Lua opened the door at Whispers to find Ali and Mrs. Lynx deeply engrossed in an iPad screen, their attention fully absorbed by whatever was displayed. Mrs. Lynx, with her glasses perched on the edge of her nose, tapped the screen thoughtfully. “How about this one?” she asked, her voice calm but decisive.
Ali leaned in closer, studying the image before nodding. “Yeah, I love that one. But this one too,” she pointed to another picture, her fingers brushing the screen. “This is definitely more Cottagecore, donât you think?”
Mrs. Lynx tilted her head, squinting slightly. “Cottagecore, you say? And what about this one?” she asked, pointing to a third image, her voice still focused.
“That oneâs more Coquette. Maybe with a touch of Academia?” Ali analyzed quietly, her tone thoughtful, still oblivious to Luaâs arrival.
Lua smiled and softly cleared her throat. “Hello? Anyone home?”
Ali jumped slightly, finally tearing her eyes away from the screen. “Oh, Lua! Sorry, I didnât see you there!” she said with a grin.
Mrs. Lynx looked up warmly. “Aliâs helping me put together a Pinterest board for some new ideas for the shop. Weâve been exploring different vibes. How are you, dear?”
Lua gave a small, melancholic smile. “Iâm alright,” she replied, her voice betraying the weight she was carrying. She turned to Ali. “Do you have time for a walk? Maybe grab some lunch and talk?”
“Sure,” Ali said, already standing up and reaching for her jacket. “I was actually about to meet Evelyn for lunch. Why donât you come with us?”
As Mrs. Lynx assisted a customer by the counter, she glanced at Lua before they left. “See you here tonight, Lua?” she asked.
“Yes, of course!” Lua replied cheerfully, but her mind was clearly elsewhere as she and Ali stepped outside.
The brisk air hit their faces as they began walking down the street. Lua broke the silence. “I read in the news that the food poisoning incident didnât leave any major injuries, thank goodness. I also spoke to Virginia, and she said it was just an expired sauce theyâd used. Nothing connected to my produce, thankfully. Do you have any other updates?”
Ali shook her head, her voice distant. “No, thatâs pretty much all I know too.”
Lua hesitated before asking the question that had been bothering her. “Have you spoken to Kelly this week? Is she still upset?”
Ali sighed softly. “Yeah, we met on campus Wednesday. Sheâs over it, she told me. Actually, she said she left you a couple of voice messages, but you havenât called her back. Whatâs going on?”
Lua glanced down at her shoes, feeling a pang of guilt. “I just needed a few days to figure things out. Ryderâs been at the cabin every night, and honestly… itâs been comforting.”
Aliâs face lit up, her tone filled with genuine happiness. “That makes me so happy to hear!” she exclaimed. Then, spotting someone in the distance, her expression shifted to playful curiosity. “And speaking of love… look whoâs here.”
Evelynâs bright blue hair bounced in a ponytail as she approached them. Lua couldnât quite read the expression on her face, but there was a strange energy about her that sent a chill down Luaâs spine. “Hey, Evelyn!” Lua greeted, her tone polite but distant. “Nice to see you.”
As the three women exchanged brief pleasantries, Lua suddenly felt a sense of urgency pulling her in another direction. “You know what, you two go ahead and have lunch without me. Iâve got to meet Ryder at the park soon,” Lua said, squeezing Aliâs hand before letting go. “Weâll catch up soon, Ali. And have fun at the gala tonight!”
Ali called after her, “You sure you donât want to come with us tonight?”
“Iâm sure!” Lua shouted back with a smile before quickly walking up the street, her thoughts swirling as the chilly wind picked up.
The night of the annual university ball arrived with an air of tension that felt almost palpable. The ball was a grand affair, traditionally a celebration of the end of the year, where faculty, students, and benefactors would come together to toast the successes of the past and the promise of the future. But this year, it was different. The Four Curses had left the university reeling, its reputation tarnished, and the ball had taken on a new purposeâa desperate attempt to raise funds and restore the universityâs standing.
The ballroom was a stunning sight, with crystal chandeliers casting a warm glow over the elegantly dressed attendees. The black-tie all black dress code was strictly enforced, and everyone was dressed to the nines. But beneath the glittering surface, there was a sense of unease. Whispers filled the air, as attendees speculated whether another disaster would strike that night. After all, each of the incidents had occurred on the four previous Fridays, and the ball was the last major event of the year.
Lua did not attend the ball. Both Kelly and Ali begged her to come as their date, but she refused. Instead, she spent the evening at Mrs. Lynxâs apartment, a small, cozy place filled with the comforting scent of herbs and the warmth of a crackling fire upstairs from her shop Whispers. The two women sat together, and for the first time, Lua opened up about everything she had been going through. She spoke of the growing suspicions and hostility directed at her, the pain of being evicted from her beloved cabin, and about the recent argument with her friends at GallU, which only deepened her sense of isolation.
