{AURORA'S POV}
The moment I stepped deeper into the sanctuary, the hum of life intensified.
I walked beside Rhea through a winding path of moss covered stone, the air was rich with the scent of blooming flowers and woodsmoke. Birds chattered in the branches above, and distant laughter rang through the trees. It was beautiful, enchanting even, but my body remained tense, my heart thudding in my chest as if expecting the ground beneath my feet to vanish at any moment.
As we passed beneath arching branches heavy with blossoms, I noticed movement up ahead. A group of witches had gathered, their attention shifting to me the moment we came into view. Some smiled, offering polite nods or soft greetings. A few waved and called out,
"Hello there."
"You're new, aren't you?"
"What's your name, girl?"
I froze.
Too many eyes. Too many strangers. I didn't know how to react, or what they expected from me so I just gave a nod and whispered my name but my voice barely escaped my throat.
"She looks so young," one whispered.
"Is that the girl Rhea brought back?" said another.
Rhea gently placed a hand on my shoulder. "Give her space, everyone," she said kindly but firmly. "She's been through enough before finding her way here. Let's not overwhelm her."
They nodded, murmuring understanding, and slowly returned to their activities, but their eyes lingered. Some watched me with curiosity. Others whispered in hushed tones.
Rhea gave me a warm smile. "Don't worry. They're just excited. It's always like this when someone new arrives in Nevermoor."
I nodded, trying to hide the way my hands trembled. I wasn't used to being seen. Not like this.
"It's just… a lot." I said.
"I know," Rhea said. "But at least you're not alone anymore."
Then I noticed her.
A tall, graceful woman approached us through a corridor of trees. Her long, silver hair shimmered like starlight. She wore white flowing robes, and her hands were clasped behind her. But it was her eyes that struck me most. Green and gold, shifting like sunlight through leaves.
Rhea straightened. "Morganna."
She smiled at Rhea. "You've returned."
"I have," Rhea said with a slight bow of her head. "And I've brought someone."
The woman's gaze shifted to me, and I felt the weight of it. Not unkind, just… piercing. Like she was looking straight through me.
"This," Rhea said, "is Aurora. Aurora, this is Morganna. She leads Nevermoor."
I swallowed and dipped my head. "It's… it's nice to meet you."
Morganna smiled softly. "Rhea has told me about you."
I turned my head toward Rhea. "She did?"
"She saw you in a dream," Morganna said. "And something called to her. Pulled her toward you. There must be something very special about you."
"Special?" I repeated, pointing at myself like it was a bad joke. "I'm not special. I'm dangerous. I… I destroyed an entire village."
Morganna didn't answer. Instead, she slowly brought her hands forward from behind her back and reached out, taking my hands gently in hers.
The moment our skin touched, I felt it.
A jolt.
Morganna flinched, only slightly, but I saw it. Her smile wavered for half a second, and she let go as gracefully as she could. Like she didn't want anyone to notice.
But I noticed.
Still, no one said a word. And I didn't ask, though my mind buzzed with questions.
What just happened? Why did she pull away like that? Is there something wrong with me? Or… did she see something?
Morganna's smile returned. "Rhea, why don't you show her around? Introduce her to the others. Help her feel at home."
Rhea nodded. "Of course."
We turned to leave, and I glanced over my shoulder. Morganna was still watching me, her expression unreadable. She looked down at her own hands, trembling slightly, and wrapped one around the other as if to still them.
Then her eyes rose to me again.
A chill ran down my spine.
Her smile was gone.
"What did she feel when she touched me?" I thought to myself. "Why did she look afraid?"
But the questions would have to wait.
We walked deeper into the sanctuary. Rhea stayed beside me, calm and steady. Her presence was oddly comforting now.
"If you want to stay in Nevermoor," she said as we passed a row of fruit trees, "there are two rules you must never break."
I turned to look at her. "What are they?"
"First, you must never leave the sanctuary without Morganna's permission."
I frowned. "Why?"
"Because outside these woods, you're a target. And if the barrier is disturbed, you risk exposing all of us."
I nodded slowly. "Fair."
