Page 2 of Sorcia's Heart
Missy bit her lip, her hopeful expression faltering.“But it’s so perfect for our budget…”
Sorcia stepped closer, lowering her voice to a gentle murmur.“I know how much you want this to work.I know what you’ve been through and how long it’s taken both of you to save up for your own home.But this isn’t the right place.Let me help you find a house thatwantsyou to thrive.Trust me—there are homes out there that will embrace you, protect you, and help you build the life you’re dreaming of.”
Gary’s shoulders sagged, his disappointment palpable, but he nodded slowly.Missy reached for his hand, squeezing it tightly, her eyes brimming with unspoken gratitude.
“Okay,” Missy whispered.“We trust you.”
Sorcia’s chest loosened with relief.She smiled softly, the lingering shadows in the house seeming to withdraw, as if acknowledging their defeat.This battle was won—but there was always another lurking on the horizon.
Of course, Missy and Gary couldn’t see the stains lurking beneath the surface.All they saw were the nicely painted walls, the fresh carpet, and the possibilities this space seemed to hold.Sorcia could almost hear their unspoken dreams—the laughter of their future children echoing in the basement, toys scattered across the floor, pillow forts taking shape in cozy corners.Perhaps they pictured teenagers someday lounging on worn sofas with their friends, turning this space into a hub of joy and memories.
But all of it would be a lie.The mold beneath the paint would silently seep into the air, the hidden water damage would erode their investment, and the house’s malevolent energy would unravel their dreams thread by fragile thread.They couldn’t know, couldn’t feel it the way Sorcia could.But she knew.This house was wrong for them, in every way that mattered.
She had to stop them.This wasn’t just about a house—it was about protecting two kind souls from the misery she could see waiting for them if they signed those papers.
Forcing herself to keep her tone light, Sorcia gave them a reassuring smile.“Why don’t I get my guy out here—Tim, the structural engineer I mentioned?Then we’ll have a better idea of what we’re dealing with, okay?After that, you two can discuss your options and decide if you want to make an offer.”
Gary and Missy exchanged glances, relief softening the tension in their features.Gary wrapped an arm around Missy’s shoulders, a small smile tugging at the corners of his mouth.“Yeah, that sounds great,” he said.His voice carried a mix of hope and gratitude, and for a moment, Sorcia felt the oppressive energy of the house retreat, its grip loosening just slightly.
But Sorcia knew this wasn’t over.She would need to do more than stall.She had to guide them toward a better choice—a home that would nurture their happiness, not sap it away.And if she had to confront the spiritual presence in this house to protect them, so be it.Sorcia’s business was built on trust, and part of that trust meant doing what was right, even when it was hard to explain.
As Missy and Gary turned their attention to discussing the logistics of the inspection, Sorcia subtly reached out with her magic once more, her senses brushing against the house’s aura.The malevolence was still there, pulsing like a dark heartbeat.It hadn’t given up, and neither would she.
This wasn’t just about saving a sale—it was about saving them.And Sorcia knew better than anyone that houses, like people, could hide dangerous secrets.
Chapter 2
Laterthatnight,Sorciastepped into her private loft, the familiar click of her heels echoing on the polished wood floor.She kicked them off with a groan, the shoes skidding haphazardly across the entryway.By the door, her slippers waited like loyal sentries on guard duty, ready to rescue her feet from the cruel tyranny of high heels.She slipped them on, closing her eyes as the soft lining cradled her aching feet.“Much bet—”
She froze mid-word, the hair on the back of her neck prickling.Something was off.
Sniffing the air, she detected an unfamiliar trace—faint, like smoke dissipating in the wind, but unmistakably foreign.Her eyes darted around the room, scanning every shadowy corner, every patch of darkness that the dim evening light couldn’t touch.Her pulse quickened as her magic stirred instinctively, her senses reaching out.
No one was visible.No sounds betrayed the presence of another person.But Sorcia could feel them.An intruder had crossed her wards—magical barriers designed to repel and alert her to unwanted guests—and slipped into her most sacred space: her home.Someone had violated the sanctuary she had carefully safeguarded from the outside world.
She took a step forward, her hand twitching with the urge to summon her magic.Whispering under her breath, she cast a detection spell, her power rippling out like a net.The energy settled into the room’s edges, probing, searching, but it returned empty.No footsteps.No shadows shifting unnaturally.Yet sheknewsomeone was here.The intruder’s aura lingered, faint but undeniable—a thread of recognition tickling the edges of her awareness.
Her heart thundered in her chest as she turned in a slow circle, scanning the loft again.The presence wasn’t just foreign—it was familiar.Toofamiliar.
“No,” she hissed, her voice barely audible over the silence.“Absolutely not.”
Her hands rose, fingers curling into tense claws as power coiled at her fingertips, ready to unleash.With a sharp whisper, she flung her hands upward, her magic crackling through the air like a whip.
Laughter stopped her cold.
It wasn’t the kind of laugh meant to soothe or reassure.This was a low, deep rumble, laced with amusement and something darker.It brushed against her senses, setting every nerve alight.
Sorcia’s breath hitched.The sound wasn’t in front of her—it wasbehind her.
She spun, her slippers sliding slightly on the hardwood floor.Her pulse pounded in her ears as her magic surged, ready to strike.The intruder wasn’t just here—he was toying with her.And worst of all, she had an idea of exactly who it was.
The room seemed to hold its breath as she locked onto the shadows that had been behind her."Show yourself," she growled, her voice low, dangerous.
The laughter came again, closer this time, wrapping around her like smoke.A figure stepped out of the darkness, his handsome face emerging with infuriating calm.
“Miss me, Sorcia?”the man asked, his voice a rich, mocking drawl that she hadn’t heard in years but could never forget.
Marcus Tinsley.
