I remained in that seat for what felt like hours, neglecting to clean up as I mulled over her words. I couldn't determine if they held any value or if they were merely empty words. However, what she revealed felt undeniably significant to me.

The jangle of keys at the front door signalled my Grams' arrival as she unlocked it and stepped inside. The door slammed shut, and the sound of her footsteps echoed down the hallway as she headed toward the kitchen.

"Sweetie?" Her gentle voice reached my ears, pulling me back to reality. As I turned to face her, she immediately took note of my puffy red eyes and the tear streaks dried on my cheeks. "What happened?" she asked, her words tumbling out in a rush as she dropped the bag onto the nearby counter and hurried over to me.

Although I stayed silent, it wasn't out of anger toward her; I believed that feeling had long been buried within me. Instead, I was still reeling from the shock of everything the ghost had revealed.

"Charlotte, you're worrying me," she said urgently, concern etched on her face. I noticed her eyes darted to the Book of Shadows, seeing what page it was open to, before to the remnants of ash in the pot, and the candles that had burned down halfway.

"Who did you contact?!" she exclaimed, her hands grasping my shoulder, tightening as she turned me to face her, crouching slightly to meet my gaze. I could feel her grip intensifying as if the slight pain might snap me back to reality.

"I... I don't know," I replied, speaking the truth. I never learned her name, nor could I see her face. "I—I couldn't see her face; she was wearing a black dress and a hood," I remembered, though I doubted it held any significance. "I'm scared, Grams," I cried, my voice breaking as the tears began to flow again. Without hesitation, she lifted me into a tight embrace, and I wrapped my arms around her, squeezing her fiercely.

"Shhh," she murmured softly, attempting to soothe my relentless sobs. "Tell me everything," she urged, and I realised I could no longer keep the presence of this woman a secret.

Once my sobs subsided, she settled down beside me, and I began to share everything about the woman. I explained how it all started when I reclaimed my darkness, how she had been haunting me, and everything she had said at the table. I confessed that I had no idea what any of it meant. Yet, something in my Grams' expression suggested she might have an inkling about what this ghost was trying to convey.

"Has she ever spoken to you before tonight?" my Grams asked, her voice filled with concern as she wondered if this woman had reached out prior to now. I simply shook my head in response, as the woman hadn't spoken until I performed the séance.

"Is... is there something evil inside me?" I choked out the words, the thought alone twisting my stomach in knots.

"No," my Grams replied firmly, shaking her head. "Of course not, sweetie." She reached out, her hands gently clasping my arm, offering a sense of comfort.

"She seemed so certain there was a darkness inside me, one that craves more than just knowledge," I said, my voice trembling as tears threatened to spill. "I can't make sense of any of it," I muttered, running a hand through my hair, feeling overwhelmed by it all. My hand lingered in my hair, absentmindedly twirling a strand around my finger. A sign of my anxiety creeping up on me.

"We'll figure this out," my Grams assured me, her expression soft but sincere, making it clear she meant every word. "I won't rest until you're safe," she vowed, her own eyes glistening with unshed tears. She pulled me into another embrace, pressing a gentle kiss to my forehead, a silent promise to protect me no matter what.

..................

The next day dawned, and I returned to the Cullens, feeling it was important to be there for them. I left my Grams poring over a pile of dusty old books she had gathered over the years. I brought the Book of Shadows along, hoping to find something within its pages that could aid us in our situation.

I made my way through the house, heading to the back where Edward, Bella, and Senna and Zafrina were gathered in the woods behind the Cullens' home. As I stepped outside, Tanya and her family arrived, along with Carlisle and Garrett. I offered a warm smile to Carlisle as we walked together down the gravel path, eventually standing behind Bella and Edward a moment later.

Kate clasped Bella's hands as we stood by, observing her channel all of her electrical energy into Bella. "Oh yeah, she's a shield all right. Should've put her on her ass," she remarked, pulling her hand away from Bella, who remained unfazed by Kate's display.

"Or your voltage has been exaggerated," Garrett said, stepping forward and looking at Kate.

"Maybe it only works on the weak," Kate replied, extending her hand toward him, wiggling her fingers softly as if to tease him and egg him on to put it to the test. I couldn't help but smirk at her remark.

