9. Chapter 9

9

Chapter 9

Rowan

I wake up touching my lips. They still tingle from where his mouth met mine.

You idiot, Rowan!

For a moment, I almost allowed myself to get sucked back into his bullshit.

Groaning, I bury my face in my pillow, trying to shake off the lingering effects of his presence.

"Freakin' fairy dust," I mutter, pushing myself up and fumbling for my glasses on the nightstand. As I slide them on, the world comes into focus, but my thoughts remain a jumbled mess.

I can't believe I almost fell for his act again. His words echo in my head: "There's no reason for us to change our arrangement." As if everything that happened with Mia's photos meant nothing. As if he could just waltz back into my life and expect me to hand over my blood like some kind of vending machine.

Poppy scampers across my dresser, her little squirrel eyes fixed on me with what I swear is judgment. "Don't look at me like that," I grumble. "I didn't invite him here."

"Could've fooled me," Poppy chirps, her tail twitching. "You two seemed pretty cozy on the porch."

I throw a pillow at her, which she easily dodges. "Whose side are you on, anyway?"

Sighing, I drag myself out of bed and stumble to the bathroom. As I remove my glasses, the face staring back at me in the mirror looks as conflicted as I feel. Dark circles under my eyes betray my restless night, and my auburn hair is a wild mess.

As I splash cold water on my face, I try to sort through all my emotions. Anger at Darick for his lies and manipulation. Frustration with myself for even considering his offer. And underneath it all, a gnawing worry about Mia and what those photos really mean.

I grip the edges of the sink, taking deep breaths. "Come on, Ro," I tell my reflection. "You don't need him. You'll find Mia on your own."

But even as I say the words, a small part of me wonders if I'm making a huge mistake.

"You're not doing this alone," says Poppy from where she's using my toothbrush to comb her tail. "Kara's in it with you, remember?"

"Exactly! And that's what I need to get ready for right now," I respond brightly, reaching for my toothbrush and tossing it in the trashcan. Straightening up, I head to my room and dress quickly in jeans and a T-shirt.

With a breezy goodbye to the squirrel, I grab my purse and head out, the cool morning air helping to clear my head. The drive to the coffee shop gives me time to collect my thoughts, pushing aside the lingering confusion about Darick and focusing on what really matters: finding Mia.

As I push open the door to the Jumping Bean, the rich scent of coffee envelops me. Kara's already there, her rose-gold hair catching the early morning light as she waves me over to a corner table.

"You look like hell, Ro," she says, sliding a steaming mug toward me. "Hazelnut cappuccino might help."

I collapse into the chair across from her. "Thanks for the vote of confidence, sis." I stay carefully clear of any mention of the vampire on my doorstep last night.

Kara leans forward, her eyes sparkling with determination. "So, I've been thinking about our next move," she says. "We need to start by tracking down every lead we have on Mia's disappearance."

I wrap my hands around the warm mug, grateful for its grounding presence. "I'm all ears," I say, taking a sip of the strong brew. "But where do we even start? It's been a year, and we've hit nothing but dead ends."

Kara pulls out a notebook, flipping it open to reveal pages of scribbled notes. "I've been compiling everything we know," she says. "Every rumor, every potential sighting. There's got to be a pattern we're missing."

I straighten my glasses, scanning her meticulous notes. "Kara, this is…wow. When did you have time to do all this?"

She shrugs, a hint of sadness crossing her face. "I couldn't sleep. Not while knowing Mia's out there somewhere."

I reach out and squeeze her hand. "We're going to find her," I say, trying to inject confidence into my voice.

Kara nods, her expression hardening with resolve. "Exactly. Now, I think our best bet is to start with the last place Mia was seen. There's got to be something we overlooked."

As Kara outlines her plan, I feel a spark of hope ignite in my chest. Maybe we can do this. Maybe we don't need Darick or anyone else. Just two sisters, determined to bring their family back together.

But a lot of what Kara is suggesting is ground we've already covered.

