5. Broken Glass

Chapter 5

Broken Glass

Nova hadn’t celebrated the solstice since she was sixteen. Her heartbreak renewed, and she sunk into depression. Every year, people spoke the name Ramsey Ashford Hayes as though he were an urban legend. People in town demanded to know what had happened to their golden son, but Nova couldn’t provide any answers.

The idea of moving on was painful, as her heart would always belong to Ash.

Her dating life was lackluster. She’d dated the nephew of a coven member, but she felt no sparks. When he tried to bring their relationship to the next level of intimacy, she balked. She wept when he said he loved her and would wait for her.

The coven members shook their heads in disappointment. While they respected their leader, they looked at Nova as a disgrace who’d squandered her blessings. They didn’t understand that this fate had been woven generations before. Nova and Ash were paying the price for their ancestor’s mistakes.

Geralt tried to teach his daughter this. She couldn’t isolate herself forever. He wanted to see his daughter thrive. Magic had taken everything Nova loved due to her lack of control. She denounced it.

Magic was a force, a living entity of its own design, and wouldn’t be contained.

“Concentrate, Nova,” Sophie said.

“I can’t,” she huffed.

“Yes, you can. It takes time and patience. Let the magic in. Don’t fight it.”

“I don’t want it. Please, just take it away!” Nova cried.

She didn’t just cry. She screamed in frustration.

“Don’t succumb to the darkness, Nova.”

“You’re afraid I’m going to become a dark witch?”

Sophie looked at her husband for support. He put his hand on her arm.

“I think it’s time we told her everything,” he said to Sophie.

She nodded in agreement.

“The Hayes and the Wardles shared common ancestors. Brother and sister split as one chose love, and the other chose ambition. A devastating curse arose after your great-great-grandfather bore witness to his sisters’ murders, committed by their cousin.”

“I don’t believe you.”

“You were born on a full moon solstice.”

“When you first met Ramsey, you developed this luminous glow.”

“Why didn’t you tell me? Why did you give us your blessing?”

But she recalled their cryptic words. Aware of the heartbreak she would face, her parents attempted to ease the pain.

“You were just so happy together. We didn’t want to cause you more pain,” Sophie whispered.

“There is untapped potential within you, Nova. The more you fight your gifts, the more dangerous they become,” Geralt said firmly.

Though stern, he never pushed his daughter further than she could handle. Inside, Nova was constantly under attack from a barrage of emotion and that inner frenzy continued manifesting itself in unexpected ways.

“You’ll never gain control over your powers if your heart, mind, and soul are out of alignment.”

Without finding the missing part of herself, she had no hope. Ash was her heart, and he was missing. Along with him were her thoughts and even her soul. It wasn’t fair, but that was the hand magic dealt.

At night, she was whole. At least in her dreams. Ash was there. She heard his voice.

While she slept, her magic hummed just below the surface. Nova was a live wire. It’s no wonder things beyond her control happened.

Nova awoke in a strange bed with a wooden head and footboard and an iron frame. She was curled up beneath a large wool blanket. She took in the unfamiliar surroundings. Dark walnut stained the wood-paneled walls, but they were otherwise bare. The room was empty of personal items.

She woke up still wearing the negligee she’d fallen asleep in. The idea that someone had taken her from her bedroom at night or that she sleepwalked into a stranger’s house seemed impossible. No sensible explanation could be found.

Nova pulled the blanket from the bed and wrapped it around her shoulders to protect her modesty. She cautiously crept out of the bedroom and down the hall, walking on the runner to muffle her footsteps.

The first door she found led to a modern bathroom, surprisingly chic for a rustic cabin. The marble shower had a stone accent wall. It had an open rain shower and a luxurious claw-foot tub.

She continued her exploration, wondering what other surprises were in store.

Broken glass lay scattered across the floor near the hearth. The base of a snow globe resting on the mantle caught her eye, causing a deep sorrow to resonate within her soul. A tear rolled down her cheek, and she used the blanket to brush it away.

A baby grand piano occupied the nook near the large window. It too was incongruous in this setting, but Nova was drawn to it. She approached slowly, dreaming of a melody that echoed joy within her. She didn’t know how to play, but couldn’t resist stoking an ivory key. The low note was louder than expected as broke the surrounding silence.

A feast fit for a large family covered the dining table. Her mouth watered as her eyes fell upon the savory pot roast. She was tempted to grab a biscuit when a whimsical thought crossed her mind: perhaps a family of bears was about to emerge from the woods and reclaim their home.

When Nova opened the front door, the view was breathtaking. A winter wonderland surrounded her. The sky was an expanse of blue, but snow surrounded her. The white powder on the ground was unmarred. Even though she was barefoot in a nightgown, she didn’t feel the chill.

She returned to the house and dropped the blanket on the sofa before stepping outside again. This time, she noticed a set of footprints that didn’t belong to her. The hair on her arm raised as her skin prickled.

“Hello?” she called.

Ignorance wasn’t bliss. Someone was here. Nova had many questions that needed answers, and the longer it took, the more precarious her situation became.

“I’d like to go home,” she said.

“But you are home, snow,” a gruff male voice answered.

Though they were strangers, Nova instantly recognized the man standing before her. He was more attractive in real life than the news photos suggested. They always depicted him clean shaven with his dark hair styled neatly. This man’s hair was shaggy, and his square jaw had more than light stubble.

“Ramsey—”

Shocked wasn’t even close to how she felt. The storm that had brewed for ten years, every memory she carried of her forgotten love overwhelmed her, and she fell into the snow.