Chapter 3

Ellie jolted awake, her heart pounding as the image of the dead body flashed through her mind. Sunlight streamed through the curtains, casting a warm glow on her grandmother's antique furnishings, but the warmth did little to ease the chill in her bones.

After the mage had confirmed there was no immediate threat in the area, Ellie decided to stay the night at the house instead of going into town for a night or two.

She rubbed her eyes, trying to shake off the remnants of the restless night, but the resurgence of old feelings for Reed clung to her like a second skin.

With a sigh, Ellie dragged herself out of bed, determined to find answers. She quickly dressed and made her way downstairs, the floorboards creaking under her feet. The house felt different now as if it held secrets waiting to be uncovered.

Ellie headed out, her steps leading her to the local town hall. The building was an impressive structure of red brick and white trim with a clock tower that chimed the hour. As she climbed the steps, the heavy wooden door swung open, revealing a familiar face.

"Ellie Theren!" Molly, the owner of the Bewitched Bakery, stood in the doorway, a basket of pastries in her hand. Her round, rosy cheeks dimpled as she smiled, her curly red hair bouncing as she beckoned Ellie inside.

"I heard about your grandmother's passing. I'm so sorry for your loss," Molly said, her voice warm with sympathy. "Here," Molly held out the basket hanging on her arm, "I usually bring some of my special goodies to our first responders every morning. I have a few extra. They're infused with a little focus and energy magic—should help sharpen your mind as you sort through all this."

Ellie accepted the basket gratefully, the scent of warm pastry and cinnamon enveloping her. "Thank you, Molly. That's very kind of you."

Molly patted her hand. "Anything for Irina's granddaughter. She was a special lady, your grandmother. Always had a twinkle in her eye and a trick up her sleeve."

With a final squeeze of Ellie's hand, Molly bustled off, leaving Ellie to navigate the halls of the town archives. She found the room dedicated to property records and settled in, the dusty tomes and yellowed papers a daunting task before her.

Hours ticked by as Ellie searched through the documents, her eyes straining in the dim light. Just as she was about to give up, a name caught her eye: Irina Theren. Her grandmother's name was listed alongside a group of others, all part of something called the Whispering Pines Magical Council.

Ellie's brow furrowed. She'd never heard of such a council. Her fingers traced the old document, the paper crackling beneath her touch. Suddenly, a surge of energy pulsed through her, a bright light emanating from her hand. Ellie gasped, snatching her hand back as if burned. The light faded as quickly as it had appeared, leaving her staring at her own palm in shock.

"What in the world?" she whispered, flexing her fingers. She'd always had a touch of magic, but nothing like this.

Unnerved, Ellie reached for another book, hoping to find more clues. As she pulled it from the shelf, a stack of papers cascaded to the floor, scattering at her feet. She knelt to gather them, her eyes catching on a word: "Secret."

With trembling hands, Ellie plucked the paper from the pile. It was a letter, addressed to her grandmother, the script urgent and hurried.

"Irina," it read, "the secret we buried beneath your house cannot stay hidden forever. The council's work is unfinished. Be prepared."

Ellie's heart raced. Secret? What secret? And what did it have to do with the body in her home?

Head spinning, Ellie made a copy of the letter and tucked it into her pocket and left the archives, stepping out into the sun-dappled streets of Whispering Pines. As she walked, flashes of the past danced before her eyes—ghostly figures in old-fashioned clothes and echoes of laughter and tears long since faded. The town was steeped in history and magic, and Ellie could feel it thrumming through her veins.

Lost in thought, she found herself at the door of the Tomes and Tinctures, the bell jingling as she stepped inside. The shop was a riot of color and scent, dried herbs hanging from the rafters and tinctures lining the shelves. Behind the counter stood a woman with striking violet eyes, her silver-streaked hair pulled back in a loose braid.

"Ah, Ellie," she said, her voice like honey. "I've been expecting you."

Ellie blinked. "You have?"

The woman smiled, extending her hand. "I'm Luna, an old friend of your grandmother's. I had a feeling you might need some guidance, especially with your powers starting to manifest."

Ellie shook her hand, a tingle of recognition passing between them. "How did you know?"

Luna tapped her temple. "Intuition, my dear. It's one of the perks of being a witch. Now, tell me, what's been happening?"

Slowly, haltingly, Ellie recounted the events of the past day—the body, the surging magic, the strange visions. Luna listened intently, her eyes never leaving Ellie's face.

