"It's really over?" Clara asked, staring at the two beetle-like parasites in her small palm. Her voice quivered with a mixture of relief and lingering fear.
I nodded, taking the dead creatures from her hand. "They won't bother you anymore."
William Vance hovered anxiously behind us, his face etched with concern. "Those things were inside my daughter all this ti? Causing her nightmares?"
"Yes. They feed on negative emotions, particularly fear and grief." I closed my fist around the parasites, summoning a flicker of spiritual fire to my palm. The creatures crumbled to ash, which I brushed away. "They're completely destroyed now."
Clara's eyes widened as she watched the display of power. "That was so cool! How did you do that?"
"Clara," her father admonished gently, "rember what we discussed about asking too many questions."
I smiled reassuringly at them both. "It's just a technique I learned. Nothing to worry about."
But internally, I was far from calm. The dark energy I'd absorbed from the parasites churned inside , foreign yet sohow familiar. My Chaotic Body had readily accepted it, incorporating this new dark power alongside my golden qi. It felt like opening a door I wasn't sure I should have unlocked.
"Will the nightmares co back?" Clara's question pulled from my thoughts.
I placed a hand on her shoulder. "No. Your sleep should be peaceful from now on."
Relief washed over William's face. "Mr. Knight, I can't thank you enough."
"There's no need for thanks," I said, rising to my feet. "But I am curious—have you had any unusual visitors lately? Anyone who might have had access to Clara?"
William frowned, thinking. "No one cos to mind. We keep to ourselves mostly."
Clara tugged at her nightgown. "What about Mrs. Peterson from next door? She brought those weird cookies last month."
"The elderly woman who walks with a cane?" William shook his head. "I doubt she's planting parasitic creatures, sweetheart."
I made a ntal note to look into their neighbors anyway. These parasites were rare and difficult to obtain. Soone had deliberately targeted this family, and I needed to find out why.
"I should go," I said, checking my watch. "But call imdiately if anything unusual happens."
William walked to the door, his voice low. "What do I owe you for this?"
"Nothing," I replied firmly. "Consider it a professional courtesy." The M|V|LE&MPYR team worked hard on this chapter.
Outside, I took a deep breath of the cool night air. The dark energy inside seed to pulse in response, eager to be used. It was powerful—dangerously so—and represented a cultivation path I'd never seriously considered. The potential was undeniable, but so were the risks.
As I drove ho, my phone rang. Alistair Northwood's na flashed on the screen.
"Liam," his voice ca through crisp and business-like. "I've got information on those herbs you asked about. There's a promising location outside the city. We should go tonight if you're available."
"Tonight?" I glanced at the clock on my dashboard. "It's already past nine."
"These particular specins are best harvested under moonlight," Alistair explained. "I can pick you up in an hour."
I thought about the dark energy still settling inside , the need to understand what I'd done. "Let's make it tomorrow night. I have sothing to take care of first."
After disconnecting, my phone imdiately rang again. Clara's na appeared on the screen.
I answered, puzzled. "Clara? Is everything alright?"
"I'm fine!" Her voice bubbled with excitent. "No nightmares! I tried taking a nap after you left, and nothing bad happened. No shadow, no whispers, nothing!"
I smiled despite myself. "That's good to hear."
"Dad says I need to thank you properly," she continued. "Can I treat you to dinner tomorrow? Please? I know the best barbecue place!"
I hesitated. The last thing I needed was social obligations, especially with everything else happening. "That's really not necessary—"
"Please?" she begged. "Dad never lets go anywhere fun, and he said this would be okay since it's to thank you."
I sighed, thinking of Isabelle and how I'd rather spend my limited free ti with her. But I heard the genuine gratitude in Clara's voice.
"Alright," I relented. "Just a quick dinner."
"Yes!" she exclaid. "I'll text you the address. Pick up at six!"
The call ended before I could respond. I shook my head, wondering what I'd gotten myself into.
---
The next evening, I arrived at the Vance residence precisely at six. William answered the door, looking significantly more relaxed than he had yesterday.
"She's almost ready," he said, ushering inside. "I can't tell you how much better she seems already. It's like having my daughter back."
"I'm glad to hear it," I replied sincerely.
William lowered his voice. "She's been through so much since her mother passed. These nightmares were the last thing she needed."
Before I could respond, Clara bounded down the stairs. I blinked in surprise. The sullen girl in a nightgown had transford into a teenager trying desperately to look older. She wore a tight-fitting top, short skirt, and what appeared to be a touch of makeup.
William frowned. "Clara, I thought you were wearing the blue dress we picked out."
She rolled her eyes. "Dad, that's a little girl's dress. I'm thirteen."
I shifted uncomfortably, caught between their father-daughter dynamic. Clara grabbed her purse and headed for the door.
"We won't be late, Mr. Knight knows I have a curfew," she called over her shoulder.
William gave an apologetic look. "She's at a difficult age. Thank you for humoring her."
"Of course," I replied, following Clara out the door.
In the car, she imdiately took control of the radio, switching to a pop station and turning up the volu. I turned it back down.
"So where exactly is this barbecue place?" I asked.
She grinned. "It's this little stand by the river. Not fancy, but the food is amazing. Turn left at the next light."
As we drove, I couldn't help but notice how different she was from Isabelle. Where Isabelle was graceful and composed, Clara was all nervous energy and impulsiveness. The stark contrast only made miss Isabelle more.
Clara's directions led us to an increasingly remote area along the riverbank. Eventually, we pulled up to a small clearing where several wooden tables surrounded a smoking grill station. A handful of patrons sat eating, most of them rough-looking n.
"This is it!" Clara announced proudly.
I frowned, scanning the area. It wasn't the kind of place a thirteen-year-old girl should be frequenting. "How do you know about this spot?"
"My mom used to bring here," she said, her voice suddenly small. "Before she got sick."
The explanation softened my concerns sowhat. We found a table and ordered from a burly man tending the grill. As we waited for our food, Clara peppered with questions about my "powers" and whether I could teach her to do the "fire thing."
"It's not sothing you can learn overnight," I explained patiently. "It takes years of discipline."
Our conversation was interrupted by loud laughter from a nearby table. Four n with visible tattoos were staring in our direction, nudging each other and making comnts I couldn't quite hear. One of them whistled appreciatively as his gaze lingered on Clara.
My jaw tightened. Clara, noticing my expression, turned to see what had caught my attention. The n didn't bother to hide their leering.
"What are they looking at?" Clara demanded loudly.
I placed a hand on her arm. "Ignore them. Let's just eat and leave."
But Clara was already standing up, her face flushing with anger. "Hey! Do you have a problem?"
The n exchanged amused glances. The largest one, sporting a neck tattoo and multiple earrings, grinned wickedly.
"No problem at all, sweetheart," he called back. "Just enjoying the view."
His companions snickered as another one chid in, "Yeah, it's not often we get such pretty company out here."
"Clara, sit down," I said firmly, rising to my feet.
She ignored , hands on her hips. "I'm not your sweetheart, you creep!"
The atmosphere shifted instantly. The smiles on the n's faces hardened into sothing uglier. The tattooed leader stood up slowly, his chair scraping against the ground.
"With you so slutty, can your boyfriend satisfy you?" he asked, his voice dripping with crude suggestion. "Do you need so help from your brothers?"
The threat hung in the air between us, unmistakable and vile. Clara paled, suddenly realizing the danger she'd provoked. I stepped in front of her, my blood running cold with rage as dark energy surged within , eager to be unleashed.
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