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Dani

I clamp my hand over my mouth, stifling a gasp as I take in the horrific sight before me.

The lifeless body lies sprawled on the cold ground, a nightmarish sight of contorted limbs and grotesque angles.

It’s as if a cruel joke has been played on her form, with limbs twisted unnaturally and fragments of flesh missing, revealing raw, unsettling tissue where her ovaries once resided.

A sense of dread hangs heavy in the air—this isn’t just a murder: it’s a message.

The Keepers of the Mist community murmurs in hushed tones, the atmosphere thick with unease.

They say the symbol etched into her chest—a disturbing insignia that feels both alien and hauntingly familiar—foretells of impending doom.

The lines of the symbol curl and twist, suggesting a foreboding that sends chills down my spine as their words repeat in my head, ‘Death is near.’

The woman’s face is a mask of horror, yet her eyes—or the lack thereof—chill me to the core. Where they once were filled with life, there are now two hollow sockets. In their place are glimmering golden crystals. They emit a faint, otherworldly glow, casting a strange light across her pallid face.

As I stand frozen in disbelief yet fascinated by the horrors, a raven appears. It caws and squawks as it sits perched on a tree branch, like it has a message for me.

Jules leans closer, “A raven is often associated with omens and the afterlife. It signifies the presence of death… which, makes sense, since she is super dead,” she mutters to me and Carter, her eyes wide with dread. The weight of her words hangs heavy between us .

Erin was in her backyard, immersed in a ritual that hinted at witchcraft.

In the center of a meticulously drawn ceremonial circle, her lifeless body was discovered, a haunting centerpiece to an enigmatic scene.

Intricate symbols, etched in crimson cover her skin, their vividness mirrored by the markings that spiraled across nearby tree trunks and rugged stones.

Carter fills us in, “Her lover, Heather, explained that they merely engaged in worship, a sacred practice meant to connect with the earth and its energies.” We give Carter a look, raising our eyebrows at him.

“What? Her words, not mine… anyway, Heather said she started to feel faint and had gone inside to lie down for a bit. She was too discombobulated to address my and Sheriff Rhoton’s additional questions. ”

It’s not the work of a shadowmire, and it certainly wasn’t her lover who did this. However, this was unquestionably done by someone’s hands.

I glance back at her body again. That symbol… it’s so familiar.

I search my memory, and something clicks.

Holy fuck… that symbol is the same symbol I saw in Octavia’s lair!

“Whoever did this is a sick son of a bitch,” Carter turns to face both me and Jules. “Sorry you guys have to see this. We will catch this person.”

“Carter, we see death all the time. No need to apologize,” Jules casually remarks, putting on her hazmat suit.

“I know, but shit, Jules… no one should have to see this. It’s fucked up,” he says.

Carter has always been very protective of me and Jules. It slightly annoys me that he thinks we are some damsels in distress and can’t handle the jobs we chose to do.

“It is what it is. I’m going to grab all my gear,” I tell them both and head out front where I parked .

All the women are outside their houses, standing behind the caution tape—nosy little creeps.

I walk past the caution tape to my car. I open my trunk and start putting on my gear.

My necklace begins to beat under my shirt.

“Danika.”

I jump, accidentally hitting my head on my car’s trunk. The sharp impact reverberated through my skull, sending me a brief jolt of surprise.

“Ow!” I rub the top of my head and then turn around.

A woman with short, tousled, auburn hair stands before me, her lips curling into a faint, almost fragile smile. A torrent of thoughts race through my mind as I stare at her, drowning me in curiosity and uncertainty. I would recognize those eyes anywhere...

One of her eyes is vibrant green, the other rich, warm brown—they shift between my own as if searching for a connection. Her complexion gleams with an otherworldly radiance, untouched by time as if she exists only in the photo I have of her from 31 years ago, where aging holds no sway.

She is beautiful.

“It’s me, Danika.”

What in the actual fuck am I seeing right now?

This isn’t real.

I look around and catch Jules’ gaze from a distance. She starts to walk over to me.

“Mom?” I call out, my voice tinged with confusion and anger.

My brow furrows as I study her, the uncertainty evident in my wide, searching eyes.

I lean closer, feeling a strange sense of disbelief wash over me.

Tentatively, I extend my hand, fingertips brushing against her shoulder to confirm her presence with a simple touch.

