Page 20 of A Touch of Darkness (Chronicles of the Cursed #1)

I’ve been here for an hour, nursing a lukewarm cup of lavender tea, the steam rising from it twisting into shapes that seem almost as restless as my mind. The Raven’s Quill is quieter now, late afternoon sun filtering through the high windows, casting shadows across the weathered oak tables. I’m glad for the stillness. It gives me a moment to think, but even that feels out of reach—like my thoughts are running faster than I can catch them.

I’m still ruminating on everything Lucian said. About Seraphina—the witch who I saw in the vision. The one who created the vampire curse. My visions…there’s so much tangled in my mind. And the fact that I don’t even remember the last time I’ve slept properly probably isn’t helping anything.

I told Lucian, prior to leaving this morning, about Lara’s body being missing from the morgue. He believes it firmly solidifies that Solstice is behind this. We didn’t have time to fully get into why, but I do intend on asking, although everything is starting to make more sense to me, too.

She’s not fully gone, he said. There’s a chance…maybe…I can get her back. It gives me hope—and it feels dangerous.

I miss my sister. I feel her so deeply inside of me that I think I’ve tricked myself. She’s on vacation. She’ll be back soon. She’s visiting friends back in Chicago. Anything to keep my mind from the truth?—

That I don’t know anything for sure.

That she talks to me in my mind, and I’ve seen a vision of her suspended in air that Lucian seems to think means she’s not truly gone. That makes sense to me, because maybe that’s why I’m still hearing her voice every now and then. She isn’t fully gone.

The last few days have felt like a nightmarish dream, like the ground beneath me has cracked open and swallowed up everything familiar. Lara’s death. Her body. Missing, or worse. I still don’t know what happened to her, but something inside me refuses to believe what the authorities have told me. They’ve said she’s gone. But I saw her—her face suspended in the air, in that vision. She isn’t gone. Not entirely.

A large part of me really feels seen by Lucian. Feels like I can trust him.

Probably also dangerous.

I stir the tea absentmindedly, watching the swirling patterns, trying to clear my mind. The door chimes when Nicole and Rebecca walk in together, and I feel a strange sort of relief. I’m still not sure how to navigate this new world I’m standing in, where my sister is gone, and I’m expected to pick up the pieces alone. But they’ve been my anchor—along with a certain witty, broody professor.

“You look like you’ve been contemplating the meaning of life,” Nicole says, her voice playful as she slides into the seat across from me. But there’s an edge beneath it, a softness in her eyes that tells me she knows exactly what’s going on in my head.

Rebecca sits next to her, her expression quieter, more focused. She doesn’t need to ask how I’m doing—she already knows. The same way I can read the tightness in her shoulders, the way her fingers immediately start drumming lightly on the table. We all feel it: the absence, the uncertainty. The sense that something is wrong, and no one is talking about it.

“I’m sorry I’ve been such a buzzkill. I swear I’m not always this much of a downer,” I tell them, although I don’t even know if I believe it at this point.

Rebecca shakes her head like it’s no big deal, and I sigh. “Seriously? You’ve kind of been through a lot to warrant being less than excited about life right now,” she says. “There’s something about you Sylvie, something we”—she motions to Nicole—“love. We are here for you. We want to help you. We just wish we knew how.”

I smile at her, knowing she has no idea how much I needed to hear that in this moment. Nicole playfully rolls her eyes and says, “Alright, you two sap queens. Let’s get down to important business, shall we?” She pauses and looks at me, reaching for my hand across the wooden table. When our palms connect, I feel a surge of energy.

“Are there any updates?” she asks. “They say anything about Lara’s missing body?"

Nicole and Rebecca were the first two people I told when the authorities informed me that Lara’s body is quite literally nowhere to be found. Neither of them could believe it either. And it only makes us all doubt everything that much more—they are with Lucian in thinking Solstice is definitely behind this. Especially now.

I shake my head, the ache of loss settling heavy on my chest. Because, even if Lara isn’t dead, even if she’s out there somewhere, she still isn’t here . “No. It doesn’t make sense. They’re saying she was dead when they found her, but there’s no explanation. No autopsy results because there hasn’t been a chance to do an autopsy because the body just so happened to go missing. All I’ve been given is a vague statement. And now… she’s gone. Completely gone. They’ve been avoiding my calls and requests for follow-up meetings, but at this point I feel like I’ll get more done on my own. And with you guys.” My hands shake slightly as I push the cup away, feeling a pressure pulsating against my ribs.

Rebecca’s eyes narrow. “I really do think the Solstice Society has something to do with this, now more than ever. Have you thought anymore about them? There haven’t been any other visits from Isabel—other than the two we know about. Right?”

The idea hits me like a punch to the gut. The thought that someone could take her away, make her disappear completely, makes my skin crawl. I swallow hard, shaking my head. “No more unwanted visits. It feels like the Society is covering something up. Like the police are, too. No one’s saying anything. It’s too quiet.” My gaze falls to the table, my nails digging into the wood beneath my fingers. “It just makes me even more wary about these Society people. Isabel. The authorities for their total disregard. The fact that Isabel keeps showing up unannounced like a total psycho.” I take a sip from my mug.

Rebecca’s voice is low, a dangerous whisper, “Remember what I told you the other night? How I was listening in. The moment she said vampires were responsible for Lara’s death, I got an eerie feeling. A feeling that she was lying through her teeth. I think it’s possible that the Solstice Society has something to do with not only hurting Lara but taking her body, too. The Solstice Society has power everywhere. If they wanted her body gone, it would be gone.”

