LYRA'S POV
"Kill her! Burn the us‑ka‑ak! Witch!" they spat.
I watched helplessly, looking at the people around me.
"Please, I'm innocent. I'm trying to save our realm," I said again.
"Lies! Burn the us‑ka‑ak!" they repeated.
I looked over to the altar where my parents were tied. I couldn't do anything to save them, because I'd been stripped of my powers. They were slain right in front of me. I didn't know what else to do, but I was sure I was going to have my revenge on the Dark Lord, the real demon behind the whole saga. I was going to get revenge on the supernaturals for what they did to my parents.
"I, Callidora Moretz, descendant of the last bloodline of the white witches, curse myself to be reborn again until I wipe out all those responsible for my death and the death of my bloodline," I said.
I heard the crowd gasp. The white witches were among the strongest beings, and this was no ordinary threat.
"Arder en llamas eternals," the council said and struck the Staff of Condemnation on the ground three times.
"Lyra. Lyra… wake up," a voice said, shaking me rather vigorously.
Fuck. Those dreams again.
"You slept off on shift, Lyra. You wouldn't want Grizelle to chop your ear off," he joked. It was Xavier, my best friend.
"And what's with the screams? You sounded like you were living in a horror movie or something," he added, brushing my hair out of my face.
Shit. I should really stop watching Harry Potter shows, I moped.
"I'm so fucking tired, Xavier," I said.
"Tired of what exactly? You've barely done anything since you came in, and you slept really well. So what are you tired of?" he asked.
"I don't like being bossed around," I replied.
"No one does. But it's the only job we have now," he said.
I work for Grizelle Gennis, and trust me, she's the biggest bitch alive—your typical Cinderella stepmother. She owns the biggest fashion designing company in Northern California and she's a super‑hot model. I'm her personal designer.
"She's such a bitch, Xavier. I wish I could pull off one of her fake lashes," I said, and Xavier laughed.
"You look like a baby panda when you're angry," he teased. I pouted and looked away.
"Speaking of the devil, here she comes," Xavier said.
"Miss Hendrix!" she shouted.
"Yes, Grizelle?" I replied.
"Get me a cup of coffee. Black!" she emphasized.
Sometimes I wonder if I'm her servant or her barista. If not for the fact that I needed money for my tuition, I would have quit long ago.
"Here's your cup of coffee, ma'am. Extra black, just like your heart," I murmured under my breath.
Grizelle took a sip, and the next thing I knew, an angry witch was splashing the coffee on me.
"What part of making a cup of black coffee do you not understand?" she scowled.
I could have sworn there was nothing wrong with it.
"Look, Grizelle, just because I work for you doesn't mean you can boss me around. And hey—I'm not your barista or anything. If you want someone to make you coffee, hire someone!" I shouted.
Xavier gave me a thumbs‑up with a look that screamed, She's surely going to end you.
Grizelle glared and stamped her feet.
"Lyra, you are dismissed for today," she said.
I thought she was going to fire me, but she didn't. She wouldn't find a qualified designer on such short notice, especially with her fashion week coming up next month.
"What the fuck, Lyra? You totally humiliated the queen of bitches," Xavier said, smirking.
I laughed.
Xavier was pretty handsome, and girls always drooled over him whenever he came with me to the mall. But he was gay. The thought tired me out. Why would such a goddamn handsome man be gay?
Xavier dropped me off at my apartment. I stayed alone, since my aunt wouldn't leave her home in Pennsylvania. That's where I was born. Aunt Sasha raised me as her own child from the time I was a baby. I never met my parents, but according to her, my mom died giving birth to me and my dad died in an accident a few months later.
Ever since then, Aunt Sasha was the mother I never had. We weren't rich. In fact, we were poor. She was a well‑known fortune teller with a small store where she sold charms, candles, and all sorts of "weird" stuff. I don't really believe in the supernatural, but Aunt Sasha always talked about another realm filled with supernatural beings. She always seemed a little lost and strange whenever she talked about it. But I never believed any of it.
The little money she made helped put me through high school. I did small jobs to help pay for my college enrollment, and thankfully, during the break, I managed to raise money for my tuition.
I loved living in California, though I missed her sometimes. Funny enough, I even missed having my fortune read by her, and her endless teasing about me not being in a relationship at twenty‑one. This was my third year in college, and honestly, having a boyfriend was the last thing on my list.
I took a quick shower, then started making dinner. Chicken casserole. I wasn't much of a foodie. I'd always been so thin I sometimes wondered if I had some disease. I just didn't grow up eating much—I didn't have much to eat back then.
After eating, I was cleaning up when I heard whispers. Those voices in my head again. I sighed and tried to think of something happy—usually that shut them out—but this time they grew even louder. It felt like I was losing my mind. I held my head in frustration and screamed, "Get the fuck outta my head!"
That finally shut them up.
I should have told Aunt Sasha about the voices, but she would've related them to something supernatural–seances, rituals, creepy stuff I wasn't ready for. Sometimes I wondered if she was a witch or something. But who's kidding? Witches are mythical creatures. And even if they existed, that would've been centuries ago.
Maybe I'd tell her during the summer break. Exams were running this week, and once I was done, I'd be heading straight for the trees of Pennsylvania.
It was already 11 p.m. when I finished my project. I turned off the lights and went to bed. I hadn't slept long when I felt a presence beside me. I'm a sensitive sleeper, so I quickly sat up, switched on the lights, and looked around.
Then, suddenly, a flash of black.
Fear gripped my heart.
"Anyone here?" I whispered.
Something touched me.
The last thing I remember was a pair of eyes glowing like gold.
––––––––––
Xavier's POV
"Where is she? You gave me your word that you would bring her to me. Or do you want your beloved mother slaughtered before your eyes?" the voice said.
"My lord, I've tried my best. She'll be leaving for the summer break soon. I'll try again," I replied.
"I want her tonight. I've wasted enough time. I need her powers to unlock the Dark Millennium Wolf. Do not fail me, or your mother's blood
will strengthen my magic," the voice said, then ended the call.
Ah, shit.
How the hell was I supposed to get her?