I take a deep breath, steeling myself for what I'm about to suggest. "Kara, I don't think retracing Mia's steps is going to get us anywhere new. We've been down that road before." I pause, watching her face fall slightly. "But…I think I might have an idea."

Kara sets her chai latte down, curiosity piqued. "I'm listening."

"What if we dig deeper into the vampire community itself? Get in with them?" The words tumble out before I can second-guess myself.

Kara's eyebrows shoot up, her eyes widening. "Wow, Ro. That's…bold. I didn't expect that from you."

I shrug, trying to play it cool despite the nervous flutter in my stomach. "Yeah, well, desperate times and all that."

A slow smile spreads across Kara's face. "You know, that's not a bad idea. In fact…" She lowers her voice, glancing around the coffee shop. "I might know a place we could start. Have you ever heard of the Nocturne Lounge?"

I shake my head, and Kara's eyes light up with excitement. She leans in even closer. "It's this underground club where vampires hang out. Super exclusive, totally off the radar for most humans aside from blood groupies. I've heard rumors about it for years but never had a reason to check it out. Or the nerve."

"How do you even know about this place?" I ask, surprised by my sister's knowledge.

Kara grins, a mischievous glint in her eye. "I have my sources. Plus, unlike some people, I actually pay attention to the gossip at coven meetings."

I roll my eyes but can't help smiling. This is the Kara I remember from before Mia disappeared – clever, daring, always three steps ahead of everyone else.

"So, what's the deal with this lounge?" I ask, finding myself genuinely intrigued.

Kara's voice takes on a hushed, almost reverent tone. "They say it's hidden beneath the city, accessible only through a secret entrance. The most powerful vampires gather there, making deals and trading secrets. If we could get inside, we might be able to overhear something about Mia."

I bite my lip, considering the risks. "Sounds dangerous."

"Oh, it definitely is," Kara agrees, but her eyes are shining with excitement. "But think about it, Ro. This could be our best shot at finding real information."

I inhale a deep breath of hazelnut-scented steam, considering this for a moment. "I think it's worth a shot," I say eventually.

"You sure?" Kara asks although I know she's already excited about the prospect.

"Mm-hmm." I nod as I take a sip and put my cup down. "If you'd asked me six months ago, maybe not. But things are…different now."

"Because you've got bad-ass powers." Kara winks at me.

"Something like that." I grin back.

Kara's expression flickers for a moment. "About that…" She chews her lip. "Just how stable are these powers of yours? I mean…I know the connection with the vampire was a part of it – and seriously, there's no judgment from me there; you did what you had to do – but if you're not, um…involved with him anymore…"

"Will I still have them?" I finish for her.

Kara nods. "I'm sorry. I don't mean to offend you or anything. But this is all new to me."

"Me too." I smile. It's a question I've been asking myself. "I'm not sure, Kara." I sigh. "I guess I could lose them. I know they got stronger every time I saw him. I haven't noticed them getting weaker."

Or have I?

I run my mind back through the past couple of days. The only time I've used my magic was when Darick was around. First to blast him, then to warn him off.

You should have been practicing!

I take a deep breath, focusing my energy. "Okay, let's see if I've still got it." I hold out my hand, palm up, and concentrate on creating a small ball of light. For a moment, nothing happens, and I feel a flicker of doubt. But then, a warm glow begins to form above my palm, growing brighter until it's a perfect sphere of golden light. As we watch, the sphere begins to clear, and in the middle, a tiny figure takes shape.

"Is that…Gran?" Kara peers closer. I smile and nod. We watch as our grandmother walks from her kitchen into her garden and begins pruning a huge drooping rosebush. Then she pauses, glances around, and waves as if she knows we're watching.

Kara's eyes widen in amazement. "Holy crap, Ro! That's incredible!"

I can't help but grin, relief and excitement bubbling up inside me. "I guess I haven't lost my touch after all."

We both burst into delighted laughter, the tension of the past few days finally breaking. It feels good to share this moment with my sister, to see the pride in her eyes.

