Victoria POV
Day two.
The last day before the transformation.
Victoria stood in her room surrounded by forbidden texts and components she should not possess and felt the weight of what she was preparing to do settle onto her shoulders like a burial shroud.
On the desk: a map marked with Thalia's last known locations. Red circles indicating places her cousin had been spotted. Black X's marking territories where dark magic had been reported.
On the floor: three vials of Lilith's blood, drawn yesterday while her niece slept. Fresh. Potent. Carrying Lilith's magical signature in every drop.
On the shelf: the dead necklace Elena had given Nicholas. The crystal was dark now but it still held traces of Lilith's essence. Enough to serve as an anchor point if resurrection became necessary.
And in her hands: a worn leather journal containing research Victoria had been conducting in secret for the past twenty-four hours.
