Emilia's mind reeled as she tried to process the revelation about the Shadow Lady. She felt a chill run down her spine as she thought about the pact Malcolm had made, and the consequences that had followed.
"What happened to Malcolm?" Emilia asked, her voice barely above a whisper.
Thomas's eyes seemed to cloud over, and he hesitated before answering. "He became consumed by the Shadow Lady's power," he said finally. "He lost himself to her darkness, and in the end, she took everything from him."
Emilia's eyes widened in horror as she realized the true extent of the Shadow Lady's power. She thought about the strange occurrences in the manor, the whispers in the night, and the feeling of being watched.
"Why are you telling me this?" Emilia asked, her voice firm. "What do you want from me?"
Thomas's eyes locked onto hers, and for a moment, Emilia saw a glimmer of something there, something that looked almost like desperation. "I want to help you," he said, his voice low. "I want to help you uncover the truth about this manor, and about the Shadow Lady."
Emilia's skepticism was still there, but she couldn't deny the sense of unease that had settled in her stomach. She knew that she had to uncover the truth about Ashwood Manor, no matter what it took.
"I'll help you," Thomas said, as if reading her mind. "But you have to promise me one thing."
"What's that?" Emilia asked, her voice cautious.
"You have to promise me that you'll be careful," Thomas said, his eyes serious. "The Shadow Lady is not to be trifled with. She's powerful, and she'll stop at nothing to get what she wants."
Emilia nodded, a sense of determination rising up within her. She was ready to face whatever lay ahead, as long as she had Thomas's help.
But as they left the archives, Emilia couldn't shake the feeling that they were being watched. She glanced around, but there was no one there. The Shadow Lady, however, seemed to be waiting for her, her presence lurking just out of sight.
What would happen next? Would Emilia be able to uncover the truth about Ashwood Manor, or would the Shadow Lady's power consume her too? The story continues...