"And rule number two," Rhea continued, "never use your magic against another witch."
I opened my mouth to reply, but something blurred past me with a sharp hiss.
I yelped and jumped back as a dagger embedded itself in a tree, just inches from my face.
My heart nearly exploded.
"Well, well," said an amused voice. "Look what the cat dragged in."
I looked up and saw a girl lounging lazily on a tree branch above. She had wild red hair and a wicked grin, twirling another dagger in between her fingers.
"Vivienne!" Rhea snapped. "How many times must I tell you to stop throwing knives at people?!"
Vivienne laughed. "But it's fun!"
"You're going to kill someone one day!"
Vivienne rolled her eyes and leapt from the tree with casual ease, landing with catlike grace before rising to her full height. She walked over and threw her arms around Rhea. "I love you, Rhea. But you're so dramatic sometimes."
Rhea groaned, rubbing her temples. "I'm too old for this."
Vivienne turned to me, circling as she twirled her dagger. "So, you brought a new witch," she mused, eyeing me up and down. "An untrained one at that."
"H–hi," I stammered. "I'm Aurora."
She tilted her head. "Aurora," she repeated, testing the name. "Pretty name. Pretty face too." She reached out and brushed her fingers through my hair. "I've always envied blondes."
She yanked the dagger from the tree and gave me a smirk. "Welcome to Nevermoor, Aurora."
Then she walked away, as if none of it had happened.
"What's her deal?" I asked, still shaken.
"Don't mind Vivienne," Rhea said with a sigh. "That's just how she is. But her heart's good… most of the time."
We walked on until we reached a wide clearing filled with noise and excitement. Witches were gathered in a circle, some sitting on stones or logs, others standing on tiptoe.
"What's going on over there?" I asked.
Rhea took my hand. "Let's see."
She led me through the crowd. In the center, two figures squared off. One of the witches standing beside me whispered, "My coin's on Eris."
The girl next to her scoffed. "Kai's going to wipe the floor with her."
I followed their gaze to the two figures in the center. One was a girl with flowing raven-black hair and narrowed eyes. broad-shouldered man with dark brown skin and braids that swung with every movement.
That had to be Eris and Kai.
And they were locked in a duel.
Eris spoke quickly, her fingers dancing as she cast a spell. Kai raised his hand, and the earth rumbled. Stone rose beneath his feet, shooting toward Eris. She whispered another incantation and leapt, the wind lifting her like a feather.
Kai didn't stop. A wave of water exploded from his palm, crashing toward her like a tidal wave. Eris spun, casting another spell again. This time, a bolt of lightning crackled through the sky, splitting the wave in half.
The crowd roared.
They moved fast, fluid and powerful. Spells clashed against elements in a blur of motion. Kai summoned a storm of wind and fire; Eris twisted the air into protective wards, shouting incantations that shielded her in an invisible dome.
Then Kai raised both hands. Fire sparks and grew into a massive ball, glowing red-hot. He hurled it at Eris.
Eris spoke a spell and vanished in a shimmer of light.
The fireball soared across the clearing.
Straight toward me.
All of a sudden the cheers died down.
"Aurora!" Rhea shouted.
My feet wouldn't move. My breath caught. My whole body locked up. I just stood there, my eyes wide with terror as the inferno drew closer.
"Dispello, Ventari!" Rhea shouted.
The fire shattered into hundreds of bubbles, harmlessly drifting through the air.
The crowd erupted in cheers.
I clutched my chest. "Why is everyone just trying to kill me today?!"
Kai jogged towards me, bare chested and breathless.
"I'm so sorry," he apologized. "Are you alright?"
I didn't hear a single word he said.
I was too busy staring at his chest. Then my gaze dropped lower to the ridges of his abs. Then down to his—
I quickly snapped my eyes away. "I–I'm fine."
Eris walked up, brushing hair from her face. "Who's the new girl?"
"I'm Aurora."
Kai smiled and extended a hand. "Nice to meet you, Aurora. I'm Malakai. This is Eris."
I shook his hand, and he winked before turning to the crowd.
