《Where Waves Meet Shadows》


 Chapter 1: Screams In The Dark

    Isabella Hartley leaned closer to the glowing petri dish, her breath fogging the glass lid momentarily. The algae inside shimmered faintly, an iridescent green under the lab¡¯s mage-light. She jotted a note in her leather-bound journal with quick, precise strokes, her penmanship neat despite the late hour.


    ¡°That¡¯s promising,¡± she murmured to herself, tapping the side of the dish lightly with a gloved finger. The algae didn¡¯t react.


    Across the lab, a faint cough broke the quiet. She glanced up to see Dr. Alvarez adjusting his glasses and squinting at his own set of samples. His face was pale under the artificial light, his movements sluggish.


    ¡°You should call it a night, Alvarez,¡± Isabella said, her voice warm but firm. ¡°You¡¯ve been at this as long as I have.¡±


    He offered a weak smile and a small shrug. ¡°And leave you to save the oceans single-handedly? I¡¯ll manage a little longer.¡±


    Isabella returned the smile, though it didn¡¯t quite reach her eyes. She bent back to her work, meticulously logging the pH levels of each culture. The rhythmic scratching of her pen mingled with the hum of machinery and the faint hiss of the climate controls.


    The lab felt like its own world, insulated from the damp chill of Eldermist. Outside, she knew the fog would be rolling in thicker, pooling in the alleys and clinging to the docks. The thought made her glance at the window, though the frost-covered glass offered no view of the city beyond.


    A sudden clatter broke her concentration. She turned sharply to see a stack of test tubes toppled over on the counter near the door. Jonah, one of the newer lab assistants, winced and muttered an apology, crouching to gather the scattered tubes.


    ¡°Careful,¡± Isabella said, crossing the room in a few quick strides. She knelt beside him, her gloved hands deftly sorting the intact tubes from the shattered ones. ¡°It¡¯s been a long day for everyone. No need to rush.¡±


    Jonah¡¯s face flushed. ¡°Thanks. I¡¯m just trying to finish up before...¡± He trailed off, glancing toward the clock on the wall. Midnight was creeping closer, the thin hand ticking almost inaudibly beneath the lab¡¯s other sounds.


    Isabella set the unbroken tubes on the counter and dusted off her gloves. ¡°You¡¯re doing fine, Jonah. Go ahead and wrap up for the night. I¡¯ll take care of the rest here.¡±


    ¡°Are you sure?¡± he asked, standing awkwardly and clutching the empty rack.


    She gave him a small nod. ¡°I¡¯ve got it. And I¡¯ll be here tomorrow to double-check everything. Get some rest.¡±


    With a murmured thanks, Jonah slipped out, his footsteps fading down the corridor. Isabella lingered by the counter for a moment, staring at the jumble of notes and equipment. The project was monumental¡ªa leap toward breaking down microplastics with engineered algae¡ªbut the weight of it pressed heavy on her shoulders. She ran a hand through her wavy chestnut hair, her fingers catching briefly on a knot.


    Alvarez¡¯s voice drew her back. ¡°You¡¯re as bad as the rest of us, you know. Always telling people to take care of themselves, and then staying late every night.¡±


    She glanced at him, a tired but good-natured smile on her lips. ¡°Do as I say, not as I do?¡±


    He chuckled dryly and shook his head, returning to his work. The sound of his pen scratching resumed, steady but faltering at times. Isabella returned to her station, focusing again on the glowing dishes. Her father¡¯s voice seemed to echo faintly in her mind: Every drop in the ocean counts, Isabella. It¡¯s never too small to matter.


    The scar on her eyebrow itched faintly at the thought, a phantom sensation tied to an old memory. She resisted the urge to touch it and instead leaned back in her chair, letting her gaze wander over the rows of samples. Each dish represented hours of labor, countless failures, and a hope she refused to let dim.


    A knock at the window startled her, the sharp sound incongruous in the muffled quiet of the lab. She turned quickly, only to find nothing but frost and darkness on the other side. Her heart gave a small jump before settling again, and she shook her head with a soft laugh.


    ¡°Just the wind,¡± she muttered, though it didn¡¯t quite feel like it.


    ¡°What was that?¡± Alvarez called, his head tilting slightly toward her.


    ¡°Nothing,¡± Isabella said, more firmly this time. ¡°Probably just my imagination.¡±


    The two of them worked in silence after that, the atmosphere growing heavier as the hours dragged on. When Alvarez finally packed up and shuffled out with a wave, Isabella remained, her focus narrowing to the faint glow of the algae and the steady rhythm of her pen.


    Isabella''s pen paused mid-scratch, the faint squeak of ink against paper swallowed by the lab''s oppressive quiet. She leaned back in her chair, stretching her arms overhead as her eyes flicked to the doorway. The hallway beyond the frosted glass was dark, save for a feeble string of colored lights sagging along the ceiling. One bulb blinked irregularly, its rhythm mismatched to the rest, as though it were trying to mimic the pulsing bio-luminescence of the algae samples before her.


    She exhaled and tapped the pen against her notepad. "Festive," she muttered under her breath, the word edged with dry amusement.


    The air carried a faint metallic hum, the ever-present sound of the institute''s systems doing their unseen work. Normally, it was comforting¡ªa subtle reminder of shared purpose. Tonight, it felt different. Hollow. Distant. She glanced at the mage-light above her, its flickering casting erratic shadows over the shelves stacked with reference texts and jars of preserved specimens.


    Her stomach growled, low and insistent, but the thought of leaving her station to walk the dim corridor to the vending machine filled her with a strange reluctance. She straightened in her chair, tugging her lab coat tighter around her shoulders. Still, her gaze drifted again toward the doorway. A small prick of unease needled at her. She couldn¡¯t shake the feeling that the institute wasn¡¯t just quiet but listening. Holding its breath. She turned her focus back to the algae sample, its faint green glow a calming constant against the backdrop of erratic light and silence. Her gloved fingers adjusted the petri dish, and the tension in her jaw eased as she lost herself in the details of the notes she¡¯d been compiling for weeks.


    A click echoed from somewhere outside the lab¡ªtoo loud to be a system noise, too soft to be deliberate. Isabella froze, pen suspended mid-air, her ears straining against the silence. It could¡¯ve been a door latch. Or a shoe against tile. Or nothing at all. She waited for a follow-up sound, her breath held involuntarily. When none came, she sighed and shook her head, muttering, "Darn pipes."


    Her voice broke the spell, the sound of it grounding her. She forced herself to focus again, jotting a line of notes with a determined efficiency. But the scratch of her pen couldn¡¯t quite cover the other noise¡ªthe faintest whisper of air, or fabric brushing against itself, just at the edge of her perception.


    She stood, the scrape of her chair startlingly loud. Pulling off her gloves, she crossed to the door and peered out. The hallway was empty, the festive lights blinking lazily. She half-expected someone to pop out with a sheepish explanation¡ªmaybe Alvarez, realizing he¡¯d forgotten something. But there was nothing. No one.


    Isabella lingered there a moment longer, fingers gripping the door-frame. She was used to the solitude of late-night work, thrived on the quiet focus it allowed. But this wasn¡¯t solitude. It was something else. Something heavier. She stepped back into the lab and let the door close behind her with a soft click.


    ¡°Always a way to make a difference,¡± she murmured, though the words felt thin tonight.


    The algae glowed steadily on the lab table, as though unbothered by the oppressive atmosphere. Isabella dropped back into her seat, pen in hand, and tried to concentrate again. But her thoughts kept slipping, her focus fraying like the holiday lights in the hallway.This content has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.


    Then it came¡ªa scream, muffled and jagged, like it had clawed its way through clenched teeth. Her pulse surged, the hairs on her arms rising. Setting the pen down, she shoved back her chair, its legs scraping against the lab floor. A second passed. Then another. The silence deepened, heavy and unnatural, like the moment before a storm surge devours the shore.


    The lab door gave way with a soft creak as she stepped into the corridor. Cool air rushed past, and she had to stifle the urge to wrap her arms around herself.


    ¡°Hello?¡± she called, the single word bouncing along the sterile walls.


    No answer, only the faint buzz of the overhead lights. Their magical flickers played tricks on the edges of her vision, shadows darting and vanishing. Her boots squeaked faintly against the tiles as she moved toward the source of the sound, the echo of her own movements somehow more unsettling than silence.


    Another noise, softer this time¡ªa click, like a door latching shut.


    Her pulse tripped over itself as she started forward, her boots slipping just enough on the damp tile to make her curse her choice of footwear. She steadied herself against the wall, the cool plaster grounding her for a second before she pushed on.


    Halfway down the hall, she froze.


    Ahead, where the corridor plunged into deeper shadow, something moved¡ªa fleeting blur. A figure, tall and lean, slipping into the gloom. She couldn¡¯t make out a face, only the way the edges of their silhouette seemed to ripple and dissolve into the dim light, like black water spilling over stone.


    ¡°Wait!¡± she called, voice trembling despite her effort to steady it. She quickened her steps, her breath hitching as she rounded the corner. Her heart hammered louder than the scream had been. She hated how loud it felt in her chest, how it seemed to drown out any other sound she might have been able to catch¡ªa creak, a footstep, anything.


    The corridor ended at a set of double doors, one slightly ajar. The faintest glow seeped through the crack, a cold, sterile light that didn¡¯t belong here. Behind her, something rustled¡ªa quick, sharp noise that made her whirl around. The hallway behind her yawned empty, stretching back to the lab and its deceptively tranquil glow. She swallowed hard and pushed the door open.


    The room smelled of chemicals and seawater, its shelves crammed with equipment and labeled bins. Her eyes swept over the room, taking in the overturned stool and the scattered papers near one of the workstations. A camera lay discarded on the floor, its strap curling like a snake, the recording crystal removed.


    Then her heart stuttered.


    Oh no. No, no¡­¡± she whispered, rushing over to the body that lay crumpled on the cold floor. A colleague¡ªAlan, she realized with a lurch of her stomach. His usually neat lab coat was a shocking mess of red. Blood pooled unevenly beneath him, smearing across the tile in jagged streaks, as though he¡¯d tried to drag himself away from something. Or someone.


    ¡°No, no, no,¡± she whispered, dropping to her knees beside him. Trembling fingers reached for his neck, searching for a pulse she already knew wasn¡¯t there. His skin was still warm.


    The flickering light from above allowing her to only see glimpses of his wounds¡ªa chaotic, impossible pattern of gashes, each edged with something like char. As though burned into him by something not entirely sharp or hot.


    Her stomach churned, bile rising in her throat, and this time she had to fight hard to keep what little food her stomach had from coming up.


    ¡°Alan?¡± she whispered, though the name came out broken. ¡°What happened?¡±


    His lifeless eyes stared back, unblinking and distant. The blood on her fingers felt unbearably sticky, grounding her in a horror she couldn¡¯t escape.


    The mage-lights flickered again, their electric hum swallowing the sound of her shallow breaths.


    ¡°Don¡¯t move.¡±


    The voice, low and sharp as a crack of thunder, sliced through Isabella¡¯s shock. Her head snapped up, green eyes wide and tear-brimmed, catching the flicker of movement at the edge of the dim light.


    From the shadows, a figure emerged¡ªfirst the soft glow of a cigarette, then the stark profile of a woman whose presence felt like the shifting tide. The gloom seemed to peel away as she stepped closer, boots muffled against the concrete.


    ¡°Detective Blackwood,¡± the woman said, her tone clipped as she flicked ash to the ground. ¡°And you are?¡±


    Isabella blinked, her mouth dry. ¡°I¡ª¡± She coughed, her voice cracking like a frayed line. ¡°Isabella Hartley. I¡ª¡± Her gaze darted to the lifeless body beside her, stomach clenching all over again.


    ¡°Step back, Hartley. Slowly,¡± detective Blackwood instructed, her cigarette balanced precariously on her bottom lip as she crouched beside the body, her dark eyes scanning the grotesque pattern of wounds with clinical detachment.


    ¡°What happened here?¡± she continued after a moment, her tone calm but unmistakably pointed. She didn¡¯t look up from Alan¡¯s lifeless form, instead letting her question hang in the space between them like an anchor.


    ¡°I heard someone scream,¡± Isabella said, her voice trembling but gaining steadiness as she spoke. ¡°I was just¡ª, and then¡ª¡± She gestured helplessly toward Alan, her hands still slick with his blood.


    ¡°I tried to see if he was¡ªif he¡ª¡± She stopped herself, swallowing hard.


    ¡°I tried¡ª¡± Isabella tried again, her voice trembling. She knelt frozen, sticky blood still clinging to her hands. ¡°He was... I thought he might...¡±


    ¡°He wasn¡¯t,¡± detective Blackwood interrupted, standing and pulling a slim notepad from her coat. She scribbled something quickly, her sharp features catching the flicker of the mage-lights above. ¡°Touch anything else?¡±


    ¡°No.¡± Isabella¡¯s voice cracked under the weight of guilt she wasn¡¯t sure she should feel. ¡°Just¡ªhim. When I heard the scream...¡± She faltered, her breath hitching. ¡°Who could¡¯ve done this?¡±


    The detective''s gaze flicked to Isabella¡¯s hands, the blood smudged against pale skin. She stepped closer, crouching by the body with a practiced detachment.


    ¡°Stay there,¡± she said, holding up a hand to silence Isabella before she could speak again. For a moment, the detective was still, her shadow seeming to stretch unnaturally long behind her as she leaned over Alan¡¯s body. Isabella¡¯s stomach twisted when Blackwood pulled a small flashlight from her coat and clicked it on, its beam cutting harsh lines across the corpse.


    ¡°You found him like this?¡± Blackwood asked without looking up.


    ¡°Yes,¡± Isabella whispered, her voice barely audible. ¡°I heard a scream, and when I came¡ªhe was¡ªhe was already¡ª¡± She faltered, her throat tightening. Blackwood¡¯s eyes flicked to her, piercing, as though dissecting every nuance of her grief. She didn¡¯t answer immediately, instead taking a slow pull of her cigarette and blowing the smoke away with a sharp exhale.


    ¡°Marine biologist, right? Environmental activist. Made the papers last year for chaining yourself to that oil rig off Blackwater Reef.¡± The corner of her mouth twitched, but the hint of amusement didn¡¯t reach her eyes.


    Isabella¡¯s brow furrowed at the abrupt question. ¡°Yes. How did¡ª¡±


    ¡°Doesn¡¯t matter,¡± Blackwood cut her off, gesturing to the strange, charred edges of the gashes. ¡°Ever seen injuries like these? Maybe on an animal?¡±


    ¡°No.¡± Isabella hesitated, Blackwood''s words forcing her to look at Alan''s body once more.


    ¡°It¡¯s... it doesn¡¯t make sense. It¡¯s like... heat damage, but it doesn¡¯t look cauterized, not completely. And the pattern¡ª¡± She stopped, realizing how easily the words were spilling out. ¡°Sorry. I¡¯m not¡ªthis isn¡¯t my expertise.¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t apologize,¡± Blackwood said briskly, jotting something down without looking up. ¡°Your expertise is why I¡¯m asking.¡± She stood again, her gaze sweeping the space, pausing in corners where shadows lingered too long.


    ¡°You said you heard a scream. Was it his?¡±


    ¡°I think so,¡± Isabella admitted, her arms wrapping tightly around herself. ¡°It was... sharp. Sudden. Then silence.¡± Her voice softened, cracking.


    ¡°When I found him, he was already¡ª¡± She swallowed hard, her throat tightening against the rest.


    Blackwood finally turned her full attention to Isabella, her expression unreadable but intent.


    ¡°You¡¯re sure you didn¡¯t see anyone else? Nothing unusual on your way here?¡±


    The question snapped Isabella¡¯s gaze to her. ¡°You mean besides this?¡± She gestured helplessly to the body. ¡° What even counts as unusual anymore?¡±


    For a moment, Blackwood¡¯s lips twitched, as if suppressing a smirk, but her eyes remained calculating. She tapped the filter of her cigarette against her notepad, the ember flaring briefly.


