Chapter 5

Chapter Five

Tamzyn

T he next morning, Tamzyn entered Luna Steven's New Age bookshop. The bell above the door chimed softly as she stepped into the warm, incense-laden air. The shop was a haven for the curious and the mystically inclined, its shelves crammed with books on everything from crystal healing to ancient folklore. It was also one of the few places in Silver Ridge where Tamzyn felt she could let her guard down, even if only a little.

Luna, the shop's owner, was the closest thing Tamzyn had to a friend in this remote town. An eccentric woman with wild, curly hair and a penchant for flowing skirts, Luna had welcomed Tamzyn with open arms when she first arrived in Silver Ridge. Over time, they had developed a bond, one built on mutual respect for the unseen forces of the world, though Luna had no idea just how deep Tamzyn's connection to those forces ran.

Tamzyn spotted Luna behind the counter, thumbing through a worn leather-bound book with an air of intense concentration. She approached quietly, not wanting to startle her friend.

"Hey, Luna," she greeted softly.

Luna looked up, her bright blue eyes lighting up with a smile. "Tamzyn! It's good to see you. I was just going through an old grimoire I found in the back. You know how I can't resist a good dusty tome."

Tamzyn couldn't help but smile at Luna's enthusiasm. "I can imagine. You always find the most interesting things."

Luna closed the book and set it aside, giving Tamzyn her full attention. "So, what brings you by today? Looking for something specific?"

Tamzyn hesitated, wondering how much she should reveal. She had never told Luna the full truth about her past, about her powers, or about why she had really come to Silver Ridge. But she trusted Luna more than anyone else in this town, and right now, she needed information.

"There's something strange going on, Luna," Tamzyn began, choosing her words carefully. "I've been sensing… unusual energy in the woods, something dark. And several children have gone missing. All but one have been found, but now there are two hikers who have disappeared. I think it might be connected to something supernatural."

Luna's expression grew serious, the playful spark in her eyes dimming. "I've heard about the disappearances. People are starting to get worried. You think it's something more than just bad luck?"

Tamzyn nodded. "I'm certain of it. There's been dark magic in the woods, and it's not something I've encountered before. I need to know if there's any history here, anything that might explain what's going on."

Luna leaned back, her brow furrowing in thought. "Silver Ridge has always been a strange place, you know. There are a lot of old stories, but most people dismiss them as legends. Still, if you're sensing something, it's worth looking into."

She got up from her chair and motioned for Tamzyn to follow her to the back of the shop. Luna led her to a small, cozy room lined with shelves of old books and scrolls. The scent of aged paper and sage hung in the air, calming and familiar.

"This is where I keep the good stuff," Luna said with a wink. "Books and records that most people wouldn't even know to look for. A lot of it was left behind by the previous owner, who was a bit of a recluse. He had a deep interest in the town's history and its… let's say, less conventional aspects."

Tamzyn watched as Luna pulled a heavy volume from the shelf, its cover cracked and worn with age. The title was barely legible, but Tamzyn could make out the words "Silver Ridge: The Hidden History."

"This might help," Luna said, handing the book to Tamzyn. "It's full of old tales and rumors about the town. Some of it is probably just superstition, but there might be some truth hidden in there."

Tamzyn took the book, feeling the weight of it in her hands. "Thank you, Luna. I'll look through it and see if I can find anything useful."

Luna smiled, but there was a hint of concern in her eyes. "Just be careful, Tamzyn. Silver Ridge has secrets, and not all of them are meant to be uncovered."

Tamzyn nodded, understanding the unspoken warning. She had already stumbled upon more than she had intended, but she couldn't stop now. Too much was at stake.

As she left the shop, the book tucked under her arm, Tamzyn felt a strange sense of foreboding settle over her. The day had turned gray, clouds rolling in from the coast, promising rain. The streets of Silver Ridge were quiet, the usual bustle subdued as if the town itself was holding its breath.

Back at her small, cluttered cottage on the outskirts of town, Tamzyn wasted no time in delving into the book. She sat at her kitchen table, a cup of tea growing cold beside her as she carefully turned the brittle pages. The text was dense, filled with archaic language and handwritten notes in the margins, but she pressed on, searching for anything that might explain the dark magic she had encountered in the woods.

Hours passed as she read through tales of early settlers, strange disappearances, and whispered legends of creatures that lurked in the shadows. Some of it was clearly folklore, but there were threads of truth woven throughout, hints of something darker that had been hidden away for generations.

One passage, in particular, caught her attention. It spoke of a time long ago when Silver Ridge was home to a coven of witches, powerful women who had once protected the town from evil forces. But the coven had been betrayed by one of their own, a witch who had turned to dark magic, summoning something terrible from beyond the veil. The coven had fought to banish the creature, but the battle had cost them dearly, and the surviving witches had eventually left Silver Ridge, taking their secrets with them.

Tamzyn's pulse quickened as she read the description of the dark magic, its effects eerily similar to what she had sensed in the woods. Could it be that the creature summoned by the rogue witch had never been truly banished? Or worse, had someone found a way to summon it again?

She was still pondering the implications when a sudden, sharp pain shot through her head, blinding her with its intensity. Tamzyn gasped, clutching at her temples as the world around her seemed to blur and fade away. A vision was taking hold, one that she had no power to resist.

