Chapter 38

"So Voldemort went off to Borgin and Burkes, and all the staff who had admired him said what a waste it was, a brilliant young wizard like that, working in a shop. However, Voldemort was no mere assistant. Polite and handsome and clever, he was soon given particular jobs of the type that only exist in a place like Borgin and Burkes, which specializes in objects with unusual and powerful properties. Voldemort was sent to persuade people to part with their treasures for sale by the partners, and he was, by all accounts, unusually gifted at doing this."

HP6

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Caractacus ducked on a silver ring with an emerald stone on it. He examined it with his monocle, muttering pleasantly."Very well, boy. This is a valuable heirloom. We can double the price you paid for it" he said to Tom, who was waiting patiently.Evelyn glanced at them from the counter. That evening Tom arrived with a bag of new interesting artefacts and a box of jewels. He kept that ring as last surprise."I want to keep it" Tom said suddenly, catching the old wizard by surprise "You can take the amount of money of it from my wage".Caractacus frowned "Are you sure? This is very valuable"."I'm sure, sir" Tom replied firmly.Mr Burke glanced at his niece, who was following their discussion with more attention, then rested his fierce eyes on the young man "Sorry, boy, but how will you pay the rent if you won't earn a coin anymore for months or years? Do you want to become dependent on my niece's generosity?"."I will find a way to keep my promise and get the money that we need. I found this ring, I want to keep it" Tom said stubbornly, trying to take the ring from Caractacus's fingers, who retreated from him."Maybe we can bargain. Why don't you show me your ring? It can be a fair trade".It sent a chill through Evelyn. She felt the tension growing in the air.Tom retreated as well and covered his ring with his hand "This is mine. It's the only thing I have from my family. My wage will pay that ring".His resoluteness made the old wizard grimace. He agreed to the deal, although he grumbled about it for days.

Evelyn waited for the two of them to be alone in their flat to bring out the question."Why did you do that?" She asked crossing her arms.Tom raised an innocent look at her, then pulled her arm to take her hand and placed the old ring around her ring finger "I'm just keeping my promise. I told you that I would find a ring that suits your hand"."But it doesn't need to be this valuable" she sighed feeling uncomfortable to wear something so precious."You are more than valuable, priceless. And you are my wife" he kissed her hand, then leaned to kiss her on her lips but stopped seeing so hesitant "Are you not?"."Yeah, but is it necessary? He will make you work extra hours to pay this. I don't want you to stay away for the whole day"."Don't worry about that. This will remind you that I'm always with you after all" he took her hand to admire the ring, then intertwined their fingers.

His new missions filled most of his day, so Evelyn could only see him mainly at night.Hydra became her only company when she was alone at home. Evelyn didn't dare to invite her few friends, she could only plan hanging out with them in Diagon Alley during the weekend. "Do you understand the price of this?" Evelyn showed her ring to the snake, that slithered to her feet "He is away for the whole day just to pay this. When I would gladly give this ring away just to have him back here".Hydra didn't reply of course. She just curled at her feet.Evelyn sighed with sorrow, then some loid noises came from the corridor. It sounded like the world was under attack and her first thought was that Tom's fear became true and muggles were destroying the whole London.She jumped up grabbing her wand and ran out of her flat, attracted by the voices of her screaming neighbors.In the corridor there was smoke, but she couldn't tell where the explosion happened.She saw a tall, dark figure moving away from the grey cloud.Tom lowered his wand and walked towards her."What happened?" She asked confused."I don't know. I'm not involved" he marched to their open door, clearly unwilling to speak about it.She glanced at the witnesses, who hurried to hide into their flats, then she followed the wizard and closed the door behind her.Tom patted some dust away from his cloak before unlacing it.Evelyn noticed Hydra hissing in a menacing way, something that never happened before."So how did it go?" She asked eyeing the young man, her fingers nervously caressing her ring."Well" he said simply, hanging his cloak to a nail on the wall.Evelyn scanned his handsome features carefully. He looked like usual, but her instinct told her that something was wrong. And she wanted to trust Tom's little snake."Did the goblins agree?" She kept asking.He nodded, but he clearly had no idea of what he was talking about.Evelyn took it as a proof. She couldn't know who was standing in front of her, but she had to deal with it.After hesitating, she decided to warn her real husband."Would like something fresh to drink?" He offered her a cup. She wondered what liquid was that and accepted it, just to take it away."I'm not thirsty now. But thank you"."So, did you miss me?" She was surprised to feel him wrapping his arms around her. Everything felt wrong. Evelyn understood that she could blindly recognize the real Tom from every little detail that whoever was using Tom's body, expression and voice was missing.She took her wand and pointed it against the impostor's neck, turning to face him.He looked surprised and scared, something impossible on Tom's face, but soon he tried to look playful.Evelyn kept feeling deeply uneasy to face someone who looked just like her Tom. It was worse than facing a boggart."You like it rough, as always" he said trying to be provocative, but it just irritated her more.She pushed him quite violently, making him lose his balance and fall on his butt. She waved her wand making his wrists trapped into handcuffs chained to the side of the fireplace."Evy? What are you doing?" He said trying to sound menacing, but he sounded like a trapped mouse. Evelyn wondered if to call Hydra to have some fun, but she wasn't in the mood to torture someone who looked like her dangerous husband. Although it meant leaving all the fun to him."Evelyn, wait! Let me explain!" The fake Tom begged, but she cut him off by making appear a gag around his mouth. It was a unique sight, but she was too nervous to enjoy it."Tom, I need you at home as soon as you can. It's quite urgent" she mentally said, then waved her wand to the fireplace, sending her magic to deliver her message.