    ¡°Fair point,¡± she muttered.


    The mage-lights overhead flickered again, their erratic hum filling the silence. Blackwood¡¯s eyes darted upward, her jaw tightening.


    ¡°I¡¯ll need your full statement,¡± she said, her tone turning businesslike as she pocketed her notepad. ¡°But not here. You look ready to keel over.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m fine,¡± Isabella insisted, though her trembling hands betrayed her.


    ¡°Sure you are.¡± Blackwood stepped back into the edge of the shadows, her figure half-shrouded, the cigarette¡¯s glow the only thing fully visible. ¡°But that¡¯s not what I asked.¡±


    Isabella froze, her chest tightening as her eyes darted to Blackwood. The detective¡¯s presence, so solid and unyielding, felt like the only thing keeping her upright. But then she noticed it¡ªthe faint ripple of shadows curling around Blackwood¡¯s frame, like ink spilling into water. It wasn¡¯t natural. It couldn¡¯t be.


    ¡°Let¡¯s move.¡± Blackwood¡¯s voice sliced through the haze, low and steady, her chin tilting toward the exit. ¡°You¡¯re not staying here alone, and you¡¯re currently my only witness.¡±


    The words were sharp, practical, and left no room for argument. Isabella swallowed hard, her pulse thrumming in her ears. The sight of Alan¡¯s lifeless body etched itself deeper into her mind, bile clawing at the back of her throat. She pressed her sleeve to her mouth, fighting back the urge to retch.


    ¡°I¡ªI don¡¯t know if I can¡­¡± she stammered, her voice catching as she tore her gaze away from the corpse.


    ¡°You can,¡± Blackwood cut in, stepping closer. Her green eyes fixed on Isabella, the kind of look that didn¡¯t entertain weakness. ¡°You¡¯ve got no choice.¡±


    The authority in her tone steadied Isabella just enough to make her legs move. She cast one last, reluctant glance at Alan before following Blackwood into the dim, suffocating light beyond the doorway. Her breath came shallow and quick, each step pulling her further from the scene but not the horror.

 Chapter 2: Shadows in waves

    ¡°Don¡¯t touch anything unless you want me slapping cuffs on you,¡± Blackwood snapped, her voice cutting through the sterile hum of the institute¡¯s main lab.


    Isabella glanced up from her algae samples, her fingers frozen mid-air. ¡°I wasn¡¯t planning on it,¡± she said softly, her tone measured, though her pulse betrayed her with a jittery rhythm.


    The lab felt like a different place this morning, the comforting din of bubbling flasks and murmured conversations replaced by the scuff of boots and the clipped tones of investigators. The faint tang of cleaning solution lingered in the air, a futile attempt to mask the scent of spilled blood from the night before.


    Detective Blackwood stood near the doorway, one hand on her hip, the other clutching a battered notepad. Her coat hung open, revealing a holster slung low at her side. She looked like she belonged here as much as a shark belonged in a fishbowl¡ªdangerous, out of place, and completely at home in the chaos.


    ¡°I¡¯d ask if this kind of thing happens often,¡± Blackwood said, her eyes narrowing as she glanced at a blinking mage-light overhead, ¡°but somehow, I don¡¯t think murder¡¯s part of the holiday routine.¡±


    Isabella managed a tight smile, the kind that didn¡¯t reach her eyes. ¡°Not exactly what we had in mind when we put up the garlands.¡±


    Blackwood¡¯s gaze darted to the half-strung Christmas lights sagging along the lab¡¯s far wall. ¡°Festive,¡± she muttered, scribbling something in her notebook.


    Across the room, a pair of security guards murmured to one another, their bulky frames casting long shadows in the flickering light. Isabella could feel their eyes on her. Everyone¡¯s eyes. She was the witness, after all¡ªthe one who¡¯d found Alan sprawled on the floor, his blood pooling on the tiles.


    ¡°You¡¯re sure you didn¡¯t hear anything?¡± Blackwood¡¯s question jolted Isabella back to the present.


    ¡°I already told you¡ªno,¡± she said, her voice firmer now. ¡°The lab was quiet! And I was working late on the experiments. Everyone else that I knew was there had already gone home."


    Blackwood leaned against a counter, her pen tapping against her notepad. ¡°Quiet enough for someone to kill a man without you noticing. That doesn¡¯t bother you?¡±


    ¡°It terrifies me,¡± Isabella shot back, her tone sharp. ¡°But maybe you¡¯ve spent so much time around dead bodies you¡¯ve forgotten how to feel anything.¡±


    Blackwood blinked, surprised. Then, a slow smirk tugged at the corner of her mouth. ¡°Not bad, Doctor Hartley. Got a little bite under all that science talk.¡±


    Isabella flushed, her gaze dropping to the table where her algae samples waited, glowing faintly green under the mage-lights. ¡°I just want to figure out who did this,¡± she murmured. ¡°Alan didn¡¯t deserve to die like that.¡±


    ¡°No one does,¡± Blackwood said, her voice softening for just a moment before hardening again. ¡°But figuring it out? That¡¯s my job. Your job is to keep your head down and let me do it.¡±


    ¡°Easy for you to say,¡± Isabella said, her eyes meeting Blackwood¡¯s. ¡°You didn¡¯t have to clean his blood off your shoes.¡±


    The detective¡¯s smirk vanished, replaced by something colder, sharper.


    ¡°If you want to help, Doctor Hartley, think. Did Alan say or do anything unusual lately? Anyone hanging around the lab who didn¡¯t belong?¡±


    Isabella hesitated, her mind racing through the past few weeks. The late nights, the tension in Alan¡¯s voice when he mentioned funding issues.


    ¡°He¡­ he was nervous,¡± she said slowly. ¡°But only because he was worried that funding would be cut before we could make a meaningful breakthrough.¡±


    ¡°Look,¡± she said, her voice softer now but no less direct. ¡°I know this isn¡¯t easy. Murder never is. But if there¡¯s anything you remember¡ªsomething Alan said, something you saw¡ªnow¡¯s the time to share it.¡±


    Isabella closed her eyes, before taking a deep breath whilst carefully placing her hands on the table to center herself. She replayed the fragmented memory of the previous night. The flicker of movement at the edge of her vision, just beyond the corridor¡¯s reach, tugged at her thoughts. Blackwood¡¯s retreating figure was nearly gone, her coat blending into the gloom of the institute¡¯s dimly lit hallway.


    ¡°Detective,¡± Isabella said finally, her voice firmer than she felt.


    ¡°Something else on your mind, Doctor Hartley?¡±


    ¡°There was¡­¡± Isabella stepped away from her station and towards the detective, her voice lowering as though afraid the shadows themselves might overhear. ¡°There was someone last night. Moving in the shadows near where I found...Alan. Before I found him.¡±


    Blackwood turned fully now, her expression sharpening like a blade.


    ¡°Someone? You mean another staff member?¡±


    ¡°No, it wasn¡¯t like that,¡± Isabella said quickly. Her fingers fidgeted with the hem of her lab coat as she struggled to explain. ¡°I didn¡¯t see them clearly, but the way they moved¡ªit was fast, fluid, almost like¡­¡± She hesitated, glancing at the mage-lights as if they might steady her thoughts.


    ¡°Almost like how I saw you move last night.¡±


    Blackwood¡¯s eyes narrowed, her composed exterior cracked. A flicker of unease crossed her features, though she quickly masked it with a dry scoff.


    ¡°Me?¡± she said, her tone half-incredulous, half-amused. ¡°Sorry to disappoint, but I wasn¡¯t until after you found Dr Alan remember?¡±


    Isabella nodded, but the knot in her chest tightened. ¡°I know. That¡¯s what doesn¡¯t make sense. Shadow magic like yours¡­ it¡¯s rare, isn¡¯t it?¡±


    Blackwood¡¯s gaze grew colder, more calculating. ¡°Rare?¡± she said slowly, her voice carrying a new edge. ¡° It''s damn near extinct! And I¡¯m the only one in this city who uses it. So if you¡¯re sure about what you saw¡ª¡±


    ¡°No...Not entirely,¡± Isabella interrupted, surprising herself with her conviction. ¡°At least¡­ as sure as I can be. I thought it might¡¯ve been a trick of the light at first, but now¡­¡± She swallowed hard, her eyes locking onto Blackwood¡¯s. ¡°What if it wasn¡¯t?¡±


    Blackwood stepped closer, the shadows around her seeming to deepen. She studied Isabella in silence for a long moment, her sharp green eyes probing for any hint of doubt or exaggeration.


    ¡°You¡¯re saying that you saw someone lurking in the shadows. Before you found Dr Alan. And they moved in a way that is similar to my magic?¡± she said finally, the words weighted with something between disbelief and concern.


    ¡°Or someone who can do something like it,¡± Isabella offered.


    ¡°If there¡¯s someone else out there moving in the shadows,¡± Blackwood said, more to herself than to Isabella, ¡°they¡¯re either real bad news or¡­ no, just bad news.¡±


    Isabella frowned, her pulse quickening. ¡°You think they were involved in Alan¡¯s death?¡±


    ¡°I think,¡± Blackwood said, her tone unreadable, ¡°that whoever it was doesn¡¯t want us digging too deep. And now that you¡¯ve seen them¡­¡± She let the sentence hang, her meaning clear.


    The silence between them grew heavy, broken only by the distant hum of the algae tanks and the faint buzz of the mage-lights.


    ¡°I¡¯ll look into it,¡± Blackwood said at last, her voice steady again, though her eyes remained shadowed with thought. ¡°But you keep your eyes open, Doctor Hartley. If you see anything¡ªor anyone¡ªout of place, you contact me¡ªImmediately!¡± the detective finished, pointing a finger right at Isabella''s nose.


    ¡°Do I?¡± Isabella asked, her brows lifting.


    Blackwood gave her a look, one that said don¡¯t push your luck. ¡°City precinct,¡± she said, as if it were the most obvious thing in the world. With that, she turned on her heel and strode out, her coat flaring behind her. Isabella watched her go, a mix of relief and irritation bubbling under her skin. Blackwood Blackwood was infuriating¡ªblunt, cold, and entirely too confident. But there was something else, too, something she couldn¡¯t quite name.


    As the door clicked shut, the lab felt oppressively quiet again. The garlands sagged a little lower. The mage-lights flickered. And somewhere, deep in the foggy streets of Eldermist, a killer was still at large.


    ***


    The clink of glass on metal echoed through the lab as Isabella adjusted the pipette in her hand, her movements methodical but distracted. The algae cultures needed precision, but her mind was as fogged as the streets outside. She stole a glance at the sagging garlands overhead, their cheerful reds and greens mocking the grim undercurrent that had taken hold of the institute. The mage-lights flickered, throwing jagged shadows across the workbench.


    This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.¡°Doctor Hartley,¡± a voice cut through the stillness like a knife. Detective Blackwood, leaning against the doorway, her hands tucked casually into her coat pockets. The detective¡¯s sharp eyes scanned the lab, lingering for a moment too long on the table where Alan had been found. ¡°You¡¯re here late.¡±


    Isabella placed the pipette down with a steadiness she didn¡¯t feel.


    ¡°Work doesn¡¯t stop just because¡­¡± Her voice trailed off, but the implication was clear. Because Alan¡¯s body had been removed not just three days ago. Because the institute felt haunted now. Because there was a murderer still out there.


    Blackwood stepped inside, her boots soft against the tiled floor.


    ¡°Dedicated. Admirable.¡± Her tone was clipped, but there was a thread of something else there¡ªinterest, maybe.


    ¡°Tell me, Doctor Hartley, how well did you know him?¡±


    ¡°Alan?¡± Isabella¡¯s brow furrowed. ¡°Not well. He was more focused on his own section of the project. We spoke occasionally¡ªshared theories, data. Nothing personal.¡±


    Blackwood nodded, her gaze sliding to the camera she pulled from her left coat pocket and giving it a little shake. It was old, the kind a hobbyist might use, not the sleek security models mounted around the institute.


    ¡°This was near his body. Doesn¡¯t belong to the lab. Ring any bells?¡±


    Isabella frowned, standing up and stepping closer. The camera looked harmless enough, but the sight of it sent a chill through her.


    ¡°No. I don¡¯t think I¡¯ve ever seen it before.¡±


    ¡°Hmm.¡± Blackwood¡¯s thumb brushed over the empty slot where a recording crystal should have been. ¡°Curious. Someone went to the trouble of leaving this behind but didn¡¯t want the footage to stick around. Any idea why?¡±


    Isabella crossed her arms, her thoughts racing.


    ¡°If they were recording something, it could be anything. Lab procedures, experiments, people. Maybe they thought it could incriminate them.¡±


    The words hung in the air, heavy with implication. Isabella met Blackwood¡¯s gaze, her heart thudding uncomfortably.


    ¡°You think someone in the institute did this?¡±


    Blackwood shrugged, the movement almost imperceptible. ¡°Always easier to kill someone you know. Less messy. But I¡¯m not here to speculate. That¡¯s your job, isn¡¯t it? Theorizing?¡±


    The air between them tightened, the hum of the lab equipment filling the silence. Isabella glanced up, meeting the detective¡¯s gaze. Blackwood¡¯s expression was unreadable, her eyes steady and unyielding.


    ¡°What is it you really want, Blackwood?¡± Isabella asked, exhaling slowly. ¡°You already turned this place inside out earlier. I¡¯m not sure what else you think you¡¯ll find.¡±


    ¡°Maybe I¡¯m not looking for something. Maybe I¡¯m looking for someone,¡± Blackwood said, her words precise.


    Isabella¡¯s breath caught, but she covered it with a quick shake of her head. ¡°If you¡¯re suggesting¡­¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m not suggesting anything,¡± Blackwood cut in. ¡°Not yet. But people under pressure have a way of slipping up. Saying things they didn¡¯t mean to. Doing things they wouldn¡¯t normally do.¡±


    Isabella¡¯s jaw tightened. ¡°I¡¯m not your suspect.¡±


    ¡°Did I say you were?¡± Blackwood countered smoothly, one brow arching. She straightened, her coat shifting with the movement, and stepped closer. The flickering mage-light cast her face in uneven shadows, accentuating the sharp angles of her cheekbones.


    ¡°But I do have to ask¡ªwhy were you the one to find Alan?¡±


    ¡°Because I was working late,¡± Isabella replied, her voice firm despite the sting of the accusation. ¡°And because Alan never should have been in the lab after hours. He¡¯s¡­ he was careless. Always left things half-done, like the rules didn¡¯t apply to him.¡±


    ¡°That bother you?¡±


    ¡°Of course it bothered me,¡± Isabella snapped, then caught herself. She softened her tone, her shoulders slumping. ¡°But I wouldn¡¯t hurt him. He wasn¡¯t a bad person, just¡­ frustrating.¡±


    Blackwood nodded slowly, her expression giving nothing away.


    ¡°Frustrating enough to kill?¡±


    ¡°No,¡± Isabella said, her voice resolute.


    Another silence settled between them, heavier this time. Blackwood¡¯s gaze lingered on Isabella for a moment longer before she stepped back, turning toward the door.


    ¡°For what it¡¯s worth, Doctor Hartley,¡± she said, her voice softer now, ¡°you don¡¯t strike me as the type. But I¡¯ve been wrong before.¡±


    ¡°Glad to hear that, Detective Blackwood.¡± Isabella said dryly.


    Blackwood¡¯s lips twitched, almost imperceptibly. Then she was gone, the door clicking shut behind her. The lab felt colder without her presence, the mage-lights casting long, flickering shadows. Isabella exhaled shakily, pressing her palms against the edge of the bench. She could still feel the weight of Blackwood¡¯s eyes on her, even though the detective was no longer there.


