter, hurling the empty bottle onto the floor. Harper hurried to pick it up and dispose of it before it could roll too far.


    ¡°A prostitute¡¯s probably what Bambi here¡¯s gonna be once she cracks her virgin Mary fa?ade,¡± Jace said with a smirk.


    ¡°Jace!¡± Harper exclaimed, turning to Zinny. ¡°It¡¯s a grown-up word you should never ever, ever, ever repeat¡­. Ever.¡±


    ¡°Like ¡®crap¡¯?¡±


    ¡°Your dolly¡¯s hair is so pretty. Did you style it?¡± Harper asked, shifting the conversation. Zinny nodded proudly, and Harper pulled up a chair beside her and began playing with her.


    Jace let out a derisive snort as Harper complimented the doll¡¯s dress.


    ¡°Whatever. I¡¯m done,¡± he scoffed, staring at Zinny with disdain. ¡°I¡¯m no baby watcher.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s ¡®sitter,¡¯ idiot,¡± Acacia corrected.


    ¡°I¡¯d gladly sit on it,¡± Jace said, a sinister grin tugging at the corners of his lips. Zinny shrank back from him as Harper bared her teeth at him.


    ¡°He¡¯s just joking,¡± Harper assured Zinny, though her tone remained icy.


    ¡°Maybe,¡± Acacia shrugged.


    ¡°Screw it,¡± Jace declared, striding towards the dining room door.


    ¡°They said to stay here,¡± Harper reminded him.


    ¡°Yeah, well, in my experience, the only reason adults hide conversations from kids for one of two things: they¡¯re either talking about the kids, or they¡¯re actually saying something interesting for once in their lives.¡±


    Acacia arched a skeptical eyebrow. ¡°Really? Those are the only two reasons you think a person would want privacy?¡±


    ¡°Either way, it beats staying here,¡± Jace remarked before disappearing through the door.


    Acacia¡¯s brows furrowed as she considered following Jace, but the thought of enduring more of his failed attempts at being clever kept her glued to her seat. She watched the door swing back and forth until it finally settled closed. She then decided to call Mickey instead and finish their conversation in peace, but her face dropped as a busy tone shattered her hopes. A grimace crossed her face as she watched Harper and Zinny absorbed in their play.


    ¡°So¡­ what are you into?¡± Acacia asked Harper, feeling just as awkward asking the question as Harper looked hearing it.


    ¡°I like studying. Mathematics mostly. I know it¡¯s summer, but you can never put brackets on learning,¡± Harper giggled, though Acacia wasn¡¯t entirely sure why. ¡°I also read the Bible a lot. My favorite scripture is Luke 15¡ª¡±


    ¡°For fucks sake,¡± Acacia sighed, her patience depleted. She made a beeline for the dining room door, eager to escape the overly wholesome conversation.


    Petunia stormed into the living room, her mind a chaotic whirlwind as she struggled to sort her emotions so she could articulate them clearly. She was determined to stay composed and intended to pull Aggie aside for a private conversation. However, the moment she saw her, Petunia¡¯s simmering anger erupted like a volcano.


    ¡°Why does Gene think that Acacia girl is related to us?¡± she demanded, her purse crashing down onto a side table. Her eyebrows knitted together, and her cheeks flushed with the heat of her emotions.


    ¡°Gene? Like your Gene?¡± Briar questioned, her face twisted in confusion at her sister¡¯s sudden outburst.


    ¡°He¡¯s not my Gene, but yes,¡± Petunia said curtly, her gaze glued to Aggie.


    Briar-Rose didn¡¯t know what was going on. She had never seen Petunia this upset before. Perhaps seeing Gene caught her off guard. "Why was he here?" she asked, her eyes darting between Petunia''s livid expression and Aggie''s serene demeanor.


    ¡°He was here to question Acacia Everthorne about her parents'' deaths,¡± Petunia disclosed, eyes scanning Aggie for any trace of shock or confusion. But Aggie merely took a calm sip of her tea, unfazed.


    ¡°Everthorne!¡± Briar gasped, her voice escalating to a high-pitched squeak.


    Ignoring Briar, Petunia continued, urgency saturating her voice. "For once in your life, Aggie, be completely upfront with us. What aren''t you telling us?"

 Broken Truths and Broken... Walls?

    ¡°Might Tabatha fancy another spot of tea?¡± Harper asked Zinny, her voice adopting a playful, exaggerated British accent.


    Zinny leaned toward her doll, a mischievous glint in her eyes as she gave several emphatic nods before turning back to Harper. ¡°No, but she¡¯d fancy another crumpet,¡± Zinny replied, mimicking Harper¡¯s accent and pointing to the nearly empty plate of cookies.


    ¡°I¡¯m not sure your mom would want you having another cookie,¡± Harper said, dropping the accent and returning to her normal voice.


    ¡°It¡¯s not for me, it¡¯s for Tabatha!¡± Zinny insisted, crossing her arms with an indignant huff.


    ¡°Fine,¡± Harper sighed, giving in and handing Zinny one of the last two cookies.


    Nibbling on the last cookie, Harper¡¯s attention drifted to the door Jace and Acacia had slipped through, obviously intent on eavesdropping. Harper couldn''t fathom why anyone would want to listen in on a conversation they weren''t invited to. It simply wasn''t right. She suspected Jace had never cared about doing the right thing a day in his life, but Acacia''s actions might¡¯ve stemmed from the pain of losing her parents.


    As she munched on her cookie, Harper decided Acacia needed someone to remind her how decent people respected others¡¯ privacy. She glanced at Zinny, who pretended to feed Tabatha some cookie pieces before enjoying it all for herself.


    ¡°Stay here. I¡¯ll be back,¡± Harper instructed, heading toward the dining room.