We all watched in anticipation as she wiggled her fingers a bit more at him. Garrett hesitated for a moment before stepping forward, extending his index finger toward her palm.

"Garrett, I wouldn't," Carlisle warned, trying to dissuade him from what could end badly. Ignoring the warning, he pressed his finger against her palm. Instantly, an electrical current surged through her hand and into Garrett's finger, causing him to convulse in pain. He collapsed to his knees, his arm falling limply to the ground until the electricity finally ceased its torment.

"You are an amazing woman," he said, gazing up at her from his kneeling position. She responded with a smile.

"I wonder what the witch is capable of," Kate mused, slowly turning her gaze toward me. A smirk danced on her cold lips as everyone's eyes focused on me.

"What would you have me do?" I retorted with a smirk of my own, determined not to back down from her challenge.

"How about you give it a shot?" Kate suggested, wiggling her fingers at me in a challenge to see if I could withstand her powers.

"Kate," Carlisle cautioned as if her power could inflict serious harm on me.

"It won't be at full strength," she assured, meeting my gaze once more.

"Safe than sorry," I replied, as I had no fear of her power. I believed I could handle it, and the outcome would surely make a strong statement.

I stepped closer to Kate, aware that everyone was watching me as if I were out of my mind, convinced I couldn't handle her power and that it would surely be my downfall. But I had faith in myself and my abilities.

Once I was close enough, I extended my index finger, mirroring Garrett's earlier move, and inched it toward her palm. "Viribus suis," I murmured, making contact with Kate. However, as I touched her cold skin, I felt nothing—no jolt of electricity coursing through me. I was safe.

Kate and the others exchanged puzzled glances; their brows furrowed in confusion. But before they could utter a word, the rushing electricity from Kate surged back into her, causing her to grunt and collapse to the ground. The current coursed visibly through her body as she staggered backwards her body seizing up, clearly overwhelmed by her power.

The surge of power lasted only a few seconds before dissipating, leaving her body still and returning to normal. "So, that's what it feels like," she said, shaking her body for a moment, as if she could still feel her electricity coursing through her veins.

Before I could ask any questions, Bella, Edward, Carlisle, Eleazar, Kate, and Tanya sprinted down a path. I hurried after them, not having their heightened senses to know what was happening. After a brief run through the woods, we stopped, where Jake, in his wolf form, stood alongside the other boys who had recently shifted due to the presence of new vampires on their land.

I glanced toward the rocks and spotted two unfamiliar vampires perched on them. One had an albino appearance with bleached blonde hair, while the other was shorter with brown hair. Both were dressed in black leather outfits—perhaps their idea of fashion.

"Vladimir, Stefan..." Carlisle greeted them warmly, despite the tension. "You're a long way from home." Everyone stood watchful, eyes fixed on the pair as their blood-red gazes met ours. I stepped closer to Bella, quietly observing the exchange.

"What are they doing here?" Kate questioned leaning towards Eleazar, her voice edged with confusion. It was clear she wasn't the only one wondering, as no one seemed to have an answer.

"We heard the Volturi were moving against you, but that you would not stand alone," Vladimir stated, his voice carrying an unfamiliar accent, foreign and thick.

"We didn't do what we were accused of," Carlisle responded earnestly, but it was clear the two didn't seem to care for the truth.

"We do not care what you did, Carlisle," Vladimir replied, his tone blunt and indifferent, delivering nothing but the cold truth.

"We have waited a millennium for the Italian scum to be challenged," Stefan added, his voice carrying the same distinct accent as Vladimir's, unmistakably Romanian. They undoubtedly hated the Volturi as much as I.

"It's not our plan to fight the Volturi," Carlisle's voice rang out firmly, making it clear that we had no intention of engaging in a battle with them.

"Shame..." Vladimir mused, tilting his head toward Stefan. "Aro's witnesses will be so disappointed,"

"They enjoy a good fight," Stefan concluded for Vladimir, both of them exchanging glances and sharing a sinister smile.

"Aro's witnesses?" Eleazar asked, concern evident in his voice, while Carlisle shot him a knowing look.

"Aww. Still hoping they'll listen?" Vladimir taunted, gazing down at us with an air of superiority as if we were beneath them. But we didn't linger for idle chatter; we turned back up the path and headed into the house for a more pressing discussion.

******************