16. Frankie

Chapter 16

Frankie

I come to slowly, feeling groggy and off-balance, but there’s something else too—this weird energy buzzing under my skin and shadows that seem to flicker at the corner of my eye. I’m different now, changed by what happened on the island, and every time I close my eyes, the past burns its way up from the depths of my mind where I buried it.

My eyelids flutter open, and I find myself cradled in Matteo’s arms as he carries me through a familiar doorway.

I bury my nose in his chest, breathing in his cinnamon and clove scent.

“She’s awake,” Matteo says, his voice a mix of relief and concern.

I blink, trying to orient myself. We’re in the Grotto, the bar where I work. How did we get here from the island? I can barely remember the evacuation. All I can think about is that massive eredar beast and the crazy shield thing I made out of nowhere.

“You were staying behind,” I grumble into Matteo’s chest.

“And you fainted,” he retorts.

“Welcome back to your home away from home,” Tori says, appearing at Matteo’s side. “How are you feeling, Frankie?”

“Like I got hit by a truck,” I mutter, my voice hoarse. “And like there’s a storm brewing under my skin. What happened after… after the shield?”

Leo materializes, a steaming mug in hand. “Looks like someone’s in desperate need of a pick-me-up. Don’t worry, I’ve got just the thing to espresso your recovery.”

Despite my exhaustion, I can’t help but roll my eyes at his pun. “Leo, I swear?—”

“Hey, no need to be so bitter.” He grins, handing me the mug. “I brew you’d feel better after some coffee.”

Matteo gently sets me down in a booth, and I wrap my hands around the warm mug, inhaling the rich aroma of freshly brewed coffee. As the fog in my mind begins to clear, memories of the eredar beast flood back. I suppress a shudder, but I can’t quite quell the strange excitement that accompanies the fear.

What am I becoming?

“The island—” I start, but Bishop cuts me off, his voice steady and measured despite the pandemonium around us.

“Evacuated,” he says, his calm demeanor a stark contrast to the tension in the air. “Everyone’s safe for now, but we need to focus on the long-term implications of what happened.”

Dorian leans against the booth, his intense gaze fixed on me. Looks like my fainting had him following behind as well, everyone but Bishop.

Why does that bother me more than it should?

“That thing was after you for a reason, Frankie. There’s something connecting you two, something hidden in the shadows.” His words send a shiver down my spine, resonating with the new power I feel coursing through me.

Before I can respond, a hush falls over the crowded bar. Professor Blackwood climbs onto a table, commanding everyone’s attention. He looks disheveled, but his voice rings out clear and authoritative. His eyes briefly land on me, and a shiver rolls down my spine. He still freaks me the hell out.

“Students of Shadow Locke, I know you’re all shaken by today’s events. I’m here to inform you that the shadow guardians are currently clearing the island. You’ll be able to return to your dorms soon.”

A collective sigh of relief ripples through the crowd, but Blackwood raises a hand for silence.

“However, the guardians will remain on the island until further notice to ensure your safety. These are unprecedented times, and we must take unprecedented measures.”

Blackwood’s voice fades into the background as a familiar figure catches my eye. Andy, Tori’s aunt and my boss for the past two years, emerges from behind the bar, her movements as precise and purposeful as ever. She weaves through the crowd with the grace of a dancer, balancing a tray of her signature calm before the storm cocktails.

I watch as she deftly maneuvers around a cluster of panicked freshmen, her eyes darting from table to table. It’s the same look she gets during our busiest nights—alert, focused, and ready for anything—but there’s something else there too, a tightness around her eyes that I’ve rarely seen.

As she approaches our booth, Andy’s gaze locks with mine. Her left eyebrow arches slightly—our shared signal that things are under control. I feel my shoulders relax a fraction. If Andy’s on the case, then we stand a chance.

She doesn’t break her stride, but as she passes, she mutters, “Bar’s yours when you’re ready, kid. These rookies couldn’t mix a drink if their lives depended on it.”

Despite everything, I feel a smile tugging at my lips. Leave it to Andy to put me to work in the middle of an apocalypse. As she continues her rounds, I notice the subtle signs of stress—the way she rolls her shoulders between tables, and the extra force she uses to set down drinks. Andy might project calm, but she’s as rattled as the rest of us.