    Like every other space she¡¯d encountered in the house, the room was grandiose. Tall windows with sections of stained glass adorned one wall, allowing sunlight to flood in and bathe the room with a warm, natural radiance. At the heart of the space stood a long wooden table, its legs intricately carved with floral patterns, surrounded by soft-cushioned chairs.


    But it was the breathtaking chandelier that truly captivated Harper. Dangling above the table, its myriad crystals caught and scattered the sunlight, amplifying the lavishness of the room. Warm, gilded wallpaper wrapped the room, with China cabinets and dressers filling every available wall space. Harper imagined them filled with exquisite cloth napkins and gleaming silverware. Four entrances led into the room, including the one Harper had just entered through. One door led to a parlor framed by a stunning stained-glass archway, while the other two opened into the foyer across from the living room.


    Harper frowned in disapproval at Acacia and Jace, who were pressed against the partially open door, straining to catch bits of the adults¡¯ conversation.


    ¡°Spying is wrong, you guys,¡± Harper chastised from the kitchen doorway.


    ¡°Shhh!¡± they hissed in unison, shutting the door just long enough to make sure the adults hadn¡¯t hear them.


    ¡°I¡¯m not sure, but I think eavesdropping is a sin,¡± Harper added, trying to appeal to their consciences.


    ¡°Give it a rest, Mary,¡± Jace retorted, rolling his eyes.


    ¡°If they didn¡¯t want us listening, they¡¯d talk softer,¡± Acacia reasoned, her attention drifting back to the commotion in the living room.


    ¡°Besides, not all of us can be satisfied playing tea party,¡± Jace smirked at her. ¡°That requires a very special type of person.¡±


    ¡°Guys, please, reconsid¡ª¡±


    ¡°Shut up or leave, Mary,¡± Acacia snapped, closing her eyes, hoping it would sharpen her hearing like it had in the past.


    Harper bared her teeth, her fists clenching and unclenching in frustration. "Fine, but don''t whine to me when you''re burning in damnation," she shot back, folding her arms.


    ***


    Aggie sighed deeply, setting her tea on the coffee table as her attention drifted toward the kitchen door, sensing something was off. Closing her eyes, she honed in on the palpable strangeness suffusing the air.


    "Aggie!" Petunia''s voice cracked through the room, jolting Aggie from her concentration and back to her conversation.


    Aggie glanced at Petunia, who was practically fuming, before shifting her gaze to Briar-Rose, who looked as startled as a doe caught in the headlights.


    ¡°She¡¯s your little sister,¡± Aggie revealed in a hushed tone.


    ¡°That¡¯s impossible,¡± Briar said, shaking her head with vehemence. ¡°Mom died sixteen years ago.¡±


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    ¡°She went into hiding sixteen years ago after a witch friend of the coven foresaw her pregnancy in the near future,¡± Aggie explained, lifting her tea to her lips. ¡°The coven thought it was for the best.¡±


    ¡°The coven always thought they knew what was best,¡± Petunia sneered, bitterness oozing from every word. ¡°To hell with whoever they hurt in the process. Right, Aggie?¡±


    "That''s enough, Nia," Aggie warned, her glare daring Petunia to push further.


    ¡°No, it¡¯s not! We just found out we have a sister, and our mom didn¡¯t die like you said she did,¡± Briar snapped, standing up and pacing the room. She stopped abruptly, turning to face Aggie. ¡°I think we¡¯re entitled to be pissed.¡±


    ¡°Your mother always did what was best for the coven, and that meant having her daughter in secret.¡±


    "What about what was best for us?" Briar-Rose asked, her voice quivering, echoing the vulnerability of an abandoned child. She sank back onto the couch, locking eyes with Aggie. "She just left us to go raise some other kid for the past¡ªhow old is she? Fifteen years?"


    ¡°She did it to protect you, too,¡± Aggie replied. ¡°And she didn¡¯t raise Acacia. Demons killed Callie shortly after she gave birth.¡±


    ¡°Oh...¡± Briar murmured, her spirit deflating.


    Petunia rubbed her brows together as she paced back and forth.


    ¡°Seriously, Aggie! Is that it? No more amazingly ill-timed bombshells to drop?¡±


    ¡°Nia¡ª¡±


    ¡°No! Ugh, now I¡¯ve got a headache,¡± Petunia groaned, clutching her head. ¡°Thanks a lot.¡±


    ¡°Sit down, have some tea, and we¡¯ll talk about this, dear,¡± Aggie suggested, patting the sofa beside her.


    ¡°Oh God,¡± Petunia breathed, a hysterical laugh bubbling up as she watched Aggie. ¡°I¡ªI can¡¯t keep doing this. I¡¯m done.¡±


    With that, Petunia grabbed her purse and stormed out of the house, the door slamming behind her. Briar-Rose moved to follow, but Aggie¡¯s firm hand stopped her.


    "Let her be."


    ***


    Harper watched Acacia close the door and stumble back. She rushed to steady her, noting the pallor that had overtaken her usual olive complexion.


    ¡°What happened?¡± she asked, concern creasing her face.


    Jace just stared at Acacia for a minute before speaking, his tone nonchalant. ¡°Looks like you¡¯re not as orphaned as you thought,¡± he said with a shrug.


    Acacia cast a glassy-eyed stare at him but remained silent. There wasn¡¯t anything she could say to him. Jace wasn¡¯t wrong. She probably heard the conversation clearer than him, but he¡¯d heard enough, and she¡¯d heard too much.


    ¡°What does that mean?¡± Harper prodded, her curiosity piqued.


    ¡°You didn¡¯t know you were adopted?¡± Jace asked, deliberately ignoring Harper¡¯s question.


    Acacia shook her head, the motion barely noticeable as she staggered toward the kitchen, murmuring to herself.


    ¡°I¡¯ll take that as a no,¡± Jace muttered.


