As the airplane taxied down the runway, a low rumble echoed through the cabin, faint but unsettling. Sam glanced at Cian, her brow furrowing.
"What was that?" she asked, her voice tinged with unease.
Cian shifted in his seat, squeezing Logan's hand for reassurance. "Probably thunder," he said, though his own voice lacked conviction.
Sam nodded slowly but kept glancing out the window, her reflection merging with the dark clouds beyond. "It just feels… off," she murmured, almost to herself.
Before Cian could respond, the overhead speaker crackled.
"Ladies and gentlemen, we are preparing for takeoff. Please fasten your seatbelts and remain seated until the captain turns off the seatbelt sign," the flight attendant announced in a calm, practiced tone.
The dimly lit cabin felt unusually quiet. There were only a handful of passengers scattered throughout the rows, their faces unreadable in the soft glow of the overhead lights. The emptiness mirrored the eerie stillness of the airport earlier, setting Cian further on edge.
As the engines roared louder, Sam fidgeted with her seatbelt, her knuckles white. Logan leaned forward from his seat behind them, his presence a steadying force even without words.
Cian let out a slow breath, the weight of the book in his bag pressing against his lap.
"We'll be okay," he said, mostly for himself but loud enough for Sam to hear.
The plane jolted slightly as it picked up speed, the rumble growing louder beneath them. Cian tightened his grip on Logan's hand, feeling the chaos of his thoughts stirring like the storm outside.
And then, with a final push, the plane lifted into the air, leaving the ground. They were going to place where they didn't know or know anyone.
A few hours passed by and Cian was knocked out and Logan was leaning over past out on Cian's seat while Sam was leaning back looking out the window. The sun was slowly rising the warm glow spread through the empty dark airplane
" Finally, we must be almost there…" Sam whispered
A few more hours passed, Sam had fallen asleep, She shifted uneasily in her seat, her head leaning against the window as sleep claimed her. The hum of the airplane engines faded, replaced by a suffocating silence.
When she opened her eyes, the plane was gone. She stood barefoot in a dark forest, the cold ground damp beneath her feet. A pale mist curled around the gnarled trees, and the air crackled faintly, like static before a storm.
"Hello?" Sam called out, her voice echoing unnaturally in the stillness. She turned slowly, her heart pounding as shadows danced just beyond the edge of her vision.
Then, she saw it. A towering mansion, ancient and foreboding, its windows glowing faintly with an eerie blue light. It looked like something out of a nightmare, yet it called to her, pulling her forward against her will.
As she stepped closer, the ground beneath her feet began to shift, the soft earth replaced by cracked stone. Symbols—runes—glowed faintly at her feet, forming a path that led straight to the mansion's grand doors.
The air grew colder, biting at her skin, and a voice whispered faintly in her ear:
"Protect the key… Beware the seven…"
Her breath hitched, and she spun around, but no one was there. Just the wind, or maybe something more sinister. Soon a blue glowing light shinned behind her, she could not move the fear took over her but she remembered she must do this for Cian and Logan. She turned around one more time and there stood Cian's mother.
"Wait... how are you here? You're—" Sam stopped herself, the words too heavy to say.
"Gone?" Mrs. Bloodworth finished for her. "Yes, my dear, but only from your world. There are things that transcend death, things that bind us beyond the physical."
Sam felt a shiver run through her, but she nodded, somehow understanding this was more than just a dream.
"I don't have much time," Mrs. Bloodworth continued, stepping closer. "There's something you need to know. Something your family has kept hidden from you."
"My family?" Sam asked, confusion flickering in her eyes.
"You are a witch, Samantha," Mrs. Bloodworth said gently. "Your family, like mine, has been entrusted with maintaining the balance between chaos and order. The Bloodworths guard the secrets of chaos magic, but your lineage… your gift lies in foresight and guidance. You are part of this balance, whether you realize it or not."
Sam blinked, the weight of the words settling over her like a heavy cloak. "I… I'm a witch? But why didn't my family tell me?"
"Sometimes, the truth is hidden to protect us," Mrs. Bloodworth said, her gaze softening. "But now, there's no more time for secrecy. The Ashthornes threaten everything. You and Logan must stand with Cian, not just as friends but as his coven. Together, your gifts will strengthen each other."
"Logan too?" Sam asked, the disbelief clear in her voice.
Mrs. Bloodworth nodded. "His family, like yours, has always been connected to ours. They are the protectors, the shield to chaos's blade. His strength will be vital, as will your clarity. But you must trust yourselves—and each other."
The mist began to swirl again, pulling Mrs. Bloodworth's figure into its depths. Her voice grew distant, a faint echo. "The balance depends on you, Samantha. Protect the key… Guide Cian… Beware the seven…"
"Wait!" Sam cried out, reaching for her, but Mrs. Bloodworth was already gone.
