Mystic Falls has secrets. So does she.
Aurora St. James didn't mean or want to get involved. She only wanted a fresh start - to blend in, finish school, and keep the strange flares of energy inside her quiet.
But Mystic Falls doesn't do quiet.
And n...
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Fear doesn't always roar.
Sometimes, it perches quietly on the edge of a sofa, in the half-empty mugs that steam like little warnings, and in the way voices lower themselves just to avoid waking it. It thrives in anticipation, in the gentle pause before someone speaks, and in the silent, waiting eyes of those who know too much and yet not enough.
Mystic Falls had always thrummed with tension. Shadows stretched a little too long across the walls, and every smile carried a hint of caution. But lately, the town's heartbeat had grown jagged—quicker, sharper, as if something waiting in the dark was testing just how tightly its residents could hold together before snapping.
Aurora sat perched on the edge of the sofa, a mug of steaming coffee warming her hands, while her family and houseguests slowly gathered around the living room. Gabrielle looked confused but curious, as usual, her brows knitting together in that exact way that made Aurora want to start her own illustrated manual: How Moms React to the Supernatural, Volume One. Theo, Zoya, and Talia lounged on the rug, wide-eyed and eager, while Lucy and Mateo leaned against the armrest like they were attending a very important lecture that they'd already aced once. Derek, naturally, was sprawled on the floor with his headphones in, but he'd peeled one earbud out just enough to catch snippets.
Aurora took a deep breath and tried to calm the little fluttering panic that always came when she was about to talk seriously. "Okay," she said, tapping the side of her mug for emphasis, "so I promise this isn't one of those boring lectures where you'll get tested later, but—it's time you know the full picture of what's going on in Mystic Falls." Her voice had a nervous, upbeat lilt, like she was trying to make this sound more like a casual chat than the kind of thing that usually involved veiled threats and blood.
Gabrielle tilted her head. "Aurora, you said something like this before... but I don't think anyone really understood."
"Exactly!" Aurora clapped her hands lightly, trying to harness some positive energy. "And I get it. It's a lot. Believe me, I didn't totally understand it all when I first found out either. But—picture this," she waved her hands dramatically, "vampires, witches, werewolves... basically, your friendly, local supernatural neighborhood watch. Only slightly more dangerous than regular neighborhood watch."
Theo leaned forward. "Vampires? Like... the ones that can't come out in sunlight?"
"Yes!" Aurora's eyes sparkled. "Yes, exactly. And some of them are incredibly dramatic. Also, some of them are incredibly mean. But mostly, you just need to know who to avoid, which is where I come in." She gave a tiny, self-satisfied shrug, as if that explanation alone should have earned her a medal.
Zoya tilted her head. "And what about witches?"
Aurora bit her lip, thinking. "Well, witches are tricky. Some are really, really good. Some are... slightly terrifying. But then there's Bonnie." Her voice softened, and her tone carried a weight it hadn't before. "Bonnie's one of the good ones. One of the really, really good ones. And I won't lie—she's also super strong. Like, she can fight almost anybody." She shot a quick glance at Gabrielle to gauge her reaction; her mom looked simultaneously horrified and intrigued.