    ¡°I told you, nothing good comes from eavesdropping,¡± Harper scolded, following Acacia. She reached out, gently placing a hand on Acacia¡¯s shoulder. ¡°Acacia?¡±


    Acacia whirled around, her wide eyes filled with desperation as they met Harper¡¯s and Jace¡¯s. ¡°You both lost your parents in those murders that¡¯s been on TV, right?¡±


    ¡°So?¡± Jace replied, leaning back in one of the chairs.


    ¡°Are you sad?¡± Acacia asked bluntly.


    ¡°No. But my foster dad was a dick.¡±


    Acacia turned her gaze to Harper. ¡°What about you?¡±


    Harper¡¯s brows furrowed, finding the question absurd. She glanced at Jace¡ªof course someone as callous as him wouldn¡¯t be sad¡ªbut then her expression shifted as she realized the unsettling truth. ¡°I know I should be sad, but¡­ I¡¯m not. Not really.¡±


    Harper¡¯s gaze flitted between Zinny and Acacia, her concern growing. ¡°Should we really be talking about D.E.A.T.H in front of her?¡±


    "I''m not sad either, and I lost my parents two nights ago," Acacia admitted, her voice strained. "That''s not weird to you?"


    "That we''re all slight sociopaths?" Jace quipped, lazily dragging his finger across the empty cookie plate and popping the crumbs into his mouth.


    ¡°That we¡¯re all okay with it. Any of it. The deaths, the bizarre circumstances, all of us ending up in this stranger¡¯s house. One of us, maybe, but all three?¡±


    ¡°I like Aggie,¡± Harper said, a little sheepishly.


    ¡°What if that¡¯s because she spelled you to like her?¡± Acacia countered.


    ¡°Spelled? Like, like magic?¡± Harper asked, her voice trembling.


    ¡°Exactly like magic.¡±


    ¡°And I thought Mary was nuts!¡± Jace laughed.


    ¡°You heard them talking about covens and demons,¡± Acacia reminded him.


    Jace and Harper exchanged uneasy looks, convinced Acacia was losing her grip on reality.


    ¡°Fine,¡± Acacia said, marching over to the pantry door and searching through it.


    ¡°Looking for Narnia?¡± Jace teased when she came back empty-handed. ¡°I think you¡¯re short a lion and wardrobe.¡±


    ¡°What¡¯s happening?¡± Harper asked, fear seeping into her voice.


    ¡°We¡¯re getting front-row seats to a mental breakdown,¡± Jace replied. ¡°All we¡¯re missing is popcorn.¡±


    ¡°Shut up!¡± Acacia shouted, her frustration boiling over as she slammed her fist into the wall next to the pantry.


    She knew she was right. Things weren¡¯t adding up, but how could she prove stuck in the kitchen? She peeled her hand from the wall, her mind consumed with finding an escape route. Her eyes fell to Harper and Jace, their mouths agape, staring at something behind her. She followed their gaze, half expecting to see a hole in the wall, though she doubted she¡¯d punched it that hard. Instead, Acacia gasped when she saw the wall had vanished, replaced by a mysterious staircase. A grin unfolded across her face as she stared at the steps. She turned to Harper and Jace, her voice triumphant. ¡°See? Weird.¡±


    Without hesitation, Acacia began ascending the staircase, curiosity guiding each step. Jace stood up, grabbing Harper¡¯s hand and dragging her along with him.


    ¡°What are you doing?¡± she asked, digging her heels into the floor.


    ¡°Everyone knows you don¡¯t let crazy out of your sight.¡± He raised her hand. ¡°I got you, and the other crazy is up there, so come on.¡±


    Zinnia began to rise from her chair to follow, but Jace held out his hand, blocking her path. "No diaper babies allowed."


    ¡°I¡¯m not a baby,¡± Zinny retorted. ¡°I don¡¯t wear diapers!¡±


    ¡°Could¡¯ve fooled me,¡± Jace said, scrunching his nose.


    ¡°We¡¯ll be back soon,¡± Harper promised. ¡°Just keep playing with Tabatha.¡±


    Zinnia scowled at Jace and stuck her tongue out before turning to Harper with a bright smile.


    ¡°Okay,¡± Zinnia said, settling back at the table as Harper and Jace followed Acacia up the hidden staircase.

 What Lies Beyond the Door

    Eugene wandered through Willow Park, his thoughts drowning out the birds¡¯ captivating symphony as they flitted across the clear blue sky. So engrossed in his thoughts, he didn¡¯t even notice the soft whispers of leaves rustling and swaying in the breeze. He absentmindedly kicked a rock along the dirt path, shoving his hands into his pockets.


    The park¡¯s splendor escaped him entirely, his mind consumed with thoughts of Petunia¡ªor more precisely, the little brown-eyed girl who clung to her at Aggie¡¯s door.


    She looked around seven, Eugene thought, then shook his head.


    Nia told him the girl wasn¡¯t his, and though he hadn¡¯t seen or heard from her in years, he was still sure she¡¯d never lie to him.


    ¡°Get a grip, Faulkner,¡± he muttered, looking skyward. Uncertainty was a rare feeling for Eugene, but he remembered Petunia¡¯s influence during its last occurrence. The buzz of his phone snapped him out of his muddled thoughts. ¡°Thank God,¡± he breathed, answering. ¡°Faulkner.¡±


    ¡°The commander¡¯s on my ass, asking where you are. I covered for you, but¡ª¡±


    ¡°Sorry, Wilder. Just needed to clear my head to get inside the killer¡¯s,¡± Eugene lied, reluctant to divulge his personal turmoil to his abrasive partner. ¡°I¡¯ll be back at the station soon.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯d better,¡± Denise replied. ¡°Did you at least talk to the girl?¡±


    ¡°No, I¡ª¡±


    ¡°Faulkner!¡±


    ¡°But they¡¯re coming in later today,¡± Eugene assured her. ¡°And I¡¯m going to follow up on the occult lead by talking to some shop owners downtown.¡±


    Denise hung up without another word.


