Chapter 1704: The Fractured Heart

The air in Mrs. Hargrove's cottage was thick with tension, the darkness swirling around her like a living, breathing entity. Elena and Liam stood side by side, their hands clasped tightly, their resolve unshaken despite the overwhelming presence of the shadowy force. Mrs. Hargrove's hollow eyes bore into them, her face a mask of anguish and fury, as if she were trapped in a battle she could not win.

"Mrs. Hargrove," Elena said softly, her voice trembling but steady. "We know you're in pain. We know you're hurting. But this isn't the way. Let us help you."

The older woman's face twisted, her lips curling into a snarl. "You can't help me," she hissed, her voice a guttural growl that sent shivers down Elena's spine. "No one can. The darkness... it's too strong. It's inside me. It's *part* of me."

Liam stepped forward, his eyes blazing with determination. "It doesn't have to be," he said firmly. "You can fight it. You can push it back. But you have to want to."