Chapter 5

"What do we do now?" My words seemed loud despite the hidden creatures" rustle and an owl"s distant hoot. Nerves and a pounding heart were funny that way. They amplified everything around you.

As I listened to nature"s nocturnal sounds, I picked something up underneath it. There was an unnatural hum, a discordant note in the magical melody. I glanced at Aidon. His features were tense with concentration, making me wonder if we were totally screwed.

Sensing the gravity of our journey, Stella broke the silence with a touch of solemnity. "We can safely assume this will lead us to some witch's pocket realm. There's a chance it's Lyra, and I never thought I would willingly walk into one of her traps, but we have to stop her. She's done so much evil and hurt so many. She can't be allowed to continue."

I gave her a reassuring smile, though my eyes betrayed my uncertainty. "Well, we"ve never been known for taking the easy or conventional route. Besides, it's not going to get much better for us. We have a god with us this time, which gives us an advantage."

"Not to mention, we are prepared for a trap. I will be able to block any powerful spells before they hit you. I don't care if I melt her brain." Aidon"s voice was laden with resignation. I knew he worried about our safety and didn't like me walking into danger. I didn't either.

But with great power comes great responsibility. I'd never felt that fact more keenly than I did since Hattie made me the Pleiades. Having the power to make a difference was a scary thing, but it would be worse if I ignored the crises that kept coming my way. It went against my nature to ignore the needs of others. And I was grateful I had a mate who understood that and supported me despite how he hated it.

As we stood there, the air became dense with an unsettling anticipation. The trees, ancient witnesses to countless events, seemed to lean in as if rooting us on. The clearing, bathed in an otherworldly glow, felt like the stage for a showdown. Then again, that was likely my brain running away from me. The worst part was that I wasn"t wrong. A fight was more likely than any other options. Stella, Aidon, and I exchanged glances.

"We are freaking insane," I declared with a casual air. "Who"s up for a bit of deciphering? We should make it a group activity. The more, the merrier, right?"

Stella chuckled as she stared at the stone. Her eyes reflected the dance of the symbols on the altar. "Decrypting ancient magic in the middle of a haunted forest? Count me in. Beats a night helping Charley with Precalc. I never understood Calculus, and she's in the AP course!"

Aidon raised an eyebrow. "If you're done discussing mathematics courses, you should understand that decoding these symbols might unravel powerful forces."

I rolled my eyes, feigning nonchalance. "Oh, I think that's a given. But we"ve come this far. We can"t just turn back now, can we?"

Aidon smiled at me, reminding me that no matter what happened, everything was right in my world. "It"s a good thing Dark magic isn"t known for its subtlety. I'll be ready."

After pressing a brief kiss to his lips, Stella and I approached the altar. We exchanged a glance that held a mixture of determination and uncertainty. I fumbled through my bag, producing an assortment of potions and spell components. "Alright, prepare to be amazed. Or you know, slightly impressed."

Stella grinned, mischief glinting in her eyes. "Of course, he'll be awed. We dazzle, Pheebs. Your outfit could be improved, but he loves you regardless."

I laughed, clinking my potion vial against hers. "Here"s to hoping we don"t accidentally summon an ancient sorcerer who turns us into sentient mushrooms."

Tipping the vial, I wet my finger with some of a potion Mom created to reveal truths. I dabbed a few of the symbols. Stella used another concoction and followed suit. We cast spells and tried a few more when nothing happened. Before we could ask Aidon for a suggestion, the air shimmered. For a moment, it felt like the universe itself held its breath. Colors danced around us, an ethereal ballet that defied the laws of reality.

Observing from a safe distance, Aidon looked like he was mentally preparing to launch a full-scale attack. Suddenly, the world tilted. Reality became a fleeting concept, and the symbols on the altar seemed to blur into a magical whirlwind. Stella and I clutched each other, our senses entangled in the chaotic dance of unknown forces.

As quickly as it began, the tumultuous magical storm subsided. And we stood in a new reality. Our surroundings had completely transformed. The serenity of nature replaced the haunted forest. And the clearing now housed a quaint cottage where the altar once stood.

I blinked, attempting to make sense of our sudden relocation. "Well," I said, surveying the scene with a mix of sarcasm and awe, "I guess we"ve just upgraded from decoding ancient symbols to Airbnb teleportation. Who knew magic came with complimentary cottage getaways?"

Aidon gave me a stern look. His magic was on edge and ready to burst from him. Stella grinned, her eyes sparkling with a hint of mischief. "I always wanted a magical cottage. Do you think it comes with a resident ghost who doubles as a butler?"

Aidon frowned and motioned us to back up away from the structure. "I can't get a good read on things."

I might embrace the uncertainty that came with our supernatural adventures, but I wasn't stupid. Tugging Stella with me, I went to Aidon's side. "We should check out this cottage and see if a welcome basket of enchanted cookies is waiting for us."

Aidon pursed his lips and glanced around. "I'd prefer to know more before we do that."

