"Evening, Miss Hartwell," he said, his voice carrying easily across the now-quiet room. "What can I get for you?"

I opened my mouth to reply, but the words stuck in my throat as I caught snippets of whispered conversations around me.

"Did you feel that shaking just now?"

"It was her doing."

"Causing trouble, just like her grandmother."

My cheeks burned with a mixture of shame and anger. I hadn't meant to cause any disturbance. The earth had simply responded to my anger, a connection I couldn't yet control.

I made my way to the bar, trying to ignore the sidelong glances and poorly concealed pointing. Cedric placed a steaming mug of herbal tea in front of me without my having to ask.

"Don't let them get to you," he murmured, leaning in close. "Small minds fear what they don't understand."

I wrapped my hands around the warm mug, drawing comfort from its heat. "I didn't mean to cause any trouble, Cedric. I just, I lost control for a moment."

He nodded sagely. "Power like yours takes time to master. You're not the first to shake things up a bit in Llyncroft, and you certainly won't be the last."

A burst of laughter from a nearby table caught my attention. I turned to see a group of locals huddled together, their eyes darting in my direction, before glancing away.

"Just like when old May used to lose her temper. Remember that storm she kicked up back in '85?"

"Aye, nearly tore the roof off my barn, it did."

I frowned, my grip tightening on the mug. "Cedric," I said quietly, "what exactly do you know about my grandmother?"

Before he could answer, I heard the accusation.

"You! You did this. You're to blame, aren't you?"

My heart sank. Alun Davies, sit at a table with a spilled pint in front of him. His eyes were red and swollen, his face contorted with grief and anger.

I approached him carefully, aware that everyone in the pub was looking at me. "Alun, I'm so sorry about Thomas. I."

"Sorry?" he said, rising unsteadily to his feet. "You lot and your secrets and your magic." His voice broke on the last word.

Cedric was by my side in an instant, his presence both comforting and authoritative. "Alun, lad, this isn't the way."

Alun rounded on Cedric. "And you! You keep your bloody vampire tricks out of this!"

The pub fell silent. Cedric's eyes narrowed, but his voice was calm. "Alun Davies, you're speaking out of grief and ale. Sit down before you say something you'll regret."

But Alun wasn't finished. He pointed a shaking finger at me. "She's part of it all, can't you see? Since she came here, everything's gone to pot!"

I stood my ground, even though I wanted to run and hide. I couldn't let Alun's pain go unaddressed. "Alun," I said, reaching my hand out. "I know nothing can bring Thomas back. But taking it out on me won't help you grieve."

He looked at my hand like it was a snake about to bite before slumping back into his chair.

Cedric nodded at me before addressing the rest of the pub with the ease of someone used to diffusing tension.

"That's all, folks," he said with a smile that didn't reach his eyes. "Why not let Alun grieve in peace?"

As the conversation cautiously resumed, I sat down opposite Alun, who had buried his head in his arms on the sticky table.

"Talk to me," I said. "Let me help."

He looked up at me, the despair in his eyes as he said the one word that made my blood run cold.

"Leave."

Alun's one-word dismissal felt like a punch to the gut. I withdrew my hand and hugged myself.

I saw Gideon get up from his seat at the bar out of the corner of my eye. He picked up his half full glass and made his way over. His heavy boots thudded on the wooden floor.

"I'm sorry about him," Gideon said, nodding towards Alun. "He's not himself tonight."

I managed a weak smile. "It's not your fault. We all deal with shock in our own way."

Gideon sat down next to Alun, who either didn't notice or didn't care. He was staring at the scarred table, bloodshot eyes fixed on some point only he could see. Gideon tried to console him with quiet words.

I noticed something odd about Gideon's hands. The usual blacksmith's grime was there, evidence of a day spent labouring over metal and fire. But there was something else. Red paint. It was caked under his nails, a stark contrast to the dark stains of his work.

My heart raced. Why would Gideon have red paint under his nails?

I opened my mouth to speak, but how could I accuse him when he'd been nothing but kind? But there it was, red paint that matched the message left for me.

"Gideon," I said. "I couldn't help but notice." I gestured towards his hands.

He looked down at his hands. "Oh, this?" He held them up for me to see. "Had a bit of an accident in the workshop today. I think a can of paint fell over. I think that's what happened." He chuckled. It was meant to break the tension, but it only made my heart race faster.

"Red paint?" I said.

Cedric met my eyes, and we shared a silent exchange before he spoke. "Let's have a chat in the back room, shall we? A bit more private there."

It was a casual enough suggestion, but there was an urgency in his voice I couldn't ignore. I looked at Gideon, who had now hidden his hands from view, and nodded. As we followed Cedric through the tables and chairs, the warmth from the hearth was replaced by a cooler air that seemed to seep into my bones.

The back room was surprisingly modern compared to the blacked wood in the main bar. It was softly lit, with white leather sofas and an oak and resin river coffee table. Cedric closed the door behind us with a soft click.

He turned to face us. There was a power to his stance, an authority that seemed to emanate from him like a tangible force.

Cedric locked eyes with Gideon, and I felt a chill run down my spine. Gideon's usual alert posture slumped as if he was under some kind of spell. Cedric's voice was low, barely above a whisper, but it filled the room with its authority.

"Gideon," he said. "Tell us why you have red paint on your hand."

Gideon's eyes were distant, completely focused on Cedric. "I don't know," he said. It was the flattest I'd ever heard his voice. There was no spark of the Gideon I knew.