As I watch her work, a sense of normalcy washes over me. The Grotto has been my home for two years, and even now, with the world turning upside down, it feels like home, but can anywhere really be home now with this new power simmering inside me?

“There’s more,” Blackwood says, drawing me back to him, his tone grave. “In light of recent events, it’s crucial you understand the significance of the previous lunar eclipse. Its effects on the shadow realm and shadow shifters can’t be overstated.”

The professor launches into an impromptu lecture, explaining how the eclipse amplified shadow powers, thinned the veil between realms, and potentially attracted more creatures like the eredar beast.

Ironicallym that is exactly when everyone stops listening.

Blackwood finally shuts up and gets off the table. The guys crowd around me, all looking like someone just canceled Christmas.

“Frankie.” Bishop walks through the crowd to reach our table. Nerves flutter in my stomach because he came to find us.

“Hey,” I say, but my voice cracks.

“I understand this is a lot to take in, but we need to think long-term.” He launches right into leader mode, not even asking how I am. “Given what’s happened and what’s coming, we believe a pack house would provide the stability and protection you need to develop your powers safely.”

I blink, taken aback. “A pack house? But I—” The idea of being confined, even for my own safety, makes my skin crawl. The shadows around me seem to darken, responding to my unease.

“I know you value your independence, Frankie,” Matteo interjects tactfully, his eyes calculating, “but from a tactical standpoint, a pack house offers significant advantages. We can protect you better and create a controlled environment for training.”

Dorian nods, his intense gaze boring into me. “Your powers are growing, Frankie, and the shadows around you are restless. A stable environment is crucial for maintaining control.”

“Plus,” Leo adds with a grin, although I can see the worry behind his eyes, “think of all the fun we could have. Movie nights, study sessions, midnight coffee raids… It’ll be a real grind, but in a good way!”

I look at each of them in turn, touched by their concern but feeling a familiar stubborn streak rising within me. My gaze lands on Tori, who’s watching the exchange with a mixed expression.

“I appreciate the offer, really,” I say, my voice gaining strength, “but I can’t just abandon Tori. She’s my best friend, and after everything that’s happened…”

Tori steps forward, squeezing my hand. Her voice is firm and decisive. “Frankie, I have your back no matter what, but if you’re staying with me, we’re turning our dorm into a fortress. I have some ideas that could rival any pack house.”

I feel a surge of affection for my best friend. “No,” I state firmly, meeting each of their eyes. “I’m staying with Tori. We’ll figure this out together, all of us. I don’t need to be in a pack house to be protected or to learn. We’re stronger together, all of us.”

The guys exchange glances, a mix of frustration and admiration on their faces.

“Well,” Leo says, breaking the tension with a chuckle, “I guess that’s that. Stubborn as always, our Frankie, but don’t worry, we’ll still be around to help you stay grounded. Coffee pun totally intended.”

Our? Don’t overthink it, Frankie.

My lips curve into a faint smile, but it feels more like a grimace. A yawn escapes me, and I slump against the worn leather of the booth. The voices of my friends blur into a distant hum as my eyelids grow heavy.

Fragments of the day’s events flash behind my closed eyes—the eredar beast’s glowing red gaze, the shimmering surface of my shadow shield, Professor Blackwood’s grave expression as he spoke of the eclipse. Each image sends a jolt through my body, like static electricity.

There’s this weird energy running through me, pulsing in time with my heartbeat. It feels alive somehow, like it’s just waiting for a chance to burst out. My fingers twitch involuntarily, and I watch as tiny shadows dance across my knuckles, disappearing as quickly as they formed. It’s beautiful and terrifying all at once.

I flex my hand, trying to recreate the effect, but the power slips away like smoke. Frustration bubbles up inside me, mixing with fear and a strange sense of exhilaration. Whatever’s happening to me, whatever I’m becoming, it’s bigger than anything I’ve faced before—maybe bigger than Valerie. Part of me wants to run from it, but another part—a part that’s growing stronger by the minute—wants to embrace it and see just how far this new power can take me.

The low murmur of my friends’ voices grows more distinct as they argue over plans and theories. I catch snippets about safe houses and training regimens, but it all seems distant and unreal. Right now, the only thing that feels solid is the booth beneath me and the untamed power simmering just under my skin.