But there was moreâsomething darker, something that gnawed at her with each passing day.
“Last week, at GallU, Peterâs girlfriend approached me,” Lua began, her voice unsteady. “She was angryâalmost unhinged. She said something about my friends here in Lake Laura not knowing anything about my real past.” Luaâs eyes filled with a mixture of fear and confusion. “Itâs eating me up inside, Mrs. Lynx. Do you think she knows?
Mrs. Lynx frowned, her brow furrowed in thought. “How could she possibly know anything, dear? And what would she gain from it? Why would she want to dig into your past, let alone threaten to ruin your friendships?”
Lua sighed, her hands trembling slightly as she wrung them together. “I think sheâs jealous of me. Thatâs what it sounded like. She mentioned Peter going to the cabin to see me, but sheâs got it all wrong. He came to visit Kelly while she was staying there, not me.” Lua shook her head, the absurdity of the situation weighing her down. “The whole thing is ridiculous. Peter hates me.”
Mrs. Lynx listened intently, her eyes never leaving Luaâs, absorbing every word. When Lua finished, Mrs. Lynx stood up and gently took her hand, squeezing it with warmth and reassurance. “My dear Lua,” she said softly, “there are forces at work here that we cannot ignore. But weâll face them, together. I think itâs time to call upon the old ways.”
Her words hung in the air, carrying a weight that Lua hadnât anticipated. “The old ways?” Lua asked, though deep down she knew exactly what Mrs. Lynx meant.
Mrs. Lynx nodded, her expression calm but resolute. “We need to seek clarity and protection from the darkness thatâs closing in. This… Peterâs girlfriend, your fears, the unraveling at GallUâitâs all connected. We need to ensure youâre shielded from whatever forces are trying to break you down.”
Without another word, Mrs. Lynx led Lua to the back room of Whispers, a place that few had ever seen. It was a hidden sanctuary, a room filled with ancient symbols, herbs hung to dry, and candles that flickered with a quiet intensity. The air was thick with the scent of lavender, sage, and something earthierâmore primal. This was Mrs. Lynxâs sacred space, where she performed her most powerful rituals. Lua had been there once before, but this time, it felt different. This was a place of power, a place where the boundaries between the seen and unseen blurred.
They stood before an altar, its surface adorned with crystals, feathers, and intricate talismans. Mrs. Lynx moved with purpose, gathering what she needed for the ritual. “First, weâll ask the gods to shield you from the evil forces trying to break in,” she said, placing her hand gently over Luaâs heart. The touch was soothing, as if drawing warmth from somewhere deep within.
“Then weâll ask them to untangle your love life,” she said matter-of-factly, her tone leaving no room for doubt.
Lua blinked, taken aback. “Untangle my love life? What do you mean? My love life isnât tangled.”
Mrs. Lynx gave her a soft, enigmatic smile. “Trust me,” she replied, her voice both gentle and wise. “Sometimes, the heart is more tangled than we realize.”
Lua stared at her, feeling a strange mixture of comfort and unease. Mrs. Lynx always seemed to know things Lua hadnât yet come to understand herself. Before she could question it further, Mrs. Lynx continued.
“Finally,” she said, her voice softening, “we can ask the gods to give you the clarity you need to reclaim your story, to reconnect with your past… if youâre ready.”
Luaâs eyes filled with tears, her breath catching in her throat. She wasnât readyânot yet. The thought of facing her past, of unraveling the truths she had buried so deeply, terrified her. “Iâm not ready,” she whispered, her voice trembling.
Mrs. Lynx smiled kindly, pulling her close into a comforting embrace. “Thatâs okay, my dear. Youâll know when itâs time.”
They stood together in silence, the weight of the moment heavy but reassuring. The room around them seemed to hum with energy, the flames of the candles flickering gently, as if the universe itself was waiting patiently for Lua to be ready.
Back at the ball, the atmosphere was strange. The grand hall was filled with people dressed in black and somber music, and there was an undercurrent of fear that no one could shake. The twins, Colin and Justin, mingled with the crowd, their eyes scanning for familiar faces. They found Tori standing alone, looking distracted.
âHi, Tori. You look hot. Never saw you wearing black before. Whereâs Gael?â Justin asked, noticing her forlorn expression.
âHe couldnât make it,â Tori replied with a forced smile. âHe didnât have a tux, and he wouldnât accept one from me.â
The twins exchanged a glance, sensing there was more to the story, but they decided not to press the issue. Instead, they moved on to greet other friends, leaving Tori to her thoughts. The shadows seemed to linger around her as she watched the crowd with a mixture of envy and longing.
Just then, Alinda arrived with Evelyn, and the two quickly became the center of attention. Ali was excited to introduce her new girlfriend. “Hey all, this is Evelyn,” Alinda greeted the group. “Those are the twins âone is Justin and the other is Colin, God knows which is which. And that is Hunter over there, heyyy gurl!” She pointed at Hunter, who was busy typing on his phone but responded by wiggling his fingers and blowing a kiss. “That hottie over there is Tori, and this, is my handsome cousin Brett!” Aliâs excitement was palpable, and Evelyn looked impressed.
