"Stop pacing, Maddox. You're making me dizzy," Blair rebuked from the lounge seat with Holly. She was back to full health and looking much better. Although, she was quite nervous to meet Officer Sloan, even if she didn't admit it to Blair and Maddox.

"When is that cop coming?" Maddox asked as his eyes scavenged the road for Officer Sloan.

Blair rolled her eyes. "She said she'd be here at noon," she repeated.

"And it's been noon for ten minutes," Maddox grumbled as he joined Blair on the seat, when the door chimed and a figure waltzed inside.

"Oh," Blair got to her feet to greet Officer Sloan. "Welcome to my shop, Officer."

"Hello," Officer Sloan managed a polite smile and greeted Blair, Maddox and Holly.

"Come inside," Blair took the cop to the seating area she had arranged in her store for this particular gathering. "You're not in your uniform." Blair observed the young woman who had sturdy features; a hard-set jaw, straight sharp nose but her eyes were soft and noble. Officer Sloan wasn't tall, but she had a strong posture that carried her like she was six feet. Her plain jeans and leather jacket wasn't special or conspicuous; it was like Officer Sloan desired to stay tactful.

"It's less ambiguous," said Officer Sloan. "People would find it suspicious if a cop walked in here, so I thought I should be more discreet with my visit."

Blair took the seat across Officer Sloan.

"I think everyone can tell from a mile away that you're a cop," muttered Maddox.

Blair elbowed Maddox. "So, how should we do this Officer?" she asked politely.

"You can call me Adeline," said the cop. Her soft brown eyes looked over to Holly. "You don't need to worry about your step-father anymore, Holly. This case was cut clean and now it's closed."

"Don't you need our testimonies?" asked Maddox. "Cases like Holly's are usually hard to prove and fight."

"That's true," agreed Adeline. "But the moment I put Bill in questioning, he confessed to his crimes."

Maddox raised a brow. "Just like that?" he asked suspiciously.

"Why would he do that?" Holly was baffled by Bill's sudden change of attitude.

"Guilt, fear," listed Adeline.

Blair grinned. "A guilty mind betrays itself," she mumbled. She laughed internally for her little truth-hex trick she put on Bill before he was taken to the station.

Maddox gaped at Blair. "It was you," he busted. Adeline and Holly gawked at the pair.

"Er- Holly's aunt, Angela Nightingale will be here in a few days," said Adeline. "Holly, will you be okay with your aunt?"

"Angela is alright," said Holly.

Adeline nodded. "I will interview your aunt first and check myself," she said. "But do you have a place to stay before then?"

"She's staying with me," said Blair, "and my cousins."

Adeline crossed her arms. "Why are you involved in all of this?" she asked distrustfully.

Blair raised a brow. "Holly came to me," she said. "So, I couldn't possibly say 'no' to someone who comes to my shop looking for help."

Adeline was transfixed by Blair and the mysteriousness this shop owner carried from the way she spoke and carried herself. "Holly will have to come to station tomorrow after school," she instructed. "Sign a few papers and meet Ms. Nightingale."

"I will bring Holly tomorrow," confirmed Blair.

"Okay," Adeline got out of her seat. She laid a supportive hand on Holly's shoulder. "I will see you tomorrow."

Holly's green eyes gleamed. "Yeah," she mumbled. "Thank you."

Blair observed Adeline's aura swim like a calm stream with no barriers to interrupt the current. It was blue like deep sapphires; a colour that was rare to the eyes of a witch like Blair. Adeline exuded integrity that was the strength of her soul. She had a pillar of power that was pure discipline, probably wired from a young age. It was rare for Blair to meet someone like Adeline. There was nobility in this young cop who was intelligent and calm during many storms of her life. But there was turmoil clouding her feelings.

"Are you the eldest is your family?" asked Blair.

Adeline's brown eyes widened. "Yes," she said. "I have two siblings."

"And your parents?" asked Blair.

"Dead. Both of them," answered Adeline.

Blair went around her store looking for a trinket to help Adeline. "This is a black tourmaline," she grabbed a sack from the counter and placed the magical stone in the bag, before she tied the knot and gave it to Adeline.