Waiting wasn't pleasant with a fake Tom struggling and trying to speak, so she sat down staring at the fireplace and losing herself in her thoughts.The fake Tom looked too accurately like the real one, so she concluded it was Polyjuice Potion. She was curious to know who dared to imitate him and why, but the effects of the potion didn't last long so she just had to wait, although she was growing more anxious.Finally she heard the door opening and she jumped up sighing in relief.The real Tom stepped in carefully, his menacing wand in his hand."Are you alright?" He scanned her, then his eyes fell on the gagged and handcuffed figure crawled on the floor. The fake Tom turned white, his eyes widened in terror."What the hell is this?" The real Tom's voice was icy. Also Evelyn started to sweat cold."He tried to be you. I tied and gagged him there. The Polyjuice Potion should vanish soon" she explained shyly."You dared to handcuff me?" Tom snapped at her.Evelyn gaped, fearing that she made a mistake and Tom used his ring somehow, but she checked that his ring was still around his finger."Did he hurt you?" He asked washing away her doubt, his eyes narrowing, turning more scary.She shook her head and handed him the cup "I'm fine. He tried to make me drink this".Tom snatched it from her hand and sniffed it "It seems some cheap love potions. You know how I hate the bloody love potions".They both looked at the fake Tom, who was squeaking like a mouse, not just for fear but for the pain of the transformation that started to happen.Tom and Evelyn just waited to see who dared to cheat on them."Malfoy" Tom hissed when finally the transformation was over and a desperate Abraxas Malfoy was crying on the floor.Evelyn couldn't believe that someone of Tom's followers dared to turn against him."How could you?" Tom hissed.Malfoy tried to speak through the gag, so Tom waved his wand to free his mouth."I'm so sorry, my Lord. I meant no harm. I wanted to prove you that I'm not a coward" he babbled through his tears."Yeah, I told you that you're a coward, but now I add that you're a fool" Tom spat those words with disgust "How dared you to involve my wife?".Malfoy's jaw dropped, his widened eyes moved between the two standing people "Wife? I didn't know. I'm so sorry, my Lord. I'll do anything to earn your forgiveness"."You tried to deceive her" Tom hissed, sounding like a storm was about to blow "You gave her a love potion. Nobody can touch her without my permission. Nobody is allowed to take her away from me. These are some of the rules for my friends"."I'm so sorry" Malfoy whined "I didn't mean to take her away from you, my Lord".Tom raised his wand narrowing his eyes even more and Malfoy writhed on the floor. Evelyn understood he was using legilimency, pushing it over the limits, where it could irreparably damage the victim's mind.She grabbed his arm to make him stop."Enough" she said sweetly "He didn't harm me".Tom lowered his wand but his face was red with fury. If she couldn't stop him, he would easily kill."He dared to touch you" he snapped wildly "He was hoping to have fun with you. Don't you dare to say it's not true! I saw it in your dirty mind!" Tom kicked Malfoy, before Evelyn could pull him some steps away."He couldn't deceive me" she reassured Tom "He doesn't know you so well as I do. Look at the positive thing. He showed you he can be brave. A fool, but brave. Nobody else would dare to try to be you".Tom breathed deeply like an impatient bull, but slowly her words persuaded him to agree with her."I can't believe that while I'm working hard to earn something, some fool sneaks into my house to try to take advantage on my wife" he complained wrapping an arm around her."Your wife knows how to protect herself and discover the impostors" she smiled at him caressing his hot face.Tom smirked, his angry look turning into a lustful one.He waved his wand to make the handcuffs vanish from a scared Malfoy "You were right. She likes it rough. But only when it's me who is rough to her".Evelyn for a moment feared his intentions, knowing that he meant to mark her as his, but Tom waved his wand again to stupefy Malfoy, before looking for a consolation prize from her.