    ¡°Yep. Bye, partner,¡± Eugene muttered, pocketing his phone.


    He hadn¡¯t lied to Denise about that part, and clearing his mind of Petunia was essential to discerning the common link between the three pairs of victims. Aside from the necklaces¡ªindicative of some kind of occult worship¡ªworn by two victim pairs and the mysterious, apparently biological acid component, none of the couples¡¯ lives intersected, as far as they knew.


    Eugene''s only fresh lead connecting the cases was the fact that all the survivors ended up in the same household, and even social services couldn¡¯t explain how it happened. But how would the killer have known that would happen, and why would they care?


    Eugene shook his head again, rubbing his temples as a headache threatened to emerge. His gaze fell on the sun-dappled lake, its surface shimmering like a diamond tapestry. He was close enough to see the swaying limbs of the underwater willow, rooted deep in the lakebed, dancing with the currents.


    He marveled at how the magnificent tree thrived underwater, its ethereal beauty was enchanting and almost¡­magical. The tree, along with the network of creeks flowing throughout the area, gave the city its name centuries ago¡ªor so the legends claimed. Whether or not the story was true didn¡¯t matter to Eugene; all that mattered was the deep sense of tranquility he felt whenever he saw the tree.


    ¡°Except this time,¡± he muttered, his eyes landing on his favorite lakeside bench¡ªnow taken by a raven-haired woman. His chest tightened, his breaths coming in shallow bursts as he forced himself toward the bench.


    Petunia seemed as perturbed as he felt, her gaze flickering between her phone and the lake. As he drew closer, Eugene noticed a stream of unanswered messages on her screen, which she dismissed as quickly as they appeared.


    ¡°Great minds,¡± Eugene said, stopping just behind the bench.


    Petunia spun around, startled at first but quickly relaxing when she saw Eugene. She scooted over, making room for him as he rounded the bench.


    ¡°Gene,¡± she greeted him with a strained smile. ¡°Here to arrest some broken limbs?¡±


    ¡°Littering is a heinous crime, but I¡¯m just here to think,¡± Eugene replied, settling down beside her. ¡°You?¡±


    ¡°Just needed a break from family drama.¡±


    ¡°I hope my visit didn''t spark any of said drama.¡±


    ¡°No. It¡¯s just more of the same,¡± Petunia sighed, sinking into the bench and crossing her arms. ¡°I just had to get out of there.¡±


    Eugene quirked an eyebrow at her. ¡°Who are you, and what have you done with Nia?¡±


    If you stumble upon this narrative on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from Royal Road. Please report it.


    ¡°What?¡± Petunia asked, meeting Eugene¡¯s gaze for the first time since he¡¯d joined her.


    ¡°Weren¡¯t you the cheerleader who staged a schoolwide sit-in to protest the art program cuts?¡±


    ¡°That was a long time ago.¡±


    ¡°Yeah, but the Nia I knew never ran from a problem.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s all I¡¯ve been doing since I turned eighteen Petunia admitted, bowing her head as her cheeks burned with shame. She couldn¡¯t meet Eugene¡¯s gaze, painfully aware of how far she¡¯d drifted from the resilient girl he remembered and the woman she¡¯d become.


    ¡°Well, maybe it¡¯s time to try channeling sit-in Nia again.¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t think she exists anymore,¡± Petunia murmured, her brows furrowing as she forced herself to meet Eugene¡¯s eyes.


    ¡°You never know,¡± Eugene replied, placing a reassuring hand on her knee before standing up with a lopsided grin. ¡°You might just surprise yourself.¡±


    Silence settled around Petunia as Eugene adjusted his jacket and walked away.


    ¡°Eugene,¡± she called after him, turning with a grateful smile. ¡°Thanks.¡±


    ¡°Anytime,¡± Eugene replied, smiling back before continuing on his way out of the park.


    ***


    ¡°When are we gonna face the fact that you¡¯ve definitely lost it and this was a colossal waste of time?¡± Jace called, trailing after Acacia as she emerged from a dusty, long-forgotten bedroom on the fourth floor of the ancient house. At first, her descent into madness was entertaining. But after scouring two floors, where half the doors were locked and the other half held nothing but a bunch of old crap, Jace had had enough. ¡°What are you even looking for, anyway?¡±


    ¡°Something¡­odd,¡± Acacia replied, pushing against a locked door.


    ¡°You mean something odder than the fruit loop in front of us?¡±


    ¡°We really shouldn¡¯t be up here,¡± Harper cut in, clutching her hands close to her chest as she eyed all the cobwebs and dust-laden antiques in the hallway. ¡°Aggie made it clear when I first came here¡ªthe third and fourth floors are off-limits.¡±


    ¡°Because she¡¯s hiding something up here,¡± Acacia insisted, continuing her crusade down the corridor.


    ¡°Or, because she doesn¡¯t want us contracting tetanus,¡± Harper countered, narrowly avoiding a sharp, rusty metal edge.


    ¡°If you¡¯re fine not knowing whether you¡¯re bunking with Satanists, good for you. But I¡¯m not gonna be their next sacrifice.¡±


    ¡°So, we¡¯ve jumped off the magic freak train?¡± Jace asked, emerging from an open room. As he left, he shoved a full-length mirror to the ground.


    ¡°I don¡¯t know,¡± Acacia admitted. ¡°All I know is none of this makes sense.¡±


    ¡°What¡± Us purposely going onto a restricted floor of the house?¡± Harper asked.