Eris offered a smirk. "Try not to stand too close next time."
Immediately, the others swarmed him and Eris. Compliments flew.
"That lightning spell? Gods, Eris you have to teach me!"
"Kai, you're a beast!"
I just stood there, stunned. I'd never seen anything like this. Witches, openly living, laughing, being their true selves.
Living without fear.
Rhea chuckled beside me. "I know what you're thinking."
I looked at her.
"You're thinking this can't be real," Rhea continued. "That it's too good to be true."
I was speechless. I just gave her a nod.
"Well," Rhea said, wrapping an arm around my shoulder. "It is real. And you're part of it now."
"Come," she said. "We've had a long journey. And if you're not hungry yet, I am."
I laughed softly. "Yeah. I'm starving."
She smiled and led me away from the crowd.
Toward whatever this place would mean for me.
{RHEA'S POV}
The fire crackled, casting flickering light across the clearing. Everyone gathered around it, young and old, singing songs that echoed through the trees, their voices lifted in joy and harmony. Some danced barefoot on the grass, skirts twirling and laughter ringing out like wind chimes. Others sat in small circles, sharing food, stories, and quiet smiles.
Nevermoor was alive, even under the stars.
I sat slightly apart from the crowd, perched on a flat rock with my cane propped beneath my hands and my chin resting on top of it. A warm smile curved my lips as I watched Aurora seated beside a group of younger witches. They were chatting away, excited hands flying as they exchanged questions and jokes. She was still shy, awkward even, but she was smiling, nodding along and speaking when prompted. She looked like she belonged.
And after everything that she's been through, that meant the world to me.
"She's settling in," I said softly, not to anyone in particular. Just letting the truth breathe out of me.
A rustle of fabric and a subtle shift beside me made me glance to my left. Morganna had sat down quietly, the glow of the fire painting soft shadows across her pale features.
"She is," she said, following my gaze toward Aurora. "It's good to see."
I nodded. "It really is. Watching a witch finally find a place where she can be herself, with her own people, it's rare. And precious."
I paused, exhaling slowly. "In such a short time, she lost everything. Her family. Her home. Everything she ever knew. Witch hunters tore through her them like wolves through lambs." I tightened my fingers on the head of my cane. "And when I first found her, she was angry. Hostile. Afraid. Broken."
My voice wavered slightly, but I didn't look away.
"But now look at her. She's laughing. She's talking. She's… healing. And gods, that just warms my heart."
Morganna was quiet for a moment, and then she said, "It is nice. But there's something I need to tell you."
I turned my head, studying her face in the firelight. "Is it about what happened when you touched her hands?"
Her eyes flicked to mine, slightly widened. "How did you—"
I laughed softly, shaking my head. "Please, Morganna. I've known you too long. I saw the way your smile faltered. The way you drew your hand back. I meant to ask you earlier, but everything's been happening so fast."
I straightened slightly. "So… what did you see?"
Morganna stared ahead for a long moment before finally speaking. "It's not what I saw," she said, lifting her hand and clasping it gently with her other. "It's what I felt."
"And what was that?"
She closed her eyes briefly. "Power. Immense power, just under the surface. Raw and untamed, burning like a furnace begging to break free. But then…"
She hesitated, and her fingers trembled against each other.
I leaned in slightly. "But then?"
Her voice was lower now. "Then came the darkness."
I went completely still.
Morganna didn't look at me. Her eyes remained fixed on Aurora.
"I felt something cold. Something evil. It wasn't wild, like fear or grief. It was ancient. As if it was waiting… watching… hiding."
I didn't speak. I simply followed her gaze, looking at Aurora again. She was laughing now. Someone had told a joke. Her eyes crinkled. She looked so… normal.
"What do you think it is?" I finally asked.
"I don't know," Morganna said. "And that terrifies me."
Her shoulders dropped slightly. "I'm glad she's here. That she's safe. That she has a place to call home." Then her voice took on a firmness I'd only heard a few times before. "But I need you to keep an eye on her, Rhea."
I turned to her slowly.
Morganna's face was calm. But her words weren't.
"She's not like the rest of us."