Later that night, I sat at the edge of the bed, staring at the moonlight streaming through the window. My mind kept drifting to Miranda even tho Logan’s father forbade it.
A soft knock on the door interrupted my thoughts. Logan stepped inside, his expression tense. He closed the door behind him quietly and leaned against it.
“Are you okay?” he asked, his voice soft but full of concern.
I sighed, running a hand through my hair. “I don’t know, Logan. Everything feels like it’s falling apart. That book won’t open, and now your dad’s shutting down the only lead we have.”
Logan walked over and sat beside me, his knee brushing against mine. “I know. My dad… he’s stubborn, but he’s just scared. Miranda’s dangerous, but she might be our only shot.”
“Do you really think we can trust her?” I asked, my voice barely above a whisper. “Your dad makes her sound like she’s pure trouble.”
Logan paused for a moment, staring at the floor. “Honestly? I don’t know. But if she has answers, we don’t have much of a choice, do we?”
I bit my lip, the uncertainty gnawing at me. “What if she refuses to help? Or worse, what if she tries to hurt us?”
Logan’s jaw tightened, and he took a deep breath. “We’ll be careful. We won’t go in blindly. But I don’t think we can just sit here and do nothing. That’s more dangerous.”
I looked up at him, seeing the determination in his eyes. He wasn’t going to give up, no matter what his father said.
“So what do we do now?” I asked.
Logan stood up, pacing the room for a moment before turning back to me. “We go see her. In secret. My dad won’t like it, but I can’t just wait around while this darkness creeps closer.”
I felt my heart skip a beat. “You’re serious?”
He nodded. “Yeah. We’ll go tomorrow night. Just you and me. We’ll talk to Miranda and see if she can help. If not… we’ll figure something else out.”
I stared at him, my mind racing. It was risky-dangerous, even-but deep down, I knew he was right. We couldn’t wait any longer.
“Alright,” I said, my voice steady. “We’ll go.”
Logan’s expression softened, and he gave me a small, reassuring smile. “We’ll figure this out, Audrey. Together.”
As he left the room, I felt hopeful at least everything could change.
The next evening came faster than I expected. The sun had barely set when Logan and I slipped away from the house. We moved quietly, making sure no one noticed us. The tension between us was palpable, but neither of us said a word. We knew the risks we were taking.
Logan led the way, his steps confident but cautious. “Miranda lives far out, in the old forest,” he explained quietly as we moved through the trees. “It’s isolated, and she prefers it that way.”
I nodded, following close behind. The air was thick with the scent of pine and earth, and the cool night breeze sent shivers down my spine. The further we walked, the more ominous the forest seemed to become. Shadows stretched long and dark, and every crack of a branch felt like it echoed through the silence.
“Are you sure this is a good idea?” I asked, unable to keep the worry out of my voice. “What if we’re walking into a trap?”
Logan glanced back at me, his eyes glowing faintly in the moonlight. “We’ll be careful. Just stay close.”
After what felt like hours, we finally reached the edge of a clearing. At the center stood a small, weathered cabin, almost hidden by the trees. Its windows were dark, and the whole place looked abandoned, but Logan didn’t hesitate. He stepped forward, motioning for me to follow.
“This is it,” he said, his voice low. “Stay alert.”
We approached the door, the wood creaking softly under our feet. Logan knocked, the sound echoing in the stillness. For a long moment, nothing happened. I felt my heart race, every second stretching into an eternity.
Then, slowly, the door creaked open, revealing a tall, slender woman. Her long black hair flowed down her back, streaked with silver, and her sharp, piercing eyes locked onto Logan first, then me.
“Logan,” she said, her voice smooth but cold. “I thought you had more sense than to come here.”
“Miranda,” Logan replied, his tone firm but respectful. “We need your help.”
Miranda’s gaze shifted to me, her eyes narrowing slightly. “So, this is the girl? The one tied to the Eternity Book?”
I swallowed hard, feeling the weight of her scrutiny. “Yes.”
She stepped back, opening the door wider. “Come inside. But know this-you’re both playing a dangerous game by seeking me out.”
Logan and I exchanged a quick glance before stepping into the cabin. Inside, it was dimly lit by candles, the walls lined with old books and strange artifacts. The air smelled faintly of herbs and something I couldn’t quite place-something ancient and powerful.
Miranda walked over to a small table and sat down, motioning for us to do the same. “So, tell me,” she said, folding her hands in her lap. “Why should I help you?”
Logan took a deep breath. “We don’t have much time. The pack is in danger, and the Eternity Book-”
“-won’t open,” Miranda finished for him, her lips curling into a knowing smile. “I’m not surprised. That book doesn’t give its secrets easily.”
“Do you know how to unlock it?” I asked, leaning forward, my heart pounding in my chest.
Miranda’s eyes flicked to me, cold and calculating. “I might. But knowledge like that comes at a price.”
Logan clenched his jaw. “What do you want?”
Miranda smiled, the expression sending a chill down my spine. “Oh, nothing too difficult. Just a simple favor. Something only you can give me, Logan.”
“What is it?” he asked, his voice guarded.
Miranda leaned back, her gaze sharp and unwavering. “I want you to help me reclaim what was taken from me. My place in the pack.”
Logan stiffened, his fists clenching. “You know that’s impossible. You were exiled.”
“And yet here you are,” she said smoothly. “Desperate enough to come to me. Desperate enough to consider it.”
Silence hung between us, thick and suffocating. I could feel Logan’s hesitation, the conflict raging inside him.
Finally, he spoke. “If we agree to this… will you help us? Will you unlock the book?”
Miranda’s smile widened, her eyes gleaming with a dangerous light. “I’ll give you what you need. But remember, Logan, once you open that door, there’s no turning back.”
I looked at Logan, fear twisting in my gut. This wasn’t just about unlocking the book anymore. It was about power, old wounds, and a dangerous alliance that could tear everything apart.
“Logan…” I whispered, my voice trembling with uncertainty.
He met my gaze, his expression hard. “We don’t have a choice, Audrey.”
Turning back to Miranda, he nodded. “We’ll do it.”
Miranda’s smile turned predatory as she stood up, moving toward a small, ornate box on the shelf. She opened it, revealing a key-small, ancient, and glowing faintly with an eerie light.
“Here,” she said, holding it out to me. “This will unlock the book. But remember, once you unlock it, the future will no longer be yours to control.”
I hesitated, staring at the key in her hand. The weight of her words hung over me, a warning I couldn’t ignore. But we had come too far to turn back now.
Slowly, I reached out and took the key.
“Good luck,” Miranda said softly, her eyes gleaming. “You’ll need it.”
The moment I took the key from Miranda’s hand, a shiver coursed through me. The key felt warm against my palm, pulsing with a strange energy. As I looked up, I caught the glint of satisfaction in Miranda’s eyes, a flicker that sent unease racing through my veins.
“Now, go,” she instructed, her voice smooth and commanding. “Unlock the Eternity Book, and don’t keep me waiting.”
Logan and I exchanged glances, uncertainty mingling with the determination that had brought us here. “Let’s go,” he said, standing up and pulling me gently toward the door.
As we stepped outside, the night air felt charged, almost electric. I glanced back at the cabin, the shadows shifting behind the darkened windows, and a sense of foreboding settled in my chest.
“What now?” I asked as we walked briskly through the forest.
Logan glanced at the key, still clasped in my hand. “We need to get back to the house and find the book. We’ll do it together.”
The urgency in his voice pushed us forward, and we quickly made our way through the trees, my heart pounding with every step. The forest felt alive around us, the branches whispering secrets as if warning us of the storm we were about to unleash.