    ¡°No, any of this,¡± Acacia said, stopping to face the others. ¡°How did your parents die?¡±


    ¡°A-a serial killer,¡± Harper whispered.


    ¡°Yeah, but how did he do it?¡± Acacia pressed, tilting her head with a raised brow.


    Harper looked away, focusing on the dusty floorboards, while Jace jiggled the handle of a locked door.


    ¡°Acid vomit.¡±


    ¡°Oh, gosh!¡±


    ¡°Same. Then, we all just happen to wind up here? Where the adults are all too nonchalantly chatting about covens, demons, and magic over tea.¡± Acacia said, visibly rattled. ¡°Not to mention, the last thing I heard my mom say were the exact words Aggie taught us this morning.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ve had weirder foster homes,¡± Jace said, shrugging her off.


    ¡°They¡¯re hiding something,¡± Acacia insisted.


    ¡°Well, duh,¡± Jace retorted, pulling out his pocketknife and tossing it in the air. ¡°If you really wanna know what the old lady¡¯s hiding, you might wanna try the room she¡¯s never let me near since I got here.¡±


    ¡°What? You¡¯re just mentioning this now? You really are an idiot,¡± Acacia said, baffled. He¡¯d watched her search the entire house and said nothing. ¡°Where is it?¡±


    Jace flicked open his pocketknife and hurled it toward Acacia. It whizzed inches away from her face, embedding itself in the iron-clad oak door at the end of the hall.


    ¡°There,¡± he said, a sinister grin spreading across his face.


    ¡°What the fuck¡¯s wrong with you?¡±


    ¡°Relax. If I was aiming for you, you¡¯d have a nice new pointy gothic accessory in your skull,¡± Jace said, brushing past her to retrieve his knife.


    Acacia growled, stomping toward the door and shooting Jace a piercing glare, but he just leaned casually against the wall, sliding his knife back into his pocket.


    ¡°Next time, just point,¡± Acacia grumbled, wrestling with the knob before accepting that¡ªlike many of the doors in the house¡ªit was locked. She didn''t know why she expected it to open; after all, Jace said Aggie didn''t want him near it. She banged her head against the frame, defeated. If there was a secret behind the door, she wasn¡¯t going to uncover it today.


    Jace watched Acacia repeatedly thump her head against the door, groaning. She looked pathetic, like a forlorn little gothic puppy. Normally, such a sight wouldn¡¯t faze him, but for some reason, seeing Acacia like this made him uneasy. Maybe it was because the three of them had endured similar ordeals, or maybe it was because Acacia thought they¡ªhe¡ªwas special, and unlike his social worker, she meant it in a good way. Whatever the reason, he found himself shoving Acacia to the floor.


    ¡°Move over,¡± Jace said, hunching over the keyhole with his lock-picking set in hand. After a few minutes, he straightened up and swung the door open. ¡°There.¡±


    ¡°Finally,¡± Acacia said, pushing past him into the room.


    ¡°Guys, this is trespassing,¡± Harper warned, edging up to the doorway but making sure not to cross the threshold, even though the room¡¯s cleanliness beckoned her to step inside.


    ¡°God, Mary. Chill,¡± Jace said, scanning the virtually vacant room. He brushed dust off one of many nearly barren bookcases. ¡°I¡¯m sure Aggie won¡¯t mind that we snooped around her lame-ass library.¡±


    Harper clenched her fists until her nails dug into her palms, her face flushing as crimson as her curls. In a fit of anger, she lunged at Jace, knocking him to the floor.


    ¡°My name¡¯s Harper, you jerk!¡± she burst out, then clapped a hand over her mouth, her eyes widening in terror as she realized she¡¯d crossed the threshold. Harper shot Jace a scowl as he laughed, clearly amused by her outburst. She then drew a cross over her body as she thumped her fist against her leg.


    Acacia paid no mind to the others, determined to find something in the empty room. She didn¡¯t understand why Aggie would be so uptight about keeping them away from this room. There was nothing remarkable at all¡ªjust a rug, a sofa, an armchair, a few dressers, bookcases, and a table with a few candles on it. Nothing exceptional.


    Acacia hung her head and slumped onto the sofa. ¡°Dammit,¡± she murmured, burying her face in her hands.

 Thuds of Secrets

    Aggie watched Briar-Rose pace the living room. Occasionally, she would sit, only to fidget restlessly and rise to repeat the cycle. This pattern had continued since Petunia¡¯s dramatic departure. Aggie was familiar with Briar¡¯s jittery state that followed receiving unsettling news, and normally, she¡¯d let her to play through her emotions. But now that she found herself wrestling to contain the young witch''s magical abilities, Briar''s freak-out was accompanied by tea sloshing back and forth in their mugs with every anxious movement.


    ¡°Briar, please,¡± Aggie urged gently, a small smile breaking through as Briar finally sank back into her chair.


    ¡°Sorry, it¡¯s just...¡± Briar¡¯s eyes flicked toward the foyer, as if sheer willpower could bring her desire to fruition. When nothing happened, she turned back to Aggie. ¡°What if she doesn¡¯t come back?¡±


    ¡°She¡¯ll be back¡­. We have her daughter,¡± Aggie reassured with a teasing lilt, hoping to calm Briar¡¯s nerves. ¡°Nia was always the pugnacious of the two of you. She just needs time to cool off.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s what you said last time,¡± Briar countered, tilting her head. ¡°And you know that¡¯s not what I meant¡­. I just don¡¯t want to be locked out of her life again.¡±


    ¡°Oh, Briar,¡± Aggie sighed, placing her hand gently over Briar¡¯s. She remembered how devastated Briar had been when Petunia left, and how long it took her to regain any semblance of normalcy¡ªthough Aggie doubted she ever actually recovered. Aggie was about to comfort the near-hysterical girl when an unusual sensation washed over her again.