"AHHH!" Sam screamed, her voice echoing through the cabin. Both Logan and Cian jolted awake, their heads snapping toward her.
The plane had landed, and the cabin was eerily quiet—too quiet. They were the only ones left onboard. Logan exchanged a worried glance with Cian before turning to Sam.
"Are you okay… Sam?" Cian asked, moving closer and gripping her shoulder gently. His face was etched with concern.
"Did you have another vision?" Logan asked, his tone low but filled with urgency.
Sam nodded slowly, her breathing uneven. "Yeah. They're getting stronger... more vivid the closer we get to the mansion."
She hesitated, glancing out the airplane window as her reflection overlapped with Cian's. Her voice dropped to a whisper. "But, Cian… your mom… she was there."
Cian froze, his eyes widening. He leaned forward slightly, gripping her shoulder a little tighter, though his voice remained calm, his gaze steady. "What did she say?"
Sam's voice cracked, a tear slipping down her cheek. "She… she said the balance of the universe is in danger. The Ashthorne family threatens everything, and we have to stick together. She called us a coven."
Logan tensed at the word, his hands balling into fists at his sides, but he said nothing.
Sam shook her head as if trying to steady herself. "It all felt rushed, like there wasn't enough time. I don't know what it all means yet. I… I hope another vision will come soon to explain more." She straightened up, brushing the tear away. "But right now, we need to get off this plane. There's something… wrong about staying here."
Without waiting for a response, Sam stood and grabbed her bag. Logan and Cian exchanged a look before following her into the narrow aisle. As they moved toward the exit, the eerie silence of the empty plane followed them like a shadow.
As they stepped out of the airport, the bustling streets of England greeted them with a symphony of sounds and sights. The glow of old-fashioned street lamps illuminated cobblestone alleys, weaving between towering brick buildings adorned with ivy. Double-decker buses rumbled past, their red frames a stark contrast against the gray sky. The air was cool and damp, carrying the faint scent of rain and freshly baked pastries from a nearby café. Crowds of people hurried by, umbrellas bobbing like colorful flowers in a sea of motion. It was a mix of history and modernity, vibrant yet strangely grounding.
" wow this is just wow" the excitement shown though Cian tone and Facial expressions
"Alright, where is this Mansion?... and how do we get there?" Logan asked with a slightly worried expression
"Hmm, maybe we should take a taxi? It's probably a well-known place, right?" Sam suggested, her voice laced with guilt.
Cian raised his hand, his voice firm. "Taxi."
A sleek, black car with a small yellow "TAXI" sign pulled up beside them. The door opened, and the group hesitated for a moment before scrambling inside and closing the door quickly.
The driver, a man with a deep voice, glanced at them through the rearview mirror. "Where ya heading to?"
"The Bloodworths Mansion?" Logan asked nervously, his eyes flicking between Cian and Sam. They held their breath, hoping he'd know what they meant.
A long silence followed, thick with tension.
"Alright," the driver finally said. "The ride's about two hours and twenty minutes, and it'll cost around £385.20. But... you could always take the bus if you like," he added, a hint of uncertainty creeping into his voice.
Before he could finish his sentence, the group was already gone, the door slamming behind them.
"Damn it…" the driver muttered under his breath. "Should've kept my mouth shut…
After a brief search through the crowded streets, the trio spotted a weathered sign pointing to the nearby bus station. The air smelled faintly of diesel and rain as they hurried toward a waiting double-decker bus, its headlights cutting through the misty evening.
"This should take us close enough," Cian muttered, clutching the book tightly against his chest as they boarded.
The bus driver, an older man with a thick accent, gave them a tired nod. "Where to?"
"Nearest stop to the Bloodworth Mansion," Sam replied, her voice steady despite the tension hanging in the air.
The driver raised an eyebrow but said nothing, punching their tickets as they climbed aboard. The bus was mostly empty, save for a few quiet passengers scattered across the seats.
As the engine rumbled to life, they settled into a row near the back. Cian sat by the window, staring out into the darkened countryside as the buildings of the city gave way to sprawling, mist-covered fields. Sam rested her head on the seat in front of her, her gaze distant, while Logan leaned against the aisle, his legs stretched out.
The bus jolted as it hit a bump in the road, and a strange chill ran through the air. Cian shivered, glancing around uneasily.
"Does it feel colder to you guys?" he asked softly.
Before they could answer, the bus slowed to a sudden halt. The driver's voice crackled over the intercom. "We've got to stop here for a moment. Won't be long."
The trio exchanged nervous glances as the lights inside the bus flickered.
"What's going on?" Sam whispered, her hand gripping the edge of her seat.
Cian's breath hitched as his eyes darted to the window. In the distance, illuminated by the faint glow of the bus headlights, stood a shadowy figure. Its outline was distorted, its form too tall and too thin to be human.
"Guys…" Cian said, his voice shaking as he turned to them. "We're not alone."