"I couldn't-" Adeline tried to force the stone back to Blair.

"It's a gift for helping Holly," said Blair. "When you go home tonight, I want you to put this stone under your pillow."

"What will it do?" asked Adeline.

"It will erase those thoughts that you carry after work," said Blair. "Everything will wash away, and you'll be able to feel grounded with the earth you lay on."

"How did you know that I-"

"I have my ways," smirked Blair. "Thank you for helping Holly. I will bring her to the station on time tomorrow, Adeline."

Adeline's eyes softened. "Er- yeah," she muttered. "See you tomorrow." The young cop strode outside the shop with the small pouch clutched in her hand.

"Well, that went better than I thought," said Blair chirpily.

"How did you make Bill confess?" Maddox asked Blair secretly.

Blair went over to her office to grab her jacket and keys. "I showed him his fears and forced him to confess," she said. "And if he hadn't, then I would have played those fears in his head for the rest of his miserable life."

Maddox's gaped at her. "You can be pretty scary, Blair Lightwood."

An innocent smile reappeared on Blair's face. "I know," she said. "Come on, Holly. Let's go home."

Maddox drove them back to Blair's house. He curved up the drive-way and parked. "I should probably head home too," said Maddox. Blair stayed behind in the car after Holly went inside.

"I would join you, but I have some urgent work that needs my attention," said Blair.

Maddox's smile charmed her. "And what would be so urgent, that this little witch has to separate from her boyfriend?"

"Chocolate," responded Blair mystically.

Maddox raised a brow. "Chocolate?"

"Yes," chuckled Blair. "I need to restock my shelves at the shop."

Maddox leaned on the steering wheel. "You could work at my hotel," he offered. "I have a massive kitchen at your service."

Blair was taken aback. "Are you sure?" she asked.

He nodded. "Why not, it'll be fun."

"It would be faster with the big ovens and freezers," said Blair. "And I wouldn't have to fight off Anastasia all day."

Maddox started the ignition once again. "Let's go then," he said. "Go grab your things or supplies."

"They'll be in the kitchen when we get there," she said calmly.

Maddox didn't believe her at first. But after all that he bared witness too, he believed that all of Blair's supplies were waiting for her in the hotel's kitchen. When Blair and Maddox finally reached the hotel, she got distracted with her purse.

"What are you looking for?" he asked.

"Medicine for Tony," said Blair. "I was going to give it to you, so you'd give it to him. But since I'm already here, might as well give it myself."

Maddox lead Blair to Tony's room when she got a terrible sensation in her gut. A stench of blood and death created a faint trail, that came from the end of the hall and vanished behind the emergency staircase.

"Did someone die here recently?" asked Blair.

Maddox gaped. "No," he astonished. "No one has died at any of my hotels, thank god."

"It must be a wandering spirit then," she mumbled.

Maddox froze. "There's a ghost in my hotel?"

"I sense a presence," she said, "but it's probably just passing by. Nothing to worry about."

"Ghosts can do that?" he asked as they circled down another hallway.

"Yes, they can."

Maddox looked at her inquisitively. "But don't ghost usually stay where they die?"

"Some do," she answered. "Some leave and wander for ages if they don't make their way into the spirit realm."

"That's sad," sighed Maddox.

"And dangerous," Blair cautioned. "Spirits should not be in this realm once they have crossed over. It's nasty business."

Maddox nodded. "We're here." They stood in front of a single door. Blair knocked on the door, but it wasn't answered. Maddox tried the second time and the door was opened, although it was barely enough to see inside; they just got a glimpse of Tony's eye.

"What?" he asked groggily.

"You okay, buddy?" asked Maddox. "Did you see a doctor? And why is it so dark in there?"

"I'm fine... just tired," answered Tony.

"Can we come inside, Tony?" asked Blair.

"No-" Tony's eyes had dark circles like he hadn't rested in days- "It's very messy."

"Let me inside, Tony," insisted Blair.

"I can't host right now," he said firmly surprising Blair and Maddox.