    It wasn¡¯t the same feeling she experienced when she was pulled into the darkness. For a brief moment, Aggie entertained the idea of demons infiltrating the manor but quickly dismissed the notion. Even without her coven¡¯s power, her protection spell around the manor would endure for a while even after she did.


    Aggie tilted her head upward, using the air currents throughout the house to heighten her hearing as she tried to pinpoint the source of the unsettling sensation. Her eyes narrowed, her focus sharpening as she tried to identify the presence lurking stealthily within the manor''s walls.


    Briar¡¯s brows furrowed as she noticed Aggie¡¯s growing agitation.


    ¡°Aggie?¡± Briar asked, following her gaze to the ceiling.


    A thunderous slam from the front door jolted Aggie out of her magical focus. She grasped at the fading tendrils of the enigmatic sensation, but it slipped through her fingers like a wisp of smoke, vanishing as Petunia stepped into the living room. Aggie and Briar-Rose exchanged glances and released a small, simultaneous sigh of relief.


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    ***


    ¡°So, Captain Fruity Loop, ready to call it a bust?¡± Jace asked, rummaging through the last dresser drawer for anything valuable. He grimaced, finding nothing but a box of thread. ¡°An epic disappointment.¡±


    ¡°This doesn¡¯t make sense,¡± Acacia muttered, more to herself than the others, sinking onto the antique couch and shaking her head as she strained to piece together the fragments of the past few days.


    Her mother¡¯s final words echoing from her new foster guardian that morning¡­ learning her mom wasn¡¯t really her mom¡­ Aggie¡¯s talk of demons, and then there was how she survived the attack. Acacia stared at her hands, certain there had to be more to what was happening to her and the others¡­or else Jace was right, and she was losing her grip on reality. And even though she¡¯d just met him, Acacia knew she really, really didn¡¯t want Jace to be right.


    ¡°He¡¯s right. We should go,¡± Harper said, hovering by the door. ¡°People lock rooms for privacy.¡±


    ¡°Shady people lock things to hide shady shit,¡± Acacia snapped, springing up from the sofa, vexed with Harper¡¯s goody-goody nature. ¡°Think, Mary. Why would an old woman bother locking an empty library on the fourth floor?¡±


    ¡°Harper,¡± she corrected, her voice a faint whisper.


    ¡°Here¡¯s a crazy idea. If you care so much, ask her,¡± Jace suggested, flicking a cobweb from his shoulder.


    Acacia pressed her hands against her temples, feeling like her head might explode. She couldn¡¯t remember the last time she thought this hard about anything. She knew there was a reason Aggie locked this room. There was something important here¡­but where? Acacia flinched as a gentle hand on her shoulder snapped her out of her muddied thoughts.


    Harper had finally ventured further into the room, attempting to comfort her. She understood Acacia¡¯s pain, but concocting insane theories and invading others¡¯ privacy wasn¡¯t the appropriate way to navigate through her grief. ¡°There¡¯s nothing here,¡± Harper said softly. ¡°We should get back to Zinnia.¡±


    Acacia swatted Harper¡¯s hand away, narrowing her eyes. ¡°Whatever,¡± she muttered, storming toward the door. She blew a stray hair from her face, but instead of falling back into place, it floated upward as if caught in an invisible breeze before settling atop her head.


    Harper followed close behind, her steps cautious and quick.


    ¡°Girls,¡± Jace muttered, rolling his eyes. As he moved to join them, his gaze fell on a stack of books perched on the edge of the table. With a grunt, he reached out to knock them over, but before his fingers could even graze the bindings, a warm glow emitted from his palm, sending books cascading to the rug. He cast a wary glance at his hand before shoving it into his pocket and following the girls. ¡°This place almost got interesting.¡±


    Just as they reached the door, an eerie, rhythmic thud reverberated through the wooden floor, rattling from the ground beneath them to deep within their very bones, freezing them in their tracks.

 Curiosity Killed the Goth (Maybe)

    Acacia¡¯s heart hammered in her chest, her pulse quickening as she shot a nervous glance at Jace. ¡°You wanted something interesting in this place. Now¡¯s your chance,¡± she said, too paralyzed to face the unknown source of the noise herself.


    ¡°So, you two can bolt and lock me in with¡­ whatever that is? No thanks.¡±


    ¡°I knew we shouldn¡¯t have come in here,¡± Harper whimpered.


    The rumbling persisted, an unyielding assault on their ear.


    ¡°This is crazy,¡± Acacia muttered, berating herself. She¡¯d just fought an acid-spewing monster, so why was a little thumping noise in an empty room making her want to crawl out of her skin?


    She squeezed her eyes shut, forcing herself to breathe steadily. ¡°God! Okay¡­ we turn on three,¡± she said in a hushed tone.


    ¡°Fine,¡± Jace agreed.


    Harper wanted to voice her consent but managed only a shaky nod.


    ¡°One, tw¡ªlet go of my hand,¡± Acacia interrupted herself, jerking her hand free from Harper¡¯s grasp. ¡°Two, three.¡±


    On three, Jace and Acacia spun around, jaws dropping in unison.


    ¡°Does it have fangs?¡± Harper whispered, too afraid to turn around.


    ¡°For God¡¯s sake, Mary,¡± Jace said, grabbing her arm and turning her toward the room.


    When Harper opened her eyes, she quickly drew another cross over herself. ¡°Why couldn¡¯t it have been fangs,¡± she muttered, staring at the large, clattering chest nestled against the bay windows. Between her whimpers, Harper swore she heard a low hum emanating from inside it, prompting her to cover her ears to block out the faint noise.


