17

Sienna

As a young girl, I was enthralled by tales of the elusive male witches known as wizards. Whispers of the wizard's incredible powers echoed through my coven, painting a picture of untold strength and unfathomable magic. Among those stories were rumors about how wizards were stripped of their powers and reduced to mere shadows. But I always wondered if remnants of the wizard's magic lingered.

Forrest was proof that it did.

The Council was an equally mysterious entity, shrouded in myth and legend. As a child, I had only heard stories of them, but their rumored ability to bestow powers upon covens made them an enigmatic force to be reckoned with. Surely, as the ones who had bestowed our unique abilities upon us, they should have been intimately familiar with my coven's powers.

My mind raced with the instinct to run straight to Athena, to tell her of the chaos unfolding. But a nagging feeling in my gut held me back. Something felt amiss about the entire situation, like a puzzle missing an important piece. I needed answers.

∞∞∞

A sigh of relief escaped my lips when my beat-up car miraculously started on the first try. Months had passed since I last turned the key in the ignition, and I couldn't believe my luck. The engine purred to life, its familiar hum filling the silent garage.

There was only one rental cabin on the edge of Cider Falls, so finding Forrest was a piece of cake.

As soon as the small log cabin came into view, a sense of relief washed over me at the sight of Forrest's truck parked outside. The distinct scent of burning wood filled my nostrils as I cautiously walked to the front door, unsure if I was making the right decision. Taking a deep breath, I mustered up the courage to knock, my knuckles rapping against the wood in a steady rhythm. The sound echoed as I waited for a response, my heart racing with anticipation. Slowly but surely, I heard the faint sound of footsteps approaching the other side of the door.

"Hey," Forrest greeted me. He stood there, his flannel shirt unbuttoned and revealing a glimpse of his broad chest.

"Hey," I said. "Can we talk?"

With a subtle nod, he gestured for me to slip past him and enter through the front door. His piercing gaze met mine as he spoke. "I must admit, though, I am not well-versed in this matter."

"And I am?"

"Touché."

"Is Cider Falls in trouble?" I asked.

"I'm not sure," he said, his eyes meeting mine.

His words were a refreshing breeze amid chaos. Instead of sugar-coated reassurance, he spoke honestly. I didn't want false hope or empty promises. I just wanted the truth.

"We can control men," I finally blurted out, my eyes widening at my confession. "That's our power. "

"What?" Forrest choked out in utter disbelief. "What do you mean?"

"Our coven is responsible for keeping Cider Falls safe. We ensure the men of our community are nonviolent. We strip them of their egos. We keep the peace ."

I could see understanding and realization dawn in Forrest's eyes as he looked at me. "I knew something was off with Mike, as nice as the guy is."

"It's not like we control men to the point that they're all just drooling robots," I explained.

"I know," Forrest chuckled. He was taking the news better than I expected.

"We tried it on you," I confessed. "The spell. But it only works on mortal men."

"Is that why I had raging headaches my first day here?"

I thought back to my first encounter with Forrest, and how I so desperately tried to summon my coven's powers. "Yeah," I looked down, "sorry about that."

"No need to apologize," he said, his large hand finding my thigh. "I understand that you were just trying to protect your coven. "

"Speaking of which, I have a confession," I said as I looked down at my hands. "I was told to keep an eye on you, for my coven."

Forrest laughed at my words. "I had a feeling, seeing as you were the only one in town who was even remotely nice to me. And I get it," he said. "I really do. Did you learn anything interesting?"

"You're surprisingly good at making bagels. Was it really your first time?"

"It was," he said, his eyes twinkling.

"Forrest?"

"Yeah?"

"Was what you said about the city true?" I asked. "Did you feel lonely there?"

He nodded. "Like I said, everything I've told you is true. Well, besides the whole randomly selecting Cider Falls on a map thing. I applied for this task through the Council, but I want to open a sports bar in a small town. It's a childhood dream of mine."

I studied his face, trying to decipher if his words were true.

"I've always felt— "

"Lost?"

"Lost," he repeated, squeezing my thigh. "Unwanted. Like a weed in a backyard searching for an open field so that I can become a wildflower."

His eyes held an unwavering sincerity, and I wholeheartedly believed him.

"Why would the council be concerned with my coven's powers?" I asked.

"I'm not sure," he shrugged. "They don't tell you much when you're sent on an assignment."

"What exactly does the Council do?" I asked.

"They protect the balance of powers," he explained.

"I thought the council bestows powers?"

"What?" he asked. "No, they don't have the ability to do that. They ensure that everyone stays in order, that no one has too much or too little power."

"My coven was granted our special powers," I told him. "According to my ancestors, we were chosen for our role. The Council picked us, bestowed specific powers upon us."

He shook his head. "Who told you that?"

"I don't know," I said. "I've heard it forever. It's just, a known truth here."

"Do you trust me?" he asked. The sincerity in his eyes stole my breath.

"Yes," I finally said. "As crazy as it sounds, I do."

"Then take my hand," he said. A fleeting kiss on the lips sent my senses reeling as we were transported into a kaleidoscope world of swirling colors and dazzling lights.