"It sounds like your magic is awakening," Luna said when Ellie finished. "It's a powerful thing, the Theren bloodline. Your grandmother was one of the strongest witches I ever knew."

Ellie swallowed hard. "But I don't know how to control it. What if I hurt someone?"

Luna laid a comforting hand on her shoulder. "That's what I'm here for. We'll work together, hone your skills. You have a great destiny ahead of you, Ellie. I can feel it."

With a grateful nod, Ellie left the store, Luna's words ringing in her ears. A great destiny. The phrase both thrilled and terrified her.

Her stomach grumbled, reminding her that she hadn't eaten since Molly's pastries that morning. She made her way to the Lone Wolf Café, the bell above the door announcing her arrival.

As she stepped inside, she was shocked to see the changes that had been made since she was last here. The dark paneling had been painted a soft, calming blue and the old booths and metal tables had been replaced with wood tables and chairs with cushions that matched the curtains.

A warm voice called out, "Ellie! It's so good to see you!"

Ellie turned to find Elsie, a much older version of the woman she remembered running the cafe, making her way over with a bright smile. Elsie enveloped her in a hug, the scent of vanilla and cinnamon clinging to her.

"I heard about what happened," Elsie said, pulling back to look at Ellie with concern. "I can't imagine how tough this must be for you."

Ellie managed a small smile. "It's been a lot to process, but I'm grateful for the support of everyone in town."

"We're here for you, Ellie."

Another woman close to her own age emerged from the kitchen area. She looked familiar from school. Elsie waved to the newcomer.

"Celeste, come here, dear."

Celeste Rowan? Wow, the girl had grown into a stunner.

When Celeste saw her, a huge smile spread across her face. "Ellie!" She hurried over and hugged her. "It's great to see you again. We all heard you were back. Molly, Daisy, and I were planning a girls' night next week. We'd love for you to join us."

Ellie hesitated, unsure if she was ready for social interaction. But the warmth and kindness in Celeste's eyes made her feel welcomed, and she found herself nodding. "That sounds lovely, Celeste. Thank you for the invitation."

Celeste beamed. "Wonderful. I'll let the girls know. Now, let's get you some lunch. On the house."

On the house? How could Celeste offer that without Elsie's permission?

Elsie chuckled. "Have I mentioned that Celeste is my daughter-in-law and partial owner of the café with my son? I've retired from the hard work."

Ah, that explained it all.

Ellie was settled at a table, a steaming bowl of soup and a freshly baked roll placed in front of her. As she ate, Elsie joined her, a cup of coffee in hand.

"Ellie, dear," Elsie said, her amber eyes soft with sympathy. "How are you holding up?"

Ellie swallowed a spoonful of soup, the warmth spreading through her chest. "It's been challenging, Elsie. But being back in Whispering Pines, surrounded by familiar faces, it feels like a second chance at life."

A sly smile played at the corners of Elsie's mouth. "A second chance for a lot of things, maybe. You and Reed, you always did make a cute couple."

Ellie nearly choked on her coffee. "Reed? Oh, no, that's ancient history."

Elsie chuckled. "Is it? The way I hear it, he's never been quite the same since you left. Never married, never settled down. Almost like he's been waiting for something. Or someone."

Ellie's heart skipped a beat. The thought of Reed, of what they had once shared, it was almost too much to hope for. "I don't know, Elsie. So much has changed."

But Elsie waved off her protest. "Just something to think about, dear. Life has a funny way of giving us second chances when we least expect them."

With a final wink, Elsie left Ellie to her thoughts. Ellie finished her lunch, her mind spinning with the possibilities Elsie had hinted at.

After she left the café, she walked around town, reacquainting herself with the shops and the people.

Her feet carried her to the Green Thicket Tea House, a quaint little spot she and her friends used to frequent in high school. The owner, Ivy Sullivan, looked up as she entered, a bright smile lighting her face.

"Ellie Theren, as I live and breathe," Ivy exclaimed, hurrying around the counter to pull Ellie into a hug. "It's been too long."

Ellie returned the embrace, the familiar scent of herbs and honey enveloping her. "It's good to see you, Ivy."

Ivy ushered her to a table, already putting on a pot of tea. "I heard about what happened. I'm so sorry, Ellie. Losing a husband, I can't even imagine."

Ellie accepted the steaming cup of tea, the warmth seeping into her hands. "It's been hard. But being back here, it feels right, you know?"

