Chapter 1
Cass much preferred car rides to flying or even using a Sling Ring. She found them oddly therapeutic, and in this case, it gave her more than enough time to reconsider her decision of coming to Westview. The steady hum of the engine, the gentle sway of the road—it all felt grounding, as though the motion could carry her away from the unsettling thoughts swirling in her mind. But with each passing kilometer, the weight of her decision grew heavier.
Cass knew it was reckless to search for her old mentor. After all, Agatha did try to kill her centuries ago. Yet, no matter how dangerous, the pull to find her was undeniable. With the Darkhold finally lost, Cass could sense Agatha, and she couldn’t ignore the urge to see her after all this time. Despite the risks, the centuries of separation had left a lingering ache she couldn’t suppress—and she knew she wouldn’t be able to resist seeking Agatha out.
She had left behind so much, both in time and in herself. Agatha had always been a complicated figure in Cass’s life—so much darkness, but also something that felt dangerously like home. Still, coming here after centuries apart, knowing what Agatha was capable of… it felt reckless.
Cass pulled her phone from her pocket, staring at the map on the screen, even though she could get to Agatha even with her eyes closed. Westview was so close now, and she had already come too far to turn back.
With a deep breath, she tapped the gas pedal a little harder. The decision had been made. There was no going back now. She really needed to go.