Marked From Birth
Behind her stood a dozen Blight-Walkers, their claws clicking against the stone.
"Thank you for finding the book for me, sister," Samantha said, her voice sounding like a thousand distorted whispers. "I couldn't touch it while it was under the hearth. The 'Mother's Protection' was too strong. But now that it's in your hands... it’s fair game."
Samantha raised a hand, and the shadows in the room turned into physical lashes, wrapping around Audrey’s ankles and pulling her toward the dark.
"Terren," Samantha said, looking at her father with utter disgust. "Finish your purpose."