A sacred garden of ruins materialized, and the air hummed with a palpable sense of raw power.
The clearing possessed beautifully carved stone structures that looked as if they had been decaying for centuries and were encircled by towering trees, their branches interlocking. The dense foliage above allowed only shafts of soft, diffused sunlight to peek through, casting a gentle glow on the weathered, moss-covered stones, paving the walkway that seamlessly blended with the forest floor.
Clusters of vibrant, bioluminescent mushrooms sprouted from the ground, illuminating the surrounding soil with a soft turquoise light. Fireflies fluttered all around us, their twinkling blending with the natural luminescence of the darkened garden.
As we cautiously maneuvered throughout the area, I noticed that some of the deteriorating structures bore the same engraved symbols as the archway.
“They are ancient runes carved by the goddess Elora herself,” Veli spoke softly from behind me, causing meto nearly jump. “They tell stories of forgotten rituals and magic, so the realm may never forget.” She let out a sigh. “But we are far past that.”
She stepped away from me and aimed toward the heart of the ruins, where a fountain hewn from granite awaited her, flowing with a brilliant teal liquid that cast its own glow.
“Veli,” Zaela breathed from across the space. “This place is…beautiful. I’ve never seen anything like it. Why would you ever leave?”
Honestly, I was curious myself. The atmosphere was serene, giving me a sense of peace I hadn’t felt in ages.
“You are about to find out,” the witch answered. “The three of you come here and stand behind me, for I am to now summon my sisters.”
“Well, Veli, you already spilled your blood on the arch, and still no one has arrived,” I tsked as the three of us met her at the center.
“Well,Elianna, that was not where the blood was to call them.” Her gaze slowly shifted to the fountain before us. “For the blood is to be dripped into the fountain.”
She pricked one of her fingers with a taloned nail, allowing a tiny drop of her blood to pool onto her skin. Her reluctant gaze met mine once more, and for a fraction of a moment, I wondered if what we were doing was right, but it was far too late to second guess now.
Veli flicked the droplet of blood into the fountain and the once glowing blue instantly morphed into a deep scarlet. The ground once again rumbled violently beneath our feet. Avery grabbed hold of my arm, and my eyes flew toZaela, who looked terrified. Veli threw her arms back, as if shielding us, and backed us all into a corner of the ruins.
Cackling laughter filled the air, echoing from all sides of us. Our necks craned and whipped in all directions, trying to get a glimpse of who had arrived, but it was no use. The sounds were everywhere, bouncing off the crumbling stone structures and filtering through the space. For a moment, it seemed that the wicked chuckles danced around only in my mind, sending a violent shiver down my spine.
“Lia, what have we done?” Zaela whispered.
I clenched my teeth as my eyes remained on the back of Veli’s silver hair while she continued to barricade us behind her outstretched arms.
As the last rays of sunlight that shone through the trees vanished, a mysterious mist wove its way through the ancient branches, creeping down toward the terrain.
Whirling on the wind, four shadowy forms glided into the gardens, resembling wisps of smoke. As the darkness dispersed, wicked figures remained in their wake.
The coven moved to corner us in unison, their cloaks billowing like ghostly spirits. Their faces were obscured by the hoods of their cloaks. With every step they took, their footfalls were hushed yet filled the air with a haunting echo—until they all halted before us.
The four of us remained silent, as Veli had demanded, while a single witch stepped forward from their half-circle. The figure’s piercing eyes of crimson were visible through the shadows of her hood. I sucked in a breath as the air thickened with an energy that overwhelmed my senses, leaving a metallic taste on my tongue.
“Well, well, well, do my eyes deceive me, sisters? Or has the traitor returned…?” A voice, dark and wicked, slithered out of the confines of the hood.
“Traitor?” I whispered.
“Veli, what does she mean?” Avery asked nervously.
She hushed us instantly.
“Ah, your companions are unaware of what you have done.” The hooded witch gestured to us by swirling her taloned hand that matched Veli’s. A sniff sounded through the air. “Both fae and mortal accompany you? Interesting. Last we were aware, there was a war happening among them, just as the gods intended all those centuries ago.”
“That’s why we’re here,” I spoke, and the red eyes beneath the cloak met mine.
“Elianna,” Veli hissed.
“Elianna?” the voice called, radiating a cruel curiosity.
I shoved past Veli’s arm and found myself face to hidden face with the mysterious witch.
“Yes, my name is Elianna Valderre, and we are here seeking your help to end the war that plagues our realm,” I admitted, hoping it wasn’t a mistake to say so soon.