    ***


    ¡°Environmental activist,¡± Blackwood had said three nights ago, her tone clipped but laced with an edge of dry amusement. ¡°Made the papers last year for chaining yourself to that oil rig off Blackwater Reef.¡±


    Isabella could still hear the rasp in her voice, the way the edges of her mouth started to form a smile. She¡¯d been holding a cigarette then, one hand pointing towards Alan, looking every bit like someone who¡¯d seen too much and made peace with the weight of it. At the time, Isabella had been too rattled to do much. Now, sitting at her lab bench with Blackwood¡¯s voice echoing in her mind, she couldn¡¯t help but replay the exchange. The way she¡¯d known so much¡ªnot just the surface-level stuff, like the oil rig protest, but the way she looked at her almost felt like she almost understood why she had done it. And not just what the newspaper headlines had said about her and her team. But the look she gave was almost like she might have been there standing next to her on that oil rig.


    ¡°Get it together, Hartley,¡± Isabella muttered under her breath, forcing herself to pick up her pen. She needed to focus. Somewhere out there, the killer Blackwood was chasing was still roaming the streets, and here she was, daydreaming about...what, exactly? The way Blackwood¡¯s voice lingered in her head? The almost imperceptible twitch of her lips before she¡¯d turned to leave, like she knew something Isabella didn¡¯t?


    The algae tanks burbled softly, a rhythmic hum that usually brought her calm. Tonight, it only made the silence feel heavier. The institute¡¯s holiday decorations¡ªthe garlands strung haphazardly above the door, the small enchanted snow globe perched on a shelf¡ªfelt out of place against the cold, sterile reality of the lab. She should be working. Instead, her mind kept drifting back to Blackwood.


    Isabella leaned back, letting the pen clatter to the desk. She traced the faint scar on her left eyebrow absently, a habit when she was thinking too hard.


    She thought of the protest, of the freezing wind on her face as she¡¯d stood on that oil rig, chains cutting into her wrists. She¡¯d been so certain then, so sure of the rightness of her actions, even as security dragged her off in handcuffs. Blackwood had seen that part of her, the part that refused to let go, and instead of dismissing it, she¡¯d...what? Admired it? Isabella shook her head, trying to banish the thought.


    But then there was the way Blackwood looked at her, like she could see right through the layers of optimism and principled determination to something deeper. It wasn¡¯t pity. It wasn¡¯t even sympathy. Then what!


    ¡°Darn it,¡± Isabella whispered, pressing her hands against her face. The lab wasn¡¯t colder; she was just losing her mind. Maybe she¡¯d been spending too many nights here, the mage-lights flickering against the fogged-up windows, her only company the algae she was trying to train. Trying to coax the little life forms into eating the specs of micro plastic floating inside their food.


    Still, the way Blackwood had lingered in the doorway before she¡¯d left wasn¡¯t something Isabella could shake. For someone who moved so decisively, so quietly, Blackwood¡¯s presence was anything but forgettable.


    The mage-lights flickered again, shadows stretching across the lab like long fingers. Isabella straightened in her chair, grabbing her pen again. She had work to do. But as she stared at the glow of the algae, her mind kept circling back to Blackwood. She¡¯d always believed in finding a way to make a difference. Maybe Blackwood did, too, in her own hard-edged, shadowy kind of way.

 Chapter 3: Beneath the Flickering Glow

    Isabella leaned against her workstation, her fingers methodically sorting through notes and sample jars as though busy hands might quiet the unease simmering in her chest. The faint scent of pine wafted in from a garland draped haphazardly across the archway, a half-hearted nod to the season. She didn¡¯t hear the scream at first¡ªjust a muffled sound that clawed its way through the foggy hum of the lab. Then it came again, sharper this time, cutting clean through her concentration.


    ¡°Help! Someone¡ª¡±


    Her hands froze mid-motion, glass clinking softly against the counter-top. For a moment, she didn¡¯t move. Then instinct kicked in, and she bolted toward the source.


    The algae wing was colder than usual, the thin air biting at her lungs as she skidded to a halt in front of Lab 4. The door was ajar.


    ¡°Hello?¡± Her voice trembled, breath forming faint wisps in the chilled air. Pushing the door open, she found herself staring at a familiar, horrifying tableau.


    Dr. Peterson was slumped against the steel lab bench, his white coat splotched with dark stains. His head slumped to one side, and his hands were charred, fingers frozen mid-claw as though reaching for salvation that had never come. The same sickly, chemical burns marred his skin¡ªdeep, ragged, and unearthly.


    ¡°Oh... no.¡± Isabella¡¯s voice barely rose above a whisper as her hand flew to her mouth. The room spun, nausea clawing at her throat. This was Alan all over again. Same wounds. Same awful stillness.


    The sound of footsteps broke through her haze. A shadow loomed in the doorway, and then Detective Blackwood emerged, her sharp green eyes zeroing in on the scene.


    For a moment, neither of them spoke. Detective Blackwood¡¯s gaze flicked from the body to Isabella. A frown etched deep into her face, and when she finally broke the silence, her words landed like a hammer.


    ¡°Second corpse in two weeks, Hartley.¡± Her voice was low, measured. ¡°And you¡¯re the common denominator.¡±


    Isabella flinched, the accusation¡ªunspoken but heavy¡ªhitting her square in the chest. ¡°I didn¡¯t¡ª¡± Her words tangled in her throat. She took a deep breath, willing herself steady. ¡°I was coming to check on some samples. I heard the scream.¡±


    Detective Blackwood stepped further into the room, her boots clicking softly against the tiled floor. She crouched near Peterson¡¯s body, her gloved hand tracing the edge of a burn. She didn¡¯t speak for a long moment, just inspected the wounds with a clinical detachment that made Isabella shiver.


    ¡°These marks.¡± Detective Blackwood gestured to the burns, her tone more pointed now. ¡°Same as the ones on doctor Alan.¡±


    Isabella nodded, her arms wrapping tightly around herself.


    ¡°Yes. It¡¯s... it¡¯s not natural. It can¡¯t be. No chemical I know of burns like that.¡±


    Detective Blackwood reached under the lab table and pulled out a camera that looked an awful lot like the one found at the other crime scene. Her thumb rubbed the spot where the recording crystal should have been. She rose to her feet, eyes pinned Isabella again, searching, probing.


    ¡°You sure there¡¯s nothing you¡¯re leaving out?¡±


    Isabella¡¯s jaw tightened. ¡°I¡¯ve told you everything I know, Detective Blackwood.¡±


    The detective¡¯s sharpness softened just a fraction, though the weight of suspicion lingered in the air between them. She stepped toward the window, peering out into the swirling fog outside.


    ¡°We need answers,¡± she muttered. ¡°And fast. Whatever this is... it¡¯s not stopping.¡±


    The silence stretched, heavy and stifling. Finally, Detective Blackwood turned back, her green eyes locking onto Isabella¡¯s with a steadiness that was almost unnerving.


    ¡°You¡¯ll stay in the lab tonight.¡±


    Isabella blinked. ¡°What?¡±


    ¡°I need to keep an eye on you,¡± Detective Blackwood said bluntly, crossing her arms. ¡°If you¡¯re not directly involved, something about you is drawing this mess like flies to sugar.¡±


    ¡°Or I¡¯m just in the wrong place at the wrong time,¡± Isabella shot back, her voice firmer now. ¡°I¡¯m not a suspect.¡±


    Detective Blackwood¡¯s lips quivered, a faint smirk pulling at the edges. ¡°Not yet, Doctor Hartley. Not yet. But that doesn''t mean I am not going to be keeping a close eye on you.¡±


    The exchange left Isabella¡¯s cheeks flushed, her chest tight with a confusing mix of frustration and something else she couldn¡¯t quite name. Detective Blackwood had a way of getting under her skin¡ªsharp-eyed and sharp-tongued, her presence was as unsettling as it was steadying. Isabella¡¯s lips pressed into a thin line, her thoughts churning. Despite the unnerving weight of Blackwood¡¯s constant watchfulness, she couldn¡¯t shake the odd sense of calm that had settled low in her gut, like the first breath of ocean air after a storm.


    The body of Dr. Peterson lay cold and still a few feet away, a grim reminder of why they were here, but Isabella¡¯s attention kept snagging on the detective. Something about this encounter felt...different. She frowned, trying to untangle the threads of her own reaction. The fear and panic that had overwhelmed her when she had discovered Dr Alan, replaced by something softer, quieter. She didn¡¯t understand it, didn¡¯t want to dwell on it, but her gaze kept darting to Blackwood¡¯s face¡ªthe way her green eyes narrowed, calculating, always three steps ahead, and the way she seemed to carry the shadows with her, like an unspoken promise of safety or danger.


    "Some deep thought expressions you''re making there. Doctor," Detective Blackwood remarked, her voice carrying that dry, cigarette-laced edge. She leaned against a lab table, one hand tucked into the pocket of her trench coat, the other flicking ash from the cigarette balanced precariously between her fingers. The faint curl of smoke seemed to tether Isabella back to the room, her far-off gaze snapping into focus like a diver surfacing too fast.


    "Oh, sorry," Isabella said, her words soft, a little too quick, as she tucked a loose strand of hair behind her ear. "Just thinking about..." She trailed off, her usual clarity faltering under the weight of detective Blackwood''s sharp, unflinching stare.


    She sighed, trying to slow her racing thoughts, her fingers brushing absently against the faint scar on her brow.


    ¡°Fine. Detective Blackwood. I¡¯ll stay. But only because I want to figure this out as much as you do.¡± Detective Blackwood¡¯s smirk faded into something quieter, more thoughtful.


    ¡°Good.¡± Her voice was softer now, though the steel in it hadn¡¯t disappeared entirely.


    ¡°Because if we don¡¯t stop this soon, I might find you slumped over your lab desk.¡± The thought sent rivers of cold through Isabella''s veins. But what else could she do?


    She allowed detective Blackwood to lead her back to her lab and work station, the green glow of the algae samples on the desk waiting idle for her return. She heard detective Blackwood turn and utter something under her breath. Next thing she knew a blue glowing rune appeared to carve itself into the door leading to the room where she found Dr. Peterson''s body. The thought of his lifeless eyes sending her stomach through a loop and she had to clamp her hand over her mouth to stop her dinner from coming back up.


    ***


    The algae squirmed under the magnifying glass, each strand twisting toward the faint glow of the mage-light. Not just alive¡ªhungry. Isabella Hartley adjusted the angle of the light, coaxing the halo to spread evenly across the petri dish. Her breath hitched as she leaned closer, the faint shimmer of light crystal dust swirling like motes of magic within the mix she''d prepared.This story originates from Royal Road. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.


    She tapped her pen against the edge of her notebook, the soft click punctuating the silence. The flickering mage-light caught her eye again, its erratic sputters dancing shadows across the lab bench.


    ¡°Shoot,¡± she murmured, her tone more frustrated than panicked, as her hand instinctively moved to stabilize the fixture.


    Her gaze dropped back to the algae, now pulsing faintly, drawn ever so slightly to the light''s movement like moths to a flame. She scribbled a quick note¡ªLight crystal dust may enhance phototropic response. For days, this idea had lingered in the back of her mind, teasing her every time she¡¯d seen the algae drifting toward even the faintest glow. Tonight, she¡¯d finally tested it.


    ¡°You always talk to your equipment like it¡¯ll behave if you¡¯re polite?¡± The voice came sharp and dry, slicing through the quiet hum of the lab. Detective Blackwood stood on the other side of the room, leaning against an unused lab bench.


    Isabella jolted, her fingers nearly knocking over a vial, but she covered it with a quick laugh.


    ¡°Only the ones with a sense of humor,¡± she said, throwing a glance over her shoulder that held just enough warmth to disarm. Then, as if nothing had happened, she turned her focus back to the algae sample she was preparing, her movements precise and measured.


    The soft rhythm of Blackwood¡¯s boots against the tiled floor grew louder as she crossed the room. She carried her coat draped over one shoulder, an unlit cigarette peeking from her pocket, its faint tobacco scent mingling with the sterile air. Stopping just behind Isabella, she leaned slightly, her sharp green eyes cutting to the glass slide.


    ¡°What have you got there?¡± Her tone was casual, but the words carried a weight that suggested she already had her suspicions. She didn¡¯t hover, but her presence brought the same calm it had earlier that night. Isabella glanced up briefly before continuing her work.


    ¡°A particularly stubborn bit of algae. Trying to see if it¡¯ll reveal its secrets before I resort to harsher methods.¡± Her smile lingered in the corner of her mouth, teasing but careful not to overstep. Blackwood exhaled, the sound more like a quiet huff than a laugh.


    ¡°You give it a name yet, or is that reserved for the ones with a real sense of humor?¡±


    ¡°Not yet detective Blackwood.¡± Isabella chuckled softly, then dared to look at her again, catching the faintest curve at the edge of detective Blackwood¡¯s mouth¡ªa half-smirk that faded too quickly to confirm. As the silence stretched, the detective shifted her weight, loosening a tension Isabella hadn¡¯t noticed until it ebbed.


    ¡°Call me Evelyn,¡± she said at last, her voice low, brushing the edge of unreadable. A hint of smoke hung in the tone, like a half-doused ember still holding its heat. ¡°If we¡¯re going to be spending this much time together, Detective Blackwood is going to wear out its welcome fast.¡±


    ¡°Oh! Sorry,¡± Isabella blurted, fumbling her words as a blush crept up her cheeks. Her hands froze for a moment before finding a semblance of rhythm over the equipment again. ¡°Bad habit.¡±


    For a beat, she hesitated, then blinked, her surprise giving way to a softer smile¡ªwider now, and more unguarded.


    ¡°Evelyn it is.¡± The way she said it lingered in the space between them, a small flame of warmth against the detective¡¯s measured coolness.


    Evelyn¡¯s gaze flicked to Isabella¡¯s hands, watching as they steadied over the array of vials and petri dishes. She didn¡¯t respond, not right away. Instead, she tipped her head slightly, studying the flush still faint on Isabella¡¯s face. A moment of quiet observation, nothing more¡ªbefore her green eyes slid away like shadows slipping back into place. Evelyn stepped back slightly, her gaze darting toward the rest of the lab, but the faint scent of her still hung there, mixing with the saltwater and algae. For a moment, it felt like the room had shifted, the tension tilting toward something easier, less guarded. Neither of them mentioned it, though; it wasn¡¯t the kind of thing you needed to name.


    ¡°More questions than answers.¡± Isabella gestured to the dish. ¡°This batch is¡­ different. It¡¯s reacting to materials in ways it shouldn¡¯t.¡±


    ¡°Define ¡®different,¡¯¡± Evelyn said, her sharp green eyes narrowing as she focused on the writhing mass.


    ¡°See this?¡± Isabella¡¯s pen hovered over the petri dish, her voice steady but tinged with fascination. The algae, green and faintly pulsing, clung to the jagged edge of a palm-sized shard of plastic. Its glossy surface dulled as the algae consumed it, curling threads of polymer vanishing with alarming speed.


    ¡°It¡¯s eating through plastic¡ªbig chunks of it,¡± she said, glancing at Evelyn. The detective stood at the edge of the lab table, arms crossed, her sharp gaze pinned to the display.


    Isabella tapped the dish lightly with the pen.


    ¡°It''s reaction seems to scale with increased magical stimulus, so...¡± She trailed off as her hands hovered above another experiment tray, trembling as she adjusted the setup. This time, three pink crystals rested in a careful arrangement around the dish, their copper encasing shimmering like embers under the mage-lights. She hesitated before turning the knobs to amplify the current, her throat tight with apprehension. Each crystal pulsed faintly, a delicate rhythm like a heartbeat¡ªbefore their combined energy surged into the algae.


    The reaction was immediate. The algae writhed as if electrified, its once-fluid tendrils snapping toward the prepared tissue sample like striking vipers. The lab-grown fragment didn¡¯t just dissolve¡ªit unraveled. A grotesque, fibrous decomposition spread outward, consuming the tissue in seconds. Flesh fragmented into a sickening slurry, vanishing into nothingness.


