Riley stood before the twin graves, her hands trembling at her sides, her vision blurred by tears she could no longer hold back.
They were really gone.
She'd tried so hard to stay strong. She hadn't seen their bodies...hadn't wanted to but the moment she faced their resting place, the walls she'd built came crashing down.
A broken sob escaped her throat.
Emily stepped closer, gently wrapping her arms around her friend. Riley whimpered into her shoulder, her grief raw and unfiltered. They'd said their goodbyes in hushed voices, with no guests, no fanfare. No one else could know.
"It's time," Riley whispered shakily, wiping her tears.
Emily nodded, silently admiring how hard Riley was fighting the storm inside her.
They left the cemetery quietly. Emily rode back with Riley and Henry, while Ethan and Ryder drove separately. Emily had decided to stay a few more days to recover fully from her injuries...but neither she nor Riley knew what awaited them back at the mansion.
—
As they stepped inside, an acrid smell hit them...sharp and suffocating. Smoke. It clung to the air, as if the house had hosted a bonfire in their absence.
They followed the trail through the corridor, and were greeted by a strange sight.
A woman stood ahead. Petite and youthful at a glance but a closer look revealed deep creases beneath her eyes. Her dirty-blonde hair was knotted in a messy braid, and her pale fingers held a lit tobacco cigarette lazily between them.
Her eyes... were an unnatural violet.
"Who are you?" Emily asked with a frown.
The woman took a long drag and stepped forward. Without warning, she blew the smoke directly into Emily's face.
Emily coughed, backing away, eyes stinging. "Are you insane?"
"Seriously?" Riley barked, stepping in.
The woman grinned, turning her attention to Riley. "You must be the Orsticle witch," she said, almost purring the words.
Realization dawned.
This wasn't just a rude stranger. This was the witch. The witch...the one meant to train Riley.
"I'm Sara," she introduced coolly, her purple eyes gleaming.
"...Riley," Riley responded, stiffly.
Footsteps echoed behind them.
"I knew I smelled tobacco," Ryder drawled, appearing with a smug grin.
He walked straight to Sara and pulled her into a dramatic hug. "An honor to meet you again, Sara," he said, tone thick with sarcasm.
"Wish I could say the same, Ryder," she retorted dryly.
Turning to the girls, Ryder gave a theatrical sigh. "Seems the Barbies aren't fond of you."
Sara blew smoke again, ignoring the insult. "I wonder how they've put up with you."
"I've got a lot to teach you, Riley," she said suddenly, her gaze locking onto the younger girl.
A moment later, Ethan approached from down the hall.
"Sara," he muttered, displeased.
Immediately, she tucked the cigarette behind her back like a guilty schoolgirl. "You look hot," she said with a sly smile.
Ethan didn't react.
"You should let her rest," he said firmly. "She just came back from a funeral."
Sara shrugged. "Funerals used to be fun, back in the day." Her voice held a twisted fondness. Emily and Riley exchanged a glance...disturbed.
Then, without waiting for permission, Sara stepped forward and slid her arm into Ethan's.
"Shall we?"
Ethan sighed and extended his arm out formally. Sara smiled, triumphant, and they walked off together, disappearing down the corridor.
Emily's heart clenched.
"Human," Ryder called, catching her gaze as she watched them leave. "Feeling jealous?"
Emily turned sharply, anger flaring behind her eyes.
"She's here to help Riley, right?" she asked coldly.
Ryder's smile faltered. He gave a small nod. Without another word, Emily walked away, shoulders tense.
Riley remained behind with Ryder, frowning. "What's his deal?"
Ryder exhaled, tilting his head. "You should ask your friend. A few days ago, my ice-cold brother seemed to care a lot about her."
Riley scoffed. "He'd better not mess with my best friend," she warned. And just like that, she turned and left too.
Ryder grinned after them. "This house just keeps getting better."
—
Emily sat silently on Riley's bed, scrolling aimlessly through her phone. Her mind wasn't on the screen.
Riley entered, stopping in the doorway. She could read her friend like an open book. Emily was hurting ...badly. And pretending she wasn't.
"Emily," she called softly.
Emily raised her head and smiled...bright, fake, and forced.
"Good, you're back. I'm starving," she said cheerfully, rising to her feet and dropping her phone.
Without hesitation, she began undressing, pulling off her dress until only her undergarments remained.
Riley frowned. "Let's eat here instead."
Emily shook her head. "We shouldn't," she said, stepping into the bathroom. "I'll be quick!"
Riley sat on the bed in silence.
She wouldn't push. Emily had to deal with this in her own time. Still, she hated how much her friend was pretending. All over a man...a vampire, no less.
⸻
By dinner, both girls were dressed and ready. But Emily's smile was tighter now, and Riley could see right through it.
When they walked into the dining room, Emily's heart dropped.
Sara sat beside Ethan...too close and was laughing as she spoke. Ethan watched her, silent but attentive. Ryder sat on her other side, clearly enjoying the tension, and Henry remained quietly at the end of the table.
Ryder's grin widened. "Ah, my sister-in-law's here," he announced, loud enough for the room to hear.
Ethan looked up at Emily, their eyes locking briefly.
Then he looked away...back to Sara.
Emily's chest clenched, but she said nothing and took her seat beside Riley.
Sara glanced at her once but ignored her completely.
Instead, her eyes settled on Riley. "Riley, do you like Butler Ross's cooking?"
Riley frowned. "Yes," she said flatly.
Sara smiled at her like she was a prize on a shelf. "Good. You'll need the strength for your training."
Then Emily added breezily, "I'm leaving tomorrow."
Ethan didn't respond.
She turned to stare at her plate, trying to keep her breathing even.
The dinner dragged on in thick silence.
And Emily realized something painful:
It wasn't the smoke that stung.
It was being invisible.