    Jace rubbed his eyes, questioning their reliability. Sure enough, the chest was still there, jangling. He¡¯d checked every dresser and drawer in the room before deciding to leave and didn¡¯t remember seeing any chest. He would¡¯ve remembered the intricate moon and star carvings etched into the wood. Jace always appreciated fine craftsmanship, especially when it came to woodwork. Some of the best locks he¡¯d picked had been on beautifully engraved oaks. His eyes bugled as the chest began to emit a soft glow.


    ¡°Are you both seeing and hearing that too?¡± Jace asked, stepping back. ¡°Cause, truth be told, I might¡¯ve taken a questionable something from one of the bathrooms up here.¡±


    Acacia¡¯s fear melted into unbridled exhilaration. ¡°Awesome,¡± she breathed, inching closer to the mysterious box.You could be reading stolen content. Head to Royal Road for the genuine story.


    Crouching beside it, Acacia placed her hand on the lid, eyes fluttering shut as she sensed something she¡¯d only recently felt in her life¡ªpower. Only the power radiating from the chest felt a thousand times more intense than she¡¯d experienced the other night. Even stranger than her sensing the power within the box was that she was convinced it was beckoning her, urging her to discover what lay within.


    A frown creased her brow as her fingers brushed a lock at the chest¡¯s center. But her excitement returned because, unlike the house¡¯s other locks, this latch simply clicked open. Promptly removing the lock, she started to lift the lid, only to have Harper yank her back by the shoulders.


    ¡°What are you doing?¡±


    ¡°I was thinking of serenading it over a nice steak dinner. Opening it, duh,¡± Acacia said, jerking away from Harper. ¡°What else would I be doing?¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re crazy.¡±


    ¡°And you¡¯re a spineless little church mouse,¡± Acacia retorted.


    ¡°Beware the serpent¡¯s guidance down the wicked path,¡± Harper replied.


    ¡°I really, really, really hate to say this, but I agree with conservative Barbie,¡± Jace said, grimacing.


    ¡°Really?¡± Harper asked, eyes wide with surprise.


    ¡°On the list of things to never do, opening a glowing, rumbling chest that mysteriously appeared in a locked room is pretty high up there.¡±


    ¡°Shh,¡± Acacia hissed, turning her attention back to the chest. ¡°Can¡¯t you hear that?¡±


    The hum swelled into a buzz, the chest¡¯s light intensifying alongside it.


    ¡°It wants us to open it,¡± Acacia whispered, eyes wide.


    ¡°And the devil wanted Eve to bite the apple,¡± Harper countered.


    ¡°It¡¯s a chest. It doesn¡¯t want anything,¡± Jace said, trying to ignore the madness around him.


    ¡°What if it¡¯s, like, Pandora¡¯s box?¡± Harper pressed.


    ¡°But what if it explains what happened to our families?¡± Acacia shot back, her eyes alight with hope. ¡°What if it can help us?¡±


    Harper knelt beside Acacia, her voice low but steady. ¡°Something horrific happened to us, and,¡± she gestured at the trunk, ¡°nothing inside there is going to undo that fact.¡±


    For a moment, Acacia seemed to take in Harper¡¯s words. But then her jaw tightened, and she swiveled to the chest, wrenching the lid open.


    Inside was bare, bar an oversized leather-bound book. Its surface was marred by webs of wrinkles¡ªeach marking an echo of a bygone era. The weathered yet resilient leather hinted at the countless stories borne by those who had held it previously. Despite its age, it emanated an aura of strength, as if centuries of hardships had built its formidability. Dominating the cover was a silver star nested within a circle, its brilliance a stark contrast to the age-beaten leather.


    Acacia lifted the book gingerly, sensing its age as well as its power. The book was undeniably heavier than she thought possible, as if it held more than just parchment within its covers. She knew the secrets within its pages held the key to making sense of everything she¡¯d been through. As her fingers traced the star and circle, they shimmered as though resonating with her touch. The star ignited, its glow growing stronger while the circle pulsed in sync with her heartbeat. The interaction was magical, a dance of light and energy, as mesmerizing as it was frightening.


    ¡°Whoa!¡± Acacia and Jace exclaimed together, while Harper just shook her head, nervously chewing on her thumb.


    ¡°Oh, no,¡± Harper whispered.


    Acacia settled cross-legged with the book nestled in her lap. She turned to the first page, where exquisitely rendered words seemed to leap off the paper. The three-dimensional appearance of the text beckoned her to glide her fingers across the surface as she read aloud. ¡°Codex of Wisdom?¡± she murmured, her brow furrowing in confusion as she pondered the words. Driven by her burgeoning curiosity, she gently flipped to the next page.

 Glowing Eyes and Glaring Questions

    Under Acacia¡¯s fingertips, the next page revealed the same celestial symbol as the cover¡ªa star encircled by a ring. The sole difference was that each point of the star was marked by a pair of glowing eyes, each in a different hue. One pair, in particular, caught Acacia¡¯s attention¡ªstormy gray irises streaked with azure undertones that eerily mirrored the ones she saw reflected in the mirror each day.


    ¡°What¡ªwhat is it?¡± Harper asked, her voice trembling as her hands wring together nervously.


    Acacia¡¯s gaze flickered to her, her heart skipping a beat when she noticed Harper¡¯s watery amber eyes¡ªnot unlike those displayed in the book¡ªstaring back at her.


    ¡°Earth to Gothica,¡± Jace said, breaking the silence as he ran a hand through his hair and lounged back in the antique armchair.


    Jace¡¯s jade eyes pierced Acacia, his gaze as sharp as freshly honed steel. She returned her attention to the book, her pulse racing as she studied the green and fiery eyes sitting adjacent to distinct points of the star.


    This is too weird, Acacia thought, her fingers twitching to close the book. But as she tried to shut it, an invisible force pushed back against her as if the book itself was resisting.


