Page 54 of Dark Bonds

The Grotto’sa mess of panic and fear. You can practically taste the terror in the air. Students huddle in groups, their eyes darting nervously around, as if they are expecting shadows to come alive and devour them whole. I nurse a cup of coffee—black and as bitter as my thoughts—my gaze fixed on Frankie as she works behind the bar.

Her movements are a dance of controlled chaos, fluid yet brittle. I catch the slight tremor in her hands as she pours drinks, a betrayal of the storm raging beneath her calm exterior. Even under the crushing weight of recent events, her resilience shines through, a beacon in the darkness that threatens to consume us all.

I love her.The thought burns through me, equal parts salvation and damnation.

My fingers itch with the need to delve back into the forbidden tomes hidden in my office on Shadow Locke Island to unravel the mysteries of the shadow beasts that haunt our nightmares. Perhaps I could convince Dorian to grant me access to his secret library, where knowledge and danger intertwine like lovers. Normalcy is a distant memory now, a fading dreamovershadowed by the nightmares of eredar beasts and Frankie’s burgeoning powers.

I can almost hear Matteo’s strategic mind whirring, plotting moves in a game where the stakes are our souls. Leo’s forced cheerfulness grates against my nerves, a brittle mask barely concealing the terror beneath, and Dorian… His brooding intensity is a black hole, threatening to pull us all into the abyss of his cursed existence.

They’ve all gravitated to the bar, like moths to Frankie’s flame, all except Matteo, who lingers behind the counter, a silent sentinel watching for any who dare approach her. His possessiveness is a tangible thing, a dark current running beneath the surface of our fragile peace.

“Mr. Mercer?”

The voice cuts through my reverie like a blade. I turn to find Cassandra Vega, a senior shadow guardian I’ve known since my own academy days. Her silver uniform gleams in the dim light, a stark contrast to the Grotto’s rustic interior that only emphasizes how out of place we’ve all become in this new reality.

Cass. It’s been an eternity since I’ve laid eyes on her. I glance at Frankie before looking back at Cass, drinking in the sight of her. Tall, with silver blond hair and eyes like pools of midnight, she’s ethereal and lethal in equal measure. A lifetime ago, I harbored a desperate crush on her, only to learn she preferred a different kind of companionship. After that revelation, she became one of my closest confidants, a bond forged in shared secrets and unspoken understanding.

“Cass.” I nod, forcing my voice into a semblance of composure. “I’m guessing this isn’t a social call.”

Her lips quirk in a half smile that doesn’t reach her eyes. “Perceptive as ever, Bishop.” She slides into the booth across from me, her gaze sweeping the room before locking onto minewith predatory intensity. “Your expertise is required on-site, Mr. Mercer. Priority level: urgent.”

I raise an eyebrow, my mind already racing through a thousand possibilities, each more terrifying than the last. “I was under the impression the island was still off-limits.”

“It is,” she says then pauses, weighing her next words as if they could tip the scales of fate. “But we found something that requires your… unique skill set.”

Cass reaches into her pocket and pulls out a sleek, black communication device. She slides it across the table to me, the movement smooth yet laden with unspoken gravity. “We need you back on Shadow Locke, Bishop. Now.”

I pick up the comm, its weight heavy with the promise of secrets that could shatter our world. My gaze drifts back to Frankie, who’s laughing at something Leo said. The sound is like music in this discordant nightmare we’re living, a reminder of the light we’re fighting to preserve.

As I watch her, my mind drifts to our first meeting. I remember thinking that this girl is going to change everything. I just hadn’t realized how prophetic that thought would be nor how completely she would upend our world.

“What about the students?” I ask, turning to Cass. “When can they return?”

“Soon,” she promises, but the word sounds hollow. “But first, we need to ensure it’s safe. That’s where you come in.”

I nod. The die is cast, and I can only hope we’re not too late to change the outcome. “Let me tell the others I’m heading out. I’ll meet you at the docks in ten.”

As Cass leaves, I make my way to the bar. Frankie looks up as I approach, her smile faltering as she reads the tension in my eyes. Everything between us hangs in the air like purgatory, unresolved and achingly raw.

“Bishop?” Her voice is soft, a question and a plea wrapped in a single word.

I lean in close, keeping my voice low and steady. “I’ve been called back to the island. Shadow guardian business.”

Her eyes widen, a maelstrom of concern and curiosity swirling in their depths. “Is it safe? What about?—”

“I’ll find out,” I assure her, squeezing her hand briefly. The contact sends electricity through me, a reminder of all we could be and all we might lose. “Stay here, stay safe. I’ll be in touch as soon as I can.”

Frankie nods, her resourcefulness shining through the cracks of her carefully constructed facade. “Be careful. And Bishop? If you need any help decoding whatever you find, you know where to find me.”

I smile, appreciating her offer even as my heart aches with the knowledge of what might come. She loves puzzles. I make a mental note to bring her more, as if solving the mystery of ancient symbols could somehow make up for the danger I’m about to plunge her into.

“I’ll keep that in mind. Take care, Frankie.”

As I walk toward the door, I catch a glimpse of my reflection. The set of my jaw and the glimmer of determination in my eyes all speak to the weight of responsibility settling over me like a shroud. The sun streams through the windows, casting a golden light on the dusty floorboards, a cruel reminder of the beauty that still exists in this world teetering on the brink of chaos.

I take one last look at Frankie’s worried expression before stepping out into the bitter winter air. The cold bites at my skin, a shock to the system that grounds me in the moment. Fog billows from my lips with each exhale as I silently follow Cass to the boats. The bridge is out, a casualty of the evacuation, and no one is allowed back on the island, which makes Cass’s choice of transportation all the more intriguing.

“Won’t security allow us to drive?” I tease, a pathetic attempt at levity in the face of looming disaster.

---