Megan Ravn held the carving knife steady, its reflection gleaming in the candlelight. The aroma of roasted herbs mingled with something…else. Something sharp and unsettling. She focused on the task at hand, carefully slicing through the turkey’s skin, past one of the grinning faces carved into it. A single fallen leaf rested near her plate, a splash of autumn color against the dark wood. Across the table, the place settings waited, expectant. It was time to begin. The shadows deepened as she cut another slice, avoiding the second face.