21 — Starving the DarkThe sanctuary went dim on purpose.Not darkness—deliberate low light. Candle flames steadied in their glass jars, each one a small, contained presence that didn’t reach for more space than it needed. The room arranged itself into a loose circle without anyone giving orders. People sat where they landed, close enough to feel one another breathe, far enough to keep their edges intact.Rafael moved among them, quiet as a held breath.“This isn’t comfort,” he said softly, voice carrying just enough to be heard. “It’s resistance. We don’t soothe the dark. We starve it.”Nori sat with her knees drawn up, palms resting open on her thighs. The bond behind her sternum ached—present, contained. Not flaring. Not broadcasting. Just there, like a pulse she could choose to feel without letting it spill.Rafael stopped in the center of the circle. “Rules don’t change,” he said. “No names. No phones. Eyes open. Breathe with the room. If the thoughts turn cruel, you name where
Last Updated : 2026-02-05 Read more