Chapter 8

As they drove back toward the cabin, the sun was beginning to set. The trees sent shadows across the road as the light changed, turning the world into a mixture of blue and silver. Holly pulled her scarf tighter around her neck, her mind working through everything Morgana had said.

Ancient dark magic, building in the woods outside of Nocturne Falls. That wasn’t exactly the holiday surprise Holly had been expecting.

“Do you really think she’s telling the truth?” Holly asked, glancing at Demetrius as he kept his eyes on the road.

Demetrius’s eyes scanned the horizon. “I don’t know. But if Morgana is right, and something powerful is brewing, we can’t afford to ignore it.”

“No, of course not.” Holly sighed, stretched her legs out in front of her. Demetrius’s SUV had a lot more room than her car. “I just hate feeling like I’m being dragged into something I don’t fully understand. And Morgana—she’s hiding something. I can feel it.”

Demetrius nodded, his jaw tight. “I got that feeling too. But that doesn’t mean she’s lying about the threat. Witches like Morgana don’t act unless they have a reason, right? Whether or not we trust her, we’ll need to be cautious.”

“Yeah.” Holly held her hands up to the heater vent to warm her fingers. It was more than just the cold that had her on edge— there was something about Morgana that unsettled her. Maybe it was the witch’s calm demeanor, her cryptic warnings, or the way her eyes seemed to gleam with secrets. Or maybe it was the way Holly couldn’t shake the feeling that Morgana knew more about her family’s magic than she was letting on.

“You’re awfully quiet,” Holly said, casting a sideways glance at Demetrius. “What’s going on in that brooding head of yours?”

Demetrius’s mouth hitched up on one side, just a fraction, but enough that Holly felt a flicker of warmth at the sight. He wasn’t much of a smiler, but every now and then, she caught a glimpse of something softer beneath his cold exterior.

“I was thinking about what Morgana said,” Demetrius replied, his voice low. “About the dark magic. If it’s ancient, it could be tied to something older than this town.”

Holly’s brow furrowed. “Like what?”

Demetrius stopped talking for a moment, his gaze remaining on the road ahead as he considered his words. After a few seconds, he said, “Nocturne Falls isn’t just a place where supernatural beings live. There’s a reason creatures like me, witches, werewolves, and others have been drawn here for so long. The magic that protects this town is older than any of us. It could be connected to whatever is out there in the woods.”

“You can’t mean Alice Bishop?” Holly’s heart skipped a beat. She’d always known Nocturne Falls had its quirks—it was a town that celebrated Halloween three hundred and sixty-five days a year, after all. But she hadn’t considered the possibility that something deeper, something more ancient, was woven into the town’s fabric. And that it might have come from Alice Bishop.

“I don’t know. She’s a pretty mysterious figure.”

“I agree with that, but Elenora Ellingham wouldn’t have anything to do with a woman that could cause her family harm. Or ruin all the hard work the Ellinghams have put into this place. You’re a vampire just like they are. You have to know how they’d think.”

He seemed to consider that, giving a quick nod. “You’re right. But if it’s not Alice, then what or who is it? The way Morgana was talking, it’s magic that’s been here a while.”

“So you think whatever dark magic is out there could be connected to Nocturne Falls itself?” Holly asked.

Demetrius nodded. “I’m just saying it’s possible. And if that’s the case, reinforcing the barrier won’t be enough. We’ll need to understand what we’re dealing with before it grows too strong to contain.”

A shiver ran down Holly’s spine, and it had nothing to do with the cold. She had always thought of magic as something she could control, something tangible that she could bend to her will. But now, the idea of ancient magic—older, darker magic—made her feel like she was standing at the edge of a precipice, unsure of what lay below. And very worried she was about to fall.

As they reached the cabin, Holly sent a tendril of magic out to stoke the fire. A moment later, she noticed a glow spilling out through the windows, casting a golden light onto the snow. The sight made her feel better, as though her magic really might be enough. As if the walls of the cabin could keep whatever was lurking in the woods at bay.

Demetrius parked and followed her inside, and the door creaked shut behind them, sealing out the cold. Holly pulled off her gloves. “We should eat before we meet Morgana. I can heat up the leftover stew.”

“Sounds good. While you do that, I’ll bring more wood in and build up the fire.”

“Great.” Hexi trotted over to greet her, his yellow eyes full of love as he weaved between Holly’s legs.

“Yeah, yeah, I missed you too,” Holly murmured, bending down to scratch Hexi behind the ears. The cat purred contentedly before sauntering off to his favorite spot by the fire, where Moonshadow was already curled up, her silver fur gleaming in the firelight.

Apparently, she and Hexi had become friends.

Holly straightened, her eyes drifting to Demetrius as he shed his coat and hung it by the door. Despite the tension of the day, his presence was a comfort. The way he always stayed calm, the way he always seemed so in control, the way nothing seemed to ruffle him, even when everything around them was getting more uncertain by the second.

“You think Morgana’s really going to show up?” Holly asked, moving toward the fire to warm her hands for a few seconds.

Demetrius nodded. “She’ll come. She’s too invested not to. But if she doesn’t … I guess we’ll know we’ve been played.”

Holly sighed as she went into the kitchen to get the stew ready. She heated it up on the stove and, as soon as it was hot, filled two bowls. They sat at the table to eat, their conversation returning to the matter at hand.

Holly swallowed the spoonful she’d just taken. “I wish I knew more about this ancient magic. My family’s magic has always been protective, but I’ve never dealt with anything like this before. Black magic, gray magic, anything like that, we’ve never messed with it. Most witches I know won’t go near the stuff.”

