Library

Chapter 5

Ellie and Reed stood at the entrance of the crypt in Whispering Pines's communal cemetery, their breath visible in the chilly air. Ellie gripped the strap of her satchel, feeling the magical artifacts inside hum with protective enchantments. Reed checked his holster, the silver gleam of his tiger-emblazoned gun catching the moonlight filtering through the trees.

"Ready?" Reed asked, his amber eyes meeting hers.

Ellie nodded, steeling herself. "As I'll ever be."

They descended the stone steps, the ancient passageway growing narrower with each turn. The damp walls pressed in, and Ellie's heart raced as a surge of power washed over her. This place, it recognized her, called to the magic in her blood. Her skin tingled, emotions amplified, threatening to overflow.

Reed paused, his brow furrowing. "You okay?"

"I'm fine," Ellie managed, focusing on the warmth of his presence beside her. "This place, it's just... a lot."

As they pressed deeper into the crypt, the air grew heavy with dormant enchantments. Ellie's fingers twitched, her magic instinctively reaching out, probing. Suddenly, a glowing sigil flared to life on the wall, pulsing with warning.

"Watch out!" Reed shouted, pulling Ellie back as a crackle of energy shot toward them.

Ellie threw her hands up, a shimmering shield erupting from her palms. The bolt ricocheted, shattering a stone urn and sending shards flying. Ellie's chest heaved, adrenaline pumping through her veins.

"Damn," Reed whistled, eyeing the smoking scorch mark. "Nice reflexes."

Ellie lowered her hands, staring at her fingers in awe and a touch of fear. She'd never managed a shield that strong before. Her magic felt different down here, wilder, harder to control.

Cautiously, they approached the sigil, its glow casting eerie shadows across their faces. Ellie squinted, her mind racing through the archaic runes she'd studied. There, a symbol for passage, another for revelation...

"I think I can disable it, temporarily," she murmured, tracing the shapes in the air. Her fingertips glowed, and she felt the barrier shudder, then dissolve.

Reed raised an eyebrow, impressed. "Good job, beautiful."

Ellie didn't want to think about how him calling her beautiful made her feel. She shot him a wry smile as they stepped through the archway into a cavernous chamber. Torches sputtered to life along the walls, illuminating intricate murals. Ellie gasped, her eyes widening as she took in the scenes depicted.

Battles raged across the stone, witches and shifters locked in combat with shadowy figures. A chill ran down Ellie's spine as she recognized the faces of her ancestors, their hands wreathed in crackling magic. This was Whispering Pines's hidden history, a legacy of darkness and light.

"My family was part of this," she whispered, her fingers hovering over an image of a witch who bore a striking resemblance to her grandmother. "Reed, I think?—"

A grating sound cut her off, and they spun to see a spectral figure rising from a stone sarcophagus. Its hollow eyes fixed on Ellie, and it let out a shriek that made her teeth ache. Reed reached for his gun, but Ellie held up a hand.

"No, wait!" She stepped forward, her heart pounding. The spirit's form shimmered, and Ellie felt the pull of its essence, the echo of an ancient vow. "I am Ellie Theren, descendant of the witches who sealed this crypt. I mean no harm."

The spirit cocked its head, its gaze boring into hers. Ellie forced herself to meet its stare, to project calmness and respect. For a long moment, the only sound was the rasp of Reed's breath beside her.

Then, slowly, the spirit inclined its head. A voice whispered through Ellie's mind, cold and ethereal. "Theren witch, the darkness stirs. The seal weakens. Beware the coming storm."

"Darkness? What darkness?" Ellie asked, but the spirit was already fading, its form dissipating into mist. A small, glowing orb remained, hovering in the air. Ellie reached out, and it settled into her palm, warm and pulsing with energy.

Reed let out a low whistle. "Well, that was... intense. You okay?"

Ellie nodded, staring at the orb. "I think it was a warning. Something bad is coming, Reed. Something my ancestors fought."

She glanced at the murals again, a sense of foreboding washing over her. The weight of her legacy and the power thrumming through her veins settled onto her shoulders like a mantle. She wasn't just Ellie Theren anymore. She was a guardian, a protector of Whispering Pines. The thought filled her with a mixture of pride and fear.

Reed squeezed her hand, his touch grounding her. "Hey, we'll figure it out."

Ellie leaned into him, taking comfort in his solid presence. She glanced around the chamber, spotting a small alcove off to the side. Curious, she approached, Reed close behind.

The alcove was filled with artifacts, ancient tomes, and glittering trinkets. Ellie's breath caught as she recognized her grandmother's scrying bowl, her initials etched into the rim. With reverent hands, she lifted it, feeling the thrum of residual magic.

As she placed the bowl back on the shelf, something else caught her eye. A locket tarnished with age hung from a rusted hook. Ellie reached for it, her fingers grazing the worn metal. As soon as her skin made contact, the locket snapped open, releasing a swirl of silver-blue mist.

Ellie gasped as visions raced through her mind. Her grandmother, younger but unmistakable, her face creased with worry. A pulsing darkness, writhing and hungry. Flashes of battle, of blood and sacrifice. And through it all, a voice, urgent and insistent. "Ellie, you must be ready. The darkness rises once more. Trust your power, trust your heart."

The visions faded, and Ellie found herself back in the alcove, Reed's arms around her waist holding her steady. She blinked, feeling the locket's chain biting into her palm.

"What happened?" Reed demanded, his eyes scanning her face. "You went rigid, started muttering..."

Ellie took a shaky breath. "I saw my grandmother. She warned me, Reed, about the darkness, about my role in stopping it."

She looked down at the locket, now closed once more. Slowly, she undid the clasp and slipped it around her neck. The metal was cool against her skin, but she felt a flicker of warmth, of connection. It was like a piece of her grandmother's strength, her wisdom, now rested close to her heart.

Reed frowned, his gaze lingering on the locket. "Are you sure about this? We don't know what else it might do."

Ellie met his eyes, resolve hardening in her chest. "I'm sure. This is part of my path, Reed. Part of who I am."

He searched her face for a long moment, then nodded. "Okay. I trust you."

Those simple words sent a rush of hope through Ellie. She leaned up, brushing a soft kiss across his lips. "Thank you."

Hand in hand, they made their way out of the crypt, into the cool night air. Ellie paused at the entrance, looking back at the dark passageway.

Comments

0 Comments
Best Newest

Contents
Settings
  • T
  • T
  • T
  • T
Font

Welcome to FullEpub

Create or log into your account to access terrific novels and protect your data

Don’t Have an account?
Click above to create an account.

lf you continue, you are agreeing to the
Terms Of Use and Privacy Policy.