Chapter 23

TWENTY-THREE

T he Magical Lights Festival transformed Whispering Pines into an enchanted dreamscape that defied the imagination. As Fia, Sayer, Vienna, and Posey stepped onto the festival grounds, they were immediately enveloped in a symphony of sights, sounds, and scents that danced on the edge of reality.

Fairy lights twinkled in the ancient oak trees lining the cobblestone paths, their warm golden glow reminiscent of fireflies frozen in time. The lights seemed to pulse gently as if in rhythm with the heartbeat of the town itself. Fia couldn’t help but gasp as she took in the magical panorama.

“Oh my,” she breathed, her eyes wide. “It’s like stepping into a storybook.”

Sayer’s arm tightened around her waist, his deep chuckle reverberating through her. “Wait until you see the main square. I hear Lark and Sera have outdone themselves this year.”

As if on cue, a shimmering apparition of a massive dragon soared overhead, its scales glittering with every color imaginable. Vienna squealed in delight, her tiny hands reaching up as if to touch the magical creature.

“Agon!” she exclaimed, her face alight with wonder.

Posey laughed, reaching out to tickle her niece’s cheek. “That’s right, princess! Dragon. And look, there’s more!”

Indeed, the air was alive with magical displays. Miniature ships sailed through the sky, their phantom crews waving to the crowd below. Ghostly figures danced midair, acting out scenes from the town’s rich history. A group of enchanted instruments floated by, playing a hauntingly beautiful melody that seemed to weave itself into the very fabric of the night.

As they wandered down the path, the scent of cinnamon and apple cider wafted toward them. Fia’s mouth watered at the aroma.

“I think I smell Molly’s famous cider donuts,” Sayer said, his nose twitching appreciatively. “What do you say we grab some?”

“Oh, yes please!” Posey enthused. “I’ve been dreaming about those donuts since you mentioned them last week.”

They made their way to a cheerful booth decorated with twinkling lights and floating, edible flowers. Molly beamed at them from behind the counter, her red curls even more vibrant in the magical glow of the festival.

“Good evening,” she called out. “And you must be Posey. Welcome to Whispering Pines.”

As Molly chatted animatedly with Posey about the town’s magical baking techniques, Fia turned to Sayer, her heart full of joy.

“This is amazing,” she said softly. “I never imagined a place like this could exist.”

Sayer’s golden eyes softened as he gazed at her. “Neither did I until I found you and Vienna. You’ve made all of this,” he gestured to the magical wonderland around them, “real for me in a way it never was before.”

Before she could respond, Vienna let out another delighted squeal. A group of glowing butterflies had fluttered by, their wings leaving trails of sparkling dust in the air.

“Buhfies!” Vienna cried, reaching out to try and catch them.

Fia laughed, adjusting her hold on the squirming toddler. “You’re on a roll, sweetie. Aren’t they pretty?”

As they continued their stroll, Posey, now armed with a bag of cider donuts, pointed out particularly impressive displays.

“Oh, look at that!” she exclaimed, gesturing to a shimmering fountain. Instead of water, it spouted streams of liquid starlight that formed constellations in the air before dissolving into a shower of glitter. “How does that even work?”

Sayer shrugged, a mischievous glint in his eye. “Magic, of course. Though I’m pretty sure Ivy had a hand in that one. She’s been experimenting with celestial infusions in her teas lately.”

They passed by a group of children gathered around a storytelling circle where Jasper the ghostly librarian was dramatically recounting the tale of the town’s founding. His spectral form flickered and changed as he took on the appearance of different historical figures, much to the delight of his young audience.

“Now that,” Posey said, nudging Sayer, “reminds me of the time you tried to convince me you could shapeshift into anything. Remember how that ended?”

Sayer groaned, shaking his head. “I thought we agreed never to speak of the squirrel incident again.”

Fia perked up, her curiosity piqued. “Oh no, you have to tell me this story!”

As Posey launched into a hilarious tale involving a young Sayer, a misguided shapeshifting attempt, and a very angry mother squirrel, Fia felt a wave of contentment wash over her.

“Look, Vienna,” Fia cooed, pointing to a group of glowing butterflies that fluttered by. “Aren’t they pretty?”

Vienna giggled, reaching out to try and catch the magical insects. Her laughter was infectious, drawing smiles from passersby.

As they wandered through the festival, Fia’s guard began to lower. The atmosphere was so joyful, so filled with light and love, that it seemed impossible for anything to go wrong.

That’s when she noticed the woman with the glowing balloon.

At first glance, there was nothing remarkable about her. Just another festival-goer, enjoying the sights. But something about the way she watched them made the hair on the back of Fia’s neck stand up.

Before Fia could voice her concerns, the woman approached, a friendly smile on her face. “What a beautiful child,” she said, her voice oddly familiar. “Would she like a special balloon?”

Vienna’s eyes lit up at the sight of the glowing orb, its surface shimmering with swirling colors. Fia hesitated, her instincts screaming that something was wrong.

But in that moment of hesitation, Vienna reached out, her tiny fingers brushing the balloon’s surface.

There was a flash of light, a rush of wind, and suddenly, Vienna was gone.

“Vienna!” Fia screamed, her arms suddenly, horribly empty. “Vienna!”

Sayer roared, his eyes flashing gold as his lion surged to the surface. Posey whirled around, her eyes scanning the crowd.

But the woman with the balloon had vanished, taking Vienna with her.

Panic clawed at Fia’s throat as she spun in circles desperately searching for any sign of her niece. “Please,” she begged the startled onlookers. “My baby, she’s gone. Someone took her!”

The festival ground erupted into chaos. Sayer shifted partially, his muscles bulging as he prepared to give chase. Posey was already on her phone, alerting the authorities.

“Fia!” Ivy’s voice cut through the noise. She pushed through the crowd, Daisy and Sera hot on her heels. “What happened?”

Through tears, Fia explained about the woman and the balloon. Realization dawned on Ivy’s face. “A transportation spell,” she muttered. “Clever, but we can track it.”

As if summoned by the crisis, more of the town’s magical residents appeared. Luna, her silver hair gleaming in the festival lights, began weaving a complex tracking spell. Jasper, his ghostly form flickering with agitation, offered historical insights into similar kidnappings.

“We need to split up,” Sayer growled, his voice rough with the effort of holding back his full transformation. “Cover more ground.”

Teams formed quickly, each group equipped with magical tracking devices courtesy of Sera and protective charms from Luna. Fia found herself in a daze, moving on autopilot as they combed the festival grounds and beyond.

Hours passed in a blur of frantic searching, magical pings, and false alarms. With each passing minute, the knot in Fia’s stomach grew tighter. Where was Vienna? Was she scared? Was she hurt?

As minutes turned to hours, Fia felt her legs give out. She sank to the ground, a sob tearing from her throat. “We have to find her,” she whispered, her voice hoarse. “We have to.”

Sayer knelt beside her, pulling her into his arms. His body trembled with suppressed rage and fear. “We will,” he promised fiercely. “I swear to you, Fia, we will find our daughter and bring her home.”

Posey joined them. “No one’s giving up. We’ll find her, Fia.”

As the search party regrouped, preparing for another round of hunting, Fia clung to that promise. They would find Vienna. They had to. Because the alternative was unthinkable.

With renewed determination, Fia pushed herself to her feet. There was no time for despair. Her niece – no, her daughter – needed her. And Fia would move heaven and earth to bring her home.