“Frankie?” Tori’s voice cuts through my reverie. “You still with us?”

I blink, refocusing on the concerned faces around me. “Yeah, sorry. Just… processing. I think I have an idea though. What if we combined our training sessions? We could create scenarios that force me to use multiple aspects of my powers at once. It might help me gain control faster.”

Leo slides a fresh cup of coffee across the table. “Here’s a fresh brew-ty to help you stay grounded. Get it? Grounded? Like coffee grounds? But seriously, that’s not a bad idea, Frankie. We could make it like a shadow shifter obstacle course.”

I groan at the pun but gratefully accept the drink. “Thanks, Leo. So what’s the plan?”

Bishop leans forward, his expression serious. “We need to focus on training. The eclipse has amplified all our abilities, but yours seem to have grown exponentially, Frankie. Your idea of combined training sessions has merit. We’ll need to be careful, but it could accelerate your progress.”

Matteo nods, his analytical mind clearly at work. “We should set up a rotation. Each of us will work with Frankie on different aspects of her powers—Bishop for control, Dorian for offensive techniques, Leo for defense, and I can help with strategy. We’ll integrate these into complex scenarios as Frankie suggested.”

“And what about me?” Tori interjects, a hint of determination in her voice. “I’m not just going to sit on the sidelines. I’ll coordinate our training schedules and help set up scenarios. Plus, someone needs to keep an eye on the big picture while you’re all focused on the details.”

“Of course,” I say quickly, squeezing her hand. “You’re my anchor, Tori. I need you more than anyone.”

Dorian’s intense gaze sweeps over all of us. “We’re forgetting something crucial. The eredar beast was drawn to Frankie for a reason. We need to understand why. Our training needs to include research into this connection.”

A heavy silence falls over the group as the weight of Dorian’s words sinks in. The memory of those glowing red eyes, fixed on me with an unsettling intelligence, makes my stomach churn, but there’s something else too—a pull, a connection I can’t explain but can’t deny either.

“Okay,” I say, taking a deep breath. “So we train, we research, and we stay alert, but we can’t just hide away. We have lives, classes, and jobs.” I glance toward the bar where Andy is expertly mixing drinks. “Speaking of which, I should probably help out. This place is swamped.”

As I start to slide out of the booth, a sharp pain lances through my head. Gasping, I clutch my temples as a vision flashes before my eyes—the eredar beast is no longer on the island but moving through the shadows of a city street. I can feel its presence, a dark echo of the power inside me.

“Frankie!” multiple voices cry out in alarm.

The vision fades as quickly as it came, leaving me breathless and shaken.

“Well shit,” I whisper, my voice trembling. “The eredar beast… It’s not on the island anymore. It’s in the city.”

Shocked faces stare at me as the implications of my words sink in. Looks like we aren’t as safe as we thought.

I am not about to question what just happened to me.

“Well,” Leo says, breaking the tense silence with forced cheer, “I guess we better get cracking. This situation seems a latte more serious than we thought.”

Despite the gravity of the moment, a collective groan rises from the group at Leo’s pun, but as I meet each of my friends’ eyes, I see determination hardening beneath the fear.

I stand up, steadier this time. “Andy,” I call out, “I’m clocking in. Looks like we could all use a drink.”

She jerks her head at me before rushing to my side.

“I just wanted to mention something before I forget.” She drags me into a corner. “A few nights ago, a group of old shifters were chatting in here.” She glances around before continuing. “They talked about some dark goddess and her chosen ones. Thought it was just fairy tales, you know?” She glances at me, her eyes sharp. “But sometimes I wonder if there wasn’t some truth to those old legends, especially now.”

I frown. A dark goddess?

“Thanks, Andy.” I give her a smile even though I don’t think I’ve ever believed in a goddess in my life. “I’ll file that away for later.”

As I make my way behind the bar, I can feel the others’ eyes on me. The weight of their concern and expectations settles on my shoulders, but as I tie on my apron and reach for a glass, a sense of normalcy washes over me.

Normalcy is exactly what I need right now, and it’s been far too long since I’ve been behind the bar.

As I mix drinks and chat with customers, my mind races. The eredar beast is out there, and somehow, I’m connected to it.

How I’m connected to it is what bothers me.