    Isabella stumbled back, her breath hitching in sharp, her chair toppling over and crashing against the floor. Her palm slammed against the edge of the counter for balance, and for a terrifying moment, she thought her legs might give out. This wasn¡¯t the accelerated decomposition of polyester she¡¯d witnessed earlier. This was voracious. Merciless. The algae had devoured the tissue as though it had been starving¡ªand this feast barely sated its hunger.


    Her hand flew to her mouth, sight of Dr. Alan and Dr. Peterson bodies burned in horrid and strange ways flashing to the front of her mind, trying to keep what little food she had been able to eat from coming back up.


    "Looks familiar." Evelyn''s cold, calculating voice echoed from behind her. Isabella snapped her head round, eye''s still filled with panic and fear.


    "What?" She asked, the word a fight to get out.


    ¡°Residue found on the bodies of your colleagues, Dr. Alan and Dr. Peterson, matched the algae samples you have been working with. Almost exactly. Except for one chemical difference.¡± Evelyn¡¯s tone was measured, but her gaze was piercing.


    ¡°Something was added to it, something that made it¡­ dangerous.¡±


    Isabella¡¯s stomach churned.


    ¡°What kind of chemical?¡± Isabella''s stomach did another flip, but she felt a little of the panic wash from her mind as Evelyn turned her gaze towards her. For a brief moment Evelyn''s expression shifted to...What? Concern? Fear? Worry? But after Isabella blinked, Evelyn''s expression was back to the same serious professional investigator look that she always wore.


    Evelyn shook her head. ¡°Still working on that. But whoever¡¯s behind this knows what they¡¯re doing.¡±


    Isabella stared at the algae. Someone on her team had discovered this. Someone had weaponized her work.


    ¡°Doctor Hartley,¡± Evelyn said, her voice softer now but no less firm. ¡°Don¡¯t go chasing ghosts. Not tonight.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m not,¡± Isabella said, but the words felt hollow even as she spoke them. She glanced at Evelyn, her expression faltering. ¡°I just¡­ need to figure this out. If it¡¯s my work being used to hurt people¡ª¡±


    ¡°Then you¡¯ll stop it.¡± Evelyn''s hand hovered near Isabella¡¯s shoulder for a moment before withdrawing. ¡°But not all at once. And not alone.¡±


    Isabella nodded absently, her mind already racing ahead. She knew she wouldn¡¯t sleep tonight.


    ***


    Detective Blackwood¡¯s voice dipped low, rough like gravel smoothed just enough to catch the edge of her weariness. ¡°But not tonight. C¡¯mon, Dr. Hartley. You¡¯ve got to give yourself a break. I¡¯ll walk you home and seal off the lab. No one¡¯s touching anything until you¡¯re back here after at least six hours of sleep.¡±


    "Six hours?" Isabella snorted, too tired to muster a full laugh. "We all have our fantasies, don¡¯t we, Detective?" Her voice wavered, though, betraying the exhaustion that had seeped into her bones.


    Evelyn arched a brow, her green eyes flicking up just enough to challenge her. ¡°Not a fantasy. A directive.¡± She straightened, the stubborn set of her jaw making it clear she wouldn¡¯t budge.


    For a moment, Isabella lingered, her hand resting on the desk as if the smooth surface might anchor her to the task she wasn¡¯t ready to leave behind. The algae in the dish gave another shiver, its vibrant green dimming to an ominous shadow. She sighed, long and quiet, the weight of it heavy in the otherwise still room.


    ¡°Fine,¡± she murmured, finally pushing herself up. Evelyn didn¡¯t give her a chance to waver, stepping in and guiding her toward the door with a light but firm touch on her elbow. It wasn¡¯t forceful, not quite, but it wasn¡¯t a suggestion either.


    Behind them, the faint crackle of energy from the petri dish played its eerie melody. The algae coiled and twisted like a predator waiting in the dark.


    By the time they reached the door, the first pale hues of dawn had begun creeping through the high windows, painting soft streaks of gold across the steel counters. Isabella rubbed her eyes, the faint tremble in her hands giving her away.


    Evelyn stopped, turning toward the door. Her voice dropped to a low murmur, something sharp and unfamiliar laced through the words. Isabella blinked, watching as a rune the color of moonlight carved itself into the wood. It glowed faintly, like frost catching the first rays of the sun, before settling into a quiet hum.


    "That should hold," Evelyn said simply, glancing back at Isabella. Her green eyes flickered with something that might have been concern, but the moment passed too quickly to be sure.


    ¡°You really don¡¯t trust anyone, do you?¡± Isabella asked, her voice soft, the sharp edge dulled by exhaustion.


    ¡°Not when it counts,¡± Evelyn replied, her tone flat. She swung the lab door closed, the rune locking into place with a faint, metallic click. ¡°Let¡¯s get you home, Doc.¡±

 Chapter 4: Oceans Past

    The break-room''s dim mage-light buzzed unevenly above the old tiled floor, flickering in time with Isabella¡¯s ragged thoughts. She sat hunched over the break-room''s table, fingers curled around a chipped mug of cold coffee, its stale bitterness clinging to the air like the fog outside. Rain streaked the small window, blurring the city¡¯s glow into fractured neon ribbons.


    "You look like you¡¯re thinking too hard, Doc." Evelyn¡¯s voice slid through the quiet, low and wry.


    Isabella flinched, her hand tightening around the mug as she glanced up. Evelyn leaned in the doorway, her dark coat draped casually over one shoulder. The detective¡¯s gaze was steady, assessing, a cigarette dangling loosely between her fingers.


    ¡°Oh, it¡¯s just you,¡± Isabella exhaled, letting her shoulders relax. ¡°I didn¡¯t hear you come in.¡±


    ¡°Perks of the job.¡± Evelyn moved inside, her boots soft against the floor, her presence filling the small room.


    ¡°Didn¡¯t mean to spook you, Doctor Hartley. You just looked... stranded.¡±


    Isabella managed a weak laugh, though her fingers refused to leave the mug. ¡°I was just¡ªthinking. Too much caffeine, I guess.¡±


    Evelyn stepped closer, her expression unreadable but not unkind. She flicked the cigarette against her thumb and offered it to Isabella.¡°You look like you could use one.¡±


    Isabella shook her head quickly, her chestnut waves swaying. "No, thank you. I don¡¯t smoke."


    ¡°Good habit to have.¡± Evelyn slid the cigarette back into its pack, tucking it into her pocket. She pulled out the chair across from Isabella, the scrape of wood on tile loud in the quiet room. "Coffee¡¯s dead, by the way."


    Isabella glanced down at the cup in her hands, as if seeing it for the first time. A faint blush touched her cheeks. "I¡¯m not really drinking it."


    "No kidding," Evelyn said, leaning forward onto her elbows. ¡°I get it, though. Brain won¡¯t shut off. The rain doesn¡¯t help.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s not just the rain. It¡¯s everything. I don¡¯t know how to keep all of this... bottled up.¡±


    Evelyn¡¯s brow lifted, but she didn¡¯t interrupt. Her silence pressed Isabella forward like a nudge, patient and inevitable.


    ¡°I can¡¯t stop thinking about what we found last night. It could change everything, Evelyn. And yet you want me to sit on it, pretend it doesn¡¯t exist?¡± Isabella¡¯s voice wavered, but her green eyes lifted, resolute. ¡°That¡¯s not who I am.¡±


    Evelyn leaned back, exhaling slowly through her nose. Her fingers drummed against the table once before stilling. ¡°I¡¯m not asking you to bury it forever, Hartley. Just long enough for me to figure out who¡¯s listening when they shouldn¡¯t be. You¡¯re not the only one this matters to.¡±


    ¡°That doesn¡¯t make it easier,¡± Isabella muttered, her hand pulling away from the mug to rest against the table.


    ¡°No,¡± Evelyn agreed quietly, her sharp green eyes softening at the edges. ¡°It doesn¡¯t. But if we¡¯re not careful, this could end up in the wrong hands faster than you can say ¡®patent pending.¡¯ And then what? You want someone turning your algae into a weapon?¡±


    Isabella¡¯s mouth opened, then closed again, her lips pressing into a thin line.


    "Didn¡¯t think so," Evelyn said, her voice dipping just enough to ease the edge, though it carried the grit of someone used to hard truths. She leaned her elbow on the table, her fingers reaching for the phantom cigarette she wasn¡¯t smoking. ¡°Look, you¡¯re smart. I know you get it. But you¡¯re also... you. Empathy¡¯s a hell of a burden to carry, Doctor Hartley. Don¡¯t let it crush you before we even get to the finish line.¡±


    The rain outside swelled, a symphony of drops striking the glass like a relentless percussion section. Isabella¡¯s eyes drifted to Evelyn¡¯s hand, lingering on the absent cigarette as though it might offer some kind of answer. The room felt heavier with each unspoken word, the faint scent of damp earth and saltwater clinging to the air between them.


    ¡°It¡¯s not that simple,¡± Isabella murmured after a beat, her voice a low hum. ¡°I¡¯ll wait. I¡¯ll do it your way. But this... it doesn¡¯t sit right with me, Evelyn. Not one bit.¡±


    Evelyn tilted her head, the sharp curve of her smirk softening into something more wry than biting. The low lamplight caught the green in her eyes, turning them into something deeper, like forest shadows stirred by the wind.


    ¡°Good,¡± she said, voice carrying a rare flicker of warmth. ¡°If it did, I¡¯d be worried about you.¡±


    She rose, moving toward the coffee pot, her presence commanding the room without trying. ¡°Want me to warm that coffee up before it starts growing legs?¡±


    Isabella almost smiled. Almost. The weight pressing against her chest stayed firm, but the edges softened just enough to let her nod. Evelyn¡¯s silhouette against the rain-streaked window caught her attention, and for a moment, she felt the faintest tug, a connection both unsettling and grounding.


    "Call me Isabella," she started and Evelyn turned to look at her. "You gave me your first name. It was rude of me not to give you mine." She finished and after a brief pause, Evelyn nodded and turned back towards the coffee pot.


    The silence that followed was thick, awkward. Isabella¡¯s fingers traced idle patterns on the table¡¯s surface, the motions betraying the jumble of thoughts rattling around her head.


    "My father," she began, her voice hesitant, "used to say that the ocean was the world¡¯s lungs. That if you took care of it, everything else would fall into place." She glanced up, meeting Evelyn¡¯s gaze who was now leaning with her arms crossed against the single kitchen counter where the coffee machine rested. Evelyn''s emerald eyes glinted with an intensity that felt almost out of place in the dim room as she stared softly back at Isabella.


    "He wanted to see clean oceans again. Thriving coral reefs, unbroken ecosystems." She continued.


    Evelyn¡¯s mouth quirked slightly at one corner, her version of a smile. "Sounds like an optimist. Must run in the family."


    "He was," Isabella said, her tone softening. She smiled faintly, though it was tinged with something sadder.


    "He¡¯d be heartbroken to see what we¡¯ve done to it now. But he always believed there was a way to fix things, even if it seemed impossible. That¡¯s why I took this job."


    Evelyn tilted her head, considering her. "Guess he¡¯d be proud, then."


    Isabella¡¯s hand stilled on the table. She blinked, surprised by the detective¡¯s remark. Before she could reply Evelyn placed Isabella''s coffee back on the table, steam now rising from the coffee''s surface.


    "Listen, about earlier," Evelyn said, taking her seat again, her voice losing its usual sardonic edge. "I might¡¯ve come off... harsh. This isn¡¯t easy for you. I get that. And I know I¡¯m asking you to keep quiet when it goes against everything you believe in. But it¡¯s the right call right now."


    Isabella¡¯s gaze dropped to her hands. She turned Evelyn¡¯s words over in her mind, weighing them.


    "I understand why you said it," she finally replied, lifting her eyes to meet Evelyn¡¯s. "And I agree. The people who killed my coworkers need to face justice. I want to trust you, Detective."


    Evelyn¡¯s sharp green eyes held Isabella¡¯s for a moment longer, her expression unreadable, like smoke curling in the dim light.


    ¡°I read about your arrest,¡± she said finally, her tone as flat and unflinching as a page in a case file. ¡°Chaining yourself to an oil rig. Bold move, Isabella.¡± A faint smirk tugged at the corner of her mouth, the kind that felt like a dare.


    Isabella blinked, then let out a breath of laughter, the sound warmer than she intended. ¡°You say that like it wasn¡¯t terrifying. I spent most of the time hoping I wouldn¡¯t get blown off by the wind¡ªor the lawyers.¡± Her lips curved in a small, self-deprecating smile, but there was a gleam in her eye now, as if Evelyn¡¯s presence had steadied something wavering inside her.


    ¡°Bold¡¯s not so bad, though. Guess it¡¯s how we get things done.¡±Reading on this site? This novel is published elsewhere. Support the author by seeking out the original.


    ¡°It wasn¡¯t bold. It was desperate. The rig was dumping chemicals into the ocean. Someone had to do something.¡± She turned back to her coffee, stirring with deliberate care.


    ¡°Not that it mattered in the end. They didn¡¯t stop.¡± She continued.


    ¡°But you made others listen,¡± Evelyn countered, crossing her arms. ¡°That takes guts. Damned if anyone else thought so.¡±


    Isabella set her mug down with a soft thud. ¡°What¡¯s your point, Detective? If this is earlier? I¡ª¡±


    Evelyn cut her off with a subtle shake of her head. ¡°Not about that. Just saying I get it. You¡¯ve got this fire to do what¡¯s right, no matter who it pisses off. I wasn''t like that in my past. I followed the book, followed protocol. Was all ''yes sir!'' or ''right away Ma''am!''¡±


    The words hung in the air, their weight unspoken but felt. Isabella¡¯s brows knitted together as she turned to face Evelyn fully.


    ¡°What changed?¡± she asked softly.


    ¡°A lot of people got hurt,¡± Evelyn said at last, her voice calm, measured, like a stone skipping across the surface of something much deeper. A long silence stretched between them, the only sound was the faint hum of the fridge by the coffee machine and the uneven tapping of rain against the window. Evelyn¡¯s gaze remained fixed on the mage-light, though she could feel the weight of Isabella¡¯s concern without needing to look.


    ¡°But it also saved lives,¡± Evelyn added after a beat, a trace of weariness softening her words. Her eyes flicked back, catching Isabella¡¯s for the briefest of moments, sharp green meeting gentle emerald. ¡°More than I¡¯ll ever know, probably.¡±


    Isabella didn¡¯t respond right away. She cradled her mug in both hands, her thumb running absently along its chipped rim as she searched for the right words. When she finally spoke, her voice was low but unwavering, each word measured like steps on uneven ground.


    ¡°You don¡¯t have to tell me,¡± she said, her gaze lifting briefly to meet Evelyn¡¯s again before drifting back to the mug. ¡°If you¡¯d rather not. It¡¯s just¡­ it seems like it¡¯s still with you. Whatever it is.¡±


    Evelyn leaned back, the cigarette sliding from its packet like a reflex, her fingers deft and practiced. She rolled it between her thumb and forefinger, letting the familiar paper settle against her lips. The scratch of the match was quick, the flame alive and eager. Tilting it toward the cigarette¡¯s tip, she paused just before the fire kissed the tobacco. Her gaze lifted, catching the furrowed brow expression on Isabella''s face.


    Evelyn¡¯s sharp green eyes lingered on Isabella for a beat too long¡ªsharp at first, like glass catching sunlight, before something softened in the edges. She hesitated, the flame guttering out as her lips drew into a thin line. With a muted sigh, she pulled the cigarette away, dropping it to her lap like she wasn¡¯t quite ready to give it up.


    ¡°You sure you want to hear this?¡± Evelyn asked, her tone even but edged with warning.


    ¡°I am,¡± Isabella said. Her hands tightened briefly around the mug. ¡°But you don¡¯t have to if you don¡¯t want to.¡±


    Evelyn let the words hang in the air. She leaned forward, resting her elbows on the table, her fingers laced loosely together. For a moment, the only sound was the faint crackle of the mage-light above them.


