The Dark Society

102

Samantha walked through Forest Hill with heavy steps as a steady drizzle persisted. Her pace remained unwavering despite the fears about her forgotten heritage that continued to plague her.

Despite nurturing deep anger within, Sam pushed forward, driven by an overwhelming sense of purpose. The conditions challenged her perception, so she focused on Forest Hill's mortuary and source of ethereal power: the Central Abbey.

She'd trusted Anna and Jennifer since childhood, though recently that trust had wavered. Still, Sam entered the chancel, climbed the bleached staircase, and passed through an ornate doorway.

The Abbey retained energies from many dark practitioners, so she grasped the sacred gilded relic and concentrated. Sadly, many tombs honored young children--an unwelcome discovery she hadn't anticipated.

The passages grew narrower as numerous lanterns illuminated each structure. More importantly, an immense sanctuary with six gilded glyphs emerged in the distance--another symbol that confirmed her lingering suspicions. Seeing this, Sam knelt before the shrine and accepted the reality of her mother's decision.

Today's world increasingly mirrored the past, though evil auras still encompassed the future. Several names were engraved on the Morgan plaque: Katherine Marie, Harold Allen, Sabrina Michelle, and Samantha Lynn.

Names belonging to a family she'd only begun to remember--validation for Katherine's motives and unforeseen decisions that had caused unnecessary misery. Several reasons why Katherine had entrusted the day witches to preserve the Morgan heritage.

A request that had proved nearly impossible. Regardless, the prophecies were renewing, but neither Katherine nor Harold had emerged to validate their legitimacy. All that aside, Samantha's life felt devalued until a distant but familiar presence appeared.

"I knew you'd come," she whispered.

Sabrina stepped from the shadows.

"I couldn't stay away."

"The last time I saw you..." Sam began. "That night, in the cellar with Mother."

"I wish I remembered," Sabrina replied.

Sabrina approached slowly, eager to reunite with her sister despite being unaware of their father's return.

"You will," Sam admitted. "I assume you've been told the same story?"

"Yes," Sabrina answered, gesturing. "But after hearing the details, I'm not sure what to believe."

Sam leaned against the tomb.

"A lifetime of lies is more than enough to overcome, don't you think?"

"Yes," Sabrina confirmed. "Except the future is beyond comprehension--who we are and what we're meant to become."

Sam looked up thoughtfully.

"So Julia doesn't know, and neither do you."

Sabrina glared. "About what?"

"Our father's alive. He's returned to Saint Anthony's."

"How did you find out?"

Sam turned away.

"My mentor, Anna, ran the sanctuary where mother hid me," she revealed. "When Harold came looking and didn't find me, he destroyed the only home I'd ever known."

Lowering her gaze, Sabrina murmured, "Saint Ann's."

Sam looked puzzled. "Yes... but how do you know so much about me?"

Sabrina pondered.

"I've had visions about you for some time," she admitted. "Along with this mortuary, Saint Anthony's, and our mother. Yet, none of it made sense until now."

Sam appeared annoyed, but Anna and Jennifer's secrecy now seemed justified.

"That's why Jennifer led you here," Sabrina added. "She wanted you to find us and gain closure."

"It seems so," Sam agreed. "Thankfully, Anna survived Harold's attack because she, like Jennifer, is a day witch."

Sabrina looked shocked.

"You didn't know?" Sam questioned.

"No!" Sabrina exclaimed. "But I often felt your presence--first in London, then at the Bistro, and finally in the house."

"That's why I left statues," Sam replied, revealing the birthmark on her wrist. "After that, it was only a matter of time."

"Come home with me," Sabrina pleaded.

Samantha turned away.

"You don't know how long I've waited to hear that," she said. "But it's not that simple."

Sabrina moved closer. "It is."