Fate stood in the middle of the kitchen, her arms crossed tightly over her chest.
Her jaw was clenched, and her foot tapped an impatient rhythm on the floor.
"For fuck's sake, Mom!"
She burst out, her voice filled with frustration.
"Why do we always have to adjust for them? Why can't we just tell Aunt Mary that we need the money too? That financial support is supposed to be for our family, not just Uncle's!"
Their mother didn't even look up from the kitchen counter, her knife moving in a steady, rhythmic thump, thump, thump against the cutting board as she sliced a piece of meat.
"Fate, lower your voice."
She said, her tone weary but firm.
"I've told you. Your uncle's boy is gifted. Those piano lessons are expensive, and in this economy, every bit helps. They need it more right now."
"Need it more?"
Fate's voice rose, cracking with disbelief.
"We're barely scraping by! How does a piano recital put food on our table?"
From the doorway, Phoebe finally spoke.
Her voice was quiet, but could be heard clearly in the small room.
"So, piano lessons are more important than us? More important than keeping us alive?"
Their mother finally paused her slicing.
She let out a long, slow breath, her shoulders slumping.
"It's not about what's more important..."
She said, her voice dropping as if sharing a shameful secret.
"It's about what your Aunt Mary values. She's built a life abroad. She needs a family back here that she can be proud of, a family with... status and talent. A nephew who's a musical prodigy is something she can flaunt to her new friends. We... are not."
The fight seemed to drain out of the room all at once.
Fate let out a sound of pure disgust, turning her back to grab a pot and fill it with water, her movements stiff and angry.
Arguing was pointless when the heart of the issue was their own perceived lack of worth.
Phoebe didn't say another word.
A cold, hard silence emanated from her.
She simply stared at her mother's back for a long moment, then let out a soft, sigh that seemed to drain out all her energy.
Without another glance, she turned and walked out of the kitchen.
To her, the conversation was over.
There was nothing more to say when the truth was so plainly ugly.
She intended to go to the living room to check on Seth and let him know her family was fine with him staying, a small attempt to return to normalcy.
But the living room was empty.
'He must be in the bathroom...'
She thought, a flicker of disappointment passing through her.
She didn't have the energy to wait, so she continued on to her own bedroom, seeking solitude.
Closing the door behind her, she leaned against it for a second, allowing the mask of calm to slip.
Her eyes then fell upon her desk.
A single piece of parchment paper lay there, and new, elegant words were written upon its surface.
Her heart gave a little jump.
It was a reply from her mentor!
This was no ordinary paper.
It was a magically-linked parchment, one of a matched pair.
She kept one half; her mentor, Danica, kept the other.
Messages could be sent between them almost instantly, the words fading away after being read to make room for the next, ensuring perfect privacy.
Finally, a connection to someone who understood the real world.
She hurried over, sat down in her wooden chair, and pulled the parchment close, her earlier family frustrations forgotten.
.
"To my beloved, sinful, student Phoebe,
I understand your worries, but do not be ashamed of this fear.
Facing the unknown, especially one that walks and talks in the skin of someone you knew, is a terrifying ordeal.
You are right to be cautious.
We must proceed with logic, not panic.
Here is what you must do, and you must do it precisely.
First, and most urgent: Investigate the grave.
You must return to the forest burial site at once and observe it.
If the earth is undisturbed and the grave is still sealed... then the man before you is an imposter.
A doppelgänger, a shapeshifter, or something far more cunning.
In this case, you must immediately distance yourself and contact the Coven of Solace in Matamisan City.
Do not confront him!
If the grave has been disturbed, you must determine how.
Look closely... were the shovelfuls of dirt removed from above, as if someone dug him up?
Or does it appear something—or someone—burst out from below?
The latter would confirm a true, and deeply unnatural, resurrection of the original Seth Arden.
The former would suggest a far darker art: that his body was exhumed and used as a vessel or puppet by another person
Second, you must document everything.
Do not trust your memory alone, there are many witches and demons who can control the mind.
Note his behaviors, his speech patterns, his knowledge.
What has changed from the man you knew?
Does he recall things he shouldn't?
Has he forgotten things he must know?
More than that, inform me of the general state of Matamisan City.
Has there been any strange activities that you think could be possibly linked to Seth's situation?
For example... news of other people getting resurrected?
I will cross-reference this information to determine if his return is part of a larger scheme or a problem that lies within Seth alone.
I regret that I cannot rush to your side.
My duties here are very important, but know that my guidance is with you.
Lastly, and this is paramount: Your safety comes before all else.
If Seth displays any sign of aggression, malice, or a connection to demonic forces, you are to contact the Coven of Solace without hesitation!
They are the city's primary coven force and are reputable in handling such threats!
I know the thought of revealing yourself to a mainstream coven is abhorrent to you...
They will, at best, take you in and force you to conform to their regulated duties.
But this will come at a great cost to your future.
As you know, primary covens only accept Sin-users whose sins are more... manageable.
Sins like Arrogance or Coldness are tolerated, as they are less likely to cause direct, physical harm towards other people.
Your Sin of Revenge, however, marks you as volatile and dangerous in their eyes.
They will not train you to become powerful.
They will seek to "rehabilitate" you—which is to say, they will hinder your growth, suppress your potential, and place you under constant watch to ensure you never act on your desires.
Your plot for revenge against that person would be ended before it can even begin...
However, if you are forced to take this step, do not lose hope.
Focus on reaching the Third Circle within their system.
Attain that rank, and I give you my word, I will return to Matamisan and engineer your escape myself.
For now, focus on Seth.
Send me your findings in a few days.
If he proves to be a genuine threat, I will reply with contacts for other, more discreet witches within the city who operate outside the mainstream covens and may offer aid without such stringent conditions.
Stay sharp, stay safe, and trust your instincts.
Your Mentor,
Danica"
...
Phoebe read the letter once, then twice, her eyes tracing every word from her mentor until their meaning was seared into her mind.
Only then did she allow herself to lean back in her chair, the parchment crinkling softly as her grip loosened.
A long, slow breath escaped her lips, but it did little to ease the tension coiled in her chest.
It seems that she truly does have to investigate things for herself for now...
As for her mentor's suggestion of contacting the Coven of Solace if things got dangerous...
Phoebe's brows furrowed.
She absolutely could not!
Her revenge against that person was the most important thing to her!
Even if Danica helped her escape the coven, they would have to flee the city!
Coming back to Matamisan City to exact her revenge would become extremely impossible knowing the Coven of Solace would be out looking for her!
She could not accept that!
That was a price she could not afford nor was she willing to bear it!
Not for safety, not for a normal life, and certainly not for the stranger sleeping in her living room.
Even if it costed her life... she would proceed with her revenge.
This was the promise she made to herself.
With renewed, grim determination, she stood up, leaving the parchment on her desk.
She smoothed her expression into one of mundane calm and stepped out of her room to help with dinner, closing the door softly behind her.
The room was silent for a long moment, bathed in the fading evening light.
Unbeknownst to her...
In the deep shadows in the corner of her room, a figure emerged.
His tall frame was silent as he moved, his black hair shadowing his eyes.
The man's presence seemed to be very thin and negligent... as though he could be easily ignored and forgotten.
Seth was silent as his gaze fell upon the single piece of parchment paper left carelessly on Phoebe's desk.