The tension in the air is palpable the moment I step into the grand hall. Low lights cast elongated shadows along the polished floor, while heavy drapery and flickering candles offer a theatrical glow. It’s a stark contrast from the other chambers I’ve seen, this space pulses with a raw, vibrant energy that sets every nerve on edge.
Tonight, I am to meet the broader circle: the extended Blackthorn family, their closest confederates, and an array of figures whose faces I cannot yet place. They call this a gathering, but the charged stares, the subtle smirks, and the hushed side-conversations hint at a darker undercurrent. Every inhale tastes of candle wax, faint perfume, and something else, some intangible animal musk that clings to every breath.
I slip further inside, heart pounding as I
