Ashes of the Beginning.When Eleanor Wickham woke up, her nose were filled with an overpowering odor. Her mind was cloudy as her eyelids fluttered open, but she was startled awake by the stinging, bitter flavor of smoke. She bolted upright, panic rushing through her veins. Unsettling shadows that danced to a macabre beat were cast by an odd orange glow that flickered across the walls of her bedroom.There was a lot of heat and fear in the air. Her heart thumping like a drum, she staggered to her feet. Every second the muted crackle of flames became louder as it reverberated throughout the home. She opened the door to her hallway and was met by a blast of intense heat, which made her skin wet with sweat.The walls' borders were kissed by flames, their flaming tendrils devouring everything in their path. Eleanor was unable to pause and ponder as the smoke gnawed at her lungs, making her breath catch. Her shaky hands were reaching for the little wooden box that had been her husband's las

The Reluctant Ally.Leaning back in his chair, Silas Granger lit another cigarette. Like a wire overextended, the tension in the room crackled. Across from him, Eleanor Wickham sat with her hands gripping the box as if it contained the answers to all of the questions she had ever been afraid to ask."I am unable to assist you," Silas replied, releasing a cloud of smoke. He spoke in a flat, uncompromising tone.Eleanor's expression became stern. "The entire story hasn't even been told to you."He responded, "I've heard enough," and stabbed the cigarette into a broken ashtray. "You don't realize how huge of a problem you're facing. Caleb Hartwell is one of those people that doesn't just light fires for fun."That's precisely why I came to you," she retorted, raising her voice. "You are aware of their potential. You have personally witnessed it.With his chair scuffing the weathered hardwood floor, Silas stood up. And for that reason, I'm refusing. The pursuit of men like Hartwell has al

Marked for Silence.In the silence of the night, the steady slapping of feet on the sidewalk reverberated. Breathing raggedly and unevenly, Silas Granger and Eleanor Wickham hurried along the tiny street. A shadowy figure behind them filled the space, moving with frightening speed and accuracy."Who is he?" As Eleanor fought to keep up with Silas, she gasped and gripped the borders of her coat."Definitely not here to make friends," Silas retorted, his keen eyes searching the street for a way out.Long, menacing shadows were formed on the buildings by the weak glow of flickering lighting that illuminated their way. The faceless entity following them remained a menacing silhouette, its every move methodical and unrelenting.Silas grabbed Eleanor's arm and held her up before she could collapse on the uneven pavement. "Keep going," he said in a stern but low voice.In the distance, a car's engine roared, and as it turned a corner, spotlights swept toward them. With a muttered curse, Sila

Ambushed in the Dark.The passageway was chilly, and the stifling silence was drowned out by the distant buzz of cars. With their backs to the brick wall, Silas and Eleanor breathed in unison and shallowly. The footsteps that had previously followed them ceased, and a dense silence took their place.A man with an intimidating silhouette in the low light stepped out of the shadows. He took a step closer, a stray gleam of moonlight striking the shine of a sword. His eyes were calculating and his face was keen, like a predator evaluating its prey.The man's voice sounded like gravel scraping metal when he muttered, "I'll say this once." "Close the case. Leave. Or I'll make sure you two don't go anywhere ever again.Beside Silas, Eleanor stiffened, her fingers clenching his arm. Unfazed, Silas straightened, his features etched in stone. "Threats don't work on me," he said in a tone that was surprisingly composed. "You've wasted your evening if you came to frighten us away."The man gave a

Beneath the Surface.Tension and cigarette smoke filled the air in Silas's office. His desk was cluttered with newspapers and empty whiskey bottles, which were illuminated by the dull glow of a desk lamp that created flickering shadows on the peeling wallpaper. With her arms encircling her, Eleanor stepped close to the window and looked out at the street below."Any chance we're not being followed?" Muttering, Silas tossed his coat onto the chair and then sank down on the edge of his desk.Eleanor let out a loud sigh. "They wouldn't be in a rush if they were pursuing us. However, I can't get rid of the sensation that someone is observing."Silas gave his temple a massage. He was troubled by the night's events—the brawl, the chase, and the key they narrowly kept. He opened his desk drawer and took out the ledger, turning the battered pages. A persistent reminder of what they had left behind at the motel, the smoke clung to the paper.Looking out the window, Eleanor turned. "We must have