    ¡°It was a raid,¡± Evelyn began, her voice clipped but steady. ¡°Four years ago, in Dagger¡¯s Hollow. Nasty part of town¡ªmuggers, black-market dealers, and folks who¡¯d slit your throat for a half-spent coin.¡±


    She paused, the corners of her mouth tightening.


    ¡°We had intel that a smuggling ring was moving enchanted weaponry. Dangerous stuff¡ªenough to arm a small war. The kind of weapons that don¡¯t just kill you but leave a mess no one can clean up.¡± Evelyn¡¯s voice flattened, her tone clinical, detached. ¡°Our orders were clear: get the weapons, secure the warehouse, and minimize casualties.¡±


    Isabella¡¯s brows furrowed. ¡°Minimize casualties,¡± she repeated softly.


    ¡°Yeah,¡± Evelyn said, her lips twisting into something that wasn¡¯t quite a smile. ¡°Turns out, ¡®minimize¡¯ is a pretty flexible word.¡±


    Her eyes drifted to the chipped edge of her own mug. ¡°The plan went to hell almost immediately. One of our undercover guys got made, and the smugglers panicked. They started using the weapons on us. On civilians.¡±


    She stopped, pressing her palms against the edge of the table. Her knuckles whitened. ¡°We had two choices: stick to the protocol or neutralize the threat.¡±


    ¡°What did you do?¡± Isabella asked, her voice barely above a whisper.


    ¡°The book was clear,¡± she began, her voice low, roughened by memory. ¡°Get safe. Wait for the people who get paid to charge headfirst into the kind of magic that could flatten a city block. Our job was simple¡ªget as many civilians to safety as we could.¡±


    She paused, letting the words hang there like smoke curling into the air. Isabella looked up, sad, knowing, curiosity flickering in her eyes but saying nothing as she gave Evelyn the space to find her rhythm.


    ¡°We had the chance to stop it, you know,¡± Evelyn said, her tone sharpening. ¡°The team I was with¡ªwe hadn¡¯t been spotted yet. We had the element of surprise. But command wanted protocol. Sit tight. Hold position. Wait for backup. So we just... sat there, listening.¡±


    "Listening?"


    Her jaw clenched, and she drummed her fingers on the table, once, twice, before curling her hand into a fist. ¡°Screams. Explosions. Everything we could¡¯ve stopped if we¡¯d just moved.¡±


    ¡°What changed?¡± Isabella¡¯s voice was soft, the kind of tone you¡¯d use to coax a wounded animal into trusting you. Evelyn shot her a look, half a warning, half a thank-you for not interrupting sooner.


    ¡°They hit Kate.¡± The name fell from her lips like a stone sinking into deep water. ¡°She was across from me. We¡¯d been together for over two years, partners in this mess. Since the academy. I saw her face, just before the spell hit. Fear. The kind you don¡¯t forget. One second she was there, and the next...¡± Evelyn opened her fist, palm up, staring at it as though the memory might crawl out and take shape. ¡°Gone. Nothing left but a flash of purple and blue.¡±


    The cigarette slipped off her lap, hitting the floor with a dull thud. She ignored it, her voice dropping to a rasp.


    ¡°By the time I stopped seeing red, I was sitting in a jail cell at the station. Magic collar around my neck, back covered in burns. They told me I almost killed almost every single one of those bastards!¡± Her hand drifted to the side of her neck, brushing over the phantom weight of that collar.


    ¡°Apparently, I jumped in front of a fire spell to protect someone¡ªI don¡¯t even remember who. But that¡¯s what finally took me down.¡± She exhaled sharply, like she¡¯d been holding her breath through the whole thing, and looked at Isabella.


    Silence lingered, broken only by the low hum of the fridge and the soft, irregular patter of rain dripping against the window. Evelyn leaned back in her chair, the wood groaning softly, her fingers curling reflexively before falling slack against the table beside her coffee cup. Evelyn¡¯s green eyes flicked to Isabella, who stared out the rain-slicked glass, her profile outlined in dim light, a strand of chestnut hair clinging unnoticed to her cheek. Isabella¡¯s hands tightened around her mug, her knuckles paling against the ceramic. Her gaze dipped briefly, then lifted to meet Evelyn¡¯s with quiet intensity.


    ¡°You think I¡¯ll hurt people?¡± Her words were calm, deliberate, yet her voice carried the slight tremor of someone who wasn¡¯t sure whether she was ready for the answer.


    ¡°I think you already have,¡± Evelyn replied bluntly. ¡°Not intentionally. But standing up for what you believe in? That kind of determination leaves collateral damage. It¡¯s inevitable. The trick is deciding whether the hurt you cause is worth the good you¡¯re trying to do.¡±


    Isabella sipped her coffee, thankful for its warmth, her gaze unfocused. Finally, she said, ¡°There are rules for a reason. Processes. They¡¯re supposed to protect people.¡±


    Evelyn snorted softly. ¡°Sure. But what happens when the rules are more about keeping things neat than fixing what¡¯s broken? When people with all the power to make a difference are too tied up in red tape to act?¡± She leaned forward, her voice dropping just enough to make Isabella¡¯s spine straighten. ¡°Sometimes, the only way to help is to break a few rules. Maybe even a few bones, if it comes to that.¡±


    Isabella¡¯s eyes widened, but Evelyn held up a hand, smirking faintly. ¡°Figure of speech, Doctor. Relax.¡±


    A faint smile tugged at Isabella¡¯s lips despite herself.


    ¡°That¡¯s why you work alone, isn¡¯t it?¡± she said after a moment. ¡°No one to slow you down.¡±


    ¡°And no one to stop me from doing something stupid, either,¡± she admitted. ¡°But sometimes stupid is what gets the job done.¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t think I could live like that,¡± Isabella said, shaking her head. ¡°I need to know I¡¯m doing things the right way. Otherwise, how do you know if you¡¯re any better than the people you¡¯re fighting against?¡±


    ¡°You don¡¯t,¡± Evelyn said simply. ¡°You just keep moving. Keep choosing. Sometimes you¡¯re the hero. Sometimes you¡¯re the villain. But you don¡¯t stop, because stopping means everyone else loses.¡±


    Isabella stared into her coffee, her fingers curled loosely around the mug as the weight of Evelyn''s words settled over her. The silence between them thickened, broken only by the faint shuffle of footsteps and the distant murmur of conversation seeping through the corridor walls. The mage-lights flickered again, their unsteady glow scattering shadows like restless ghosts across the room.


    ¡°Do you ever regret it?¡± Isabella asked softly, her gaze still fixed on the rippling surface of her coffee. ¡°The lives that were hurt?¡±


    Evelyn didn¡¯t answer right away. Her green eyes narrowed slightly, the faint tension in her jaw betraying the thought she gave the question. She finally exhaled a long, measured breath, her lips tugging into a hard, quiet line.


    ¡°Every damn day,¡± she said, her voice low and steady, each word landing like a stone in the quiet. ¡°But I¡¯d regret doing nothing even more.¡±


    Isabella nodded, her fingertips trailing absent patterns along the rim of her mug. The holiday tune crackling faintly from a radio somewhere down the hall felt almost cruelly out of place, its cheerfulness at odds with the quiet weight of their conversation. She hesitated for a moment, then looked up at Evelyn, her expression thoughtful.


    ¡°Maybe there¡¯s a middle ground,¡± she murmured, the words more to herself than to Evelyn. ¡°Something between rules and recklessness.¡±


    Evelyn¡¯s lips twitched, just barely. A faint, fleeting smile softened the edge of her features.


    ¡°Maybe,¡± she said, her tone carrying a note of almost reluctant hope. ¡°But finding it? That¡¯s the trick.¡± A shadow on her upturned palm rippled like water before the cigarette from the floor bobbed up and out of it. It floated on top of the shadowy waves in her palm.


    Isabella leaned back slightly, a small, lopsided smile breaking through her contemplative expression. ¡°You¡¯re a tough one to figure out, you know that?¡±


    Evelyn¡¯s brow quirked, her voice cutting through the dim with a dry, sardonic edge. ¡°Good. Keeps things interesting.¡±


    Their laughter was soft, subdued, but it lingered in the air between them, chasing away the weight of the moment like smoke dissolving into the night. And though the mage-lights flickered once more, casting them back into an uncertain half-darkness, the silence that followed felt lighter, easier¡ªlike the start of a truce neither of them had realized they needed.

 Chapter 5: A Shadows Kiss

    ¡°You sure that¡¯s stable?¡± Evelyn¡¯s voice broke through the heavy silence, her green eyes narrowing as she leaned against the lab¡¯s doorway. Smoke from her cigarette curled in lazy spirals, only half-heartedly dissipated by the flickering mage-lights overhead.


    Isabella¡¯s gloved hands trembled slightly as she adjusted the copper encasing around one of the crystals.


    "Stable enough" she said, her tone a little lighter than it had been over the past few days. She picked up her pen and recorded the current magic level readings on the small analog indicator next to the two glowing pink crystals.


    "With this number of crystals," she continued, placing the pen down and twisting a small dial. "Even at max output. There is not enough power stored to trigger anything that can''t be contained....in theory."


    Evelyn took one last deliberate drag from her cigarette, letting the smoke curl lazily toward the ceiling before crushing the butt into the ashtray with a practiced flick. Her voice came out dry, a smirk curling her lips. ¡°Oh, amazing. ¡®In theory.¡¯ Nothing like a little uncertainty to put everyone at ease.¡±


    Isabella didn¡¯t look up from her work, her fingers adjusting the copper encasing on one of the crystals with steady precision.


    ¡°You¡¯re not even supposed to be smoking in here,¡± she muttered, the mild exasperation in her tone tempered by the faintest trace of amusement.


    Evelyn gestured toward the ashtray with an arched brow. ¡°Then why is there an ashtray in your lab?¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s there for when people do it anyway,¡± Isabella shot back through a smile.


    She reached for her notebook again, beginning to jot down observations. The sound of scratching ink filled the room, a counterpoint to the eerie hum of the crystals.


    ¡°Rules, huh?¡± Evelyn quipped, sliding her hands into her coat pockets.


    Isabella stopped writing and glanced at Evelyn. The detective¡¯s face was a mask of confidence, but there was a tension in her jaw that hadn¡¯t been there a week ago.


    ¡°You think the killer will strike again?¡± Isabella asked, quieter now.


    ¡°Think?¡± Evelyn shrugged, her coat shifting with the movement. ¡°I don¡¯t have the luxury of thinking. Prepare for the worst and hope you''re wrong.¡±


    The words lingered like smoke in a closed room, suffocating and bitter. Isabella stared down at her notes, her fingers trembling as they brushed the edges of the pages. Each line of meticulously documented data felt like an accusation. The weight in her chest tightened. Dr. Alan¡¯s body flashed behind her eyes¡ªhis skin charred and eyes lifeless. She shuddered and forced the memory away, but it refused to vanish completely. And Peterson¡ªher breath caught at the thought of him. Dr Peterson. Her throat burned as she swallowed hard, the lump there refusing to budge. This wasn¡¯t just research anymore; it had turned into something monstrous. Something that killed. Her team had believed they were creating something for good¡ªsomething groundbreaking, finally they would be able to start healing a small part of the damage done to the planet''s oceans. But the blood on her hands said otherwise.


    You think I¡¯ll hurt people?  Her voice echoed in the back of her mind. I think you already have. Evelyn''s voice answered from their conversation earlier in the week.  Her vision blurred as tears welled, threatening to spill. She bit her lip, and pressed her palms flat against the desk. The cold bite of the metal giving her something else to focus on. But as the table warmed the moment faded. Her mind still churned, catching on one cruel truth: the lives lost weren¡¯t accidents. They were consequences.


    ¡°What about Christmas?¡± Evelyn asked suddenly, breaking the spell of silence.


    Isabella blinked, caught off guard. ¡°What about it?¡±


    ¡°Do you have plans?¡± Evelyn¡¯s voice softened, a rare crack in her tough exterior.


    Isabella hesitated, her pen pausing mid-stroke. ¡°Not really. Usually, I¡¯d spend it with my mother, but¡­ she¡¯s overseas this year. Work conference. So...was just going to spend it in the lab.¡±


    Evelyn let out a low chuckle, the sound dry but not unkind. ¡°Sounds about as thrilling as mine. I usually end up nursing a bottle of whiskey and avoiding my neighbors¡¯ invitations to awkward potlucks.¡±


    She couldn¡¯t help it¡ªlaughter burst out of her like a flood breaking through a dam. All that tension, all the weight and pressure that had pressed against her like a vice just moments ago¡ªgone! Just like that. It felt like magic, as if Evelyn had snapped her fingers, and suddenly, she didn¡¯t just believe she might be okay¡ªshe knew it, felt it deep in her chest, steady and sure like the beat of her heart.


    Between gasps for air, Isabella grinned, wiping at her eyes with the back of her hand. ¡°I could never picture you at a potluck,¡± she said, the words spilling out.


    Evelyn raised an eyebrow, leaning back against the edge of the desk. ¡°What¡¯s that supposed to mean?¡±


    ¡°It means,¡± Isabella managed, her voice still shaking with amusement, ¡°you¡¯re about as likely to show up with a casserole as I am to grow gills. Can you imagine? You, standing there with¡ªwhat¡ªpotato salad?¡± She doubled over again, the image so absurd it only set her off more.


    Evelyn¡¯s mouth twitched. ¡°First off, I don¡¯t make potato salad. And second¡ªwhat¡¯s wrong with gills? Might look good on you.¡± Her tone was dry as a sun-baked leaf, but the faintest smirk tugged at the corner of her lips, barely there, but unmistakable.


    Isabella exhaled sharply, the tension in her shoulders dissolving as she braced both hands against the edge of the table. A faint chuckle lingered on her lips, her breath catching between the remnants of laughter that hadn¡¯t felt this natural in weeks. She shook her head, waves of chestnut hair slipping loose from the knot at her nape.


    "You¡¯re impossible," she murmured, though her voice betrayed her with a warmth she didn¡¯t bother to hide.


    ¡°And I¡¯d like to keep it that way,¡± Evelyn shot back, her usual smirk replaced with silent laughter of her own. Her green eyes glinted, the hard line of her expression softening as she leaned in, her tone dropping just enough to spark a charge.


    ¡°You could always join me,¡± Evelyn said, taking a seat next to Isabella. A curl of smoke trailed from the cigarette balanced between her fingers, the faint scent of tobacco curling into the room. Her green eyes held a spark of mischief, the kind that dared you to take a chance and see what might happen. ¡°I promise, I¡¯m a lot more fun than a cold lab and research notes.¡±


    Isabella looked up, caught for a beat too long in Evelyn¡¯s gaze. The corners of her lips twitched, a blush creeping over her cheeks. She broke the moment by fiddling with the knobs on the crystal amplifiers, her hands suddenly over-occupied with adjustments that didn¡¯t seem strictly necessary.


    ¡°I don¡¯t know,¡± she murmured, the faintest lilt of a smile betraying her. ¡°Maybe.¡±


    Evelyn took a slow drag of her cigarette, letting the silence stretch just enough to leave Isabella wondering. Then, her voice came low and playful. ¡°You don¡¯t seem entirely convinced, Hartley. Should I be offended?¡±


    Isabella snorted softly, glancing up from the crystals with a smirk.If you spot this narrative on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.


    ¡°Oh, I¡¯m sure your feelings are delicate. Besides, I didn¡¯t say no, did I?¡± She straightened, her brain catching up with her mouth just a fraction too late,  brushing an errant wave of chestnut hair back into place and her eyes brightened with a challenge.


    ¡°Well, if that¡¯s your version of ¡®yes,¡¯ I might need to hear it a little clearer, for the record.¡± Evelyn replied playfully, the grin that followed as sharp as her wit. She stubbed out the cigarette in the nearby tray, her movements deliberate, the subtle shift drawing her closer to Isabella. "Police reports and all." She trailed off


    The glow of the crystals danced across Isabella¡¯s face as she met Evelyn¡¯s gaze, the light in her eyes softening but never losing that edge of playfulness.


