Mary stood outside the room, her heart swelling with pride as she watched Lucien pack. She hadn't seen him this excited in years.
The boy who had come to her broken, unsure, now seemed on the verge of starting a new chapter of his life.**
She smiled to herself, a bittersweet sadness tugging at her heart. She had always known this day would come—the day when she would have to let him go. But it was for the best. A new family, a better life.
She reached the door and knocked gently, just to check on him one last time before he left. The door creaked open.
But when she stepped inside, the room was empty.
There was no sign of Lucien.
Her breath caught in her throat. The bed was neatly made, the suitcase on the floor, clothes haphazardly tossed inside. His shoes were by the door, his belongings in disarray, but there was no
"Lucien"
No sign of him at all.
A chill ran down her spine. She stepped further into the room, her eyes scanning every corner, but it was empty.
"Lucien?" she called out, her voice shaking. There was no answer.
She called again, louder this time, hoping to hear the soft shuffle of his feet or the sound of his excited chatter.
Nothing.
Confused and frantic, Mary rushed over to the window, praying for a glimpse of him outside. But the yard was just as still and silent as it had always been.
What in the world was going on?
The summoning circle, now vanished without a trace, was the only sign of what had happened. But she had no idea what it was. No idea where Lucien had gone.
Her mind raced, but she couldn't make sense of it. She glanced down at the suitcase, half-packed and abandoned. She touched the soft fabric of one of the shirts Lucien had been packing. The fabric was still warm, as if he had just handled it
Then, the realization hit her:
HE WAS GONE.