chapter 18 Whispers in the dark
937 Words
Aria woke before dawn, every muscle in her body aching from the long night Selda had demanded. She had slept no more than two hours. Mira’s dress had taken forever to iron, and the rows of bowls in the backyard had felt endless. Yet here she was, dragging herself out of bed like a shadow of herself, her hands trembling slightly as she braided her messy hair.
The house was quiet—too quiet. Even Selda’s grinding of herbs sounded sharper than usual, cutting through the morning air.
Aria stepped lightly into the living area. Selda’s eyes were already on her, piercing through the dim light.
“You’re late,” she snapped, though it was barely past dawn.
Aria lowered her gaze. “Sorry, Aunt—”
“Don’t talk,” Selda interrupted. “Just start sweeping.”
From the doorway, Mira yawned and stretched like a lazy cat. “Morning, Mom.” Her tone was casual, almost deliberately careless.
Rae followed behind, smirking as she spotted Aria hunched over the floor. “Mom, why don’t you let her sleep outside? She wakes up early anyway.”
Selda’s sharp inhale cut the room in half. “If you two don’t stop talking nonsense, you’ll join her in chores.”
Immediately, the girls fell silent. Aria’s broom scraped the wooden floor, each sweep echoing softly. Her heartbeat was quieter than usual, but her mind raced.
The wolf’s eyes—the silver glint she had glimpsed in the forest—haunted her. That memory had burrowed into her chest like a secret heartbeat. She tried to convince herself it was nothing. Just a wild animal. Nothing more.
But something inside whispered otherwise, tugging at her nerves.
Later, Selda bundled herbs with mechanical precision. “Aria,” she called sharply. “Take these to Old Naell’s cottage. He needs them before sunset.”
Aria accepted the bundle, cradling it carefully. “Yes, Aunt Selda.”
“Don’t waste time,” Selda added. “And don’t talk to strangers.”
Mira muttered from the corner, “She has no one to talk to anyway.”
Rae chuckled. “Maybe the chickens will be better company.”
Aria ignored them. She slipped her worn shoes on, adjusted the bundle in her arms, and stepped out into the cool morning.
The forest greeted her with a calm hush. Leaves rustled underfoot, and the air smelled of damp earth and growing things. Even on errands, even with Selda’s eyes always lurking in the back of her mind, the forest felt like freedom. She breathed deeply, letting the faint warmth of morning touch her cheeks.
But halfway to Old Naell’s cottage, she stopped. Something familiar brushed at her senses—a presence she couldn’t ignore. Calm. Strong. Close.
Her heart thudded in her chest.
“Not again…” she whispered.
From between the trees, a figure emerged—not a wolf this time, but a young man. Tall, broad-shouldered, with eyes the color of silver storms. He didn’t move forward, but he didn’t hide either.
Kael.
He didn’t look dangerous. Surprised, maybe, like seeing her had caught him off guard.
“You…” he breathed, his voice soft. “I didn’t expect to actually see you.”
Aria clutched the herb bundle tightly. “H-hello.”
A strange warmth flared in her chest, like recognition. Her pulse quickened, but she forced herself to stay calm. She couldn’t afford mistakes—not with her powers acting unpredictably.
Kael’s gaze softened, studying her with something like curiosity. “I… I saw you the other day. Near your home.”
“My name is Kael,” he said quickly, almost as if correcting her thoughts.
Her breath caught. The voice confirmed it—he had been watching, but why? Should she feel afraid, or relieved?
“I just wanted to make sure you were safe,” he added before she could speak.
Safe?
From what?
Aria opened her mouth, but another voice echoed sharply through the trees.
“Kael!”
A boy around Kael’s age appeared, messy brown hair, bright, curious eyes. He stopped short when he noticed her.
“Oh. Sorry, I didn’t know you were talking to someone,” he said quickly.
Kael stepped back as if shielding her from being seen. “We should go.”
Aria’s hands tightened around the herbs. “I’m sorry… I didn’t mean to—”
“It’s not your fault,” Kael said softly, almost gently.
For a moment, time seemed suspended. Two strangers who shouldn’t feel connected… yet somehow did.
Kael gave her one last lingering look before turning, a silent warning in his silver-storm eyes. “Be careful walking alone.”
Aria watched as they disappeared into the dense trees. Her chest tightened with a mixture of fear and curiosity.
Why did she feel drawn to him?
Why did his gaze feel like it could see through her?
And why… why did her magic spark the moment he spoke?
She pressed a hand to her chest, trembling. This was dangerous. People like her—witches with abilities—were supposed to stay hidden. Wolves were not to be seen. Magic was not to be displayed.
But fate, it seemed, had other plans.
Shoving the questions aside, she straightened her shoulders and continued toward Old Naell’s cottage. The bundle felt heavier now, weighted by her thoughts and the faint thrill of connection.
Unseen between the shadows of the trees, Kael paused. His gaze lingered on her retreating figure, unease flickering across his sharp features. Something had begun. Something neither of them fully understood.
And neither could ignore it.
- Writer
