Chapter 68: Follow the trail
ADRIAN’S P.O.V.
The moon hung low over the quiet town, its silvery light spilling across the cobbled streets like a celestial glow. Long, jagged shadows stretched and swayed with the whispering wind, painting a haunting picture of stillness that mocked the storm raging within me.
My living room was a stark contrast to the darkness outside, brightly lit by the brilliance of a single, grand chandelier. Its light cascaded over the polished oak floors and bounced off the ornate furniture, creating a fake illusion of warmth. The remaining members of my coven, those not already scouring the earth for Teresa, stood in silence around me. Their faces bore a combination of dread and vigilance, the weight of my fury heavy in the air.
I stood by the wide window, my fingers clasped tightly behind my back, staring into the distance. The cold glass mirrored my face, though it couldn’t hold my reflection. Its surface reflecting a calm exterior that betrayed nothing of the chaos inside. Somewhere out there, Teresa was running—scared, confused, and utterly unaware of the world she’d stumbled into. Unaware of me.
Three days. It had been three agonizing days since she vanished, slipping through our grasp like sand through clenched fists. My world had unraveled in her absence, a tempest barely contained beneath the surface. Every shadow seemed to hold a whisper of her name. Every gust of wind mocked me with her scent—there one moment, gone the next.
We had torn this town apart, ripping through its seams in a relentless search. My coven, loyal and efficient, left no stone unturned, no corner untouched. And yet, she remained elusive, slipping through the cracks of my fury.
Even the humans, blissfully ignorant of the creatures that roamed among them, could feel the tension in the air. Businesses closed their doors earlier than usual. Families whispered of dark omens and unshakable dread. Nightmares plagued the townsfolk, seeping into their reality as though my wrath alone had poisoned their fragile peace.
But none of it mattered. None of them mattered. Teresa was out there, somewhere, and she was mine.
And yet, no matter how hard I tried, I still couldn’t find her.
The silence in the room deepened, thick and oppressive, as I clenched my jaw, my thoughts spinning furiously. My coven could feel the undercurrent of my anger—an emotion so potent it hummed in the air, threatening to explode.
"She’s running scared," I muttered to no one in particular, my voice low but sharp as a blade. "Unaware of what’s out there. Unaware of what she’s left behind."