Yup, the bitch is real.

She nods her head up and down, tears brimming her eyes. She reaches out to touch me, but I take a step back.

“That’s fair,” she says .

“That’s fair? That’s fucking fair? I should punch you in your throat! Are you fucking kidding me? Do you live here?!” Anger engulfs me and I can feel my blood start to boil.

Jules stands by my side now. “Holy…” her voice trails off as she realizes who is standing in front of me.

Neither of us has ever met my mother. But I have one photograph of her still, which sits in the guest bedroom, inside a dresser drawer. She looks exactly the same as she did 31 years ago.

“I’ve lived here all your life. I’m… I’m the leader here…” she says proudly, as if this cult is something to be proud you left your family for.

As she speaks, a woman strolls past, a tender smile gracing her lips as she clutches her young daughter’s hand while an umbrella hangs over them.

With a soft reverence, she acknowledges my mother, the leader, her voice ringing with sincerity as she exclaims, “May she shower us with her glory, Laney.”

“Laney? Shower us with glory?” I laugh coldly. “What the hell is going on!”

Carter notices Jules and me with this stranger, and he approaches us.

“I have so much I want to tell you… so much you need to know. I’ve always loved you, Danika.”

“It’s Dani,” I say sharply, interrupting her.

“Dani. You are so beautiful…”

“Enough with the sweet talk, Elaine. Tell us what the fuck you’re doing here and why,” Jules says bluntly.

My mother’s eyes glare at Jules.

“Answer her,” I say.

“Ma’am, this is a crime scene. Please return to your home,” Carter says, folding his arms.

“Carter, this is Elaine, Dani’s mother, whom she has never met,” Jules says casually, and I admire her for her assertiveness.

“Oh, shit. Uhm, okay. I’ll leave you guys to it then.

Mrs. Shay… or uhm, Elaine, lovely to meet you.

I think…” Carter looks up at me, and I shake my head. He walks away, mouthing ‘sorry.’

“I have to work.” I slam my trunk closed and push past her, but she grabs my arm. Her touch burns my skin, and my necklace, which is hidden under my shirt, begins to beat rapidly.

What the fuck?

She quickly pulls her hand away.

“So, you’ve spent over three decades in this place.

.. not a single greeting, not a ‘how are you doing,’ and certainly not an ‘I’m sorry for your loss’ after my father passed away?

” My voice is tight with emotion as I turn away.

The air between us feels heavy, and I can sense her footsteps trailing behind me, echoing with urgency as she follows me and Jules into the uncertain distance.

“Yes. I never left. Please, let me explain. I can make us some tea,” Elanie gestures to her house. I take a mental note on which house is hers, with its ivy-covered facade, ensuring I won’t forget which one it is.

“Did Dad know? Know that you were here?”

“Yes.” My eyes wince at that answer. I should have known.

My father drank himself to sleep every night just to avoid any type of communication with me.

He was always good at keeping secrets. When my cat died, he told me he ran away.

A few weeks later, I found his body in the backyard where some animal had dug up his carcass.

“But he didn’t tell you because he didn’t want you wrapped up in any of this. Oh, Dani, I was so wrong to leave you. You belong here, with me.”

“The fuck I do! I want nothing to do with you or your little fucking cult. Do you even know who you fucking worship here?” I stop walking and raise my voice at her.

“Danika, you have a foul mouth like your father. You will be respectful when you are here.” I snort, “Oh, fuck off. Answer my question. Do you know who you even worship in this cursed town?”

“Yes...” Jules and I fix our gazes on her, waiting for her to finish the rest of her response. “Octavia.”

I feel my nails digging into the tender flesh of my palm, a physical manifestation of my rising anger. Sensing my tension, Jules grips my arm tightly, urgency lacing her voice. “Come on, let’s go, Dani.”

“She is misunderstood. We must make her stronger so she can rule again. She will save us all!” I turn to walk away but her next words stop me. “You are not their mates, Danika!”

I’m ready to explode.

Stepping closer, I invade my mother’s space, my eyes blazing with intensity.

“You know nothing of my mates! Octavia is nothing but a deceitful little twat, and she deserves to rot in the deepest, darkest corners of the seven realms of hell where she belongs. I never want to see you again. Is that understood?” My words hang in the air, a heavy silence following my declaration.