22. Chapter 22 Of Half Sisters and Disguises

Chapter 22: Of Half Sisters and Disguises

KARLA

As soon as Evelyn and Alexei leave, I know what I have to do. I need to find Keyanna, my half-sister. She's the only one capable of performing the kind of dark magic healing Cassandra requires. It's been decades since we last spoke, and though she doesn't live far, we might as well be worlds apart.

Our coven disowned her, and she never looked back. No one knows about our connection; it's a closely guarded secret.

I head out to the hills, keeping my intentions to myself. No one else can know about this. As I walk, memories of our teenage years flood my mind. I smile sadly, recalling our inseparable days before everything changed.

We used to sneak out at night, exploring the woods, laughing and sharing our dreams under the moonlight. Keyanna was always the more adventurous one, always pushing boundaries. I admired her spirit, her courage. But that same spirit led her down a path our coven couldn't accept.

I reach the base of the hills and begin the ascent. The air is crisp, the path familiar. I know exactly where she lives, even though I've avoided this place for years. The last time we spoke, it was bitter, filled with accusations and hurtful words. I wonder if she will even see me.

As I approach her cabin, tucked away among the trees, I feel a pang of nostalgia. It looks almost the same as it did all those years ago. I take a deep breath and knock on the door.

For a moment, there is silence. Then the door creaks open, and Keyanna stands there, her eyes widening in surprise. "Karla," she says, her voice a mix of shock and curiosity. "What are you doing here?"

"I need your help," I reply, my voice steady. "It's important. Can I come in?"

She hesitates but steps aside, allowing me to enter. The cabin is cozy, filled with familiar trinkets and the scent of herbs. It feels like stepping back in time.

We sit across from each other, the silence thick with unspoken words. Finally, Keyanna breaks it. "What kind of trouble are you in, Karla?"

"It's not me. It's the girl you healed," I explain.

Keyanna's eyes narrow. "I do not know what you are talking about. And why I should help you after all these years?"

"Because lives are at stake," I say urgently. "She's already killed, and she'll kill again. We need to stop her."

She leans back, studying me. "And what makes you think I still practice that kind of magic?"

"I know you, Keyanna," I say softly. "I know you haven't changed that much."

"Leave my house, Karla," she demands, her voice cold.

I scoff. "Always so hospitable, Keyanna. I see nothing's changed."

"You have no right to be here," she snaps. "Get out."

I shake my head, taking a step forward. "I'm not going anywhere until you tell me where Cassandra is."

Keyanna's eyes flash with anger. "I don't know what you're talking about."

"Don't lie to me," I hiss. "I saw the body. I know you're the only one who can perform such magic. You were there when the dagger was created."

She clenches her fists, her body tensing. "You don't know anything."

"Enough with the games," I say, my voice rising. "Tell me where she is, or so help me, I'll—"

Before I can finish, Keyanna lunges at me. We collide, and the force of her attack sends us crashing into the table. Herbs scatter across the floor as we grapple, exchanging blows. She's strong, stronger than I remember.

We fight fiercely, years of anger and betrayal fueling our every move. Finally, she manages to knock me to the ground. I struggle to get up, but she's faster. She grabs a cursed dagger from the table and plunges it into my side. Pain explodes through my body, and I collapse, unable to move.

Keyanna picks me up effortlessly and ties me to a chair, leaving the dagger in place. I can feel its dark magic sapping my strength, rendering me helpless. She steps back, breathing heavily, and looks at me with a mixture of pity and disdain.

"If you really mean business, then kill me," I say through gritted teeth, the pain nearly unbearable.

She chuckles, a bitter sound. "Oh, Karla. You always were so dramatic."

She turns back to her herbs, tending to them as if nothing happened. The casualness of her actions infuriates me, but there's nothing I can do. I'm trapped, helpless, and in so much pain.

"You're a coward," I spit out. "Always hiding behind your magic. Always running away."

Keyanna doesn't respond. She continues working, her silence infuriating. I can feel my consciousness slipping as the darkness creeps in. I have to stay awake. I have to find a way out of this.

"Why, Keyanna?" I ask, my voice weak. "Why are you helping her?"

She pauses, glancing over her shoulder at me. "You wouldn't understand."

"Try me," I say, struggling to open my eyes.

She sighs, turning to face me. "It's not about helping Cassandra. It's about revenge. Against the coven, against you, against everyone who betrayed me."

"You betrayed us first," I retort. "You chose dark magic. You chose to walk away."

"And you chose to let them cast me out," she counters, her voice filled with bitterness. "You chose to forget me."

"I never forgot you," I say, the pain in my voice evident. "I've always regretted what happened. But you made your choice, and I had to live with it."

She turns away again, her shoulders tense. "It's too late for regrets, Karla. The past is done. This is about the future."

"And what future do you see?" I ask, desperate to keep her talking. "One where you're consumed by darkness? One where you're alone?"

She doesn't answer, and the silence stretches between us, heavy and suffocating. I can feel the life draining from me, the cursed dagger doing its work. If I don't do something soon, it will be too late.

"Keyanna," I say, my voice barely more than a whisper. "Please. Don't do this. Don't let the darkness take you."

She glances at me, her expression unreadable. For a moment, I see a flicker of something in her eyes—regret, perhaps, or sorrow. But then it's gone, replaced by cold determination.

"Goodbye, Karla," she says, returning to her herbs.

As she works, I feel myself slipping away, the pain and darkness overwhelming me. My last thought is of the bond we once shared, the love that turned to hate. And I wonder, in my final moments, if there is any way back from this abyss.

When I open my eyes again, the world is a haze of pain and shadows. I try to move, but the cursed dagger lodged in my side anchors me in place. My vision clears, and I see Keyanna standing before me, her expression a mix of contempt and amusement.

"You're a fool, Karla," she says, her voice dripping with scorn. "How did you ever become the leader of the coven when you're always so foolish?"

Confusion and agony twist through me. "Keyanna...what are you talking about?"

She laughs, a sound devoid of humor. "You really don't get it, do you?"

As I struggle to process her words, a horrible transformation begins. Keyanna's form shimmers and shifts, and within moments, I'm staring at Cassandra. The realization hits me like a punch to the gut. I've walked straight into the enemy's trap.

Tears well up in my eyes, blurring my vision. "Where is my sister?" I demand, my voice shaking.

Cassandra's lips curl into a malicious smile. "I disposed of her as soon as she helped me heal. She outlived her usefulness."

"You're evil," I whisper, my voice breaking. "Pure evil."

She cackles, clearly enjoying my despair. "Oh, Karla, the worst is yet to come. You have no idea what I have planned."

She checks her wristwatch and clucks her tongue, a sound of mock cheerfulness. "I'm done with this little chat. I have other matters to attend to."

Before my eyes, Cassandra's form ripples again, transforming into a perfect replica of me. She winks, a mocking gesture. "Don't die just yet, Karla. I need you to stick around for a bit."

With that, she strides out of the cottage, leaving me tied to the chair, pain radiating from the cursed dagger. Hot tears stream down my face as I realize the nightmare unfolding. Cassandra is out there, impersonating me, and I can't stop her.