Tom decided to forgive his troublemaker follower. He saw in Malfoy's mind that he just wanted to prove something, although he chose the most dangerous way.Evelyn kept herself away from Tom's affairs with his mates, but she couldn't help wondering what kind of leader he was to them, when she saw him humiliating them and pushing them to bring out the worst of them, instead of becoming a group of merry wizards. She knew they all supported, or were forced to support, his insane ideas of crushing the muggle world and taking the reins of power over the messed up wizarding world.On the other side she hoped that being just a simple shop assistant would keep Tom far from achieving his dark ambitions.

"Hepzibah Smith is one of our top clients" Evelyn explained as she accompanied Tom to his new mission, a favour that his uncle offered her and that she gladly accepted just to spend some more time with Tom instead of staying trapped behind the counter."She's one of the richest clients. Her house could become a weird shop with all the things that it contains. That's why my uncle is fond of her, she owns many interesting objects and most of her jewels come from my uncle's shop".Tom swallowed checking that his black robe was fine "I understand. I'll behave well then".She smirked and stopped in front of a polished door, raising her hand to knock vigorously.A house elf opened to them and soon a fat old witch joined them."Miss Smith! You look lovely" Evelyn greeted her with a wide smile.Hepzibah didn't look friendly. Her eyes narrowed "I know you, don't you?"."I'm Evelyn. I'm Mr Burke's niece"."Miss Burke, huh?" She scoffed "I already said that I won't sell anything. Your uncle can avoid using teenagers to try to get some pity from you" the witch finally noticed that Evelyn wasn't alone "Oh, and you are...?"."Tom, madam," the young man replied promptly "I'm Mr Burke's new assistant".Hepzibah abandoned all her ostility and whined "Oh, this is unfair. Why you agreed to work for him? It wasn't enough for him to use his niece?"."I'm honored to work for that shop" Tom said mechanically."Well, come in, both of you" she stepped back to allow them to walk into her house, so crammed with objects."Suit yourself, guys. Would you like some cakes? Hokey! Bring a tray of cakes, quick! Careful, dear boy, mine is a small house to gather all the things I have" the old witch easily changed tone from imperative to sweet when Tom bumped into some objects and politely apologized.Evelyn was so amused that she barely could stifle her laugh. And the noise reminded Hepzibah that she wasn't alone with the boy."Evy, right?" She asked quite coldly."Yes, madam"."You can tell your uncle that I'm not going to sell anything, as I repeated a thousand times. But if he's got some new interesting thing, I may be interested in buying..." She shot her a knowing look and Evelyn replied with a nod."Fine, I'll tell him".Hepzibah focused on the young wizard again "You are welcome to visit me whenever you want, Tom. So you can update me on the new items you get in the shop" her eyes insolently scanned him. She had eyes for wonderful objects, and also for handsome people."You're too kind, madam" Tom said sounding flattered."So do you like my cakes, Tom?"."I never tasted something more exquisite"."Oh, you're so sweet" she leaned towards him to pinch his cheek. Evelyn almost feared that such an intimate gesture could wake his dark side, but he had everything under control and kept smiling.Hepzibah shot a look to the young witch, that make Evelyn feel like she was playing gooseberry. Evelyn accepted a cup of fresh tea that the house elf offered her and drunk greedily."You're so lucky to work with him, Evy. Or are you two...?"."We are together, yes" Tom replied quickly, then added a bit bitterly "Miss"."Oh, I should have guessed" Hepzibah didn't hide her jealousy "Lucky girl. You are drinking from Hufflepuff's cup, do you know that?".Evelyn almost choked in the tea. Also Tom focused on the cup, but they both had seen the real cup and it looked totally different. Although also the cup Evelyn held in her hands was very precious. For a moment she wondered if that was some way of saying and what it meant.Hepzibah laughed loudly at their reaction "You wish it is, don't you? I would never let anyone drink from something that priceless".Evelyn gave the cup back to the house elf, noticing that Tom was still troubled by that joke. How could it be a coincidence that someone would play a prank them mentioning right their secret quest? She was used to hear any kind of pranks in the shop, but Tom wasn't someone who would just move on and forget about it.They said goodbye to Hepzibah. Evelyn was deeply relieved to drag Tom away from her."I understand why Caractacus wants to deal with her" he said as they marched back to Knockturn Alley "I spotted many items he would like to have. It doesn't seem hard to persuade her to sell me something at the right price".He smirked at her, but Evelyn wasn't happy to let him alone with that old with in his next missions.Back to the shop, she observed him moving into that place as if he always lived there.He looked more comfortable in there than she ever felt in her whole life.

