Chapter 3
462words
"Raven's whisper as night lingers, silver threads wind round the frosty moon. The midnight bell tolls twelve times, revealing sins that cannot hide."
Bianca's expression darkened. "The Salem witch lullaby. Legend says it's only heard when a forgotten bloodline performs a major ritual… or seeks vengeance."
My heart skipped a beat. This melody… I'd read about it in my family's grimoires but never actually heard it. In the distance, dark shapes flitted past windows in the abandoned houses, as if beckoning to us.
"Silver Shadow." My owl immediately launched skyward at my whispered command, hooting urgently toward a structure I hadn't noticed before—an abandoned ritual house, unmarked on any map but radiating ancient power.
"Follow me," I commanded, my tone leaving no room for debate.
Simon glanced nervously at his crew, who were frozen in fear. "Your show can stop here," I said coldly, "but some truths, once awakened, won't give you a second chance to run."
Following Silver Shadow's lead, we approached the ritual house—a structure built entirely of black stone. More than a dozen black cats crouched at its entrance, their green eyes gleaming in the darkness. Silver threads were woven intricately around the doorframe and lintel, catching the moonlight.
Bianca muttered a warding spell under her breath, but the cats remained motionless, watching us with eerie intelligence.
"They're waiting," I said quietly. "Waiting for their true master to return."
I approached the entrance. Silver Shadow swooped down to perch on the lintel and released a long, haunting cry. The black cats suddenly rose as one and silently parted, creating a path just wide enough for a single person.
I pushed open the heavy wooden door. The scent of dust and ancient magic washed over me. The interior was larger than it appeared from outside, with various witch family emblems adorning the walls.
The Blackwood silver owl emblem hung in the most prominent position, with the Sykes black serpent emblem beside it.
In a far corner, nearly hidden by dust, hung another emblem—a quill and iron key crossed together, its significance unclear.
My amulet grew warm against my skin. Powerful magical energy saturated this place.
Bianca entered first, immediately examining the runes carved into the altar. I followed, but noticed Evelyn frozen at the threshold, her cat clutched tightly to her chest, her face a mask of primal fear.
"Evelyn," I called back to her. "Come inside."
"What are you afraid of?" I approached her slowly, my gaze piercing. "It's not this house that frightens you. It's the truth of what happened here years ago, isn't it?"
"What truth? I don't know what you're talking about!" Her voice rose sharply, defensive.