    She pressed harder on the cover, not wanting to know why or how she was having a muscle competition with a book. Triumph surged through her as she started to win, a smug grin curling her lips. But just as the cover was about to slam shut, the pentacle shimmered and sent a spark arcing from it to her fingers.


    ¡°Ouch!¡± Acacia yelped, pulling her hand back and bringing her singed fingers to her lips. She snarled as the book snapped open in her lap, flipping to a blank page. ¡°Bitch.¡±


    ¡°Are you okay?¡± Harper asked, her voice edged with worry. ¡°What ha¡ª¡±


    Harper¡¯s words trailed off as she became captivated by the spectral images slowly materializing on the once-blank page. The girls stared, transfixed, as ten shadowy figures appeared around the star, two at each point. Each pair of figures bore the same vibrant eyes Acacia had seen on the previous page. The figures clasped hands, encircling the star as it glowed so brightly that it forced the girls to squint. Then, the scene shifted: half of the figures vanished, causing the circle to shrink and its light to dim.


    The girls watched, riveted, as shadowy creatures slithered from the page¡¯s inky borders, launching an assault on the remaining figures. Overhead, a sun and moon alternated. Acacia assumed it marked the passage of time because, with each oscillation, more silhouettes joined the fray, rushing to aid colorful-eyed figures. With every few celestial rotations, the number of aiding figures fluctuated, and the star¡¯s luminosity ebbed and flowed accordingly. Its radiance intensified whenever many figures fought the monsters and dulled when only a small handful linked with the color-eyed figures¡¯ power.


    The cycle repeated until only four figures remained, their eyes glowing purple, amber, gray, and blue. Suddenly, another figure appeared, a guardian of two little figures; its eyes shone purple. The original four encircled the newcomer, who then disappeared, leaving the two small figures behind. Of the two little figures, one had purple eyes while the other''s were blue. The larger color-eyed figures laid hands on the taller purple-eyed figure as it held the smaller ones. Gradually, the vivid color of the smaller figures'' eyes drained into the taller purple-eyed figure, and the tiny figures collapsed into a peaceful slumber.A case of theft: this story is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.


    ¡°What is this?¡± Harper whispered, her voice trembling as awe and fear widened her eyes at the vivid animation unfolded on the page.


    ¡°Shh,¡± Acacia hushed, her attention unwavering, captivated by the story blossoming before them.


    As the two small figures slept, even smaller, color-eyed figures approached the elders. Once again, the purple-eyed figure absorbed the vibrant colors from their irises one by one, causing them to fall into a deep, sleep-like state. The elder figures gently lifted the small ones, placing each on a distinct point of the star. In response, the star shone its brightest yet, compelling Harper and Acacia to shield their eyes again. When they opened their eyes, the small figures lay scattered across the page, still in a deep slumber.


    Then, one by one, the elder figures disappeared until only the purple-eyed one remained to fend off the encroaching monstrous shadows. The star now flickered weakly, its light fading, while the lone figure looked battered and worn. As the lone figure crumbled to the ground, the small figures began to stir, sitting up with their eyes flickering with the colors that had been taken from them.


    ¡°Hey!¡± Jace¡¯s voice intruded, piqued with curiosity. He shoved Harper aside to see what had them so enthralled. His face twisted in disappointment when all he saw was nothing more than a lame painting of shadow figures. They hadn¡¯t been ignoring him over some literary masterpiece; they were just ignoring him. A growl rumbled in his throat as he flung the book to the floor.


    ¡°What the hell?¡± Acacia shouted, her voice a mix of anger and disbelief as she reached for the fallen book. To her dismay, the images on the page ceased to move. She flipped through the rest of the book, only to find the pages blank. Page after page of nothingness. She spun toward Jace, her anger reigniting as she stood to shove him. ¡°You ruined it! There¡¯s seriously something wrong with you.¡±


    A smirk danced on Jace¡¯s lips, basking in Acacia¡¯s rage. Maybe next time, she¡¯d think twice about ignoring him.


    ¡°I¡¯m not the one who was gawking at some stupid shadow painting for five minutes,¡± Jace said with a shrug.


    ¡°There was more¡ªit wasn¡¯t just a painting¡ªthat is to say it¡­moved,¡± Harper whispered, biting her thumbnail and shaking her head to clear her thoughts.


    ¡°Look! You broke Mary,¡± Jace said, gesturing at Harper as he headed for the door. ¡°Now, let''s go before she¡¯s called to confession and spills everything about our little adventure to the old lady.¡±


    He stepped aside, making way for them to pass, but Acacia¡¯s attention returned to the book.


    She traced the now-static images, trying to will them to replay the story they unveiled, but they remained stubbornly still. She yearned to see it again. She knew it held some significance, some crucial piece of information. But what?


    ¡°We were so close¡­. I was so close,¡± she whispered, a new sense of loss washing over her. She was on the cusp of gaining the answers she craved. She wished the book would tell her something¡ªanything¡ªabout what was happening to her¡­who she was.


    As if hearing her silent plea, the book sprang to life, its pages flooding with words and images as they started flipping on their own.


    ¡°Hey, crazy!¡± Jace called, his hand clumped on Acacia¡¯s shoulder. He quickly released her, recoiling from the self-animated book. ¡°What the fuck?¡±


    The pages stopped, and Acacia grinned, holding the book up as she turned to the two terrified teens. She turned the book to face them so they could read the page for themselves.


    Jace¡¯s eyes caught the bold calligraphy at the top of the page, and he read aloud, ¡°Reclaim Lost Powers.¡± He quickly regained his composure, raising a skeptical brow at Acacia. ¡°Seriously?¡±


    ¡°Is that a-a spell?¡± Harper stuttered, her eyes widening.


    Acacia¡¯s smile broadened.


    ¡°Ready to take back what was taken from us?¡± she asked, her voice imbued with newfound vigor.