3

Sienna

I descended the steep slope, stumbling when my foot caught on a hidden rock. Despite the challenging terrain demanding my full attention, my focus was on the looming threat posed by the stranger.

I ventured forward, every step leading me closer to the rock amphitheater nestled deep within the heart of the woods. The towering trees appeared to deliberately make way for it as if unveiling a long-concealed gem. The full moon's soft light filtered through the leaves, creating a luminous pathway for me to follow.

Our covenstead was a magnificent structure that had been expertly crafted by our ancestors. The smooth, weathered stones formed a natural stage. The amphitheater held centuries of magic and wisdom, passed down to us from those who came before.

My sisters, draped in billowing garments that seemed to dance with the evening breeze, stood at the foot of the grand amphitheater. The sleek fabric clung to their figures and swirled around their feet like a dark mist, giving them an ethereal presence.

As I made my way towards them, one of my sisters excitedly pointed in my direction, her finger outstretched. "Sienna!"

"Finally!" Athena said. Although we had no appointed leader, Athena effortlessly assumed the role. We needed her guidance, establishing her as the unshakeable pillar of our coven.

"What's going on?" Our youngest witch, Clover, asked as she huddled closer to Athena.

I cleared my throat, finally ready to address my sisters. "We have a new resident in town," I began. "He isn't like the rest."

My sisters nodded in agreement. Most of us had tried, and failed, to bewitch him.

"It's as if he is resistant to us," Athena said, "to our powers. "

"Is he going to hurt us?" Clover's frame trembled ever so slightly like a delicate flower quivering in the wind.

My sisters and I responded at the same time, delivering a resounding no to wide-eyed Clover. Our voices rang out in unison, filled with conviction. The fire in our eyes matched the heat of our words. We would never let him hurt us. We knew we would protect each other. We would do anything to keep Cider Falls safe.

"We'll never let that happen," I promised.

"He'll have to go through us first," the witch to my right, Lydia, scoffed with confidence. Her raven hair danced around her face, mirroring the fierceness in her dark eyes. I had known Lydia since we were children, and she had always been bold.

Clover's chin lifted proudly as she listened to our words.

"Sienna, you've had the longest interaction with him. What do you know so far?" Athena asked.

"He's opening a sports bar next to my bakery," I explained.

"A sports bar?" One of my sisters repeated .

Another asked, "What is that?"

"I guess it's a place where people drink while playing sports?" I shrugged. I had never heard of a sports bar either.

"But where is he staying?" Lydia asked.

"He must be staying at the cabin on the edge of town," I explained. "I just wish Cyrus had warned us." With his silver hair and stooped posture, Cyrus was a recognizable figure in our small town. He owned the only rental cabin, a modest yet charming abode tucked away in the woods. It was common for him to inform us of new guests, but it seemed to have slipped his mind.

Athena turned to me, lines of worry forming between her brows as she spoke. "You must find out what brought him to Cider Falls. We need to know what he wants."

"No one simply stumbles upon our town," another sister said, her voice filled with a sense of warning. The others nodded in agreement. It was a stark reminder of the magnitude of the issue at hand. An issue that needed to be tackled head-on.

"I will do what I can," I promised.

"And you can do anything ," Athena encouraged me. "We have faith in you, Sienna. "

Athena's soothing voice called us to gather. Our fingers intertwined, creating a chain of unity among our sisters. The subtle hum of magic filled every breath, pulsing and swirling around us like a tangible force. We were one entity, bound together by the sparks of our combined powers.

Anytime we met together, it recharged our powers, recharged our bond. To say we needed each other was an understatement.

"I'll find out more," I promised my sisters. "My strength is renewed, but I don't know if that will help anything."

"I'm not confident that it will," Athena admitted, "but I am confident that you can figure out what we're dealing with."

I nodded, feeling the weight of my sisters' trust settle on my shoulders like a heavy cloak. Despite the fear that gnawed at my insides, I had a duty to fulfill, and I would not let my sisters down, no matter how daunting the task may have seemed.