After, The last of the shadows melted away into the mist.
Alaric lowered his hand, his face pale but steady. He could feel the remains of dark magic still present in the air — they would return soon.
He walked quickly toward the front door, urgency burning in his chest.
He reached the gate, looked once more toward the dark trees, and whispered, "Not this time."
Then he rang the bell.
...
As Amelia and Sophie tried to place the things at their place and tried to leave the room through the window .
They entered the main hall by the Garden door.
Then — the doorbell rang again, loud and clear this time.
"Who could be here now?" Sophie whispered. "It's only eight in the morning…"
Amelia didn't answer. Her pulse quickened she felt like she could hear it in her ears as she moved toward the door. "Let's go," she murmured. "I don't know what but I feel like Something is not right and what was that crash sound!!."
"Maybe… maybe it's your dad outside?" Sophie whispered, her voice trembling.
Amelia swallowed, nodding slowly, though her stomach twisted. "Let's check it — quietly first. "
As They tried to peak through the keyhole they heard a familiar voice from outside.
"Amelia! Sophie! Open the door!"
They both froze, exchanging a startled look.
"Yups that's—my father!" Amelia said
As They opened the door.
"Dad?" Amelia called a bit surprised.
Alaric was standing in front of the door, breathing hard, with his face but pale, his coat slightly torn, and his usually neat hair a bit out of place. When he turned, the moment his eyes found Amelia, relief washed over his face.
"There you are," he said, striding toward her quickly. Without hesitation, he pulled her into a hug. "Why didn't you open the door? I was calling you both ."
"Are you both fine!" he said his voice was filled with worry .
"We— we didn't hear it properly," Amelia stammered, glancing at Sophie. "And… the lights were being wierd and they were flickering all of sudden."
"But what's wrong with you , are you okay " Amelia said a bit worried about him.
Alaric pulled back just enough to look at her. "You shouldn't be wandering around the house like this," he said, voice calm but oddly sharp at the edges. "It's not safe."
Sophie tilted her head. "Not safe? Did something happen outside?"
"Yeah and Dad you didn't answer My question, what happened, are you okay "
Alaric froze for the smallest second. Then, smoothly, he smiled — that familiar, reassuring smile he used whenever he wanted to end a conversation.
"Just a wild animal near the woods," he said simply. "I scared it away but I was worried about you guys ."
"But your hand—" Amelia began, seeing a faint cut across his palm.
He quickly hid it behind his back. "Nothing serious. Don't worry about it."
Then, in a softer tone, "Come inside. Both of you."
Inside, the warmth of the house felt wrong — too calm after what they had just felt.
Alaric locked the door carefully, then checked the curtains, his movements precise but silent.
Sophie watched him curiously. "You sure everything's fine?"
"Of course," he replied lightly, not looking at her. "Just being careful. You know how dangerous the forest can be."
Amelia came back with a glass of water for him in a hurry .As he drank the water quietly a bit lost in thoughts as if thinking about something ,his gaze was looking a bit distant....
Amelia stood still, staring at the floor.
Her fingers brushed her wrist where she put the glove in hurry — the faint mark there felt warm under her skin, as if reacting to something unseen.
Sophie came closer and whispered, "He's hiding something."
Amelia didn't answer.
She already knew.
As they looked at him he looked a bit too tensed.