“And her body is gone,” Nicole follows-up. She sighs and leans forward. “I hate to say it, but if the Society’s involved in any way, we might never get the full truth without figuring it out ourselves.” A grim expression crosses her face, and she squeezes my hand before letting it go. I relax backward and cross my arms over my chest, unwilling to accept that as an answer.

I shiver at the thought of them—of their long reach, their power, and their shadowy influence. The Solstice Society seems mythical in my mind. But after everything that’s happened, I can’t deny it anymore. They’re real. And they’re dangerous. And mythical doesn’t hold as much weight as it used to. I also used to think vampires and witches were merely mythical…my how things have drastically changed.

Rebecca shifts in her seat, her dark eyes never leaving me. “You said you had a vision in your text. About Lara. What did you see?”

The image rushes back to me, vivid and almost too much to handle. I close my eyes for a moment to steady myself before I speak. “She was... suspended. In the air. Surrounded by symbols, runes, crescent moons, glowing in this... weirdly unnatural way. Like she was trapped, suspended in some sort of... fucked-up limbo.” My voice falters as I recall the unease I felt during the vision—the feeling that something far worse was happening beneath the surface. “It didn’t feel like death to me. It felt like she was caught in between, stuck somewhere she couldn’t get out of. But then it was over, and I was just sitting there wondering if I saw anything at all.”

Nicole raises an eyebrow. “The first rule of having abilities or even being a witch? You trust yourself. Your gut. Your intuition. Sylvie, if you saw it, it’s real. You can’t start doubting yourself.”

I nod, the bulk of her words settling on my shoulders. “You’re right. If I’m going to believe in my…abilities…I don’t think she’s dead. I don’t know what the hell is going on, but something’s off. And I’m not ready to believe she’s just gone. Especially when I feel her. I feel her inside of me.”

I just don’t want to be disappointed if I’m wrong.

Rebecca leans back in her chair, a calculating look crossing her face. “Then we need to figure out where she is. And why they’ve been hiding it. The body might never have been there in the morgue in the first place. Maybe it’s just another piece of the puzzle they’re trying to cover up.”

The silence in the air is filled with implications, each word landing harder than the last. The Solstice Society. What they’ve done to Lara. What they’ve done to me. Everything is tangled, and I can feel the pull of it, urging me to take action.

And then there’s Lucian. My parents. Our lineage. Seraphina. The curse.

The way I feel almost…indebted to her in some peculiar way.

The way Lucian makes me feel…something I can’t describe.

Something I can’t even think about right now in fear that I’ll totally lose myself.

Nicole exhales slowly, watching me closely. “You need to be careful, Sylvie. There’s something about the Society. They’re not just after Lara. I truly believe they’re after you. Lucian said it best. You’re the key. The key to ending all of us.”

The words hit like a revelation. They’ve been after me from the start, haven’t they? Ever since I got here, ever since I was born into this messed-up bloodline, they’ve been waiting for the right moment to pull me into their grasp.

“I know,” I say, my voice a little steadier now. “I’m not stupid. They’re waiting for something. For me. And I don’t know what it is they’re expecting me to do for them, or how, but I’m going to find out.”

Nicole raises an eyebrow. “So what do you plan to do about it? Just wait around for their next move?” She shrugs. “I’m sure it won’t be too long before Isabel’s crazy ass pops back up.”

Something Nicole says triggers an idea. I smirk, meeting her gaze without hesitation. “No. I’m not waiting. I’m going to make a move first.”

Rebecca’s eyes narrow thoughtfully, like it’s a great idea. “You’re right. I think it’s time for you to go to them. They are dangerous, but there are also things we can do to protect you while you talk to them. While you find out just how much they are involved.”

I nod, knowing it’s what I have to do. Letting them come to me isn’t helping anything.

“You need to seek them out this time,” Rebecca continues. “Maybe you could act like you’re going to work with them. Or, like, you want to see what they are all about. Pretend you want to hear about joining, that Isabel has sunk her claws into you. But really, you’ll be gathering intel. Finding out what they’re planning. What they want from you. What they’ve been doing all this time and how you’re a part of it. And if they have Lara, maybe you’ll be closer to knowing the truth.”

My heart beats a little faster. This is it. This is the only way I’m going to get the answers I need. The only way I can protect myself—and maybe even stop the Society before they get what they want. “I’ll do it,” I say without hesitation. “I’ll get close. I’ll find out everything. Not even for me or their greatest purpose. To find out where they have Lara and get her back.”

Nicole grins, her eyes sparkling with approval. “That’s my girl. Just remember—don’t let them see who you really are. You have to stay on your toes, Sylv. These are dangerous people, and you can’t afford to slip up. Not even a little.” She looks to Rebecca, then back to me. “We can help with that. There’s no way we can let you go in without strong protection. Luckily, we’re pretty good with protection spells.”

For the first time in days, I feel something that resembles certainty. I may not have all the answers yet, but I know what I need to do. And this time, I won’t be alone. I have Nicole and Rebecca. And I’ll need their help to pull this off.

I lean back in my chair, a newfound resolve settling in my bones.

The three of us sit there for a while, the conversation shifting into quieter murmurs, plans already starting to form. But in my chest, a fire has been lit…and I can’t wait to make them pay for what they’ve done.