"So," Kara says, tilting toward me across the table conspiratorially, "how about we put those shiny new powers of yours to good use?"

I extinguish the light and raise an eyebrow. "What did you have in mind?"

"Well, if we're going to infiltrate a vampire hangout, we'll need all the protection we can get. I'm thinking we combine our strengths – my traditional spells with your…whatever this is." She waves her hand at me, grinning. "We could create some seriously powerful wards."

I nod, warming to the idea. "You're right. If we work together, we'd be a force to be reckoned with."

"Exactly!" Kara's eyes are sparkling with excitement. "Now, let's talk strategy for the Nocturne Lounge. First things first – what are we going to wear?"

I groan. "Please tell me we're not going shopping."

Kara rolls her eyes. "Come on, Ro. We need to blend in. Think dark, mysterious, maybe a little sexy. Nothing too witchy, though. We don't want to give ourselves away."

"Fine," I concede. "But I draw the line at stilettos. I need to be able to run if things go south."

"Run? After what I just saw," she gestures to my hand, "I wouldn't be surprised if you could fly!"

"Fly?" I laugh and then wink at Kara. "Don't tempt me!"

Despite the seriousness of our mission, I can't help but feel a tingle of anticipation. For the first time in months, we're not just sitting around hoping for news about Mia – we're actually doing something. And just as importantly, I'm being useful.

"You know," I say, leaning back in my chair, "I never thought I'd say this, but I'm kind of looking forward to playing dress-up for once."

Kara's eyes widen in mock surprise. "Who are you, and what have you done with my sister?"

I laugh, flicking a sugar packet at her. "Hey, I can be fun sometimes!"

"Sure, if by ‘fun' you mean ‘buried in a book with Poppy nesting in your hair,'" Kara teases.

"That was one time!" I protest, but I'm smiling. It feels good to joke around with Kara like this; it feels like a lifetime since any of us has been lighthearted.

As we continue planning, I feel the bond between us growing stronger. It's been so long since we've worked together on something, and I'd forgotten how well we complement each other. Kara's strategic mind and my newfound powers – we might actually have a shot at this.

For a moment, I consider telling her about Darick's visit last night. The words are on the tip of my tongue, but I hesitate. Would she understand? Or would she think I'm falling for his manipulations again?

I watch Kara as she excitedly outlines our next steps, her eyes bright with eagerness. No, I decide. I can't risk ruining this moment. Besides, what good would it do? Darick's offer doesn't change anything. We don't need him.

Still, as I nod along with Kara's ideas, I can't shake the feeling that I'm keeping something important from her. The secret sits heavy in my chest, a small shadow on our otherwise bright mood.

As Kara and I finalize our plans, excitement and nervousness bubble up inside me. We're really doing this – sneaking into a vampire club to gather intel on Mia. It's dangerous, probably reckless, but it feels good to finally take action.

"Okay, so we'll meet back at my place at eight," Kara says, scribbling in her notebook. "That should give us enough time to get ready and cast our protection spells before heading to the Nocturne Lounge."

I nod, my stomach doing a little flip. "Right. And you're sure you can get us in?"

Kara grins, a mischievous glint in her eye. "Trust me, sis. I've got connections. Just bring that magical mojo of yours, and we'll be golden."

As we gather our things to leave, I can't help but feel a surge of affection for my sister. Despite everything we've been through, she's still the same fearless, determined Kara I've always loved so much.

"Hey," I say, catching her arm as we step outside. "Thanks for not giving up on Mia. And for believing in me, even when I didn't believe in myself."

Kara's expression softens, and she pulls me into a quick hug. "Always, Ro. I've always known you had it in you. You're special. I can feel it."

Her words melt my heart a little, and as we part ways, I feel a strange combination of emotions. There's the thrill of adventure, the hope that we might finally get answers about our sister. But there's also a nagging fear in the pit of my stomach. We're diving headfirst into vampire territory, armed with little more than my unpredictable magic and Kara's wit.

I can only pray we make it out of there.