Blair pulled out the small flask from her purse. "Take this before you sleep, it'll help whatever you're fighting," she instructed and held out the bottle. Tony's pale hand crept out from the dark and joined Blair's in the light. A jolt slithered up her arm as Tony took the bottle.

"Why don't you take a few more days off, Tony," said Maddox.

"Yeah," murmured Tony.

"And open those damn blinds," ordered Blair. "Get some light in there. It's good for the soul and protects you from sicknesses." Tony closed the door on Maddox and Blair's face with a bang.

"Well, that went nicely," remarked Maddox.

"Did he seem different to you?" she asked Maddox.

"He's sick," shrugged Maddox, "no one is polite when their head is pounding like a sledge-hammer."

"I guess," she muttered.

"We're going to use the kitchen in the basement," said Maddox. "No one goes down there since the central kitchen on the main floor is more popular."

Blair followed Maddox down a series of stairs to the last level after the laundry floor. He opened the double doors to a beautiful, clean kitchen that was empty. It had no windows but there was plenty of light to showcase the stainless-steel appliances, counters and fridges.

"This is very nice," she said excitedly.

Maddox came around with her, when he found the counter full of supplies that weren't there before. Books, pots, trays and boxes covered the large metal counter-top.

"Are these the recipes?" he asked as he held a withering purple book.

"Don't read it," she warned, "or I'll have to kill you."

Maddox chuckled and opened the book daringly. "Wow," he commented as he got a quick glimpse of the secret recipes, that were written with elegant hand-writing. "Did you write these?"

"No," she said as she prepped the extra table with roasted cocoa beans and other utensils. "My aunt handed the recipes down to me. But, I did add a few of my own over the years."

Maddox came around and helped her tie the apron securely around her waist. "Does these chocolates have spells on them?" he asked curiously.

Blair giggled. "A very special spell," she whispered.

Maddox's eyes gleamed like golden lights on New Year's Eve. "What spell?"

"Love," she said simply.

The mischievous smile turned genuine when Maddox said; "You're really incredible, you know that?"

Blair blushed. "You think so?"

Maddox nodded. "There is so much to you," he said. "So many layers and yet it's so easy to understand all of them."

"I never thought I was that complicated," she chuckled.

"I don't remember how I've been living life until I met you," he shared. "You changed the way I see ordinary things every day."

"It's nice to have met you too," she admitted. "I never knew anyone who trusts me, my abilities as much as you have."

"It's impossible not to trust you, Blair," retorted Maddox.

Blair shook her head. "You'd be surprised how many didn't understand what I could do," she said. "It's rare finding someone like you, Maddox."

"Then I'm glad we found each other," he laid his hand on her warm cheek, "because we're exactly what we needed."

"My chocolate is going to be really sweet this time," she teased.

Blair may have laughed it off, but she understood perfectly what Maddox had confessed. In her entire life, no one accepted her for who she was. But it never mattered because Blair loved herself and she adored her magic. However, this sensation of having a partner to support her every step of the way was profound. Maddox embraced her powers, her traits, her family and traditions. Anyone else would have insulted her or abused her, but Maddox loved her more for it. Maddox was a blessing Blair never knew she craved.

A good hour zipped by with Maddox helping Blair ground the roasted cocoa beans to make fresh chocolate. Blair filled the trays with all of her famous truffles that would feed the citizens of Meadow- Mist Valley. Blair's magic helped arrange the truffles in the ice coolers she had brought along. Work in the spare kitchen progressed wonderfully, until the lights started to flicker.

"What's going on?" asked Maddox as he noticed the electrical surge. "This kitchen is brand new, why are the lights already flickering?"

Blair smile fell and her brows furrowed. "Interesting," she mumbled.

"Hold on-" Maddox looked at the witch next to him- "Is this you?"

"No," she answered. "It's something else."

Maddox sighed. "I should call-"

"We have a visitor," said Blair and Maddox froze where he stood when the lights shut off.

He hesitated before he asked; "Is it... friendly?"

Blair's icy eyes solved his question. "Do you have candles here?" she asked quietly.

