The car rolled to a halt in front of a towering, ominous hill. The air around it was thick and oppressive, the sky above unnaturally dark even though it was midday. Aria stepped out, her heart pounding in her chest as she recognized the place. It was the site of where she believed that magic was real. Where she was kidnapped and dumped by them.
Valerie came up beside her, a confident smile playing on her lips. "Don't lose your nerve now, Aria. You've faced worse."
Regan slammed the car door behind him, his expression hard. "If this is Morgana's lair, she knows we're here. Be ready for anything."
As the three of them ascended the rocky path, the silence was deafening. No birds, no wind, just an eerie stillness that sent chills down Aria's spine. When they reached the summit, the entrance to a cavern yawned open before them, lit with an unnatural red glow.
