Page 15 of A Touch of Darkness

“Well, not mermaids,” Rebecca says quickly.

“That makes me feel so much better,” I say with an eyeroll.

Nicole chimes in, “I know it’s hard to believe, but?—”

“And you’re... what? What are you?” I ask, interrupting her.

Nicole’s lips curve into a smirk. “We’re witches. Both of us.”

I gape at them, my disbelief threatening to choke me. “You’re joking.”

Rebecca shakes her head. “We’re not. And before you ask, no, we don’t fly on broomsticks. That’s Hollywood nonsense. But magic? That’s real.”

I take a moment to process, but in truth, this is going to take me longer than a damn moment. If what they’re saying is true, and I have no idea why they’d have any reason to lie about it, everything I’ve always known is…wrong. Vampires and witches and the other supernaturals aren’t just in movies and books. They’re real. How is that even in the realm of possibility?

“This is insane,” I say, leaning back in my chair. “Fucking insane.” My grip on the mug tightens to the point that I’m concerned it may shatter in my hands, but it does nothing to stop the whirlwind in my chest.

How is everyone not freaking out about this? Why haven’t I noticed anything weird?”

Rebecca shrugs, swirling her coffee cup. “Many supernaturals can blend in. Some witches only do subtle spells, illusions; the vampires on campus manage their feeding in humane ways with safe blood sources. And some students have no clue about all this, either. Blackthorne tries to keep it under wraps for the sake of avoiding… panic. It was different years ago, when the pact was made, but a lot of those originals are gone, and people are trying to prevent hysteria now. Without dismantling what their ancestors started.”

I slump backward, my heart racing. It’s like someone’s yanked the rug out from under me. There are so many things I want answers about.

“We may need to circle back to that. I also need to know why I’m important to these Society people.”

Nicole hesitates, exchanging a glance with Rebecca before answering. “We’re not a hundred percent sure why, and Isabel was certainly vague last night. But we do know the Society hastaken interest in only a few new students. You happen to be on that list.”

I rub my forehead, trying to process all of this. “Can either of you explain what exactly the Solstice Society is?”

Rebecca presses her lips together. “They’re a cult. To put it lightly. They have one main focus—to erase vampires, witches, essentially all supernatural entities from the earth. When I say witches, I mean witches who practice for the good. They actually utilize witches who use dark magic for their gain. They have… an agenda. And if you’re on their list, it means they think you might be important to that agenda. Important somehow in the way of helping them achieve their goal.”

A chill skitters through me, and I pull my jacket tighter around my shoulders. “And you two? How do you fit into this?”

“Well, aside from being on their shit list because we’re witches, let’s just say we’re not fans of the Society,” Nicole murmurs, her expression grim. “They’re not fair to people who don’t fit their vision of how supernaturals and humans should… coexist. Some of us have tried to form a separate group, one that wants more transparency between humans and supernaturals. But the Society prefers secrecy—and death.”

I shake my head, trying to take it all in but it feels like information overload.

And frankly, it still feels incredibly surreal.

Made up.

I’m trying to rationalize something that can’t be rationalized.

“We really aren’t supposed to tell anyone about any of this. It’s a code we’ve agreed to abide to, but Rebecca and I talked,” Nicole says gesturing to our friend. “We can’t willingly or knowingly keep you in the dark when you have so much at stake. It wouldn’t be right. Or fair.” She sets down her mug and reaches over the small table, taking my hand in hers. “Plus, you’ve noticed some… suspicious things around campus, haven’t you?You’ve had feelings that things aren’t necessarily as they seem.” She slides a glance at me, and I think about the strange glimpses—the portraits, the weird suffocating feeling as I walk through the halls…She isn’t wrong.

My stomach twists. I did notice things, but I brushed them off. “I guess I was trying to excuse the strange feelings. I kept telling myself I was imagining stuff.”

Rebecca and Nicole nod in unison. “We had a feeling you were more than you seemed,” Rebecca says. “A witch always knows.”

Her words hit me, and I feel their honesty flowing through my veins.

I take a moment to look around the dimly lit café, the low murmur of other customers forming a comforting background hum. It’s surreal that we’re discussing vampires and witches as casually as if it’s our weekend plans. “So what happens now?” I ask quietly. “If I’m a target—or an interest—how do I stay safe? How do I even… talk to these supernaturals? Do I pretend nothing’s changed?”

Nicole’s eyes soften with sympathy. “At school, you pretend nothing has changed. It’s business as usual, aside from the fact that we’re looking for your missing sister. We’ll help you. There are a few key people on campus you can trust if things get intense.”

My pulse thuds in my ears, the heaviness of it all pressing down on me. “God, this is… a lot. One minute I’m stressing over normal classes, and now I’m supposed to worry about hidden supernatural agendas on top of my missing sister?”

Rebecca reaches over and covers my free hand. “Hey. Breathe. We’re here for you. You’re not alone. We let you in because we want to help you and Lara. It isn’t fair for you to try and acclimate to all of this insanity alone.”

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