Instead of answering her, Maddox used his phone's light and ran to the other side of the kitchen. He pulled through all the drawers looking for candles. Speedily, he returned to her with three thick, white candles. Blair grabbed the candles and lit each wick with the snap of her fingers. She positioned the candles around the table in front of her.

Abruptly, the door that was left open by them was slammed shut.

"It's here," she alerted.

"And I don't think it wants us leaving," added Maddox.

Blair stiffened when a callous breeze filled the kitchen. "Stay close to me," she whispered.

"I wasn't going anywhere," remarked Maddox. "I'm stuck to you like glue, baby."

Blair cracked a smile. The candles flickered letting Blair know that whatever crept in the darkness was close to her. She couldn't even move her feet because the darkness that swarmed around her was unnatural. This darkness was from the other side of the spirit realm. Whatever had entered the kitchen was not from the land of the living or from any good place for that matter.

A dark shadow crawled around them, she was sure of it. And when she spotted two red pinpricks resembling eyes in the darkness, she knew that all of her observations were spot-on.

"Maddox," she whispered.

"Yeah?" he asked.

"I need you to hold a candle," she instructed. "Nothing will touch you if you do."

"What about you?" he asked.

"I can't," she said. "I need to face whatever decided to pop in and say 'hi to us."

Maddox grabbed a candle. "Be careful," he cautioned. "Whatever that thing is, it doesn't look good."

Blair gaped at him. "You can see it?"

Maddox nodded. "Am I not supposed to?"

"No," she said. "Mortals lose the sight after infancy."

Maddox frowned. "I just keep getting weirder and weirder."

"Yeah," she agreed and couldn't help but laugh, when she felt a dark presence beside her. It crept up to her like it was curious. Blair didn't retreat, she let the entity come to her because there was no point in running away.

Blair knew that the entity was in front of her because she could feel those sinister eyes on her face; the smell of inhuman was sickening and that undeniable coldness that only death could bring engulfed her. Blair turned to face the entity, when she recognized it from the hallway earlier, and when Alexander Ainsley departed many days ago.

"I vanquished you once before," she said to the entity, but it didn't answer her. Its red eyes were bleeding with an insidious intent to consume her. "But that was just a fake. You. You're the real one." It let out a chilling breath that felt like little needles against Blair's frozen skin. Anger rose in Blair, she didn't like being tricked by some entity from the other realm. She glared into those bleeding red eyes that had no face or body. Blair summoned her power to the palm of her hand and surprised both Maddox and the entity when she fisted its frail neck. "What is your purpose?" she interrogated. "Why have you left the darkness?"

The entity didn't answer. It couldn't fight off Blair since it didn't have a body. But it grew stronger as she held onto its neck. The darkness surged through her and the entity, which fed on it to summon an arm. It was using the darkness to feed and grow the body that it lost after being dead for so long. The entity reached for her, but it's weak hand was quickly jolted off when it came in contact with Blair's necklace. The magic in the locket was pure light, which burned the entity to a weaker state

Blair acted quickly. She waved her hand on top of the candle Maddox held and summoned a ball of fire. She blew the ball of fire and it grew tremendously in her hand. A shriek ripped through their ears when the entity was defeated and thrown back into the hole it tried to crawl out of.

"Is it gone?" asked Maddox.

"Not for long," she said. The kitchen's lights flickered back on and all the darkness had been cleansed with the fire spell she used. "I need to call Anastasia," she mumbled.

"Blair, your hand," gasped Maddox as he ran to the sink to get a wet cloth.

She looked down at her palm; it was burnt terribly for using the cleansing spell. Blair dialled for her cousin as Maddox wrapped the cooling cloth on her palm. "Ana, get over here," she commanded over the phone with no hint of amusement in her voice. "We've got ourselves a problem."

"Like the one we had in Italy?" asked Anastasia over the phone. "Or the one before the London trip?"

"Neither,' she answered sternly. "It's like the one we had after prom."

"I'll be there," Anastasia cut the phone almost instantly because she understood the grave situation they were in.