Ivy nodded, a knowing glint in her eye. "Speaking of things that feel right, have you seen Reed yet?"

Ellie nearly dropped her cup. "Why does everyone keep asking me that?"

Ivy laughed. "Because, my dear, some things are just meant to be. You and Reed, you had something special. Maybe this is the universe's way of giving you another chance."

Ellie shook her head, a rueful smile on her lips. "You sound like Elsie."

Ivy grinned. "Great minds, and all that. But seriously, Ellie. Don't let the past hold you back. You never know what the future might bring."

With a final hug and a promise to catch up soon, Ellie left the tea house, her head spinning. Between the mystery of her grandmother's past, the awakening of her own powers, and the sudden reappearance of Reed in her life, she felt like she was standing on the edge of a precipice, the world she knew crumbling beneath her feet.

Lost in thought, she barely noticed when she arrived back at her grandmother's house. But the sight of a familiar figure on her porch brought her up short.

"Reed," she said, climbing the steps to stand beside him. "What brings you here?"

Reed turned to her, his amber eyes intense. "I have some preliminary findings from the medical examiner and I just wanted to check up on you to make sure nothing happened overnight."

Ellie nodded, not wanting to make too much out of this surprise welcome visit. "I appreciate that."

They settled in the living room where he showed a handwritten document from the ME's office that said the dead man in her home had died of a massive myocardial infarction.

"A heart attack?" she asked.

"Not just a heart attack," he replied. "His heart had practically exploded in his chest."

She gasped. "How could that happen?"

"The ME said it definitely wasn't natural. She believed magic caused it. Powerful dark magic.

"Maybe I can help with that mystery." Ellie pulled the copy of the letter from town hall from her pocket and handed it to him. "I found out my grandmother was part of a secretive magical council," Ellie said. "And there was a warning about a buried secret beneath the house."

Reed frowned, his brow furrowed in thought. "We should explore the cellar. See if we can find anything that might shed light on this."

Ellie agreed, and together they made their way down the creaky wooden steps to the underground room. The air was damp and musty, and Ellie shivered, goose bumps rising on her arms.

At the bottom, Ellie paused, her hand on the light switch. She could feel the magic pulsing through the walls, a low, insistent hum that set her teeth on edge.

"Do you feel that?" she whispered, her voice trembling.

Reed nodded, his hand on his gun. "What is it?"

Ellie shook her head. "I don't know. But it's strong. Powerful."

She flipped the switch, the bare bulb above them flickering to life. The cellar was small, the walls lined with shelves of old jars and boxes.

They searched the space, moving boxes and old furniture, until Reed called out, "Ellie, look at this."

A trapdoor, set into the floor, the wood old and rotted.

Ellie approached it slowly, her heart pounding. She knelt, her fingers brushing the rusted handle.

"Ellie, wait—" Reed started, but it was too late.

The moment her skin made contact with the metal, a burst of energy surged through her, a blinding light filling the room. Ellie cried out, her body lifting off the ground, suspended in midair.

Reed shouted her name, but she could barely hear him over the roar of magic in her ears. Images flashed before her eyes, too fast to comprehend. A circle of witches, hands joined. A dark figure looming in the shadows. And a prophecy, the words echoing in her mind.

"When the witch and her cat unite, the evil shall be revealed. The secret that lies beneath shall be the key to salvation or destruction. The choice will be theirs to make."

As suddenly as it had begun, the magic released her, dropping her to the ground in a heap. Reed was at her side in an instant, his arms around her, his voice urgent in her ear.

"Ellie! Are you okay? What happened?"

Ellie blinked, her vision clearing. She looked up at Reed, her eyes wide with shock.

"Reed," she whispered, her voice shaking. "I think we're in trouble. Big trouble."

Reed helped her to her feet, his hand warm and steady on her back. "What do you mean? What did you see?"

Ellie took a deep breath, trying to steady herself. "A prophecy. About a witch and a cat. About a secret that could save or destroy everything."

Reed's face paled. "A witch and a cat? You don't think…"

Ellie met his gaze, her eyes dark with fear. "I think it's us, Reed. I think we're the ones the prophecy is talking about. The cat being your tiger."

Reed swallowed hard, his hand tightening on her shoulder. "Then we better figure out what this secret is. And fast."

Ellie nodded, her heart racing. She looked down at the trapdoor, the wood seeming to pulse with hidden power.