Chapter 3 – The Hidden Sanctuary

SERENA

I sat up carefully. My clothes were different now, a simple gray dress instead of my torn and burned one.

Someone had cleaned me up. I swung my legs over the side of the bed and stood. My knees were still a little shaky, but I could walk.

"Hello?" I called out. My voice echoed off the stone walls. "Is anyone here? Where am I?"

A curtain made of hanging beads moved at the far end of the room. The old woman stepped through.

She had long silver hair braided down her back and sharp eyes. She carried a wooden cup in her hands.

"You are awake," she said. Her voice was calm and a little rough, like she did not talk to people much. "Drink this. It will help with the pain."

She held the cup out to me. I took it but did not drink right away. The liquid smelled sweet, like berries mixed with something stronger.

"Who are you?" I asked. "And how did I get here? There were these men in shadows. They took me after... after what happened at the square."

The old woman sat down on a stool near the small fire. She watched me closely.

"My name is Elara. I am a witch, like you. The shadow warriors brought you to this sanctuary deep in the mountains. It is protected. No one from the werewolf kingdom can find it easily."

I took a small sip of the drink. It tasted better than it smelled and the pain in my back eased a little.

"The execution. The fire. I had wings. Big ones. Did that really happen? Or am I losing my mind?"

Elara looked away for a moment. "It happened. But you should not think about it too much right now. Your body and mind need time to adjust."

I stepped closer to her. "Adjust to what? Tell me the truth. Why did those wings come out? Why did everyone drop to their knees except Kael? And why are you helping me? I do not even know you."

She sighed and shook her head. "The truth would get you killed faster than anything else right now, child.

There are people out there, powerful people, who have been waiting for someone like you to appear. Asking too many questions will bring them straight to this door."

I put the cup down harder than I meant to. "I almost died today. They tied me up and lit me on fire because they thought I killed the Alpha King's Luna. I did not do it. And now I have some kind of monster inside me. You cannot just tell me to stay quiet."

Elara's eyes softened a bit, but her mouth stayed firm. "I know you are innocent. I have known for a long time. But knowing the full story right now will only make things worse.

You need to rest. Eat. Let your power settle. The dragon blood is new and wild. It could tear you apart if you push too hard."

"Dragon blood?" I repeated. The word felt strange on my tongue. "So that is what it is. I am part dragon? How is that even possible? I grew up as an orphan. No family. No special powers until today."

She stood up and moved to a small table where she started sorting through some dried plants. "I cannot tell you more. Not yet. The less you know, the safer you are while you heal."

I followed her, frustration building in my chest.

"Safe? Kael swore he would hunt me down. I heard him. He is not going to stop just because I have wings now. He lost his Luna and he blames me. What am I supposed to do? Hide in this cave forever?"

Elara turned around fast. For the first time, I saw real worry in her face. "You will not hide forever. But right now, you must be patient. There is a place you need to go when you are stronger. Mooncrest Academy. But only when the time is right."

"Mooncrest Academy?" I had heard rumors about it. A school for all kinds of supernatural beings. Witches, shifters, vampires. "Why there?"

She pressed her lips together and did not answer. Instead, she handed me a piece of bread with some cheese. "Eat. You will need your strength."

I took the food but my mind was racing. My old life was gone. People wanted me dead. And now this old witch was keeping secrets from me.

As I ate, a strange warmth started in my chest. It spread down my arms. I looked at my hands. My blood... it was glowing. Soft golden light shone under my skin, pulsing like a heartbeat.

"Elara," I said, my voice shaking. "Look at this. What is happening to me now?"