Demetrius, who sat across from her, downing the stew as though his appetite had suddenly kicked in, gestured at her with his spoon. “You’re stronger than you think, Holly.”

Holly tried to find the right words to tell him how much she appreciated his support. It really did mean a lot. But all she could come up with was, “I hope you’re right.”

They finished the stew, and he helped her clean up, which didn’t take long. “Need any more help?” he asked. “Like with the magical stuff?”

She opened her mouth to respond, but before she could say anything, there was a sharp knock at the door.

Both she and Demetrius tensed. She shot him a look, and he nodded silently, moving to stand by the door, ready for anything. Holly followed him, pulse thumping. She reached for the door handle, wondering who it could be.

When she opened the door, Morgana stood on the other side, her dark eyes gleaming in the fading light.

“You’re early,” Holly said. It hadn’t even been forty-five minutes yet. The faint aroma of stew still wafted through the air.

“There’s no point in waiting any longer, so I hope you’re ready,” Morgana said, her voice clipped. She stepped inside without waiting for an invitation, her presence as commanding as ever. “We don’t have much time.”

Holly exchanged a glance with Demetrius before turning to face Morgana. “I thought we had more time, but we can be ready in a few minutes. I just need to gather a few things. But I want to know exactly what we’re up against. Tell me everything you know. Hold nothing back.”

Morgana’s lips pressed into a thin line as she glanced at the two of them. “As I told you, the magic I’ve been sensing is old—older than this town, older than any of us. I believe it’s been dormant for centuries, but something has awakened it. I don’t know what triggered it, but if we don’t contain it soon, it will spread. And when it does, there won’t be anything left to stop it.”

Holly’s stomach twisted at the magnitude of Morgana’s words, but at least it didn’t sound like Alice was behind this. “So what do we need to do?”

Morgana stepped closer, her eyes locking onto Holly’s. “You and I will need to combine our magic to strengthen the barrier. Doing that might be enough to keep these dark forces at bay. Demetrius will need to keep watch for any signs of the dark magic breaching the perimeter. With his permission, we can also boost our own magic through the use of his.”

He frowned. “How does that work?”

“We simply treat you like a magical battery. You’ll feel us reaching for you. As long as you don’t fight our attempts, your inherent magic will give our work support.”

Holly could tell by the tightening of Demetrius’s jaw that he wasn’t so sure about that. After a second, he nodded. “Fine. But what if none of this works? What if the barrier isn’t enough?”

Morgana’s gaze hardened. “Then we’ll have no other option than to fight whatever or whoever is doing this.”

Holly swallowed. She wasn’t prepared for this—she hadn’t trained for ancient dark magic battles. Or any kind of magical battle, really. But she didn’t have a choice. If Morgana was right, the town was in danger, and it was up to them to stop whatever was coming.

“We’ll do everything we can,” Holly said, her voice steady despite the fear gnawing at her insides.

“Good. We’re close enough to the barrier here. We can begin now. Follow my lead.” Without another word, Morgana moved to the center of the room, her hands already beginning to trace intricate patterns in the air.

Holly had seen her mother and grandmother do this kind of spell-casting. She mimicked the pattern, her fingers moving instinctively, the familiar tingle of magic buzzing at her fingertips.

Demetrius took up his usual spot by the window, his posture tense as he kept watch over the snow-covered forest. Outside, the wind had started again, swirling the snow into small flurries that danced in the fading light.

As Holly focused on the spell, magic gathered in the air around her, making it heavy with energy. The candles flickered wildly, their flames growing taller, brighter. She closed her eyes, letting the power flow through her, feeling it twist and coil with Morgana’s magic, weaving together like threads in a tapestry.

She felt Demetrius’s presence, too. It gave her strength, more than she’d ever felt before.

The magic pulsed, filling the room with a low hum, and for a moment, Holly felt a surge of hope. They were doing it—they were reinforcing the barrier in a brand-new way.

But then, just as quickly as it had begun, something shifted.

The air grew colder suddenly, as if a deep, unnatural chill had crept into the room. Holly’s eyes snapped open, and she saw it through the windows—the murky, swirling energy at the edge of the property, pressing against the barrier like a dark spirit trying to break free.

Demetrius tensed as he watched the dark magic pulse against the barrier. The look in his eyes was unsettling.

“Morgana,” Holly said, her voice sticking in her throat, “something’s happening.”

Morgana’s gaze narrowed, her hands still moving in complex patterns. “Don’t stop. Keep your focus. Don’t let it breach.”

Holly swallowed hard as she poured more of her magic into the spell. Fatigue crept in. The air crackled with energy, the barrier humming with visible power as they fought to keep the dark force at bay.

But the dark magic wasn’t giving up. It pressed harder, pulsing like a living thing, trying to break through the protective barrier they had woven.

Demetrius shifted so that he was between the women and the door, his eyes fixed on the swirling force outside. “It’s getting stronger.”

Holly’s pulse inched higher, her magic faltering for just a moment before she regained control. She was tired, but she knew she couldn’t stop. “We need to hold it. Just a little longer.”

The dark magic pulsed again, stronger this time, and Holly could feel the barrier weakening. She felt something else, too. As if part of her might snap right along with it. She refused to accept that even as the shadows outside seemed to grow larger, more solid, like they might be about to break free.

“Morgana!” Holly shouted, panic rising in her chest. Her arms were heavy from so much casting, and her spirit sagged.

But before Morgana could respond, the dark magic surged forward, slamming into the barrier with a force that shook the entire cabin and knocked Demetrius back.

The barrier shattered, splinters of light and magic sparking in the night air. Hexi and Moonshadow hissed and yowled before running for the bedroom.

Then the darkness rushed in.