    ¡°You might be able to convince me,¡± she said lightly, tilting her head just enough to let the words carry a teasing undertone, though her voice softened on the last word.


    Evelyn leaned in a little, the shadow between them narrowing as if the room itself had conspired to draw them together.


    ¡°Oh, I could, could I?¡± Evelyn''s tone was edged with humor, but there was something quieter beneath it, a steadiness that balanced the moment on the edge of anticipation.


    The faint hum of the crystals seemed to fade into the background as the two drew closer, close enough now that Evelyn caught the faint scent of salt and citrus from Isabella''s conditioner.


    Isabella smiled, a little shy this time but no less sure. ¡°You might have to work for it.¡±


    Evelyn¡¯s grin softened, her voice lowering as she replied, ¡°I think I¡¯ve got a few tricks up my sleeve.¡±


    They were so close now that Evelyn could see the faint scar arcing along Isabella¡¯s brow, a mark she hadn¡¯t noticed before but suddenly wanted to know the story behind.


    Isabella let her eyes drift shut, a soft exhale escaping her lips. The teasing curve of her lips softening into something more yielding. Slowly, achingly slowly, they both leaned in, the world around them fading into shadow and stillness. The warmth of Evelyn''s breath brushed close, intimate and unhurried, carrying the faint scent of pine and lavender¡ªclean and woodsy, a contrast to the lingering smokiness of her tobacco. Isabella¡¯s heartbeat quickened and she took in a slow breath.


    ¡°Detective Blackwood,¡± a voice broke through, sharp and unrelenting like a shard of glass cutting into velvet. Evelyn froze, the distance between them now an echo instead of a heartbeat.


    Isabella¡¯s eyes snapped open as the owner of the voice registered, Jonah''s one of the newer lab assistants. His voice carried a thread of urgency, ricocheting against the walls.


    ¡°Message from your station. Something about a report.¡± He continued after a brief pause.


    Evelyn lingered for a moment longer, her sharp green eyes searching Isabella¡¯s face, as if to memorize something that might slip away. Then, with a faint curl of her lip¡ªsomething between amusement and apology¡ªshe stepped back, shadows seeming to ripple, tendrils lashed out all over the room for an ever so brief moment, then pulled tightly around her as she straightened.


    Evelyn frowned, her lips tightening into a thin line. ¡°Of course they do.¡± She turned back to Isabella. ¡°Stay put. I¡¯ll be back in a few hours.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ll be fine,¡± Isabella assured her, though her eyes lingered on Evelyn a little longer than necessary.


    Evelyn adjusted her coat and stepped into the corridor, her silhouette swallowed by the gloom.


    The mage-lights flickered again, the shadows growing darker as Evelyn disappeared into them, leaving Isabella alone with her thoughts¡ªand the algae.


    ***


    The lab was still, the kind of silence that amplified small sounds until they filled the space. The steady burble from the algae growth tanks played counterpoint to the faint scratch of her pen, a rhythm too soft to distract but impossible to ignore. The overhead lights cast a sterile glow, their hum barely perceptible, yet somehow louder in the absence of voices. The others had cleared out hours ago, trading lab coats for holiday sweaters, eager for a week of rest. By Monday, most of them would be sipping eggnog by firesides, not tending petri dishes.


    Isabella lingered. Not because she had to¡ªher notes were thorough, and her samples stable¡ªbut because the quiet suited her tonight. She tapped the end of her pen against the paper, the motion absent, her focus elsewhere. Her thumb brushed her lower lip, a faint touch that brought back the moment from earlier.


    Evelyn.


    The memory unraveled like smoke, faint but inescapable. That fleeting moment¡ªwhen Evelyn''s breath had warmed her cheek, close enough to feel but not quite touch¡ªplayed on a loop in her mind. The air between them had buzzed, a live wire sparking but not quite making contact. It had been a heartbeat, maybe two, but long enough for Isabella to feel the pull of it, the weight of what could¡¯ve been. The smile on her face was warm and genuine, not forced like the weeks prior.


    Her mind drifted further into imagination as she pictured her and Evelyn, together on Christmas day. The two of them having all the time in the world to share the moment that was stolen from the two of them earlier. A dream of what reality could be like if she accepted Evelyn''s offer.


    She shook her head and straightened, setting her pen down with deliberate care. The kiss hadn¡¯t happened, she reminded herself, though the phantom warmth on her skin argued otherwise. She turned back to her notes, eyes scanning the page in a futile attempt to anchor herself to the present. The lab wasn¡¯t the place for this, and yet¡­


    She sighed, letting the stillness of the room settle over her like a blanket, offering a brief moment of solace she knew wouldn¡¯t last.


    The door banged open. Jonah burst in, his lab coat askew, face pale as the moonlight filtering through the frosted windows.


    ¡°Doctor Hartley! It¡¯s happened again,¡± he gasped, doubling over to catch his breath. ¡°But¡­ they¡¯re alive this time. You have to come.¡±


    Isabella froze.


    ¡°What?¡± Her voice was low, urgent. She shoved back from the table, knocking over a flask that rolled to the edge but didn¡¯t fall. ¡°Who was it? Where?¡±


    ¡°Lower basement,¡± Jonah stammered, voice coming between gasps for air. ¡°I don¡¯t know their name. Security found them. Lower basement!¡±


    She didn¡¯t think twice. She followed him into the corridor. The cold air bit at her face as they descended the stairs, the mage-lights growing dimmer with each step. Jonah¡¯s frantic pace made it hard to ask questions, but she tried.


    ¡°Who¡­ who¡¯s hurt? What happened?¡±


    ¡°Same as before,¡± Jonah managed between ragged breaths. ¡°Burns all over their body!"


    The lower basement smelled of mildew and salt, the kind of dampness that clung to walls long forgotten. They turned a corner, and Jonah shoved open a heavy steel door. Inside, an observation room loomed, its dim interior dominated by a wide glass window set into the far wall. A camera on a tripod stood on the other side of the glass, its lens pointed back at the door to the observation room.


    ¡°Where¡¯s the¡ª¡± Isabella began, but her words faltered as she stepped inside. The door slammed shut behind her with a metallic clang. She whirled around, her hand reaching instinctively for the handle. It didn¡¯t budge.


    ¡°Jonah, what¡¯s going on?¡± she demanded, her voice tight with unease.


    He didn¡¯t answer. When she turned back, he stood on the other side of the glass, his face distorted by the glass. The camera¡¯s red light blinked steadily beside him.


    ¡°Jonah, open the door,¡± she said, stepping toward the window.


    He smiled, the kind that turned her blood cold. ¡°You¡¯re clever, Isabella. I¡¯ll give you that. But you¡¯ve been so focused on saving the world that you didn¡¯t see what was right in front of you.¡±


    She froze, her heart thundering. ¡°What are you talking about?¡±


    He gestured to the room she was in. Only now did she notice the large growth tanks lined against the walls, their surfaces rippling faintly. Above them, dozens of magic crystals hung in neat rows from the ceiling, pulsing faintly with stored energy.


    ¡°It¡¯s a demonstration,¡± he said, his tone almost casual. ¡°I¡¯ve been showing buyers what your algae can do. Your work is brilliant, you know that. Revolutionary even. And it¡¯ll fetch a fine price on the black market.¡±


    Her chest tightened. ¡°You¡¯ve¡­ been committing the murders?¡±


    ¡°Murders is such a crude term,¡± Jonah said, tilting his head. ¡°It¡¯s just¡­ business. The cameras record the results, and let¡¯s just say they¡¯ve been very persuasive.¡±


    "And might I add your discovery of using magic to accelerate the effects was quite amazing!" He continued. "I have to thank you really. I might be able to double the price if this experiment goes well."


    Isabella stepped back, her breath coming in shallow bursts. She eyed the tanks, the crystals, and the faint green glow of the algae that seemed to ripple with anticipation. Her mind raced, piecing together the implications.


    ¡°You¡¯re insane,¡± she said, her voice low but firm. ¡°You can¡¯t control this.¡±


    Jonah¡¯s grin widened. ¡°Oh, I don¡¯t need to. I just need to prove it works.¡±


    He stepped toward the camera, his hand hovering over the recording crystal embedded in its casing. ¡°And you, Doctor Hartley, are about to become my final demonstration.¡±


    ¡°Good luck, Doctor Hartley,¡± Jonah said, his voice muffled through the glass.


    Then the water came!

 Chapter 6: A Shadows Rage

    The station reeked of stale coffee, old cigars, and damp wool¡ªa cocktail Evelyn Blackwood had long since filed under bureaucratic stench. The air was thick with the kind of inertia that made progress feel like wading through molasses. Phones rang incessantly, typewriters clattered with the fervor of overworked fingers, and somewhere in the chaos, a cop barked orders at a suspect who wasn¡¯t inclined to listen. Evelyn shoved through the doors, letting them slam shut behind her. Her sharp green eyes scanned the bullpen, skipping over the flurry of uniforms and tired faces, zeroing in on the chief¡¯s glass-walled office at the far end like a hawk sighting prey.


    Chief Raymond looked up from his cluttered desk as she stepped into his office. The man¡¯s face, weathered and lined like an old road map, twisted into something between confusion and annoyance.


    ¡°Blackwood,¡± he said, his pen tapping against a stack of papers. ¡°What the hell are you doing here?¡±


    Evelyn leaned against the door-frame, her arms crossed. ¡°You tell me, Chief. I got a message saying you wanted me back here for a report!¡± Her voice flooded with annoyance.


    Raymond leaned back in his chair, his expression darkening. ¡°Blackwood, I didn¡¯t send any damn message. You¡¯re supposed to be knee-deep in that algae case, not playing courier.¡±


    Evelyn stiffened, the words slicing through her like a cold blade. Her jaw tightened, and her mind raced, piecing the puzzle together.


    ¡°You¡¯re saying no one called me back here?¡±


    ¡°Not from my office,¡± the chief confirmed, his voice tinged with annoyance. ¡°Why? What¡¯s this about?¡±


    Her stomach churned as realization dawned. ¡°It¡¯s a diversion,¡± she said, more to herself than to him. She straightened, urgency crackling in her voice. ¡°Someone wanted me out of the Institute¡­ probably to make their next move.¡±


    Raymond¡¯s expression softened slightly. ¡°You think they¡¯re going after that scientist? What¡¯s her name, Hartley?¡±


    ¡°Isabella!¡± Evelyn exhaled, panic gripping her throat, already stepping out of Raymond''s office.


    ¡°Get units over there. Now!¡± she ordered.


    ¡°Blackwood, wait¡ª¡± Raymond started, but she was already gone.


    The station walls rippled, shadows coiling like smoke as Evelyn stepped into their depths. In an instant, the dimly lit office snapped back to its stagnant gloom, the faint echo of her boots the only sign she¡¯d been there at all. Outside, she spilled into the alleyway, her momentum carrying her hard into the far wall. The brick bit back, and she staggered, catching herself with a palm against the cold, gritty surface. Frosted breath clouded the air as she straightened, the night¡¯s chill needling her cheeks. Overhead, mage-lights flickered like second-rate stars, their hum blending with the distant grind of the city.


    She didn¡¯t give herself the luxury of stillness. The long shadow of a streetlamp stretched toward her like an invitation. Evelyn stepped into it, dissolving into the black without hesitation. She reappeared beneath the hulking outline of a parked car, its shadow bleeding into the building¡¯s across the road. A sharp exhale, then she surged forward, diving into the car¡¯s shadow before bursting out on the other side of the street. This time, she rolled, the motion jarring but necessary. The sting in her knees was an afterthought. Her fingers skimmed the inky hollow of the alleyway between the two buildings, and she was gone again¡ªswallowed whole, then spat back out the other side. Another shadow. Another leap. Then another. And another! Faster! She had to be faster! Her body burned, lungs heaving against the cold air, legs screaming with each push.


    The city felt like it was conspiring against her, its labyrinth of light and angles slowing her pace at every turn. Her focus wavered, her mind flaring with a heat far sharper than the chill in her chest. Stupid!. Idiot! How could she be so fucking stupid?


    But Evelyn didn¡¯t stop. She couldn¡¯t. There was no room for hesitation, no time to give weight to the fire roaring in her heart. She pressed forward, even though her legs begged her to stop!


    Her chest tightened, though it wasn¡¯t just the sprint stealing her breath. Isabella. Her face appearing at the surface of her mind: soft, open features framed by chestnut waves, emerald eyes catching light like wet leaves after rain, that faint scar slicing through her brow like a quiet warning. The memory of earlier, of the two of them alone in the lab stoked something hot and restless under Evelyn¡¯s ribs, sharper than the ache from running.


    She¡¯d met people like Isabella before. The ones who gave until there was nothing left, who carried the world on their shoulders with no thought for the weight. People like Kate. Evelyn swallowed hard, the taste of regret like ash in the back of her throat. She¡¯d failed Kate¡ªlet her bright, stubborn light get snuffed out by forces she vowed to never let control her again! She wouldn¡¯t let it happen again! Not to Isabella. Not this time!


    ***


    Isabella slammed her shoulder against the heavy metal door, its groan of resistance a mocking echo in the rising water. Her breath misted in the cold air as she turned her head to look at the green-glowing tanks, the pink crystals above casting flickering, jagged shadows across the slick walls. Water gushed steadily from the air vents, pooling around her boots, the bitter chill clawing at her calves.


    Jonah¡¯s voice crackled over the intercom, smug and too steady for the chaos surrounding her.


    ¡°Do you see it now, Doctor Hartley? The potential?¡± Jonah''s voice was low and electric, crackling with a confidence that was impossible to ignore.


    "We¡¯re not just changing the game here¡ªwe¡¯re making the rules. Imagine this: armies lining up to pay top dollar for a weapon that can dissolve anything. Ships, fortresses¡­ bodies.¡± His words hung in the air, the corners of his mouth twitching into a smirk that didn¡¯t reach his eyes.


    ¡°A weapon you could slip into someone¡¯s drink or pour into a city¡¯s water system, and with the flick of a switch¡± His laugh was sharp, thin¡ªlike nails dragging across glass. It slid under Isabella¡¯s skin, prickling her nerves.


    ¡°Brilliant, isn¡¯t it?¡± He finally said after taking a slow dramatic inhale.


    ¡°Why, Jonah?¡± she shouted, her voice bouncing off the damp walls. She shoved at the door again, her fingers aching from the cold and the unyielding metal. ¡°You were part of this team! We trusted you. I trusted you. You said you believed in what we were doing.¡±


    Jonah¡¯s smirk was a calculated thing, sharp and deliberate, as he leaned casually against the observation window. His silhouette, back-lit by the sterile glow of the observation rooms lighting, was impossibly at ease for someone orchestrating a third murder. He twirled a pen between his fingers, the movement a careless flourish.


    ¡°Why?¡± His voice carried a slow, deliberate cadence, each word weighted but unhurried. ¡°Because believing doesn¡¯t pay the bills, Isabella. I mean, sure, it¡¯s all noble¡ªthe oceans, the planet, the whole save-the-world bit. But let¡¯s not kid ourselves.¡±


    He gestured vaguely to the rising tide of water at Isabella''s knees, as though it was nothing more than an inconvenient spill. ¡°Nobility doesn¡¯t cut it when you¡¯re broke, and this? This is worth billions.¡±


    Jonah rapped the glass with the blunt end of the pen, a deliberate, sharp rhythm that carried even through the muted hum of the observation room. His jaw tightened, and for a moment, anger flashed in his eyes¡ªa flicker, gone as quickly as it appeared. He rolled the pen between his fingers like he was testing its weight, then gestured with it, almost casually, toward the rising waterline.


