4
The sharp scent of antiseptic filled the air. My parents were lying in their hospital beds, still unconscious. I sat between them, holding their hands, the warmth of their skin a small comfort. The wail of a distant ambu- lance faded. Whatever tragedy was unfolding at the Kinsman estate had nothing to do with me. This time, I would protect the people in front of me.
Marcus Austin entered, carrying an insulated thermos. “The nurse said your parents can have some congee
when they wake up.”
I stood to thank him, but he waved it off. “Ms. Vance, may I have a word?”
We sat on a bench in the hospital corridor. He pulled a silver locket from his inner jacket pocket. “This belo- ngs to my niece, Lily. She was taken from her preschool three days ago.”
“Mr. Austin, you know my rules.” I ran my thumb over the cool metal, the memory of my depleted energy
from the last life still fresh.
“I know you can only track one person a day, and I know using your gift comes at a great cost. But Lily is only six. The kidnappers sent us her hairclip yesterday. They said if we don’t have the ransom by tonight…”
“What is it you want me to do, Mr. Austin?” I interrupted, my fingertips already feeling a faint thrum from the
locket.
“I need you to touch this locket and tell me where she is. Name your price. If you find Lily, the Austin family will owe you a great debt.”
The sterile wind of the hallway blew past. I looked at the red veins in his tired eyes. “She’s in an abandoned toy factory on the outskirts of the city. Third warehouse from the end, in an iron cage at the very back. She’s holding a stuffed rabbit.”
Marcus’s head shot up. He pulled out his phone, but I placed a hand on his to stop him. “Go now. The kidna- ppers are in the next warehouse over, playing cards. Don’t alert them.”
Two hours later, one of his bodyguards sent a photo. A little girl was clutching a stuffed rabbit and eating a piece of bread, tear tracks still visible on her cheeks.
Marcus let out a long sigh of relief and handed me the locket. “Ms. Vance, I have no words to thank you.”
“It was nothing,” I said, returning the locket and turning to go back to the room.
“Ms. Vance, please wait. Next Saturday is my grandfather’s eightieth birthday. I’d like to invite you and your parents to the family estate for a meal. Consider it my apology, and a chance for my grandfather to thank you in person.”
“You’re too kind, Mr. Austin.”
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Chapter 2
“Please, do me this favor. I’ve already had a word with Isabelle Kinsman. She won’t trouble you again. And besides…” He paused. “The police just found a lead on Shane Kinsman’s case. They think the same group that took Lily might be involved.”
I stopped and turned back to him. “Alright. I’ll be there.”
On the day of the party, a black sedan pulled smoothly up to the Austin estate. Two rows of servants lined the driveway. Marcus, dressed in a dark, formal suit, was waiting at the entrance to the main hall. He gave a slight bow, his eyes pausing on me for a moment. “Ms. Vance, you look…”
I was wearing a simple, long-sleeved dress to cover the fading scars on my wrists. “Thank you for having
me.”
As I started to follow him inside, the sharp click-clack of high heels echoed from behind. Isabelle Kinsman,
dressed in a fiery red gown with heavy makeup, froze when she saw me. Then, her lips twisted into their fam-
iliar, mocking sneer.
But when her gaze moved past me and landed on Lily Austin, she froze solid.