“Oh, he is handsome,” she said, glancing at Alinda. “Hi everybody, nice to meet you all!”
“I thought you’d be working tonight,” Ali told Brett. “No, I got the night off; a colleague will cover for me photographing the ball, so…” He replied, raising his glass, meaning he could drink all he wanted. “Good for you! So where’s Kelly?” Ali asked, looking around for another familiar face. “Why would I know?” Brett replied, rougher than usual, his irritation evident. “I’ll get another drink, be right back.” And he walked away briskly, leaving a bit of an awkward silence in his wake.
The couple wasn’t bothered by Brett’s strange demeanor, though. Ali kept pointing at people around her, enthusiastically sharing stories, gossip, and little tidbits about each person. That’s when Kelly arrived, making her way directly toward them. Ali did all the introductions, and they chatted briefly about how packed the hall was, the somber music that played in the background, and how hard it was to navigate through the throngs of people in this cavernous space.
As the night wore on, the tension seemed to be present in every corner, every circle, every conversation. Nobody seemed to fully relax and enjoy themselves amid the oppressive atmosphere. Halfway through the ball, Tori found herself looking increasingly bored and impatient, proving once again that she found it impossible to have fun when Gael was not around. “Do you know where my sister is?” she asked Hunter, who was still glued to his phone.
“I don’t. Abigail never tells me anything anymore. She says I’ve abandoned her for you guys,” Hunter said, rolling his eyes. Tori mirrored his gesture, equally frustrated. “But on the few texts we did exchange, she mentioned she might not even come to the ball. Said Peter was arguing with his dad, and if he didnât come, she wouldnât. So my guess is, sheâs not here, babe.” Hunter concluded with a shrug. Tori let out a sigh, feeling the weight of disappointment, and walked away, seeking solace somewhere else in the room.
Meanwhile, right next to them, Evelyn was enthusiastically telling Kelly about the new apartment she had just rented in the city center. âYou look so familiar,â Kelly exclaimed, trying to place where she might have seen Evelyn before, her brow furrowing in concentration.
Evelyn smiled, a hint of mischief in her eyes. âI just have one of those faces, I suppose.â
Before Kelly could probe further, a hush fell over the crowd as Virginia took the microphone on stage. She announced that the donations had already reached their target for the evening, thanks in large part to the generosity of BrightStar and its CEO, Arthur Martin. The mention of her fatherâs name sent a wave of disgust through Kelly. She excused herself from the group and went in search of Peter, hoping to find some comfort in his presence.
But Peter was nowhere to be found. Frustrated and feeling increasingly alone, Kelly spotted Brett across the room and made her way over to him. She sidled up to him, her voice low as she suggested they leave together.
Brett looked at her with a mixture of sadness and resolve. âNo, Kelly,â he said firmly. âIâm not doing this anymore.â
Kelly was taken aback by his words, her heart sinking as she started to realize she had been using Brett to fill the void, to escape the complexities of her life. As Brett walked away, she felt a pang of guilt and regret.
What a waste of time, Kelly thought about the whole night. She walked through the crowd toward the bathroom, when she saw Hunter and Collin making out behind one of the big columns that decorated the hall. Well at least someone is getting some tonight, she said quietly to herself, happy that these two were finally hooking up after weeks of fruitless flirting. As she kept walking, she saw Alinda standing at the exit looking like she was ready to leave.
“Hey, I thought I lost you! Let’s go get a drink! Where’s Evelyn?” Kelly asked, tipsy from the four glasses of champagne she’d already had.
“She left, saying she had so much work to do…” Ali replied, sounding slightly disappointed.
“What does she do, exactly? I think you told me, but I forgot.” Kelly asked.
Then Brett’s colleague from the Lake Laura Daily, who was covering for him tonight, interrupted the chat asking for a quick shot, to which the girls didn’t even have time to agree.
“Hey, I’m gonna go. Stay, have fun, we’ll talk tomorrow. I love you!” Ali shouted as she ran out of the hall to find a cab.
What is it with everybody tonight? Kelly vented to herself.
As midnight approached and nothing disastrous had occurred, the attendees of the ball started to relax, relieved that the night had passed without incident. Laughter and music filled the air, marking a stark contrast to the earlier tension that had pervaded the atmosphere. Couples twirled gracefully on the dance floor, their joyous expressions lighting up the grand hall. As the evening wore on, the sense of impending doom began to lift.
However, when the first light of dawn broke through the curtains, it cast a harsh reality over the previous night’s festivities. The air of mirth and revelry evaporated almost instantly as the campus was rocked by devastating news.
There had been a murder.
Thoughts on this chapter?