Being the first haunted to defeat the Shade, Vergil Torres should have been swelling with joy and pride. After all, he saved his friends and learned secrets not even 50 years of Shade Study could discover. Yet, this victory came at a heavy toll.
The guilt over Eris's death. The regret of finding out the truth of the Cult. And the heavy burden of stopping Azgarmoth, the source of the mysterious Shade, from entering their world, knowing that failure means that life as they know it, will end, all weighs heavily on the 16-year-old high school student.
To make matters worse, because of the seal Vergil undid, the still-operating cult is now more powerful than ever, commanding an army of Shades and cultists embedded in various aspects of society. Mass protests and groups erupted from the recent killings linked by the public to the Shade, the signs of times leading to another Dark Year.
Their only hope lies with one History and Sociology Professor, who seems to be the only choice they have to know more about the lost legend of the city of Bastillio, the legend of the Star People and the Celestials.
The stakes are higher than ever as they prepare to meet with the professor under false names and disguises. They must learn all they can of the legend if it is the same one, and treat every single citizen they encounter as a potential cult spy, while also keeping their real identities and motives. If word gets out that the government is researching the supposedly, annihilated cult, then a Dark Year is sure to follow.
A criminal mastermind makes a bold move against a wealthy client to put himself in a position to retire in comfort. He has no idea what he's up against when a young widow, desperate to make ends meet, sets her eyes on earning the bounty set on his head.
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Newly widowed housewife Melody Scott needs to earn some major cash, fast. When her bright and busy children learn that a priceless ruby bracelet has been stolen and a six-figure reward is being offered, they convince her to try to do what the police, museum security, and the best private investigators have failed to do. Working against them is a notorious thief who has met people from around the world, but who has never once encountered a woman like Melody Scott. When the sweet innocence of the Scott family clashes against criminal forces more dangerous than they ever imagined, Melody is all too aware that a mom's got to do what a mom's got to do to protect her family.
The Widow, Melody Scott is a 2021 Watty Award Winner!
Content Warning: This story does contain depictions of stalking behavior.