Page 78 of Seeking Shadows

“He’s busy,” I say, and it’s not a lie.

“Oh, I understand. He’ll call when he’s ready,” she says quietly, but her voice breaks my heart a little. I don’t tell Zane that I’ve been keeping in touch with the people of Evermore in secret. Firstly, because they’d get suspicious if I just disappeared, and secondly, because they’re genuinely nice. I like them all.

“I called to ask a favor, but you’re going to have to trust me and not tell anyone I asked.”

“Okay,” she says in a low voice. “Is everything okay?”

“Yes.”

“Are you sure?”

“Everything will be fine once you track down Doctor Rachel Wayne, or better yet, have your husband track her down.”

“Rachel Wayne?” Abby says, confused. “Well, I know her. I don’t think there’s any need to track her down. She works at Goodwin U in the health department. She used to be the nurse at my school.”

Shit, I could’ve googled her name if I knew this information earlier. I do it on instinct, putting Abby on speakerphone, and all the information pops up, including her class schedule. I got you, bitch.

“Thanks, Abby. Give Liam a kiss for me.”

“Sure. Any time... hmm… if you needed help, you would say so, right? You can count on us, Mia, no matter where you came from.”

When the words leave her mouth, I freeze. Something tells me Abby knows I’m Nico’s daughter—or that Seth is Nico’s son—but she doesn’t elaborate.

I shake my mind, because I have more important things to do.

I hang up the phone and take an Uber to the Goodwin U Health building. If I'm not mistaken, Laura also works around here, which means I need to be extra careful not to be seen.

Rachel worked for my father for years, so it's not that strange that she frequents these places. Maybe he sends her to spy, maybe it's just habit.

Rachel Wayne. Doctor Wayne. Whatever. She's already dead; she just doesn't know it yet.

The night wears on slowly, but I’m patient. Outside the school, the parking lot is nearly empty. Cold lights illuminate the cracked asphalt, and Rachel emerges from the side door, clutching her bag, looking exhausted after a long shift. She doesn’t notice me. Why would she? I’m just another shadow among many.

She walks to her car, fumbling for her keys in her purse. Perfect timing. I approach from behind, silent, my footsteps in sync with the sound of a distant car. Before she can react, I slide the soaked cloth against her face.

She struggles, her fingers clawing at my wrist, a muffled sound escaping her throat. I take a deep breath, keeping calm as her body loses its strength, until it finally gives in.

With a little effort, I push her into the passenger seat, adjusting her belt so that she looks like an exhausted woman dozing off after a hard day. I smile to myself as I walk around the car and take the wheel.

The city falls away, the streetlights replaced by the pitch-black road. The forest stretches out around me, silent and patient. When I reach the lake, I stop the car and get out, breathing in the fresh air and feeling the night's humidity on my skin.

Now I just need to decide how I want to end this.

I crouch down and then pull Rachel to look at me, her eyes a mix of fury and fear.“When did you switch from nursing to medicine?”

"What?"

“You were a school nurse, then you became a doctor.”

“I… I went back to college and did a supplement.”

“Interesting, and don’t they teach things like, is it wrong to give in and abuse patients, especially if they’re children?” My voice comes out genuinely curious, and Rachel’s eyes widen.

“Mia…”

“Don’t worry, sweetie,” I say, pulling her hair toward me. “What I’m going to do to you… You’ll be well aware of it.”

The blade glides against Rachel Wayne's skin as if I’m drawing on a delicate canvas, and in a sense, I am. Every cut, every trickle of blood that snakes across her skin is part of the art.

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