Chapter Five

Lyra's POV

I turned around, half expecting something monstrous but my eyes falling on a young woman.

She stood a few steps behind me, draped in a soft green cloak that draped to the floor brushing against it like leaves to the earth.

In one hand she held a brass candle stand, casting a soft glow on her face, she wasn't threatening, if anything she looked like a painting come to life, a small smile on her lip.

Her eyes flickered briefly to the scrying pan beneath my fingers, then back to me.

“So... “ she said gently, “... A witch huh?“

My shoulder tensed slightly as I gulped, but before I could say anything, she lifted her free hand slightly, palm open in a silent gesture of peace.

“Relax... “ she said, “... I felt the resonance the moment you touched it”

“The... Resonance?“ I echoed confused.

She nodded, stepping closer, not too close but enough to smell the earthy fragrance on her, like rain soaked earth and crushed herbs.

“The pan recognized your blood, witch blood.... “ she smiled, “.... I'm a witch too”

I didn't know when I let out a tensed breath I was holding as the tight coil in my chest loosened.

“I'm Maria Blake... “ she said, “... A green witch”

“Green?..“ I asked, hearing that for the first time.

“Forest magic... ” she explained simply, “... Growth, roots, old things that refused to die”

“Oh... Uh.. I'm Lyra” I said after a moment. Her smile widened slightly, “Lyra, what brings you to Transylvania?“

I hesitated before saying,

“I'm visiting.... “ “... Looking for someone”

Maria studied my face for a long second before nodding, as if that answer was enough for her.

“If you're hoping to use scrying... “ she said, glancing at the pan again, “... You'll need more than just intentions, blood recognition only opens the door”.

She reached into the folds of her robe and pulled out a small notebook, tearing out a page and handing it to me.

“You'll need these”.

I took the paper and looked at it before nodding, my fingers tightening on the paper, “I can get them”

“You'll need to prepare carefully...“ Maria added, “.... Scrying for blood kin isn't... Gentle, especially across distance”

I tucked the paper away, then looked at her again, a strange sense of disbelief washing over me.

“You really are a witch... “ I said quietly, “... There are others”

“There are always others” she replied.

She tilted her head slightly, “Where are you staying?“

“A hotel” I answered.

The smile on her face vanished but only for a split second, but I definitely noticed it.

“That's not... Nice... “ she said lightly but something in her gaze sharpened. “... Transylvania has... Many layers Lyra, witches... Don't own all of them”

“What do you mean?“ I asked

She shook her head gently and said, “Just... Be careful, there's more here that meets the eyes”

Before I could press her for more information, she stepped back, the candle flame flickering.

“You'll be safer once the sun rises... “ she said, “First light is... Kind to seekers”

I thanked her, purchased the scrying pan, and left the shop with more questions than answers.

The walk back to the hotel felt different.

By the time I reached my room, exhaustion finally dragged me under. I locked the door, set the pan carefully on the table, and collapsed onto the bed fully dressed.

The next day moved by so quickly, markets were vibrant and colorful, street vendors calling out prices, herbs and spices filled the air. I bought everything Maria had listed, rechecking the list to make sure I missed none. Mugwort was the hardest to find.

When I returned back to the hotel at night, I changed again, into black trousers, sturdy boots, and a red T-shirt. I gathered all the things I needed along with my grimiore and left again, I didn't cast the spell on the hotel, something about it didn't just sit right.

I slipped out into the quiet streets and followed the path that led away from lights and stone and into the forest.

The forest felt alive the moment I stepped beneath its canopy, the air heavy and cold with the smell of damp earth and soil.

I walked until the trees thinned and there was a small clearing, bathed in moonlight.

This was it.

I dropped my backpack and opened it bringing out the things inside, moving into the center of the clearing with the salt first, sprinkling it on the floor in a circle around me. I placed the bowl in the center and poured the water into it, I crushed the Mugwort between my fingers as I sat in a lotus style in the center and opened my grimiore.

This was it.

I drew a small blade across my palm, the sting barely registering as I dripped the blood into the bowl rippling the moon's reflection.

“Per sanguinem et memoriam,

Per lunam quae videt omnia,

Revela vestigia quae latent,

Oculi arcani, ostendite mihi matrem meam.”

I started chanting the spell, the winds picked up, soft at first, then sharp, my heart beat faster hoping it would work. I heard a twig snap and looked up for a second, feeling watched but I didn't have time to dwell on that, I continued to stay focus and chanted it again.

“Per sanguinem et memoriam,

Per lunam quae videt omnia,

Revela vestigia quae latent,

Oculi arcani, ostendite mihi matrem meam.”

The air grew heavy and the bowl started to tremble.

“No...“ I whispered, “... Focus”

The water in the bowl started boiling, the bowl cracked violently and exploded outward, water and blood splashing across the forest floor.

I barely had time to gasp before something moved. Branches snapped as leaves tore apart.

From the shadows between the trees, a massive shape burst forward, a wolf, impossibly large, eyes glowing red, muscles coiled with raw power as it lunged straight for me roaring.

Instinct took over and I threw my hand up.

“Scutum arcana, surge!“

Light flared white as the barrier formed just in time but the wolf slammed into it with bone shaking force, snarling as it was thrown back, but the impact sent me flying back as I hit the trees hard.

Pain exploded through my back, my ears ringing as I collapsed to the floor, my vision swarmed as darkness was slowly descending on my form, and just before the darkness descended on me, I saw a flash of soft green cloak....

Maria Blake.

Then everything went black.