"Feeding on fear may seem cruel," said Junie, striding through the torch-lit corridor. "But in doing so, she helps them. Their fears vanish."
Corin raised an eyebrow. "Helpful? Right."
"The greater the fear, the longer she lasts. Once, she fed on a girl so terrified we didn't need to feed her again for a year. Poor Lyra suffers through their fears herself… but she endures."
"Sounds delightful."
"Today, we are… 'hunting' a girl. Delilah Demare."
"Hunting? That's a heavy word," Corin muttered. "And why does this room look like a medieval dungeon?"
Junie grinned. "Okay, kidnapping, if you prefer. But yes, we're capturing her."
"You're terrifying."
"I know. Now, focus. Delilah suffers from bathophobia."
Corin blinked. "What's that?"
"Fear of depth. When she was nine, she fell into a dry well. Remote place. She was found after 46 hours. She claimed something in the darkness watched her. Something with teeth."
---
Later, by a silent lake…
"Delilah!" called her friend. "Stop being afraid. There's nothing in the water. Look!"
The friend plunged her hands into the lake. "See? Come on."
Delilah stepped closer, hesitant.
"I'll be back in two minutes!" her friend shouted. "Practice till then!"
Alone, Delilah approached. She touched the water.
It pulled her in.
SPLASH.
---
Back in the castle…
"She's already terrified of water," Corin muttered, watching the scrying mirror. "And you dragged her inside it?"
"She'll conquer it soon enough," said Junie.
"Right. Sure."
In the chamber, Delilah screamed, trapped in her own nightmare.
"Please, someone—anyone! It's going to eat me—don't come closer—MOM!"
Corin's fists clenched. "What's happening? Why is she still screaming? I'm going in—"
"STOP!" Junie barked. "You'll get yourself killed."
"You'd kill me for her? I'm your blood! She's a monster."
Junie's jaw tightened. "Don't force me. Please."
Delilah's screams peaked—
—and then fell to silence.
Moments later, she staggered out, pale and hollow.
"You'll forget the past two hours," said Matilda gently, placing a hand on her forehead. "And the present one. Go home. Sleep."
Delilah nodded. "Yes."
Corin turned toward the hall.
And there she was.
Lyra.
Her skin glowed like porcelain, her eyes dead stars.
"So bright," Corin whispered. "So… emotionless."
"Adam—Corin—are you all right?" Matilda asked, alarmed.
"I'm fine," Corin said. "I need to go home. I don't feel good."
"Go," Junie ordered. "We'll call you when we need you."
He left.
"Did it not work on him?" Matilda asked.
Junie watched the door. "Maybe."