In the next days she was haunted by the idea that Tom was intented to become the heir of that shop. Caractacus was growing old and he wasn't able to run that shop alone as he was used to. Evelyn wasn't interested in owning that shop, but she was the most likely heir. She wasn't jealous, but she had the bad feeling that Tom had that purpose in mind all the time since he started to look interested in her."What's in your mind? You look depressed" her uncle distracted her from her thoughts.She stopped staring at her ring and crossed his worried eyes."I'm just bored" she lied. It was a rainy day and the streets were empty. Tom was busy far away for the whole day.Her uncle patted her on her shoulder "I miss your golden hair. Why do you keep them dark now?".She shrugged "I'm used to"."Are you happy?"."Yeah, I'd say I am" she frowned at his doubtful face "Why are you so concerned?".He raised his shoulders, imitating her gesture "It's just that I remember when you were little. Do you remember that golden locket you loved? It was so heavy you couldn't even carry it in your small hands, still you kept trying to carry it everywhere".Evelyn froze at his words. She didn't expect him to talk about Slytherin's locket without being asked. She was grateful that Tom had been sent away for business."It was because of that locket that you started to get your golden hair" Caractacus added making her more shocked "You were so happy so it lightened the colour of your hair until it got the same golden shade of that locket. You knew how much it valued. And it made you happy. So whenever you were happy, your hair turned golden. It's been some years that I don't see that golden".She swallowed hard. They had a deal for not mentioning the past too much. And now he releaved more than she could ever imagine. Memories that she had forgotten."Uncle, I'm not a kid anymore. It's not easy to be that happy" she said kindly."Tom is not making you happy?".His blunt question made her gape "Well, you see us every day. What makes you say that?"."I see that you two are into a strong relationship. I also saw how physical you can be. But do you really love him? Or does he love you?".Evelyn realized she didn't know how the answer. She always avoided to question that to herself "Love is a complicated word"."I know. You two lack of something to reach what is called love"."Yeah, I can't disagree. Desire is very different from love"."So is it just desire?".Evelyn bit her lip for saying more than she intended to "Tom had a complicated past. He never learned to bond naturally with people. He was always alone, he learned to survive alone, so he is used to live alone. And he hardly consider someone as his equal"."So that's it. He doesn't consider you as his equal"."Maybe almost. Almost equal. Or we wouldn't be together. It's almost love, maybe" saying it aloud made her feel sorrow, but she couldn't deny the truth behind those words."How many years have you been together? If he has always been afraid to fall in love with you in all this time, will he ever risk that?".Evelyn felt the urge to cover her ears. It was somehow she didn't even bear to hear "What is it, uncle? Do you want me to break up with him?"."It's not what I want. I want you to be happy. Ask that question to yourself. What do you really want?".She inhaled deeply. It wasn't easy to answer "I can't leave Tom, uncle. That's it. Don't ask me why or to be stronger. And please, don't tell anything to him about our conversation".He nodded, brushing a hand on his face and suddenly his hundreth of years seemed appearing on his face "We are all so afraid of him, when we shouldn't let him having this power over us. I can find some tasks to keep him busy farther if you want".That idea clashed against the secret plans that Tom was making about travelling the world as soon as they could afford it.Evelyn had agreed, not caring if leaving her family and friends behind just to follow him was insane and dangerous "I don't want distance. I just want things to work, for all of us. He is helping us, he is so very skilled. We can't lose him"."I know that. But, Evy, there is much more in life than money. Than power. You deserve to be happy" he placed his hands on her shoulders, his hands trembled with emotion so he walked away "Come, I think it's time to share something with you".She followed him in the back of the shop, where the old man brought out from a dusty crate a stone basin. She recognized the pensieve.Caractacus took his wand and placed it to his temple, extracting his memory as a silver tread, and letting it fall into the water of the bowl.Evelyn glanced with suspicious at her uncle, then leaned her face closer to the surface and fell into the memory.