    ¡°You trusted me because I was damn good at what I did.¡± His tone was calm, clipped, like he was reciting a fact rather than offering an apology. ¡°Unconventional? Sure. But wasn¡¯t that the charm? You even stuck your neck out for me whenever I had one of my alternative approaches.¡± He tilted his head, a faint smirk tugging at the corner of his mouth. ¡°Remember Alan? How he hated it when I went¡ªwhat was it?¡ª¡®off script¡¯? You smoothed it over for me every time.¡±


    Jonah''s face drew closer to the glass, his voice dropping into something measured, almost confiding. ¡°I gave you results. Worked double shifts. Triple, even, for Peterson. I made this algae even more that it needed to be. And now...¡± His smirk widened, though his tone stayed maddeningly steady. ¡°Now I¡¯m getting what I want. Win-win, really.¡±


    The algae lapped higher against the walls, the sound of it a sloshing undercurrent to his calm explanation.


    Jonah¡¯s tone turned almost conversational, as if discussing the weather. ¡°The funny thing is, you and the others? You were never going to make it work, not really. Too many ethics, too many lines you refused to cross. Progress demands sacrifices, Isabella. You know that as well as I do. I just¡­ happened to choose a different set of sacrifices.¡±Unauthorized use of content: if you find this story on Amazon, report the violation.


    He flicked the pen onto the table beside the camera and tripod, letting it clatter to rest. His gaze met hers through the thick glass, his eyes unflinching. ¡°So here we are. You¡¯re proving the algae works better than any graph or test tube ever could. And me? I get to walk out of here with the data and a very lucrative future. I¡¯d call that poetic, wouldn¡¯t you?¡±


    The water rose past her knees now, its icy grip biting through her lab coat and jeans. She fought to steady her breathing, her mind racing. The pink glow above intensified as the crystals pulsed in rhythm with the algae¡¯s ominous, slithering movement at the bottom of the open growth tanks. The liquid shimmered, alive with an unsettling vibrancy, and she knew the reaction could spiral out of control.


    ¡°You¡¯re going to kill people, you have already killed people!¡± She said, the edge in her voice sharp enough to cut through his smirking indifference. ¡°This isn¡¯t innovation. It¡¯s destruction. You¡¯re risking everything we¡¯ve worked for, everything this project stands for.¡±


    Jonah''s fingers tapping idly on the frame of the observation room window.


    ¡°Spare me the righteous speech,¡± Jonah said, his voice carrying the lazy amusement of someone discussing last night¡¯s game instead of life and death.¡°This was always going to happen, Isabella. If not me, then someone else with half a brain and twice the ambition would¡¯ve cracked it. I¡¯m just¡­ efficient.¡±


    His eyes, cold and calculating, locked on her through the thick pane of glass, a predator studying its prey.


    ¡°Let¡¯s be honest¡ªwhen this is over, the world won¡¯t forget you. Doctor Isabella Hartley.¡± He drew out her name, each syllable sliding from his tongue with a precision that felt like a scalpel slicing through flesh.


    The smirk that followed wasn¡¯t so much an expression as it was a weapon, sharp and gleaming. ¡°Your algae¡ªour algae¡ªwon¡¯t be remembered for some sentimental crusade to save the planet. No. It¡¯ll be infamous.¡±


    He straightened, his posture radiating an almost theatrical confidence. ¡°A game-changer. And when that happens, your name will be on everyone¡¯s lips.¡±


    His words settled like oil on water, slick and hard to wash away.


    She lunged at the door again, the metal refusing to budge. Her hands shook, not from the cold but from the simmering frustration burning in her chest.


    ¡°Don¡¯t do this,¡± Isabella said, her voice trembling like a taut line in a storm, the cracks in it cutting through her usual steadiness. Her chestnut waves framed her face. ¡°Jonah, this isn¡¯t you!" Her emerald eyes locked on his, searching for the boy she once believed in.


    ¡°You¡¯re young, talented. You have a future in science¡ªa real one¡ªwaiting for you.¡± She drew in a shallow breath, her hands trembling as she fought to control the shaking in her voice.


    ¡°If you go through with this,¡± she pressed on, leaning into each word as if sheer force could stop him, ¡°that future is gone! You¡¯ll be running for the rest of your life. Do you understand? No future, Jonah. None.¡±


    The room fell into a heavy silence, her words hanging in the air like a fragile buoy, one Jonah could still grab onto¡ªif he wanted.


    For a fleeting moment, his smirk slipped, the edges softening into something unguarded¡ªirritation, maybe, or the faintest ripple of doubt. It barely had time to breathe before vanishing, snuffed out by the practiced indifference that clung to him like cheap cologne. He turned back to the camera, fingers precise as they twisted the lens adjustment. The red recording light blinked with indifference, its pulse slicing the room into sterile beats.


    ¡°You¡¯re wasting your breath,¡± Jonah said, his voice light and sharp, curling through the room. His hand swept toward the camera, the motion deliberate, theatrical. The kind of move that begged for an audience, too smooth to be casual and too pleased with itself to be anything but practiced. A magician¡¯s flourish, revealing a trick no one had asked for.


    ¡°The experiment¡¯s already underway.¡± He continued, his words drawn tight, each one a taut string ready to snap. He flicked his fingers toward the lens, a gesture hovering somewhere between mockery and menace.


    ¡°This footage¡ª¡± the corners of his mouth curled as if savoring the taste of his own cleverness¡ª¡°will show buyers exactly what this algae can do. Unstoppable. Versatile. Deadly. The kind of product that doesn¡¯t just sell itself¡ªit demands to be bought.¡±


    His gaze lingered on Isabella, a silent dare that pushed without stepping close, his confidence stretching the space between them. The words hung there, slick and poisonous, as if daring the room to challenge them.


    He tilted his head, a cruel grin curling at the edges of his mouth. ¡°Oh, the mob¡¯s going to eat this up.¡±


    The algae in the tanks shifted, Isabella¡¯s stomach churned as she caught the faint sickly sweet scent of decay in the air. The tissue sample being devoured flashed in her mind, fueling the panic and desperation in her thoughts and actions.


    ¡°You won¡¯t get away with this,¡± Isabella said, her voice steady despite the panic clawing at her throat. She shoved her damp hair from her face, eyes locking onto Jonah with a glare sharp enough to cut glass. ¡°Someone will stop you.¡±


    Jonah walked over and sat casually on the observation room table, his smirk a jagged edge in the fluorescent light.


    ¡°And who¡¯s that going to be? You?¡± His tone was slick, almost bored, but the malice underneath curled like smoke. ¡°You¡¯re too busy drowning. And Detective Blackwood? Let¡¯s just say she¡¯ll be... delayed.¡±


    The words hit her like ice, draining what little warmth her body had left. She clenched her fists. Evelyn¡ªhad he also done something to her? No! She had to be safe. Thoughts racing almost as fast as the water was rising. She waded toward the observation room window, her breaths sharp and fast. The mage-lights flickered erratically overhead, their glow adding to the distorted pinks and greens in the room.


    Isabella wadded towards the observation window, abandoning the door.


    ¡°Jonah, stop this!¡± Isabella¡¯s voice cracked, the edges of her words fraying as she pounded her palms against the unyielding glass. Each impact sent dull, resonant thuds through the observation room, swallowed by the rising water around her. It was cold¡ªso cold her fingers started to feel numb. The cold seeped through her skin and bit deep into her bones.


    Her chestnut hair hung in wet ropes across her face, and her breaths came shallow, jagged. She locked eyes with Jonah on the other side of the glass, emerald against his dark brown. There was no mercy there anymore, no hesitation¡ªjust the steady arrogance of a man who already considered himself untouchable.


    ¡°Why would I stop now?¡± Each of his words curled like smoke. ¡°This is your life¡¯s work, Isabella. Doesn¡¯t it feel poetic? To see it in action, so intimately?¡±


    Her knees threatened to buckle, but she forced herself to stand, her body trembling as the water crept higher. The smell of salt and brine starting to dominate the room. The pounding in her chest matched the rhythm of the rising tide, each beat dragging her closer to an edge she couldn¡¯t see.


    ¡°Please, Jonah,¡± she whispered, her voice barely audible, even to herself. But the words hung there in the water, fragile and futile, swallowed by the cold. Tears joined the salt water running down her face as she rested her forehead against the glass window, her eyes staring directly into the camera lens now and she could feel the pleading look on her face.


    Her breath snagged mid-sob, a jagged sound that cut through the rhythmic gush of water rising around her. Pressing trembling fists to the glass, her knuckles blanched, each strike leaving faint, ghostly marks. She barely recognized the tight rasp of her own voice.


    ¡°You¡¯re killing people¡ªmurdering them¡ªfor data. Alan, Peterson¡­¡± Her voice fractured, the names falling from her lips like stones dropped into a void. She swallowed hard, but it only brought a bitter sting to the back of her throat. ¡°And now me.¡± Her words dwindled to a trembling whisper, the fury in them fraying under the weight of disbelief. ¡°This isn¡¯t research, Jonah. This is madness.¡±


    Jonah tilted his head, the faintest smirk tugging at the corners of his lips. ¡°Madness is subjective. I call it marketable innovation.¡±


    Isabella looked down at the water, now swirling around her chest, her mind racing for any means of escape. Remembering the small pocket knife she had bought the week of Dr. Alan''s murder, a memory that felt like a lifetime ago. With shivering hands she reached under the water, feeling for the leather holster above her hip. She popped the retaining strap open and pulled the small handle from its holster. Clenching the handle in both hands she brought the sharp steel point at the base of the grip down against the observation room window. A deafening clang! reverberating through the chamber. She brought the handle up above her head and down again on the glass. Again. Again. Again. Again. The glass didn¡¯t so much as crack, the tiny metallic tip at the base of the handle only leaving small chips. Nothing that could come close to breaking the glass.


    Jonah sighed audibly through the intercom, annoyance flickering across his composed face and he looked down at the camera''s viewfinder. ¡°You¡¯re too close to the glass. I can¡¯t get a clean shot for the footage. Step back, would you?¡± he said whilst making and shooing motion with his free hand.


    ¡°You sick¡ª¡± Her words cut off by the loud glugging sounds emanating from behind her! The water had risen above the tops of the open algae growth tanks and had rushed in to eagerly fill the free space, dispersing the tanks docile contents into the flooding room. She struck the glass again, harder this time, desperation giving strength to her trembling arms.


    Her arms faltered mid-stroke, the muscles slackening as her gaze snagged on something shifting behind Jonah. At first, she dismissed it¡ªa trick of the pulsing pink and glowing green light bouncing off the chipped glass? Maybe the distorted shimmer of the water around her? But the shape persisted, growing, moving with an unsettling, fluid rhythm that felt out of place.


    It pulled at something deep inside her, a strange, insistent familiarity that joined in with the panic hammering away at her heart. She froze, the air sticking in her throat. Her breath, shallow and tight, trembled between her lips as she realized the thing wasn¡¯t just a smear of shadow in the corner. It was alive¡ªgrowing, twisting. Moving with deliberate purpose.


    The shadows rippled, and for a heart-stopping second, it almost seemed to form¡­a gesture? The motion was disjointed, as though a flat, two-dimensional thing struggled to mimic something tangible, something human.


    Isabella¡¯s chest tightened. Her mind screamed for her to focus on anything else¡ªbut her eyes widened, locked on the undeniable clarity of it. The shadow jerked again, sharper now. A sweep, unmistakable, like a hand slicing through murky water.


    Move back!


    The realization struck like a lightning bolt. Her frozen body jolted, the fire of adrenaline surging hotter through her icy veins. The flicker of hope was unbearable, almost cruel, but it burned bright enough to make her believe. Without a second thought, she sucked in a breath, her lungs protesting against the stale, damp air, and plunged under the rising water. She pushed herself away from the observation window, from Jonah¡¯s smug silhouette, as far as the suffocating walls would allow. The cold clawed at her skin, leeching what little strength she had left. It pressed against her ears, her temples, but she kicked hard, every stroke fueled by sheer desperation.


    Jonah looked up for the camera, confusion plastered across his face....And then the room he was standing in erupted in shadows and rage!

 Chapter 7: Waves and Shadows

    The observation room erupted into darkness, as though the air itself had been swallowed by an insatiable void. Shadows writhed along the walls like living creatures, thick and suffocating. The mage-lights overhead flickered once, feebly, then surrendered completely.


    The shadows rippled, and Evelyn was there¡ªno warning, no sound. One moment absence, the next her silhouette carved against the blackened air, sharper than a blade¡¯s edge. Her breath didn¡¯t hitch, her pace didn¡¯t falter. She moved with precision, her every step calculated, her focus absolute!


    Evelyn¡¯s hand shot to the hilt of her blade, and with one fluid motion, she drew it. Shadows coiled tighter around her, summoned by her rage. The runes etched into the hilt glowed faintly, a red-hot pulse mirroring the fury in her eyes. Without hesitation, she slammed the hilt against the observation window¡¯s thick glass. The impact reverberated through the room like a thunderclap, a shock wave of raw magic rippling outward. The runes ignited. Light flared and then fractured, splintering into veins of crimson and gold that snaked across the glass. It resisted for a heartbeat, a stubborn final defense. Then, with a sound like ice cracking underfoot, the entire pane shattered. Shards exploded outward in a glittering cascade, the water beyond surging through the breach with violent force.


    Jonah barely had time to scream. The torrent seized him, hurling him like a ragdoll into the corridor. The swirling blackness swallowed his cries, and then the water carried him away, a flailing figure lost in the flood.


    As the glass gave way, the blade in Evelyn''s hand detonated with a concussive blast. The shards tore into her palm, the bones in her hand fracturing under the force of the blade exploding like a hand grenade. Her hand jerked back involuntarily, the mangled remains of the hilt clattering to the ground. She didn¡¯t flinch, didn¡¯t even glance at the damage. Instead, Evelyn melted back into the shadows, her form dissolving into the writhing blackness as the water rushed past in front of her. From inside her shadowy void her eyes scanned the space with surgical precision, seeking one thing. Her shoulders only relaxed by the smallest degree when she caught sight of Isabella¡¯s hands clutching the metal door handle, her knuckles white, her grip ironclad despite the heavy panting and coughing coming from her slumped form.


    Isabella''s fingers, white-knuckled and trembling, latched onto the door handle as though it were the last anchor in the world. Behind her, glass shattered with a shriek that sliced through the water around her. muscles screaming as the torrent fought to drag her into the gaping void where the observation window had been. The algae¡ªbright green and shimmering, almost alive¡ªwas wrenched from her skin by the rush. Her gasp was nothing but a whisper in the deafening cold. A flicker of movement caught her eye¡ªjust a tendril of algae, curling unnervingly in the current before it vanished. Isabella¡¯s lungs burned as the seconds stretched impossibly thin, every part of her aching to let go, to collapse into the pull. And then it slowed. The raging torrent dulled to a trickle, leaving her shivering and gasping in the echoing silence. Water pooled at her ankles Isabella coughed violently, pressing her forehead to the metal door and slumping to her knees. Her soaked hair clung to her cheeks and neck as shivers wracked her body. She pushed herself up on trembling legs, staring at her arms where they glowed green and pulsing faintly.


    ¡°Shit,¡± she whispered, whipping at her arms frantically, her breath visible in the cold air. Her voice trembled, as much from the cold as from her fear. The algae didn¡¯t seem to be eating her¡ªyet. She quickly turned over to wash the algae off and her breath froze completely. It was everywhere! The algae bathed the entire room a low green glow. The glow trailed up her legs, continuing past her waist and over her chest! The subtle patches of warmth on her face and neck confirming the frightening news. She was covered in it! Her entire body! She swallowed hard, reality revealing  just how close she had been to dying in the most horrifying and horrible ways she could think of!


