Chapter Six: Whispers in the dark

Whispers in the Dark

(Myra's POV)

Sleep didn't come easy. It rarely did these days.

I lay in bed staring at the ceiling, the weight of everything pressing down on my chest. The book, the cryptic passage about the blood moon's curse, Jenna's scheming, Luke's sudden presence in my life—it was too much. Every instinct in me screamed that something was wrong, that I was caught in something far bigger than I understood.

And then there was the marriage.

My stomach twisted at the thought. My so-called engagement to Luke wasn't just an inconvenience—it was a trap. One that was tightening around me with each passing day.

I needed answers. And I needed to get out of here before it was too late.

---

The next morning, I found myself back at the library, alone with the book.

The Browns had left early, giving me the perfect opportunity to dig deeper without interruption. I ran my fingers over the worn leather cover, feeling the raised symbols beneath my fingertips. It felt alive, like it was waiting for something.

I flipped through the pages, stopping at the same passage I had found last night.

"Beware the blood moon's curse, for it shall awaken the forsaken. A maiden of the old blood shall call upon the forgotten, and through her, the night shall rise again."

I traced the words slowly, my mind spinning.

The maiden of the old blood—who was she? Was this prophecy talking about someone from the past? Or… was it talking about someone now?

A chill ran down my spine.

Before I could dwell on it further, the bell above the library door chimed.

I glanced up and immediately wished I hadn't.

Luke.

He leaned against the doorway like he owned the place, his smirk lazy but his eyes sharp.

"Didn't expect to find you here, princess," he said, strolling inside. "Figured you'd be home, you know, planning our future."

I clenched my jaw and shut the book, pushing it aside. "What do you want, Luke?"

He made a show of looking around before his gaze settled back on me. "Just checking in on my fiancée."

I shot him a glare. "I'm not your fiancée."

He chuckled. "That's cute."

I fought the urge to throw something at him.

"Listen," I said, standing up, "I don't know what Jenna promised you, but I'm not marrying you. So whatever scheme you two are running, just leave me out of it."

Luke tilted his head, studying me like I was some puzzle he was trying to solve. Then, in a voice quieter than before, he said, "You really don't know, do you?"

Something in his tone made my skin prickle.

"Know what?"

He hesitated just long enough to make me suspicious, then shook his head. "Nothing. Doesn't matter."

Bullshit. It did matter.

Before I could press him, he turned toward the exit. "See you at home, princess," he called over his shoulder before disappearing out the door.

I exhaled shakily.

That wasn't just some casual visit. He came here for a reason.

And I had a feeling I wasn't going to like what it was.

---

That night, Cassy and I sat cross-legged on my bedroom floor, going over everything.

"So let me get this straight," she said, rubbing her temples. "You found an ancient book with a creepy prophecy about a maiden of the old blood, Jenna and Luke are acting extra suspicious, and now Luke is dropping cryptic hints like some villain in a bad horror movie?"

"Pretty much," I muttered.

Cassy exhaled. "Yeah, okay, this is officially insane."

I leaned back against my bed frame, staring up at the ceiling. "I need to know what Jenna and Luke are hiding. There's something they're not telling me."

"Well, then, we spy on them," Cassy said simply.

I looked at her. "You make that sound way easier than it is."

She grinned. "That's because I'm not the one doing it. You are."

I groaned. "Why are we even friends?"

"Because I'm the only one crazy enough to help you pull this off."

She had a point.

---

Later that night, while the house was asleep, I crept out of my room, my heart hammering.

Jenna's study was locked, as expected. But I had come prepared.

Sliding a hairpin from my pocket, I crouched in front of the door and started picking the lock. It took longer than I liked—long enough for my nerves to get the better of me—but eventually, the lock gave a soft click, and the door creaked open.

I slipped inside, shutting it quietly behind me.

The room was immaculate, every paper and book neatly arranged. I moved quickly, rifling through drawers, looking for anything—anything—that could give me answers.

And then I found it.

A stack of papers tied with a crimson ribbon.

I untied it with shaking fingers and scanned the first page.

Marriage Certificate

Bride: Myra Jones

Groom: Luke Halloway

Date: One Week From Now

My stomach dropped.

They were forging my consent. They were actually doing this.

And then my eyes caught something else.

A different document.

Not a marriage license.

A blood contract.

Signed in red ink.

Or… was it blood?

A shadow moved in the doorway.

I froze.

And then, in a voice as cold as the grave, someone said—

"You shouldn't be here."