Page 26 of Sorcia's Heart
That last word hit her like a sharp pang in her chest, though she couldn’t quite explain why.It hung in the air, filled with possibility yet also underscored by distance—by the knowledge that she wasn’t part of that plan.
Not allowing herself to dwell on the ache that was threatening to grow, Sorcia pushed her sunglasses higher onto her nose, using the motion to mask her reaction.“Well,” she said lightly, “I guess even you can surprise me sometimes.”
Marcus tilted his head, a small, knowing smile playing at the edges of his lips.“Maybe you didn’t ask the right questions two years ago.”
The implication made her stomach twist, though she didn’t let it show.“Maybe you didn’t offer the right answers,” she countered, her voice steady, though it carried a slight edge.
He didn’t reply immediately.Instead, he glanced back at the children, now forming uneven lines, their laughter still ringing out.“I think I’d be good at it,” he said finally, his voice softer.
“What?Herding cats?”she teased, her lips twitching with amusement despite herself.
He chuckled again, his gaze flicking back to her.“No.Being a dad.”
The sincerity in his tone made her throat tighten.She swallowed hard, unsure how to respond.So she didn’t, instead nodding toward the museum entrance.“Let’s keep moving.We’ve got a demon to find.”
“Right,” he agreed, his hand lightly brushing against her lower back as they walked.The brief contact sent a ripple of awareness through her, one she quickly shoved aside.Now wasn’t the time to think about what could have been—or what still might be.
Suddenly, Marcus froze, his head tilting slightly as if tuning into an invisible frequency.“Wait… did you feel that?”
“I did,” Sorcia murmured, her voice barely audible.They both stood motionless, their senses attuned to the sudden shift in the atmosphere.
The bustling streets around them remained oblivious to the supernatural tension.Tourists wandered between souvenir shops and cafés, their chatter blending with the sounds of a street performer playing a lively tune on his violin.The faint smell of roasted nuts and hot dogs from a nearby food cart mingled with the salty tang of the waterfront just a few blocks away.
“It’s far too strong to be human,” she whispered, her green eyes scanning the crowd while trying not to attract attention.
“I agree,” Marcus replied grimly, his jaw tightening.His hand found the small of her back—a gesture that both guided and steadied her.“Over there,” he said, inclining his head toward a quieter street lined with ivy-covered townhouses.“All we can do is head in one direction and see if the sensations get stronger or weaker.”
“Triangulate,” she said, nodding as they began moving swiftly but deliberately down the sidewalk.Running in a tourist-heavy area would only draw unnecessary attention, and that was the last thing they needed.
The brick streets beneath their feet gave way to smoother asphalt as they turned into a less crowded area.Flower boxes spilled over with vibrant blooms, and the soft hum of distant traffic provided a backdrop to the cheerful bustle they’d left behind.But here, the vibrations began to fade.
Sorcia glanced up at Marcus, her expression silently questioning.He nodded, confirming he felt the same diminishing energy.She pivoted, leading them back toward the main road.But the vibrations were gone entirely now.Wherever the demon had been, he’d moved far enough away to slip out of their reach.
“Everything okay, ma’am?”a police officer asked, his partner standing just behind him.Their demeanor was polite but tense, their eyes flicking between Sorcia and Marcus as if sensing something unusual.
Sorcia quickly mustered a warm smile.“Oh, we’re fine, officers,” she said with an easy laugh.“We’re competing in an online scavenger hunt, and our friends are two points ahead of us.We got a little carried away trying to beat them.”
The officers visibly relaxed.One even chuckled.“Those can be fun,” he said with a nod.“Took my kids on one last summer.We didn’t win, but we explored parts of the city I’d never seen before.”
“Exactly!”Sorcia said, leaning into the playful tone.“Thanks for understanding.Have a great day!”
The second officer waved as they walked off, and Sorcia wiggled her fingers in a cheerful farewell.
Once the officers were out of earshot, Sorcia let out a quiet sigh.“Okay, we weren’t as stealthy as we’d hoped.”
Marcus ran a hand through his hair, his expression serious.“We’ll slow down.But if the police noticed us, maybe the demon did too.That could explain why we lost his trail so quickly.”
She frowned, her mind working through possibilities.“Can demons hide their emotions?”
Marcus hesitated.“I haven’t known one that could, but I wouldn’t rule it out.We should assume they can, just to be safe.”
“Good point.”She pulled out her phone, her fingers flying over the screen as she crafted a message to her council witches.Within minutes, the information about the demon’s potential ability to mask its anger would reach every member of her coven.
Marcus scanned the area, his sharp gaze lingering on shadowed alleyways and crowded storefronts.“We can’t split up—it’s too dangerous.But we need a better strategy.If we head back to the crowd and work in a grid pattern, we might catch him unaware.”
Sorcia nodded, slipping her phone back into her bag.“Agreed.We’ll work smarter this time.Let’s get back to the crowd and start sweeping the area.”
As they retraced their steps toward the bustling museum district, the air seemed heavier, charged with the possibility of danger.But Sorcia’s determination shone through, her focus unwavering as they prepared to confront the unseen threat lurking just beyond their reach.
