The stars were shining as the crickets chirped. The Smithsonian Institute stood stiff, dark, and proud against the cool breeze. It was a calm and peaceful night.

BRIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIINNNNNNNNGGGGG!

Well, it was.

A loud alarm blasted throughout the complex. The thieves exited the museum in a rush, running at full speed.

"Do it now!" Someone yelled as armed guards came into view.

A wheel of thick, chalky mist spiralled out of nowhere within seconds, enveloping the thieves in its depths. By the time the guards arrived at the spot, it had vanished once more, taking its occupants with it.

A curator at the Royal Ontario Museum was lying on the floor, unconscious, while an intruder searched for something.

"Why were you working late?" The criminal muttered, then their hand hit something. "Ah…"

Tapping a Bluetooth headset, they paused, inspecting the object. "I got it. Get me out."

White smoke engulfed the perpetrator and blew away in gentle gusts.

Hyperventilating with fear, the British Museum's security guard watched with wide eyes. He was tied down with invisible ropes and couldn't move a muscle.

"Calm down, we won't kill you," a whispery voice scoffed. "Nighty night!"

They punched the man in the face, knocking him out. The last thing he remembered was a milky haze creeping across his vision.

Tara…

A familiar voice called to the Supreme Everine in her sleep.

Tara, listen to my voice…

An image of the late Miss T appeared, smiling kindly. She kept trying to speak, but the wind blew her words away.

Suddenly, something clawed through Tara's dream.

A dark force with glowing eyes stared before lunging at her.

"AH!"

Tara woke up with a loud shout, sweat beading her brow.

It was morning, and the sun was shining through her window.

Almost a month. It had been almost a month since the incident of May's Shadows, and since Bella had run away with Ryder and Miranda.

Tara's insides clenched. Miranda.

It was her fault Miss T had to sacrifice herself. Miranda had prepared to attach the dark spirit to Tara's soul, but the librarian had intervened and trapped the Shadow inside herself instead. She and the Shadow had disappeared, as well as the remnants of the Shadow's curse.

Miranda had to pay for what she did.

Ding-dong. Ding-dong.

The mansion had fallen into a strange stupor following Bella's escapade. Rob and Fiona had been tense, full of worry. They'd make constant trips to the police, sometimes leaving for a few days, only to return disheartened.

Jake and Ludo were quieter than usual, though they still searched for any cryptozoological phenomena around Evermoor. If Jake was anxious he never showed it.

Seb took things the hardest. Despite being K.O.'ed during the majority of the confrontation, he felt intense guilt over both Bella and Miranda. Seb had accidentally broke Miranda's heart, so he couldn't help but wonder if he was partially responsible for Miranda convincing Bella to run away.

Of course, the truth was more complicated than that, considering Tara suspected Bella had been enchanted to follow the pair, but all she had were suspicions.

Ding-dong. Ding-dong.

"Why's no one getting the door?" Tara stomped down the stairs in her pyjamas and yanked it open. "Do you realize people are trying to sleep in on a weekend—"

A shorter woman was struggling with someone on their back.

"Help please!" She was panting. "I'm going to drop her! Why'd she faint now?!"

Tara gaped as she recognized the girl being carried..

"BELLA?!"

Once Bella had been safely brought inside there was a hullabaloo. Rob refused to leave her side as she lay on the couch, while Fiona called the Doctor/Mayor. Seb had appeared, pale as a ghost, while Jake and Ludo hovered nearby.

Bella seemed fine despite having been away for a month. Her hair was longer, her clothes were fresh, and she'd been washing and eating regularly.

"Thank God," Rob muttered. "Thank God."

The visitor watched the proceedings with interest. She was about five feet, or 1.52 meters, and a face mask hid her features. She was dressed in simple shorts, a t-shirt, and runners, as well as glasses.

"Thanks," Tara approached her cautiously. "What's with the mask?"

She laughed. "Oh sorry! I had a cold a couple days ago."

