The ambulance arrived at the same time as Soph's mother, aunt and uncle. Blue and red lights washed the scene in an eerie, alternating glow as Luca and Rosa rushed to Nona's side. Luca screamed for her to wake up as the paramedics worked on her, and the sound pierced through Soph like a knife.

"Baby?" Zita crouched before her, skin pale, eyes wide in shock. Soph swallowed back the lump in her throat, then crumpled against her mother, sobs renewed.

"He's gone. They're all gone."

"Shh, Baby." Zita smoothed her hair back. "Don't say anything."

"You were in the crash too?" A paramedic approached, putting his bag down as Soph nodded. He squatted before her, shining his little torch light in her eyes. "That's a nasty cut on your head. Did you hit the dash? all right, well, it looks like you might have some conclusion. I want to take you to the hospital to get you checked over, is that okay?"

"Yes," Zita spoke for Soph. "I'm her mother. I'll ride with her."

The paramedic helped her to the ambulance as his colleagues working on Nona pronounced her dead. Luca and Rosa held the body, wailing. Zita didn't even look back as the paramedic climbed in with them and shut the door. He helped Soph settle onto the stretcher, then gave the okay for the driver to leave.

Soph stared out the window, watching Nona's body until it was out of sight, then she met her mother's eye. Zita watched her with a sharp gaze, as if she knew exactly what had happened.

"All right," the paramedic set his laptop on his lap. "Sophia, is it? Can you tell me what happened?"

"Nona was feeling unwell," she stopped to clear her throat and saw the Paramedic typing up the notes. She'd have to be careful to remember what she said. "And then she suddenly fell unconscious, and we went off the road. I couldn't revive her."

The paramedic gave her a sympathetic look, but Zita's expression was fierce.

Don't say anything.

"And your grandmother was driving?"

"Yes."

"Have you sustained any other injuries except your head?"

Just a broken heart.

"No."

He didn't ask anymore questions after that, and instead checked her obs as the ambulance escaped the forest and drove back into town. It took her to the same hospital she'd stayed at after the Sinister collapse.

The ambulance parked, and the paramedic and driver got out, leaving Soph and Zita alone for a moment.

"Eli's dead?" she asked without preamble. Soph choked on her tears, but nodded. She couldn't get the image of the obsidian spear in his chest out of her head.

"And Sierra?" Once more Soph nodded. Zita sighed, running a weary hand over her face.

"Don't worry, Baby. Do as I say, and we'll get through this."

Soph lay back on the bed and stared out the window at the lime green hospital wall. Inside her, the Black and Light powers danced together, at once harmonious and conflicting. Ethereal had assumed Eli had taken the light witch powers. Neither he nor Soph had corrected her. Would she come back for them? How long would it take for her to realise? Despite surviving the night, she got the feeling that her place in this war was far from over.

Protect yourself. Don't look back.