ing. She stared up at the glass-fronted café, feeling a sense of pride as she did so. She had done t

creeping up behind her, taking its rightful place in the night sky. The autumn breeze s

es so far. They rarely came into town, preferring to shop in the bigger cities outside of the small town. Garin was the first

turn your back.” Her grandmother’s voice floated through her mind as she followed the sidewalk through town, nearing the end of the shoppin

housing costs. Thankfully, her house on the edge of the woods was built by her great-great-grandparents

s if she could see it dancing on the wind. The large iron-wrought gate of the Estates loomed in front of her. Startled, she stopped befo

hill. A modern monstrosity that towered over the town. She could make out a large extravagant B ca

could nearly feel someone’s eyes burning into her. She turned sharply, a growl in the back of her throat. Nothin

hurried away, wondering if it was tha

had her fur instead. She followed the path home more by memory than sight. Her family’s hou

aguely make out the Brochade home, pressed against the cloudless night sky. Realizing that with binoculars they could probably see her home gave her

t door was a faded red. Willow loved this house. She had lived in it since she could remember although she knows that she was

moke, baking bread, and a spicy incense that her grandmother insisted on bur

mother’s voice carr

. Her grandmother was sitting at the kitchen island, flipping through a magazine. Her grandfather ha

l lighting hanging from the wooden beams crossing overhead. It was incre

gun to lighten over the past few years, fading from her a deep auburn to a light copper, he

low put the kettle on the stove. Willo

r grandmother’s hand stilled, and she lo

ow

hat I am. He was rude.” Her grandmother tapped he

him before?” Will

las and Miles aro

Garin.” She sniffed and

d, pouring the steaming water over the tea leaves in her

ooked at Willow over her cat eyeglasse

me and looked like…well l

ably your ey

nd sniffed her shirt. H

nodded. “It’s the same for them. Hopefully, he won't be

the festival,” Willow replied

he said and pulled off her

ow stared down in

ng me?” her grandmothe

s eyes, I thought I felt…something.” She re

it is you think you felt, Willow. Their family has hunted us for years. Ye

I’m not proud of it. It was just nic

d pushing into her lower back. “I’m going to bed. Stay away from that boy. Only death comes from mixing w

sink and stared at her reflection in the