Unseen Shadows

Laura made her way to her bedroom, her mind a whirl of thoughts as she prepared for the next phase of her plan. The past few days had been strange, even by her family's standards. Her mother, Elaine, had suddenly become obsessed with werewolf history—an interest that bordered on fanaticism. It was so out of character that it had caught Laura off guard. It wasn't just the history itself that intrigued her mother; it was something more, something darker. Elaine had even gone so far as to host a strange African American kid for dinner. Laura couldn't shake the questions that gnawed at her. Who was this Adam guy anyway? And what role did he have to play in all this?

Laura was a 14-year-old girl, but despite her age, she shared much of her sister Luna's charms. Her dark, medium-length hair, with white highlights at the edges, framed her delicate face, giving her an air of quiet intensity. Her dark brown eyes, inherited from her father, always seemed to be calculating, analyzing every detail around her. Unlike Luna, who wore her emotions on her sleeve, Laura was calm and collected, always striving to stay one step ahead of everyone. 

From a young age, Laura had sensed that something was off. Her mother was intentionally keeping her out of all matters related to werewolves and the pack. The realization had stung, especially when she discovered that Luna, her sister, was not only included but was a werewolf herself. It was a painful truth, one that Laura couldn't let go. She needed to know why she was being excluded, but deep down, another motive fueled her curiosity—one that even she wasn't fully ready to acknowledge.

Now, as she reached her room, Laura moved silently, her footsteps barely a whisper on the floor. She paused by her bedroom wall, pressing her ear against it as she waited. Her heart pounded in her chest, a mix of anticipation and anxiety building within her. She could hear the faint creak of floorboards as her mother's footsteps passed by. Laura held her breath, knowing that if she made even the slightest sound, her mother would detect her. Elaine's senses were sharp, and unnaturally so.

Time seemed to stretch as Laura waited, her entire body tense with anticipation. Then, finally, she heard the voice of the stranger from earlier—Adam. Relief washed over her, knowing that her prediction had been spot on. She had guessed that her mother would be speaking with him again, and now, she listened intently, trying to catch every word.

***

Adam stood in the grand dining hall, his curiosity burning brighter with each passing second. The cryptic revelations from earlier still weighed heavily on his mind, and he needed answers. He turned to Elaine; his voice steady but laced with confusion. "I wanna know more about this descendant stuff," he said, his eyes searching hers for some sign of truth. "And how the hell's my life in danger?"

Elaine smiled, a knowing, almost sinister smile that sent a chill down Adam's spine. "You can only learn so much in one day," she replied smoothly, her tone almost teasing. "Get some rest. We'll talk about it soon enough."

Adam's frustration grew, but before he could protest, Elaine continued, her voice dropping to a more serious tone. "But I will tell you this—recently, for some unknown reason, descendants have been hunted down and killed. Now, only three remain."

The words hit Adam like a punch to the gut. He struggled to comprehend the implications. "But how can I be one of them?" he asked, his voice barely above a whisper. "I don't understand…"

Elaine's eyes narrowed, her expression turning more somber. "Do you believe your mother's death was a coincidence?" she asked, her voice cutting through the fog of confusion in Adam's mind. "Clara was a descendant herself. Her death was no accident."

The revelation crashed over Adam like a hurricane, leaving him reeling. His mother, a descendant? He had never imagined such a thing. The room seemed to spin around him as he tried to make sense of it all.

Elaine, sensing his turmoil, took a step back, her gaze softening slightly. "We'll speak more about this another time," she said, her voice carrying a note of finality. She turned to leave, but Adam's voice stopped her.

"Wait," he called out, desperation creeping into his tone. "What do you know about my mom?"

Elaine paused, her back still turned to him. "I knew her personally," she said after a moment, her voice distant. "We were best friends."

Before Adam could ask anything more, a sudden thud echoed from one of the nearby rooms, startling them both. It was a small noise, barely noticeable, but it was enough to catch both their attention.

Elaine's gaze flicked toward one particular wall, then back to Adam. Her smile returned, but it was laced with something darker. "We'll continue this discussion another time," she said, her tone brisk as she dismissed herself. "Moxie will drive you home."

Adam nodded, still processing the whirlwind of information he had just received. As he left the room, escorted by Moxie, Elaine stood by the doorway, watching him go. Her mind was already shifting to another matter.

She turned her sights toward Laura's room. Moving with purpose, she walked down the hallway, her footsteps silent against the polished wood. She reached Laura's door and opened it quietly, peering inside. There, she found Laura tucked into bed, her eyes closed as if she were deep in sleep.

"Laura," Elaine's voice was soft, almost tender, but there was an edge to it that Laura couldn't ignore.

Laura stirred, pretending to wake up slowly. "Mom?" she mumbled, her voice groggy with feigned sleep.

Elaine walked over to her bed, smoothing a strand of hair from Laura's face. "You should be careful not to pry into other people's business," she said, her voice deceptively sweet. "Especially when it doesn't concern you."

Laura's heart pounded in her chest, but she kept her expression innocent, blinking up at her mother as if she didn't understand. "I don't know what you mean, Mom," she replied softly.

Elaine studied her for a long moment, her eyes searching Laura's face for any sign of deception. Finally, she smiled—a smile that didn't quite reach her eyes. "Goodnight, sweetheart," she said, turning to leave. But as she reached the door, she paused, her hand resting on the doorknob. "And remember, Laura—curiosity can be a dangerous thing."

With that, Elaine left the room, closing the door behind her. Laura lay still for a long time, her heart racing as she processed what had just happened. Her mother knew she had been eavesdropping, and the warning was clear. But Laura wasn't deterred. If anything, her resolve had only strengthened. She needed to find out what was going on—no matter the cost.