"I would too," I agreed as I took in the gnarled branches of trees that formed a natural curtain. They concealed the ominous dwelling behind a veil of magical illusions. It made me wonder what was on the other side.

I pointed to the far side of the clearing. "I don"t think that part of the pocket realm is fully formed."

"And I'm not picking up any Dark magic," Stella added.

"Let's check it out then," Aidon said.

My heart started racing, and my magic was making my hands prickle as we approached. My steps faltered when I felt sinister enchantments clinging to the cottage like a malevolent perfume. Stella shivered and rubbed her hands up and down her arms. "I take that back. This place feels like I've been dunked in an acid bath."

"Can you dismantle the enchantments surrounding the house?" Aidon asked.

"We have to try. We can't walk in there before we do," I muttered, eyeing the eerie symbols I could now see etched into the cottage"s walls. I shuddered and tilted my head. "What kind of decorator goes for evil runes and creepy ambiance?"

Stella shot me a half-amused, half-apprehensive look, "Let's give the place an extreme makeover."

I rubbed my hands together theatrically, "I've always wanted to do demo on one of those remodeling shows."

Aidon scanned the symbols with furrowed brows and said, "These runes are tied to dark rituals. Whatever happened here is more than a simple homestead. This cottage is a focal point for something bigger. It reeks of malevolence."

Stella"s eyes narrowed in concentration. "Erasing them should be our first order of business. Although, I'm not sure if that will change much. It feels like the cottage absorbed centuries of dark magic."

A grimace pulled at the edges of my face. "Every little bit will help. We"re standing at the crossroads of some seriously twisted supernatural history."

Reaching out, I took one of Stella's hands and snagged one of Aidon's. "We should use an obliteration spell, concentrating on destroying the symbols and the magic they carry," I told them both.

"I'm only muscle in this," Aidon said while Stella nodded in agreement. Her expression was severe and focused. She was already going to work on the enchantment. Keeping my gaze dialed in on the house and the symbols, I set my intent and chanted with Stella. I expected to have to work at it, but our magic was shoved out of us by Aidon's power. We watched in amazement as it wrapped around the structure and drilled into the symbols.

Blue sparks flew off the siding as our magic went to work. Thick, black smoke and a high-pitched screeching sound followed. I yelped when tiny flames followed the sparks. The fire spread across the outside of the house but didn't burn through to the inside.

"That's unexpected," I muttered while we watched.

"And working," Aidon replied.

Our spell eradicating the symbols and magic took a few minutes. We jumped back when the sparks hit the ground in front of us. Once done, Aidon led us into the heart of the cottage. There was a faint smokey smell in the empty living room. I wasn't all that surprised to see scorch marks on the inside.

"It doesn't feel like anyone is here," Stella whispered.

Aidon gave her his are-you-serious look. "It's difficult to determine anything over the remnants of Light and Dark magic. Don't let your guard down."

Stella and I nodded, and then we started exploring the house. We stumbled upon a room adorned with remnants of dark rituals. Candles flickered ominously, their flames dancing to an otherworldly rhythm. Symbols were etched into the floor, telling a story of ancient ceremonies defying nature"s laws.

"Should we eradicate these, too?" Stella whispered.

Aidon sighed. "That could bring the place down on our heads. I say we stay out here."

I headed down the hall and smirked at Stella. "I guess they don't get Wi-Fi in this pocket realm. They could have used some help turning this "Dark and Forbidden" design trend into a "Shabby Chic.'"

Stella smiled, and we both stopped when we noticed Aidon wasn't with us. He was back at the room taking in the details. His expression grew somber as he looked over at us. "These rituals were performed with purpose," he explained. "They"re not random. Someone had a plan involving tapping into forces that should never be tampered with."

That comment had Stella and I scurrying back to his side. I couldn't make heads or tails of what he was picking up. All I could see, smell, or hear were the remnants of Dark magic.

As we stood there, invisible threads popped up like a laser light show playing in the middle of the room. This dark sanctuary was connected to Olive. That was good information to have. But it raised about a million others. Who was in this with her? Why had they taken her? Was Lyra involved?

Images flickered in my mind like a reel of twisted memories. I grasped Aidon's arm as I tried to shake them off. They weren't mine, and they were burrowing into my skull.

"Ungh," I groaned as I dropped my head to my chest.

Aidon held me to his side. "What is it, Queenie? What's happening? Are you okay, Stella?"

"I'm okay," Stella replied. "But it doesn't look like she is."

I wanted to respond to them, but I couldn't. The images solidified and cleared, and I saw Olive as an innocent and unsuspecting witch. The vision shifted, and she was dancing within the confines of dark rituals. The sinister symbols etched into the walls were evidence of her journey. They painted a vivid picture of a life entangled with malevolent forces. My magical insight unveiled a narrative that revealed a woman whose fate had been scripted by forces beyond her control.

