Back in the castle.
Vanessa and Alenia stood rigidly in the castle chamber, tension coiling between them and the woman across the room. Her ink-black hair cascaded down her back, framing a face both enchanting and unnervingly serene. Golden eyes glinted with a mix of curiosity and faint amusement as she surveyed the broken and scorched magic circle on the floor.
"I was astonished that you called me after our last encounter," the woman—Beatrice—spoke, her lips curving into a sly smile. "But now, I see why."
Vanessa's jaw tightened. "Beatrice, stop playing games. Tell me what this is."
Beatrice's expression shifted, her golden eyes widening as if she had just uncovered a terrible secret. She pointed to the remnants of the magic circle, her voice sharp. "Don't tell me..."
Vanessa and Alenia froze, their gazes snapping at the scorched markings on the floor. Beatrice's next words were like a thunderclap in the silent room.