Chapter 36 - A Chance Meeting

The morning sun spills through the wide windows of the Coffee Shop Inn, casting a golden hue over the teeming scene within. The rich aroma of freshly brewed coffee mingles with the sounds of clinking cups and quiet conversations. Behind the counter, Selena moves with practiced ease, her thoughts only half on the orders she’s filling. It’s busy, but her mind is elsewhere—on a pair of eyes that she can’t seem to forget. Selena and Demika are behind the counter, working in perfect sync.

Demika has managed to recover from her almost ill-fated power-consuming adventures of few days ago—she has re-emerged from the aftermath of her recent power-surge misdemeanor, her spirit bruised but unbroken. The tempest that raged within her has quieted, leaving behind a newfound strength that hums beneath her skin. She is herself again, though something is undeniably different. Her powers, once wild and uncontrollable, now obey her—if only just. She can feel them simmering beneath the surface, ready to