???????? ?????? ─── ?????? ?????? ?

     I asked Emmett to drop me off at home, crafting a flimsy excuse about needing to search for answers in the Book of Shadows. After we shared a kiss goodbye, he drove back to his place, where he needed to handle the other vampires gathered there.

A few days after the woman began making her appearances, I stumbled upon a page in the Book of Shadows about performing a séance. At the time, I didn't think much of it; she didn't seem like a ghost. But now, desperate for answers, I was willing to try anything to reach out to her and ask why she was haunting me.

I stood at the kitchen table, knowing my Grams was out shopping and wouldn't be back for a while. A white cloth covered the round table, creating a serene backdrop for my setup. Surrounding a small brass pot, were six candles—three white followed by three purple, arranged in alternating order. The pot was filled with cinnamon, frankincense, and sandalwood, waiting for a flame to ignite the ingredients.

Before me lay the Book of Shadows, it opened to the page I remembered from a few days earlier. With a wave of my hand over the setup, the candles ignited on their own, their flames flickering to life. The ingredients in the pot caught fire as well, releasing a warm, sweet aroma that filled the air around me.

I was apprehensive about what might happen, but my desperation for answers outweighed my fear. Taking a deep breath, I inhaled the sweet aroma of the burning ingredients, which helped soothe my nerves. I felt a sense of calm wash over me as I prepared to begin the chant.

"Beloved unknown spirit, we seek your guidance," I began to chant, focusing intently on the mysterious woman I had been seeing. "We ask that you commune with us and move among us." The words hung in the air, and I braced myself, anticipating a jump scare at any moment.

My eyes darted around the kitchen, searching for any sign of movement, but there was none. Perhaps it wasn't a spirit after all; maybe it was just my imagination. I pulled out a chair and settled into it. Suddenly, the lights began to flicker. When they stabilised, there she was—sitting directly across the table from me. I tried to rise, but an invisible force pinned me in place, rendering me helpless in my seat.

"Witch," the woman rasped, her voice eerie and otherworldly, reminiscent of a frail, dying elder. She raised her hand, extending her bony, white index finger toward me as if accusing me. No, it wasn't an accusation; it felt more like a declaration of truth.

Suddenly, the overhead light flickered and shorted out, plunging us into complete darkness. The only illumination came from the six flickering candles around the room.

"Who... who are you?" My voice trembled, yet I fought to sound firm. The cloak obscured her face, revealing only her mouth. Her lips were withered and lifeless, evoking the image of a decaying corpse hidden beneath the fabric.

"What the Volturi did pursue and set aflame," she proclaimed, withdrawing her skeletal finger and placing her hand back upon her lap.

"You're a witch?" I questioned with a furrow of my brows. She nodded her head slowly, a grave affirmation of my statement. "Why are you haunting me?!" I exclaimed, my voice rising with urgency as I sought answers.