Book Four: Chapter 171

Up above, she heard what she assumed was an affirmative thump, a solid, grounding sound that reverberated faintly through the walls of the house. Beth’s lips curved into a small, relieved smile. At least someone was willing to hang back and help out while the chaos of the night swirled around them. Feeling a touch lighter, she stepped back inside, shutting the door gently behind her, and sank into the couch cushions, wrapping her arms around herself as she waited. The soft glow of the lanterns outside cast flickering patterns across the walls, and she could hear the faint laughter of children in the distance, their excitement mingling with the rustle of leaves and the occasional bark of Cerberus somewhere off in the shadows.

Home. The word settled in her chest like a warm stone. Familiar. Safe. And yet, tonight, the safety was fragile, stretched thin across the edges of the supernatural chaos.