The woman removed her mask, revealing her smile.

Tara did a double take. "Wait…"

The Chinese woman had long black hair and twinkling dark eyes.

"I'm Leora," She introduced herself with a Canadian accent. "I believe you've met my sister?"

Though Miranda and Ryder had parted on semi-bad terms with the Crossley family, Leora bringing Bella home was enough for the adults to invite her to stay.

"I don't trust her!" Tara hissed to Seb.

"Relax, just because Miranda did stuff doesn't mean her sister necessarily knew about it," Seb responded quietly. "Besides, remember how Miranda and Ryder helped save you from getting sacrificed? They weren't all bad."

"That was before—" Tara bit her tongue. "What if she's here to take the mansion?"

"I was just coming to visit," Leora's voice filtered from down the hallway. "I ran into your daughter…Bella, right? She was trying to figure out a way home so I offered to drive her. She fell asleep in my car after she gave me the address. I woke her when we arrived, but the moment Bella touched the ground she fainted on top of me!"

"That's strange," Mrs. Crossley mused. "But thank you so much."

Tara and Seb listened with bated breath.

"I'm sorry if Miranda caused you any trouble," she apologized. "She can be a little intense sometimes."

Fiona chortled. "Well I accept your apology, and don't worry about it," the older woman told her. "I won't hold it against you."

"That bad, huh?"

"Actually she was quite helpful," she said thoughtfully. "Up until she revealed the will that took half the house and encouraged Bella to run away with her and Ryder."

"I see," Leora sighed.

"Do you want some brunch?"

"Maybe later. For now I need a nap. Driving is tiring!"

Tara beelined for the stairs once she heard the ladies leave.

"Tara, what are you doing?!" Seb crept after her. They tiptoed past the living room where the mayor was heartily assuring Rob that Bella would be fine after a good sleep, then stepped out the front door.

The day was warm as the birds chirped in the trees. Seb's eyes took a moment to adjust to the sunlight when he saw Tara, still in her pajamas, trying the door of a tiny Kia Soul.

"Tara!" Seb groaned.

"Locked!" She muttered in frustration. "You'd think for once—"

The car beeped loudly as the trunk opened.

The teenagers whirled to see Leora chuckling at them.

"A word of advice, eavesdroppers," She marched past them and removed an overnight bag, then closed the trunk. "You should make a plan before trying to break into my vehicle. I commend you on your attempt though! Initiative is always appreciated!"

Leora beamed and headed back inside, locking the car as she went.

Seb was red with embarrassment. "Nice going, Tara! She probably thinks we're delinquents!"

She rolled her eyes. "Okay, so she caught us this time—"

"Whoa!" He held his hands up. "This time? I'm happy to help with your investigating and exploring, but not criminal activity! There is no 'us' in this, okay? Now I'm going to have a proper meal, which you should too, or you can explain to your mother why you're wandering outside in your pyjamas!"

Her stepbrother wheeled and stamped back into the house as Tara stared after him, gobsmacked.

Tara had changed her clothes when she ran into Leora.

"Hi!" she said cheerfully. "Can I talk to you for a second?"

Tara clutched Miss T's pendant under her shirt. She never took it off since that day. "Sure," she replied civilly. "It won't take long, right?"

"Nah, just a couple questions," she led Tara into her room and closed the door. She met Tara's gaze, and though the teenager could still see her cheerfulness, her face was much more worried.

"What is it?" Tara asked suspiciously.

Leora tilted her head and spun her fingers, a reddish aura appearing around them. "I need to hear the exact details of what my sister did, Supreme Everine," she spoke mildly. "Preferably the abridged version."

She flinched.

"I won't hurt you, I came to talk," Leora assured her, snapping her fingers. The scarlet mist dissipated. "But it's imperative you tell me what happened that day."

"Why?" Tara snapped.

Leora swallowed hard. "I think Miranda's in danger," she shared nervously. "And if I'm right, there's a chance all of you are too."