She recognized a different version of the shop. It looked less crammed and cleaner. She recognized her uncle, looking younger, his messy hair longer. Some noises made her turn and she saw a little girl cheering as she grabbed a golden locket on the floor.Evelyn's heart dropped as she understood she was looking at the younger version of herself. The kid had brown hair that slowly turned as golden as the locket in her hands."See? She's like a chameleon" another male voice complained in the sweetest way.Evelyn almost feared to turn to watch the other wizard who was there into the shop.She believed she had forgotten the sound of his voice, but suddenly her heart told her how she was wrong: she would always remember that voice.Evelyn inhaled deeply, scared and relieved that nobody could see her. And looked up at her father.He was a handsome young wizard who was watching his little daughter with an endless love in his eyes. A love that made Evelyn's heart ache in an unbearable way, but it was also cathartic. She had a new proof of how much he loved her.As a little kid, the adult Evelyn stepped closer to him tempted to hug him, but no physical contact was possible. He was just a memory, she reminded bitterly to herself."So can you keep her until we come back?" He asked to his brother "Mum is getting paranoid each time she sees her hair changing colour. She wants to bring Evy to st Mungo to check if that's not a symptom of some illness"."Alright, I'll keep her. Otherwise she will bring that locket away and I can't afford that" Caractacus replied with a smirk "The sooner you come back, the better".Evelyn's father patted a hand on his shoulder "Thank you, brother. I owe you this. I fear that next time I'll have to sell everything I have to you, just to get that locket and my daughter back".Caractacus grinned widely "That's a great trade"."And..." His brother, Herbert Burke, continued."Don't sell her" Caractacus concluded rolling his eyes "Yeah, I'm not so desperate to sell such a precious little beast, no matter if she put the whole shop upside down".Herbert sighed gratefully, then reached the little girl and kneeled in front of her "Your mother and I will be back soon, okay? Be a good girl for daddy, can you do it for me?".The little Evelyn whined and let the locket go to wrap her little arms around her father "Stay with me, daddy".Evelyn's eyes watered and everything turned blurred, until she found herself out of that memory. That was the last time she saw her father. She was only five. Evelyn couldn't suppress her emotions anymore. Her tears started to fall and her sobs shook her."I'm sorry if it opened your scars. For all these years I suffered also for you, keeping you away from the pain of the memories" Caractacus said softly. He was crying too "If only I knew that it was going to be the last time we saw him, I would have never allowed him to step out of the shop for following his researches"."Nobody could know" Evelyn whispered."You seemed to sense it because you kept begging him to stay, when you were used to run to my shop just for that locket and to stay away from your parents for a while" Caractacus wiped his face with his hands "The point is, Evelyn, you saw how happy you were. It's been a long time that I don't see that happiness in you anymore. I hoped that starting a new life with Tom would have brought you that happiness I want for you, but I feel I was wrong. You know that I tried hard to support you for all these years. I never tried to replace your father, but for his sake I promised that I would take care of you in any way and make you happy. If he's here, how would he react? It seems I didn't go a great job as I hoped"."He would be grateful to you for everything. But you can't do anything for my happiness. I already tried to leave Tom and move on, but I only felt so empty, so lost. I need him. He is trying hard to make me happy..."."But he's so lost into dark arts, isn't it?' He concluded "How can your relationship work if you don't bend to the dark arts or he gives up on his ambitions? A menage a trois can't work, Evy. He can't truly love you and make you happy if his soul is turning so entwined with darkness".Evelyn stared at him shocked, dropping her jaw but she couldn't find what to say."I've been dealing with dark artefacts for my whole life, I met dark wizards, so I can recognize when someone is so fond of the dark arts. Tom is the most brilliant actor I've ever met, but I see the light in his eyes when he examines dark objects. I know that light very well".Evelyn closed her eyes, wishing to escape that kind of discussion, fearing her own question "So do you think he will never give up on the dark arts for me?"."Dark magic is worse than a drug" he said slowly "A taste of it and it's almost impossible to turn back, unless being thought something very traumatic that change your heart and your soul. If you didn't change him so far, I'm sorry but I think he won't abandon the dark arts. I'm worried for you, Evy. He is dangerous".Evelyn recalled in her mind the image of the big mushroom that destroyed Japan. Dangerous. Also Tom was an image of danger."I know that. But I'm sure he won't hurt me, unless I do something to deserve it, as breaking up with him"."So you sacrificed everything, you sacrifice your own happiness for him?".She looked at him exhausted "Uncle, I swear on my life that I'm sure that I can't be happier with any other wizard. I tried that too and I ended up regretting it. If Tom is addicted to dark arts, I am addicted to him".

