CLAP!
"That's enough!"
Morgana appeared in an instant as she caught her trembling niece in her arms.
Lia flinched violently as the sharp sound echoed through the garden, the force of it crashing into her senses and shoving away whatever had been clawing at her mind.
"A-Aunt?" Lia whispered, her voice cracked with pain and confusion. Her hand hovered only a few inches from her ponytail.
Morgana's voice cut through the air, cold and absolute. "Everyone, leave."
Lia turned toward her in shock, lips parting as if to protest, but Morgana did not look at her. Her gaze stayed fixed forward as she spoke again, "They have to leave now."
Lia flinched hard. This was the first time she had ever seen her aunt speak to her like this, without warmth, without gentleness.
She had never done this before. Even when Lia made mistakes, Morgana would scold her softly, her words firm but caring.
But this felt different.