    The corridor outside the observation room reeked of salt and something else¡ªan acrid stench that clung to Jonah''s throat as he stumbled upright. Water pooled at his feet, reflecting the algae¡¯s sickly green glow that pulsed and flickered across the grimy tiles. The observation room door dangled precariously, one hinge groaning under the weight. Jonah clutched his shoulder, the arm hanging limp, pain radiating from where the door frame had slammed into him. He squinted through the haze, his breaths ragged. What just happened? The water, the algae¡ªit wasn¡¯t supposed to¡ª


    ¡°Jonah Kane.¡±


    The words came low and steady, cutting through the dim light like a blade. Jonah turned, eyes wild. Evelyn stepped forward, her figure emerging from the murky shadows as if the darkness itself spat her out. Blood dripped steadily from her mangled left hand, dark splotches punching holes in the green glow of the algae coating the floor. Her other hand clenched a blade made of pure shadow.Unauthorized use: this story is on Amazon without permission from the author. Report any sightings.


    ¡°Detective?¡± Jonah said as his body froze, his voice cracking. His bravado faltered, and his gaze darted to the exit.


    "Don¡¯t even think about it. You¡¯re under arrest for the murder of Dr. Alan and Dr. Peterson,¡± Evelyn said, each word clipped and seething with quiet rage. Her boots splashed lightly against the water as she advanced on him, blade pointed directly at his chest. ¡°and for the attempted murder of Dr. Hartley.¡±


    Jonah''s good hand darted to his pocket, and he withdrew a glass container with a red crystal gleamed ominously in his palm, faint energy crackling around its edges. His lips curled in a sneer, though fear flickered in his eyes.


    ¡°Take one more step, and I¡¯ll smash it.¡± his voice, tight with a mix of desperation and confidence, echoed in the corridor. His fingers curled around the glass jar, the ominous red crystal inside pulsing faintly like a dying ember. The green algae coating the floor glimmered underfoot, ominous as a loaded cannon.


    Evelyn froze mid-step, her shadow blade retracting soundlessly into the folds of her trench coat. The shadows it left behind twitched at the edges of her sleeve, restless like caged animals. Her sharp green eyes flicked from Jonah¡¯s trembling hands to the jar, calculating. If he was bluffing, he was damn convincing.


    ¡°Let¡¯s talk this through,¡± she said, opening the hand that was holding the blade half facing towards him in a placating manner, her tone low and even. She didn¡¯t flinch when the faint crack of glass echoed as Jonah adjusted his grip. ¡°You don¡¯t want to end up as the guy who dissolved himself along with his victims. That doesn¡¯t exactly scream ¡®mastermind.¡¯¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t patronize me.¡± Jonah¡¯s laugh was dry, humorless. ¡°This crystal has enough stored magical energy to cause a reaction on a scale far larger than anything Doctor Hartley or I have ever seen! You think I¡¯m scared to use it? Try me.¡±


    For a beat, Evelyn¡¯s gaze flicked down to the glowing green algae on the floor. She saw Isabella¡¯s in her mind¡ªslumped against the metal door inside the observation room, soaked from head to toe. The image burned in her chest, a volatile torrent of terror and rage. It was gone in a flash, replaced by the white-hot clarity of purpose. and she relaxed her body slightly.


    Jonah¡¯s sneer deepened. ¡°That¡¯s what I thought.¡± Seeing the detective stand down.


    ¡°I believe you,¡± Evelyn said, her voice cold as steel. She let the tension in her shoulders slacken a little more, tilting her head just enough to show a measure of surrender. The shadows at her feet slithered back into the shadows of her clothes. ¡°You¡¯ve got the upper hand.¡±


    Jonah exhaled, a sharp relief that softened the rigid lines of his posture.


    ¡°Smart move, Detective.¡± He adjusted the jar, holding it up as if to admire his own leverage. ¡°But it doesn¡¯t have to end this way. You and I? We can work something out.¡±


    Evelyn¡¯s lips curled into a bitter half-smile. ¡°Yeah? Enlighten me.¡±


    Jonah looked back at her.


    ¡°Thirty-seventy split. I¡¯m feeling generous. I walk out of here with my research, and you two stay alive. All you have to do is walk away. Cases go cold all the time, Detective. Let this one freeze.¡±


    Evelyn kept her face impassive, but her jaw tightened. ¡°You¡¯re a real humanitarian.¡±


    Jonah grinned, misinterpreting her disdain as interest. ¡°Oh, come on. You know how this city works. Every cop¡¯s got a price. And I¡¯m letting you name yours. Let¡¯s be real, nobody¡¯s going to miss¡ª¡±


    A loud crack interrupted him as Isabella¡¯s fist collided with his jaw. The sound reverberated through the corridor, raw and satisfying. Jonah stumbled, clutching his face as the jar slipped from his hand. The electric glow of the crystal reddening the green glow of the algae as it fell closer!


    Evelyn dove forward, her coat flaring. Her hand stretched out, shadows inside her sprang to life once more as they rushed towards the tips of her outreached fingers. The jar disappeared into the void just as the shadowy tips of her fingers made contact.


    Isabella stood over Jonah unconscious body, her knuckles white in clenched fists. Her chest heaved, damp hair clinging to her cheek. She looked over as Evelyn got to her feet. She took one shaky step towards her. Then she dropped to her knees. Evelyn caught her before she could fall and slowly, carefully, lowered her to the damp floor.


    "Yes!" Isabella exhaled quickly up at Evelyn.


    "Yes what?" Evelyn answered, a concerned smile growing on her face as she gently brushed damp hair from Isabella''s face.


    "Yes. I would love to be with you for Christmas!"


    The stunned look on Evelyn''s face, and the reddening of her cheeks were the last thing she saw before her vision faded into blackness.

 Epilogue

    Rain pattered against the window, a gentle rhythm softening the stillness of the room. The faint scent of warm spices mingled with the aroma of mulled wine, filling Isabella¡¯s apartment with a fragile sort of peace. A small Christmas tree stood in the corner, its lights casting a warm glow that reflected off the rain-slick streets outside.


    ¡°You¡¯re ridiculous,¡± Isabella said, her laughter spilling into the quiet, her emerald eyes sparkled. She sat on her two-seater couch, her cast-clad right hand resting awkwardly on her lap, and a glass of mulled wine balanced in her left.


    Evelyn leaned back beside her, her own cast cradling her left hand. The detective¡¯s sharp green eyes danced with amusement as she recounted the ill-fated story of a stakeout gone wrong.


    ¡°So there I was,¡± Evelyn said, her voice dry and matter-of-fact, though her grin gave her away, ¡°perched like some overconfident gargoyle on the edge of a rooftop. Thought I had the perfect view¡ªuntil the damn chimney gave out. Next thing I know, I¡¯m in some guy¡¯s living room, covered in soot, with his cat hissing at me like I¡¯m Satan himself.¡±


    Isabella laughed again, doubling over slightly as she clutched her glass tighter. ¡°And the guy just¡ªwhat? Offered you tea?¡±


    Evelyn shrugged one shoulder, her smirk widening. ¡°Tea and a broom. Said if I was going to break in, I might as well clean up after myself.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s absurd!¡± Isabella¡¯s face was flushed, the warmth of her amusement cutting through the cold of the foggy December morning outside.


    ¡°You¡¯re like something out of a comedy sketch.¡±


    ¡°What can I say?¡± Evelyn said, lifting her glass in a mock toast. ¡°I¡¯m nothing if not memorable.¡±


    Their shoulders brushed as they settled back into the couch, the quiet between them comfortable, familiar. The tension of the last month¡ªevents, accusations, the weight of the close call¡ªhad melted into something softer.


    Isabella set her glass down on the low table in front of them, her movements careful.


    ¡°Wait here,¡± she said, rising to her feet. She crossed the room to the tree, crouching down to retrieve a small, neatly wrapped box from beneath its branches.


    Evelyn raised an eyebrow, setting her own glass aside. ¡°You didn¡¯t have to get me anything, Isabella.¡±


    ¡°Well, I did.¡±


    Isabella returned to the couch, her grin lopsided but warm. She sat down beside Evelyn, tucking her legs under her. The box rested in her left hand, which she extended toward Evelyn with a quiet sort of pride.


    Evelyn took the gift with her good hand, the weight of it surprisingly steady despite the awkwardness of her cast. She glanced at Isabella, her expression softening at the younger woman¡¯s expectant gaze.


    ¡°What¡¯s this?¡±


    ¡°Open it and see,¡± Isabella said, her tone light but her cheeks faintly pink.


    Evelyn tugged at the paper, her movements slow, deliberate. The wrapping fell away to reveal a sleek cigarette case, its surface polished to a muted shine. She turned it over in her hand, her thumb brushing over the tiny wave motif engraved on its surface.


    Isabella¡¯s gaze flickered to her lap, then back up. ¡°I thought you could use something classy. You know, for all those rooftop stakeouts. With this I...I could be with you in some¡ª"¡± Evelyn kissed Isabella cutting her off. The kiss was slow. Deliberate. But brief. Evelyn broke the kiss before things could continue.


    "Way..." Isabella continued, eyes as wide as a deer in headlights.


    "It¡¯s perfect!" Evelyn responded, smirking slightly at the expression Isabella was now making.


    "You okay with this?" Evelyn asked.


    "wow!" Isabella responded, her brain finally catching up with what just happened, a blush exploding on her cheeks that was from more than just the wine.


    Isabella leaned in and kissed her back. The kiss started out soft and slow, but it didn¡¯t stay that way. Isabella''s tongue slid across Evelyn''s lips and she opened her mouth to let her in, letting out a soft moan as Isabella¡¯s tongue slipped into her mouth.


    After a moment Evelyn pulled away, moving over to Isabella''s ear.


    "You will always be with me," she whispered back before giving Isabella''s ear a playful bite that made her breath shake.


    Evelyn gently eased Isabella down onto the couch so she could be on top of her. Isabella opened her legs to allow Evelyn some space and she took it, placing her thigh right in between Isabella''s legs but just out of reach. A small wimpering protest escaped Isabella''s mouth.The author''s content has been appropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon.


    "Ask for it." Evelyn said in a whisper.


    "Mean!" Isabella pouted back but Evelyn kissed her in response, dropping to the elbow of her bad hand so she could free up her good one. Before Isabella could say anything more, she moved her free hand over to Isabella''s right breast, giving a playful squeeze.


    When Isabella moaned into the kiss Evelyn said again, "Ask for it."


    "Please," Isabella gasped.


    "Please what?" Evelyn responded in mock confusion, now pressing and tracing circles around Isabella''s nipple.


    "Please give it to me. I want it. I need it!" The final words out of Isabella''s mouth was dripping with desperation and desire. Evelyn did not keep her waiting, and moved her hips forward, letting Isabella feel the pressure and movement where she needed it! Isabella started to move her hips up and down in small bucking motions against Evelyn''s thigh and Evelyn did the same against Isabella''s thigh.


    At the same time Isabella pressed a slow soft kiss to Evelyn''s sharp jawline before moving lower to her neck. Evelyn felt a sharp pinch that sent a lightning bolt down her body as Isabella bit lightly into the skin on her neck, before kissing it as almost an apology. Isabella did not stop there! She moved lower, alternating between biting and kissing all the way down to Evelyn''s collar bone.


    "Good girl" Evelyn moaned in response, her skin feeling little hotter where Isabella''s teeth had been.


    Evelyn''s good hand drifted from Isabella''s breast and dropped to the hem of her Christmas sweater, moving under to feel bare skin. She raked her nails slowly down Isabella''s side, starting at her rib cage and ending just above her hip, the touch sending hot waves of pleasure radiating through isabella''s body and she clamped her legs hard against Evelyn''s thigh. Then Evelyn''s hand closed around the hem of Isabella''s sweater and pulled it up over her head, Isabella lifting her arms to help Evelyn.


    The soft patter of rain against the window was the only sound beyond their breathing, punctuated by the occasional creak of the couch. The room felt warmer, the dim glow of the Christmas tree lights casting dancing patterns on the walls, blending with the hazy warmth of the moment.


    Isabella pushed herself up onto her elbows before leaning in and continuing what they had started. The kiss was more now, hunger mixing with live and desire. Isabella reached up with her right hand and grabbed Evelyn''s shoulder, giving it a soft tug in the direction she wanted. Evelyn got the message and rolled over, the two switching places on the couch. Now Isabella was on top of her and she wasted no time in removing Evelyn''s sweater. Isabella leaned down, resuming her work from earlier, kissing her way down from Evelyn''s collarbone to just above Evelyn''s left breast. She kissed. She teased. She bit. Working her way from one brest to another, Evelyn at the same time grinding harder into Isabella''s thigh, and by the time she was done Evelyn was moaning and writhing under her.


    "Your turn". She said, following it up with a slow drag of her own nails down Evelyn''s stomach. She bit her lip when she felt Evelyn''s abs shaping her skin and it took everything she had not to just give up and let Evelyn have her way with her.


    ¡°I want you,¡± Evelyn said. ¡°God, I want you so much.¡±


    Isabella laughed.


    ¡°Good,¡± she said, then she leaned down, taking Evelyn''s nipple in her mouth whilst squeezing her other nipple between her thumb and index. Evelyn bucked so hard at the combination that she almost threw Isabella off her!


    Evelyn''s hand reached up to give Isabella''s waist a hard squeeze then drifted lower, her thumbs hooking on Isabella''s waistband and panties before continuing the slow drift of her hands over her ass. Isabella kicked with her legs, helping Evelyn remove her pants, the cool air amplifying her wetness. Evelyn then did the same with hers, although a little difficult with the combination of one good hand and the position of Isabella''s thigh against her crotch, but the two of them managed. Evelyn moved upwards, deepening the kiss between the two to help guide Isabella back into a sitting position on her knees. Then Evelyn shifted off the couch and helped Isabella position herself at its edge, legs spreading to give Evelyn more room.


    "God you''re beautiful!" Evelyn said, while kneeling on the rug, looking up at Isabella''s naked body. Isabella''s cheeks redness deepening even further and Evelyn''s smile grew. Evelyn pressed a kiss to Isabella''s thigh, making her suck in a breath as her hand grabbed hold of and dug into a couch cushion.


    The next kiss came a little higher. The bite came even higher. Then again. Then again. Each one getting ever so closer to where Isabella wanted her. Where Isabella needed her. Isabella''s body was screaming for it all and when Isabella felt Evelyn''s warm breath against her center, she had to bite down on her fist to muffle the scream that rose from inside her.


    Isabella felt Evelyn user her thumbs to part her folds and slammed her head back into the couch, sucking in a breath and bucking her hips as she felt Evelyn''s tongue finally against her clit.


    ¡°Oh, God,¡± she moaned as Evelyn stated to pulse her tongueup and down.


    Isabella closed her eyes and just let herself feel what was happening. Evelyn¡¯s tongue sliding through her folds, dipping inside her entrance, stroking her clit.


    She felt two of Evelyn''s fingers brush against her entrance before pausing.


    ¡°Is this okay?¡± Evelyn asked.


    ¡°Yes,¡± Isabella fought to get the word out. Evelyn smiled and slid inside her, fucking her slowly at first, but then faster as she begged for more. She was close. Oh god she was close.


    ¡°Good girl,¡± Evelyn said. She pressed a kiss to Isabella¡¯s clit moving her tongue up and down in a gentle wave like motion.


    ¡°Harder,¡± she begged.


    Evelyn picked up her pace.


    Isabella knew she wasn¡¯t going to last long. Not like this. She opened her mouth to warn Evelyn, but only a shaky breath came out. Her breathing increased into rapid shallow beats in time with Evelyn''s fingers moving in and out of her. Isabella let out a scream and the world seemed to fade away until all that was left were Evelyn¡¯s fingers inside her and tongue pressing against her clit, and then, even that was lost in wave after wave after wave of pleasure. All she could see were blotches of green, red, silver, and gold of the decorations hung up on her wall. All Isabella could feel was her body shaking and squeezing and relaxing, all Isabella could hear were her own screams in her ears. Then it was over, and Evelyn was laying down on top of her, and she could taste herself in Evelyn¡¯s kiss, and when Evelyn whispered ¡®I love you,¡¯ did Isabella finally allow herself to pass out.