The ferry groaned as it finally kissed the shore of Velgard, the dull clang of the anchor dropping reverberating through the deck beneath their feet. Fog clung to the coastline like a veil, shrouding the distant cityscape in a grim haze. A cold wind swept across the deck, stirring the strands of Cora's hair and crawling beneath her coat like icy fingers. She shivered, a deep unease unfurling in the pit of her stomach.
Amelia tightened her grip around her handbag and reached for Cora's hand. "I'm glad we're finally here," she muttered, though her tone lacked its usual relief. The warmth that normally laced her voice had drained, replaced with a tightness that mirrored the grey clouds overhead.
Just as they were about to descend the ramp, Cecily suddenly darted in front of them. Her presence, as always, was unsettling. There was something off-kilter about her—the way her eyes never quite met Cora's, always flitting past, searching for something. Or someone.
"I'm sorry, but can you guys help me? I don't really know Velgard well," Cecily said, her voice a curious mix of innocence and insistence.
Amelia rolled her eyes, her irritation barely veiled. "Go ask someone else."
Cora furrowed her brows. This girl was acting far too familiar. There was a flicker of recognition in Cecily's eyes that Cora didn't return, and that unsettled her more than anything. "I'm sorry, but I really need to get going," Cora murmured, peering over Cecily's shoulder in search of her mother. But Evelyn was nowhere in sight.
A sleek black limousine waited at the curb. The driver, dressed in a crisp white uniform, silently took their luggage and placed it in the trunk.
Cora dialed her mother again. One ring. Two. No answer.
"Let's get in the car," Amelia said softly. "I'll drop you off first."
Cora nodded, her fingers tightening around her phone. She didn't speak again for the entire ride.
The city of Velgard passed by the tinted windows in a blur of grays and muted browns. The streets looked foreign despite their familiarity, washed in a gloom that felt more emotional than atmospheric. It was as if the whole city was holding its breath.
The car rolled to a stop in front of her house. Without waiting for the driver, Cora pushed the door open and stepped out, her boots crunching softly against the damp gravel. She grabbed her suitcase and moved quickly, her heart pounding faster with each step toward the front door.
It was open.
A sharp chill coursed through her.
The door was ajar.
She swallowed. Her fingers trembled slightly as she pushed it open, stepping into the silence. The scent of stale tea and lavender hung in the air, but underneath it, faintly—something metallic.
"Mother?" Cora called, her voice echoing too loudly in the stillness. She moved upstairs first, her footsteps quick, desperate. Evelyn's bedroom was empty. The sheets were undisturbed. The wardrobe still closed.
Panic bloomed in her chest. She hurried back downstairs, dialing again. Her thumb hovered over the screen as she moved toward the kitchen—
And froze.
Her phone slipped from her fingers.
Blood.
Evelyn lay sprawled on the floor, her body twisted unnaturally, her once-immaculate blouse soaked in red. A dark pool had spread beneath her, the color stark against the cream-colored tiles.
"Mother!" Cora screamed, dropping to her knees, her hands scrambling to gather her into her arms. Tears blurred her vision as she pressed trembling fingers to the wound, trying to stop the bleeding that wouldn't stop.
Evelyn's eyes fluttered open, glassy with pain. Her lips parted.
"You... need to... leave..." she whispered, her voice barely a breath.
"No, please, don't talk," Cora sobbed, her voice breaking as she applied more pressure to the wound. "You're going to be okay, you have to be okay. Just stay with me. Please, stay with me."
Her fingers were slick with blood. The coppery scent filled her nostrils, and she gagged, forcing herself to focus. Shaking, she reached for her phone again, but before she could press call, the front door banged open.
Leonard.
His eyes scanned the scene in an instant, taking in Cora's tear-streaked face, the blood on her hands, and Evelyn's failing form.
Without a word, he moved to Evelyn's side, checking her pulse. His jaw clenched. "It's faint."
He looked at Cora then, calmly. "Call the nearest hospital. Tell them we're coming. Now."
Cora nodded, fumbling with her phone as Leonard gently lifted Evelyn into his arms. The woman's head lolled against his shoulder, a faint moan escaping her lips. Cora dashed out behind him, her legs numb as she followed him to the car.
Back inside Amelia's limo—
Just as the engine rumbled back to life, Amelia caught sight of a figure lingering just beyond Cora's gate. Her sharp eyes narrowed.
Cecily.
Frowning, Amelia opened the door and stepped out, her heels clicking against the pavement.
"What are you doing here?" she asked, voice sharp.
Cecily blinked, unbothered. "I told you, I didn't know Velgard. Since you didn't help, I followed you."
Amelia gawked at her. "Don't you have a phone?"
Cecily gave a sheepish shrug. "Umm, no."
But her eyes weren't on Amelia.
They were locked on Cora's house.
Amelia stepped into her line of sight. "Get in. I'll drop you off."
Cecily hesitated, stealing one last glance toward the house before nodding. She slipped into the car, and Amelia watched her with increasing suspicion.
Something wasn't right about that girl.
Back at the hospital—
Leonard burst through the emergency room doors, shouting for help. Nurses swarmed them, wheeling Evelyn away on a gurney. Cora could do nothing but stand there, drenched in her mother's blood, as the doors swung shut between them.
Her knees buckled.
Leonard caught her just in time.
"She'll live," he said, but the words didn't reach her. Not fully. His hand settled on her shoulder, steady and grounding.
"Why would someone do this?" she whispered.
Leonard didn't answer.
Because even he didn't know.
But he did know one thing:
Damien needed to hear about this.
Now.