e was to

t footsteps, now pulsed with silence. Isabella stood barefoot at the edge of the corridor, h

g had wo

actly-but a shi

bones. Like the air itse

before her mind

ste made sure of that. After their father's death, she seale

no

ck was

reaked open just enough for a sliver

epped

omething colder. The room hadn't changed. Books lined the walls in

thing wa

at half-open. A pen lay on the floor.

eart

fragments. It had once been a framed photograph-now cracked, bro

a famil

Their father stood between them

was gone. Tor

face-ripped

's breat

one to still be hiding behind the shadows. But the

hing else tu

e, then slid underneath. Her father had always kept a secre

er

all

pres

ic

t slid open from th

in wax. Her father's handwriting

was on th

bel

e until you read thi

s she broke the seal a

-

sab

then I've failed to shiel

-but ambition is hungry. It consum

hidden-truths in ink th

dger marked Indigo. And be

plain. But you'll have to se

thing sooner. Protect yourself, e

D

-

's eyes

t clues out of paranoia-he had known someone was cl

rd creaked

rp and fast-but

n her arms rose. H

rawer. Locked it. Then she crouched down, picked up the torn

didn't shatte

had be

nted her t

the lights remained dim. But the sile

just outsid

d the door

ed with her f

Even from those