The kitchen disappeared, replaced by the dark, twisted trees of the forest. The air was thick with the scent of damp earth and decaying leaves, and Tamzyn could hear the distant echo of a child's cry. She tried to move, but her body felt heavy, as if weighed down by an unseen force. Panic surged through her as the cry grew louder, more desperate.

Then she saw her—a young girl, no more than eight years old, trapped in a circle of glowing runes etched into the ground. The child was crying, her small hands reaching out as if pleading for help, but she was frozen in place, unable to escape the magical trap that held her.

Tamzyn's heart raced as she recognized the symbols, their power familiar yet twisted by dark intent. The vision shifted, showing her the location deep within the forest, and then, as suddenly as it had begun, it was over. She was back in her kitchen, the pain in her head receding but leaving a lingering sense of urgency.

The vision had been clear—there was a child in danger, and she was running out of time. Tamzyn didn't hesitate. She grabbed her coat, shoving the book into her bag, and rushed out the door, her mind focused on the location she had seen in the vision. She had to reach the girl before it was too late.

After what seemed too long a time, she entered the forest, it was darker than it had been before, the trees casting long shadows as the clouds overhead thickened. Tamzyn moved quickly, her feet barely making a sound as she followed the path from her vision. The air was thick with the scent of rain, but there was something else too, something more sinister that made her skin prickle with unease.

As she neared the spot, she slowed, her senses alert. The forest was unnaturally quiet, as if the very creatures that lived within it were afraid to make a sound. Tamzyn's breath caught in her throat as she saw the faint glow of the runes through the trees.

The girl was still there, just as she had seen in her vision, trapped within the circle of magic. Tamzyn's heart ached at the sight of her, so small and terrified, her eyes wide with fear as she struggled against the invisible bonds that held her.

Tamzyn knelt at the edge of the circle, carefully studying the runes. They were powerful, designed to trap anyone who stepped within them, but she could sense their weakness. Whoever had cast this spell hadn't done so with full knowledge of the symbols they were using. It was a sloppy job, but still dangerous.

She reached out, her fingers brushing against the edge of the circle, and began to unravel the spell. The runes resisted at first, but Tamzyn was stronger, her own magic pulsing through her veins as she worked to dismantle the trap. The air around her shimmered with energy, invisible to the human eye but tangible to those who knew how to sense it.

The girl whimpered; her eyes locked on Tamzyn's as if sensing that help had finally arrived. Tamzyn whispered soothing words as she continued to work, her focus unyielding. She had almost broken the spell when she heard the sound of voices in the distance, growing closer with every passing second.

Panic flared within her. She couldn't be seen here, using her magic. It would raise too many questions, questions she wasn't prepared to answer. But she couldn't leave the girl either, not when she was so close to freeing her.

Tamzyn quickened her pace, pouring more of her energy into the spell. The runes flickered, their power weakening as she unraveled the final threads of magic. With a sharp cry, the circle broke, the glow fading as the spell dissipated into the air.

The girl stumbled forward, no longer bound by the magical trap. Tamzyn caught her, pulling her close and murmuring reassurances even as she scanned the trees for the source of the voices. They were closer now, just beyond the clearing.

There was no time to waste. Tamzyn stood, the girl clinging to her side, and whispered a quick spell under her breath. The air around them shimmered, and they both faded from view, hidden by the magic that cloaked them from sight.

Moments later, the voices broke through the trees, accompanied by the sound of heavy footsteps. Tamzyn watched as a group of searchers entered the clearing, their faces grim and determined. They were looking for the missing child, unaware of how close they had come to finding her.

She stayed hidden, her heart pounding as she waited for the searchers to pass. The girl remained silent, her small body trembling against Tamzyn's side. Finally, when the last of the searchers had moved on, Tamzyn released the spell, allowing them to become visible once more.

"We have to get you home," Tamzyn whispered to the girl. The child nodded; her eyes wide with trust.

Tamzyn led her through the forest, taking a different path to avoid the searchers. The rain began to fall in earnest, soaking through their clothes as they moved quickly through the trees. Tamzyn didn't slow until they reached the edge of the woods, where the lights of the town were just visible through the mist.

She crouched down to the girl's level, brushing a strand of wet hair from her face. "You're going to be okay now. Just follow this path, and you'll be back in town. Do you know where you live?"

The girl nodded again; her voice small but steady. "Yes."

"Good," Tamzyn said with a smile. "Now go. And don't look back, okay?"

The girl hesitated for a moment, then threw her arms around Tamzyn in a quick, fierce hug. "Thank you."

Tamzyn's heart squeezed, but she didn't let the emotion show. She gently pushed the girl toward the path. "Go. Be safe."

The child took off running, her small form disappearing into the mist. Tamzyn whispered a spell to cause the child to forget she had ever been with Tamzyn or that she had been trapped by magic. Tamzyn watched her go, relief and exhaustion washing over her in equal measure. She had done it. The girl was safe, and no one had seen Tamzyn use her magic.

But as she turned back toward the woods, she couldn't shake the feeling that this was only the beginning. The dark magic she had sensed in the forest was still out there, and whoever had cast that spell wouldn't stop until they got what they wanted.

Tamzyn knew she couldn't hide forever. The shadows of her past were closing in, and soon, she would have no choice but to face them.

With a heavy heart, she made her way back to her shop, the rain that had begun to fall washing away the traces of her presence as she disappeared into the night.