The Dark Society

86

Alex approached his home with a growing unease. The grounds were eerily silent, and the awnings hung lower than usual--strange for this time of day. Yet despite his suspicions, he assumed his parents would greet him and entered anyway.

"What's going on?" he wondered, scanning the empty foyer.

That morning, Diana had called repeatedly, knowing he was helping Karen and betraying Jessica's trust. However, Luis's insight had proved invaluable, because, he understood better than anyone how to handle the situation.

Meanwhile, the air had grown cold and carried a moldy scent. Though, as Alex moved through the house, everything appeared normal, so he climbed the stairs and began searching. But as he approached his parents' bedroom, he noticed subtle changes.

"What's that?" he whispered, easing the door open.

The dim light made it hard to see clearly, but the bed was perfectly made and neat piles of laundry sat beside the dresser. Next, Alex moved to the window, though suspected his sense of calm wouldn't last long.

"I thought Karen finished you at the villa..." a voice rang out from the shadows. "But it seems she failed."

His eyes widened in shock.

"It can't be!" Alex shouted. "Why are you here? What happened to my parents?"

"You'll never know."

Karen sat in stunned silence, though she wasn't surprised. Trina and Jasmine had opposed the Wicca movement, and it was inevitable they'd provoke a reaction. Barring this in mind, she fled toward the North Sea, hoping to forget.

Returning inside, Karen undressed and prepared for a shower. Steam filled the bathroom as her hands moved across her body, first thinking of Alex, then of Luis's gentle touch.

At her vanity, Karen began arranging tarot cards. Not long ago, she'd relied solely on intuition, but now she was reluctant to trust it--an unwanted doubt she hoped to overcome.

She laid out six cards in succession and turned the last one. Karen instantly trembled at the sight of the death card--another ominous warning she'd have to heed.

Now, the urge to find Alex consumed her since Jessica was likely already warning Stephen and Diana about her intentions. So, Karen remained cautious as she approached the Littleton home later that evening. On another note, no one knew Jessica's whereabouts, so she'd been advised not to leave Camden Manor.

But Karen's curiosity drove her to risk everything, so she pushed through the front door of the surprisingly quiet house and stepped inside. The rooms appeared normal at first, except for the absence of light.

Diana always kept the curtains open, but in the foyer they were strangely drawn shut. Meanwhile, Karen recalled Alex's demeanor after learning about Trina and Jasmine, closed the door behind her, and began searching.

The estate had numerous nooks and rooms, but if Alex was hiding here, he'd only use a few. She first checked the downstairs study, finding it scattered with papers.

Someone had left in a hurry, but then Karen noticed a document about Trina and Jasmine. She quickly retreated upstairs, wondering if this was one of Alex's pranks. If so, she wasn't amused.

The second floor had only three rooms: Alex's, his parents', and a guest room. Diana usually kept the doors unlocked, but to Karen's surprise, they were all secured--a subtle detail that would escape most people's notice.

Karen forced Alex's door open and immediately saw that most of his possessions were missing. As she walked toward the window, Karen suddenly felt dizzy as several dark figures materialized. She initially thought Jessica's magic was at work, but seeing the distorted images and strange symbols, she realized it wasn't.

"When you awaken, the life you knew will have ended..." a voice echoed. "And then eternity begins."