Dark magic—Eliane had always known its touch was icy, numbing you to the most horrible of actions. Casandra had warned her of it, in her own way. It was like something that seeped into your veins, dulling everything—guilt, fear, regret. Casandra had spoken about it often, though never fully aware of just how deep that numbness had gone. And now, Eliane was starting to see those same shadows in Maya. But there was something... different.

"Maya," Eliane broke the silence between them, her voice soft yet charged with the questions swirling in her mind. "You’ve killed before, haven’t you? The men who attacked you and your friends…"

Maya's pale blue eyes, always distant, flickered. She didn't flinch or shy away. "Yes," she answered, the word sharp yet emotionless. "They were coming for me. Coming for all of us."

It was a simple statement, but it hit Eliane harder than she expected. Casandra had said the same thing after her kills, the same cold detachment. Yet Maya didn’t have the same… edge. Casandra always felt like she was one breath away from being consumed by the darkness she wielded, like a flame teetering on the edge of burning out of control. Maya, though… Maya seemed grounded. Despite the darkness in her blood, there was a strange calmness about her.

"How do you not lose yourself to it?" Eliane whispered, her own memories stirring, thoughts of the magic that coursed through her veins. The magic that terrified her.

Maya turned to her, eyebrows raised in quiet curiosity. "Lose myself?"

"The magic," Eliane clarified, stepping closer, her eyes searching her sister’s face. "Casandra… she was always on the edge. I’ve seen dark magic take over people like it did to her. But you..." Eliane hesitated, watching Maya’s face, the glow that softly illuminated her skin like moonlight. "You seem different. Like you can control it."

Maya’s lips twitched into a small, sad smile. "Control is a funny thing. It’s more like I’ve learned to live alongside it." Her gaze drifted back to the cavern walls, the James symbol etched deep into the stone glowing faintly. "But there’s always a cost."

Eliane’s breath hitched as she watched Maya. She was so calm, so sure. And in that moment, Eliane realized something that shook her to her core: she didn’t want to run. Not from Maya, not from the magic. The thought was dizzying—how much she wanted to stay, to help, to be a part of this world that terrified her.

"You can stay, you know," Maya said suddenly, breaking Eliane from her swirling thoughts. Her face was calm, but her eyes—those eyes were knowing. "Stay as long as you want. I always wanted a sister." Her voice softened, vulnerable in a way Eliane had never expected. "I’d like to get to know you."

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Eliane’s heart stuttered. She licked her lips nervously, not used to feeling wanted. "I’d… I’d like that too," she finally whispered, her voice cracking slightly. A tiny smile tugged at her lips. It was a fragile thing, but it was real.

Maya’s face lit up, and for the first time since they met, she looked genuinely happy. The glow surrounding her flickered brighter, as if feeding off her joy.

Meanwhile, across town, Gabe’s pacing was relentless. His footsteps wore a path into the old wood floors of their small living room as he muttered under his breath.

"She’s not ready, Gale," Gabe snapped, spinning on his heel to face her, frustration clear in every movement. "Maya isn’t ready for this. She’s still a kid!"

Gale sat on the couch, arms crossed, watching her husband with an expression bordering on exasperation. "She’s turning seventeen, Gabe. She’s becoming a woman."

"She’s still a child," Gabe repeated, his voice rough. "You know that as well as I do."

Gale sighed, rubbing her temples as if trying to hold back the urge to scream. "I had her when I was sixteen, remember? She’s older than I was when I started down this path." She leaned forward, eyes locking with his. "You love her. I know you do. But you’re holding her back, Gabe. She senses it."

Gabe stopped, his eyes wide, a flicker of guilt crossing his face. "I… I just want to protect her."

"And you can," Gale replied, her voice softer now, more understanding. "But you can’t shield her forever. She’s the oldest living James now, whether you like it or not. Austen’s gone, and everything is falling on her shoulders."

He dropped heavily onto the couch, running a hand through his disheveled hair. "She’s just a kid…"

Gale reached over, resting her hand on his arm. "She’s not your little girl anymore, Gabe. She’s the Matriarch. The Trials are coming, and she needs us both to believe in her." She paused, her voice cracking. "If we don’t, she’ll fail."

The mention of the Trials sent a shudder down Gabe’s spine. He shot to his feet, eyes wide with horror. "No! Not the Trials. It’s too early. She’s not—"

"Austen’s dead, Gabe," Gale interrupted firmly. "We can’t stop it. The Trials are coming whether we’re ready or not."

Gabe collapsed back into the loveseat, burying his face in his hands. "What else is she going to have to bear?"

"Everything," Gale whispered. "She’s a James. Her life will never be easy, but it can be long if we stand by her."

Silence stretched between them for a long moment before Gabe finally looked up, his eyes filled with desperation. "I’ll never forgive you for leaving us, but… if I’m going to protect her, I need you."

It wasn’t the reconciliation Gale had hoped for, but it was a start. She reached out, taking his hand in hers. "We need each other, Gabe. And more importantly, Maya needs us—together."

The night air was cool as Eliane and Maya walked across the scorched remains of Miller’s Field, the moon casting long shadows over the blackened earth. The smell of smoke still lingered in the air, though the flames had long since died. Maya’s car was parked just ahead, but neither of them seemed in a hurry to get there.

"Have you thought about calling them?" Maya asked suddenly, breaking the quiet as they trudged through the darkened field. "Letting someone know you’re okay?"

Eliane hesitated, her thoughts drifting back to Tybee Harbor, to the life she had run from.