Evelyn didn't know if her uncle sensed that Tom was becoming too attached to his shop or if he just felt that Tom wasn't the right man for her. She couldn't bring that conversation further, so she closed it.She left the shop hoping to clear her mind before Tom was back. They had a meeting at a tavern for dinner, but he was late.Evelyn didn't mind. She was grateful to have some moments alone. She and her gloomy thoughts alone.She couldn't take out of her mind the memory Caractacus showed her. Her father, the little version of herself, the medallion. Tom would kill anyone to get that locket back. That locked that was shining around Salazar's neck when they met him in the past.That locket that was the tread that linked her destiny to Tom's.Some lively noises woke her from her dark brooding.Some kids were running around the tables, the voice of their parents barely audible on their screams of happiness. Lightheartedness.Evelyn found herself staring at them, watching the young couple reach the kids and hug them and they were all laughing. A happy family.Unconsciously she desired all of that.But when she thought of Tom, her mood darkened again. She looked at the ring that he wanted her to wear. Their secret wedding ring. A ring that was making her running out of her money at Gringotts and kept her secret husband away from her."There is much more in life than power" her uncle's words echoed clearly in her mind, just as the whining voice of her little self "Stay with me, daddy".Evelyn closed her eyes and pondered again her options. Leaving definitely Tom to find someone who would agree to offer her a simpler life, without impossible ambitions, without using extreme ways for everything, someone able to love unconditionally..."I'm late. I'm sorry" his voice made her wince. She turned to see the handsome young man unlacing his cloak and sitting next to her, his eyes following her previous stare and eyeing with indifference the happy family."What were you thinking about?" Tom grabbed her hand to catch her full attention.She swallowed hard and said softly "Nothing. I was just imagine if we could ever have a life like theirs"."Would you like it?" His blank tone made it impossible for her to guess if he was menacing or simply indifferent."Yes. What do you think about it?".He sighed deeply and she expected him to scold her, but he said instead "I would do anything for you, Evelyn. So if you like... that, well I wouldn't disagree. But first we have our mission and our journey. Then perhaps I can allow you to have some kids from me and having moments of that normal life".He talked like he was talking about mere business."Sounds good" she said simply."Of course. Anything for you" he repeated and leaned forward to kiss her forehead, but she didn't feel reassured. After he discussion with her uncle, she reminded to herself that he would always put his ambitions in front of her. He was just so good at pretending."You're so thoughtful tonight".She winced crossing his penetrating stare "Why do you think so?"."I asked you if you're not hungry and you didn't even listen to me".She simpered "I'm not hungry. I've already dined a bit. Are you?".He nodded and she watched him eating, sometimes glancing at the happy family. She couldn't imagine that a child could be enough to soften Tom's dark and cold heart. He never had a father. And when he could have one he killed him. Caractacus's memory reminded her how it felt to have the privilege of a loving father and that's what she wanted for a possible future child. Love.

A/N

Hey guys!This book is not over yet, there are some chapters left. But I need your opinion!

I'm planning a sequel to this book, it's called "Extreme Remedies". I already published the book cover and part of the cast.I won't spoil anything but if you will read the next chapters you will understand why there's another book. Just let me know if you would like to read more of this story so I can decide if to write and publish the new book! ☺