Sophie Deveraux found me at The Crossing three nights after Davina's first visit.
She looked different—harder, more determined. Grief for her sister Jane-Anne had crystallized into something sharp and focused.
"We need to talk."
I gestured to a booth near the back, away from the few customers scattered throughout the bar. Sophie slid in across from me, her hands wrapped around a glass of something she wasn't drinking.
"The witches are moving faster," she said without preamble. "Agnes has accelerated the timeline. The Harvest is happening within weeks, not months."
"I know."
"You know?" Her eyes narrowed. "How could you possibly—"
"I know lots of things, Sophie. That's why you're here, isn't it?" I leaned back. "You want to stop them. Save the girls. Maybe save your sister's memory in the process."
"I want to survive." Her voice cracked. "Jane-Anne died for this. For the ancestors. For power that was never going to come. I won't let more girls die the same way."
[QUEST GENERATED: DISRUPT THE HARVEST]
[Objective: Prevent the ritual from completing as planned]
[Reward: 1500 EXP — Witch affinity boost]
[Time limit: Before the next dark moon]
[Note: Davina's survival depends on this]
"I can help," I said. "But not in the way you expect."
"What does that mean?"
"It means the Harvest will happen. Agnes and her followers are too committed to stop it completely." I held her gaze. "But we can change the outcome. Ensure that when the knife falls, not everyone stays dead."
Sophie stared at me. "That's impossible. The ancestors claim the souls. It's how the magic works."
"The ancestors claim what they're given. But if someone else claims first..." I smiled. "Let's just say I have experience with soul extraction."