The Midnight Bloom

Previously

…As Maeve spoke, a sudden gust of wind swept through the chamber, though the shutters were closed. The lamplight flickered wildly, casting the room into momentary darkness. A chill, unnatural and profound, permeated the air, a silent herald of the shadow’s unseen presence, a stark reminder of the race against time that had just begun. Elara clutched the locket, its cool metal a grounding force against the encroaching chill, her resolve hardening with each passing second. The secrets were out, but the true test was yet to come.