Chapter 6 "The Bloodline"
KELLY
Kelly Marcus Thorne hadn't planned on attending the vigil. He didn't know Tyler Brett, had never spoken to him, had no connection to him beyond existing on the same campus.
But he'd gone anyway, because Ember had gone, and Kelly had learned long ago that where Ember went, he followed.
He'd stood at the very edge of the crowd, watching her across the sea of flickering candles. She'd looked pale, fragile, like she might blow away in the wind. And when she'd swayed on her feet, looking ready to collapse, every instinct in Kelly's body had screamed at him to push through the crowd and catch her.
But Maya had been there. Maya was always there. And Kelly had no right to interfere.
Now, walking back to his off campus apartment, Kelly couldn't shake the feeling that something was wrong.
He'd known Ember since freshman year, since they'd been randomly paired for a psychology project. He'd watched her transform from a scared, grieving girl fresh off her parents' death into someone stronger, braver. He'd been there for every late night study session, every anxiety attack, every small victory.
And he'd been in love with her for approximately eleven months, three weeks, and four days.
Not that he'd ever told her. How could he? Ember didn't see him that way. She saw him as her best friend, her safe space, her study partner. Telling her the truth would only ruin what they had.
So Kelly kept his distance and watched her live her life and pretended his heart didn't ache every time she smiled.
But tonight, something had been different. The way she'd looked at that photograph. The way the color had drained from her face.
Kelly pulled out his phone and texted her: You okay? You seemed off at the vigil.
Three dots appeared immediately, then disappeared. Then reappeared.
Finally: I'm fine. Just sad about Tyler. Thanks for checking.
Kelly stared at the message. She was lying. He knew her well enough to know when she was lying.
But he also knew better than to push.
Get some rest. See you tomorrow.
You too.
Kelly pocketed his phone and continued walking, making a mental note to keep a closer eye on Ember.
Because something was wrong.
And Kelly had learned, through painful experience, that ignoring his instincts only made things worse.
MARGARET CRANE
Margaret Crane stood at her bedroom window, watching the rain fall on Hollow Creek, and smiled.
It had begun.
After all these years decades of waiting, watching, preparing the Scarlet Woman had finally returned.
Margaret had known she would. The curse was too powerful, too perfectly crafted to simply fade away. Her great-grandmother had seen to that, back in 1906, when Rosanna Vale had dared to seduce a married man.
The Ashcroft women had always been protectors. Guardians of morality and order. And when morality was threatened, they acted.
They'd cursed Rosanna Vale with precision and purpose. Not just to punish her, but to ensure she could never harm another family. Every man she touched would die. And if she dared to return if her tainted soul dared to reincarnate the curse would activate again.
Margaret had been watching for signs since she was a girl, taught by her own grandmother to recognize the mark, to be vigilant.
And now, finally, the wait was over.
Tyler Brett had died with the scarlet rose on his forehead. The mark of Rosanna's victims. Which meant Rosanna was back.
But in whom?
That was the question Margaret needed to answer. Because the curse had a weakness it required physical contact, intimate contact, to kill. Which meant the host body might not even know what she was. Might not remember the encounters at all.
Margaret would have to be patient. Watch. Wait for the next death, because there would be a next death. The Scarlet Woman was insatiable in her hunger.
And when Margaret finally identified her, she would finish what her ancestors started.
She would destroy Rosanna Vale once and for all.
"Grandmother?"
Margaret turned to find her grandson, Adrian, standing in the doorway. Beautiful Adrian, with his father's kind eyes and his mother's gentle soul.
"You should be resting," Margaret said. "You have practice in the morning."
"I couldn't sleep. I keep thinking about Tyler." Adrian's face was troubled. "We weren't close, but we had econ together last semester. He seemed like a good guy."
"Death is always difficult," Margaret said, moving away from the window. "Especially when it's unexpected."
"Do they know what happened? I heard it might have been drugs."
"The investigation is ongoing."
Adrian nodded, then hesitated. "There's a rumor going around. Something about a mark on his forehead. Is that true?"
Margaret's pulse quickened, but her face remained serene. "Where did you hear that?"
"Social media. Someone's cousin works at the hospital or something. They said he had this weird burn mark, like a rose." Adrian laughed uncomfortably. "Sounds like something out of a horror movie."
"People love to sensationalize tragedy," Margaret said dismissively. "I'm sure the truth is far more mundane. Now go to bed. You need your sleep."
After Adrian left, Margaret returned to the window, her mind racing.
The mark was already becoming public knowledge. That complicated things. If too many people started asking questions, started connecting dots...
She would need to act quickly.
Find the girl. Eliminate the threat. Restore order.
Just as her ancestors had done before her.
The Scarlet Woman would die.
Again.