"What a lovely story," I remarked as I shook off whatever had happened. "Olive used to be as good as anyone before she got into Dark magic. I don't know how it happened, but if I were a betting woman, I would say Lyra is behind this, too."

Stella snorted. "You don't say?"

Aidon"s intense gaze fixed on me. "It doesn't matter if she was a willing participant or not. We can safely assume her disappearance was staged to draw you out."

"So why not have someone call our hotline? It would have been a surefire way to get me involved," I replied. "If I am the target, hoping Todd would tell me about it seems like a risk."

Aidon's mouth thinned, and his eyes glowed with his anger. "They were hoping you'd be caught off guard. They didn't want you to question whether or not you should investigate the matter. And they definitely didn't want you coming here with your guard up."

"If you weren't as paranoid as you are, you could have been killed a number of times before now," Stella said, making my throat close up.

"Aidon would never let that happen," I countered.

"But if you hadn't been worried, you wouldn't have brought me," Aidon said. "It might not be Lyra behind this. She would have known we would all be on high-alert after all she's done."

Cold seeped into my veins. Having enemies was nothing new to me, so why did this frighten me so badly? "Assuming you"re right, who would set me up like this? And why target Olive? Did they make her turn evil?"

Stella"s eyes filled with empathy. "It's impossible to know without more information. And we can"t jump to conclusions. There might be more to this than we know."

"True, true," I agreed. "It looks like we have even more reason to remain in Salem and play supernatural detectives. Unraveling dark mysteries and saving wayward witches is just another day in the life."

Aidon gestured to our surroundings. "I believe this cottage holds at least some of the information we need. It's only a matter of unlocking its secrets now."

We continued down the hall, leaving that dark room behind. The next room looked like the typical witch's workroom. I opened my senses, checking for Dark magic inside. We needed answers and wouldn't get them if we couldn't look at anything closer. When nothing returned, I nodded and crossed the threshold, saying, "It's clear."

Stella crossed to a table set up along the far wall. Her fingers grazed the dusty surface of a table, leaving faint trails in the thick layer of dust. "There are symbols," she mused, her voice barely above a whisper, "are carved into the wood but not etched into the soul of the place like the ones on the outside walls."

"She hasn't been in this space for far longer than the rest of the house. It's as if her life stopped when she began practicing Dark magic. I bet that's why her pocket realm isn't finished," Aidon postulated.

The oppressive weight of unseen eyes followed our every move. Stopping, I turned in a slow circle and tried to find the magic of whatever spell was at work. "She's using magic to watch our movements throughout her house. I'm glad we didn't go in the other room. Nothing good would have come from that," I said.

"Why are all evil people predictable?" Stella scoffed and clasped her hands behind her back as she continued looking things over. "We need to leave her a poor Yelp review."

I shot her a wry smile, "I don"t think Yelp covers supernatural haunted cottages."

"Missed opportunity," Aidon quipped, trying to maintain a fa?ade of nonchalance as we pressed on. It didn't work when I could feel how on edge he was.

The walls seemed to close in as they revealed faded murals. They depicted scenes of arcane rituals, dark ceremonies, and faces twisted in expressions of both ecstasy and torment. This time the faces were indistinct and I couldn't make out many details.

Stella pointed a shaky finger at one wall. "What the hell is that?"

"The walls are talking," Aidon deadpanned.

A sudden gust of wind rattled the windows, and the temperature dropped. My sarcastic fa?ade crumbled and was replaced by a genuine unease. Chewing on my lower lip, I tried to calm my insides. "I"m not usually one to believe in haunted houses, but this place is making a strong case," I admitted. "Stick together, I think the Dark magic here was left to mess with us."

Aidon"s expression was solemn as he nodded. "We should continue."

As we ventured deeper, the shadows seemed to reach out, casting elongated fingers that clung to the walls like spectral tendrils. The whispers intensified, coalescing into faint echoes of conversations, laughter, and incantations. It was as if the cottage replayed its darkest memories for its unwilling guests.

The atmosphere in the heart of the cottage grew more ominous with every passing moment. I wanted to get the hell out of there and get back home. The hope that we would come across a clue is the only thing that kept me inside the house. The walls were galleries where shadows clung to the uneven surfaces. They moved in ways that sent shivers down our spines.

"Do you think there's anything to find here?" I asked. "Would she have left any clues behind?"

Stella shook her head. "I've seen mention of the Order of Umbra and Glimmerford. We need to find the community and group. They hold the key to disrupting whatever is planned."

"Finding the group and town won"t be easy. They're likely concealed within the mystical tapestry of Salem. Like this pocket realm, hidden from both mortal and supernatural eyes," Aison said.

I gave him a determined smile. "Guess it"s time for a magical treasure map. Or you know, a divine GPS."

Aidon snorted as we headed for the exit to leave the cottage behind. I was unsettled in a way I hadn't been during my captivity. Lyra's plans and goals were clear then. This time, everything was a bit chaotic and unlike her. And that didn't bode well for us.