Unfamiliar (Unfamiliar Series #1)

Chapter 43

"Kara?"

I startle at the sound of Eleanora's voice and I realize then that my eyes have been closed. I open them to see that I'm still in the alchemy lab. But instead of Lilith, it's the other members of the Coven of Midnight who are in the lab with me.

A few of them are staring at me, puzzled expressions on most of their faces. My face burns with a sudden rush of embarrassment and I wonder how long I've had my eyes closed. I feel dizzy then, my vision becoming blurred at the edges. 

"Yeah?" I ask as my heart flutters uneasily in my chest.

The memory of the panic in Lilith's eyes is enough to make my heart pound as I almost expect the door to fly open at any moment. My head soars, feeling abruptly lightheaded as I struggle to take a calming breath.

What was that? How could she speak to me in a vision? How could she know about what I'm going through?  

I had far too many questions and not nearly enough answers to even begin to puzzle together the full depth of what just happened. 

But can I trust anyone here with this? 

I recall Officer Marshall's words to me as I pause in speaking further, it could be anyone. 

If it was so important, why didn't Lilith show herself to everyone? 

For that reason alone, I decide it's best to keep the vision to myself. 

"Are you okay?"

It's Violetta who speaks and I force myself to look up. A slight frown pulls at her lips and in that moment something twists in my stomach as I nod.

You can't trust anyone, not even her. 

"I'm fine, just a little light-headed," I assure her as I look from Violetta to the others. "Really, I'm fine." 

Eleanora remains silent for a moment, her eyes piercing me in a way that sends a skitter of panic up my back. Somehow, someway, I could almost guess that she knew. But she doesn't pry, instead, she glances away and nods to one of the others in the coven. 

"Let's proceed with coven matters."  

****

My hands are still shaking when the meeting comes to a close a half an hour later. I myself decide not to have my affinity tested as Eleanora instead speaks about the coven's coordination with law enforcement. Everyone has been questioned by Officer Marshall by now, but it doesn't sound like they have any different leads than what Astrid, Tessa, and I have managed to puzzle together. 

If anything, Astrid has come up with more leads than them. 

I can't help but feel frustration bubbling under my skin at the realization. Tessa and Astrid won't let me turn myself in, which means its only a matter of time until the killers strike again. Be it myself or anyone else they could go after, I can't sit around and wait for the police on this. I had to figure this out. 

And soon. 

"Do you want someone to walk you back to your dorm? You seem spooked," Eleanora asks as we ascend the stairs from the lab. 

She had decided to walk with me at the back of the line, the rest of the coven filing out before us. I shake my head quickly, offering a weak smile though I'm still unsettled by the vision. 

"No, thank you, really, I'm fine," I assure her. 

She eyes me for a long moment and it's then I can see she and Astrid's similarities. The same, disbelieving blank-eyed stare that says she wasn't about to argue with me. She shrugs as we come to the top of the stairs and out onto the floor as she casts to close off the entrance as the boards shudder back into place.