Without A Heartbeat

Scarlett sat on her bed inside the Warren, running a finger down the message that her family had written on the inside cover of the book. It had worn with time, the pages yellowing and ink fading. She smiled as she read the words over and over again as she did every day, picturing the smiling face of her family who were long since buried, but still alive and with her every time she closed her eyes.

Someone knocked at the door.

“One second.”

Scarlett picked up the dried poppy off the bed and placed it gently inside the book, before closing the cover. Standing, she walked over to the bookshelf, which was lined with all of her father’s old novels, his scent still lingering in the pages. Scarlett placed the book into a gap on the bookshelf, next to her copy of ‘The Monk.’ She ran her hand lovingly over the titles and gave a sigh.

Walking over to the door, Scarlett opened it and saw Gabriella DeLuca on the other side, excitement stamped all over her face. The Chosen bounded into her room.

“What’s going on?” Scarlett said with a chuckle.

“You’re never going to believe what’s happened,” Gabriella said, barely able to contain her excitement.

“Midnight smiled?” Scarlett said with a grin.

“Ha ha, very funny. No, it’s amazing. Like a miracle.”

“Okay I’ll bite.”

Gabriella used her hands to express herself as she always did. “The Coven has predicated a new Awakening.”

Scarlett’s mouth fell open. “There hasn’t been one for years! Are they sure?”

“Definitely. And what’s even better is that I asked Sage Faru if I could do the infiltration and he agreed! I’m going to bring a new Chosen into the Alliance.”

Scarlett patted an arm against Gabriella’s shoulder. “That’s fantastic news, Ella.”

Gabriella took a deep breath, trying to calm herself. “I’ve got to go and tell the others. This is so exciting!” She started to rush from the room.

“So what’s this lucky guy’s name then?” asked Scarlett, catching her at the door.

Gabriella let her hand linger on the door handle as she dug the information from her memory.

“Alexander Eden.”

The End.