Chapter 1: "The Funeral"
The sky was a deep, foreboding grey, like a reflection of Aria's mood. She stood at the gravesite, her eyes fixed on the casket as the priest spoke words of condolence. Her mother, the woman who had taught her everything she knew about magic and love, was gone.
Aria felt a lump form in her throat as she gazed at her father's stoic face. He was trying to be strong for her, but she could see the pain etched on his features. Her mother's death had left a gaping hole in their lives, and Aria wasn't sure how they'd fill it.
As the funeral service drew to a close, Aria's thoughts drifted to the strange dreams she'd been having lately. Dreams of dark forests, mysterious, and three handsome strangers who seemed to be calling to her. She shook her head, pushing the thoughts aside. Now wasn't the time for distractions.
The priest finished speaking, and the mourners began to file past the casket, offering their condolences. Aria's father took her hand, his grip tight as they accepted the sympathies of their friends and family.
But as they turned to leave, Aria caught sight of three figures standing at the edge of the crowd. Tall, brooding, and impossibly handsome, they seemed to be watching her with an intensity that made her skin prickle. Aria felt a shiver run down her spine as their eyes met , and she wondered who these mysterious strangers were and why they seemed to be gazing at her with such interest.