As she gently packed her things, filled with thoughts that she couldn't understand, Orivelle realized that the buzzy Everwood she knew suddenly became quiet, long stares, sounds of whimpering animals echoed, her body felt heavy as if she carried the world's sorrows.
After the truth was revealed, Orivelle was quietly whisked away to somewhere hidden and far away from human familiarities. Her senses sharpened and each flicker of emotions coursed through her powers. This was no ordinary change - it was an awakening of something ancient and powerful.
The journey itself felt so unsettling, as if the world was becoming more distant from her.
Within a flash they arrived somewhere unfamiliar to her, an empty old house standing in the middle of nowhere. Hesitant, she followed, as they all moved towards the house, Aunt Phoebe turned to her, a gentle gesture urging her to not be afraid, she slowly took each step with caution and deliberation. She was expecting an old woman or man to come out from the building, as if straight from a storybook tale.
A sudden creak close by made everyone sharply turn, all circling, creating a protective shield around her with eyes scouting every shadow. "Someone's here ....but it's like they're not…", Orivelle whispered, she could feel the presence of another heartbeat that didn't belong to them, but felt like them.
Before anyone could react, her father disappeared from beside them, faster than the eye could follow.
A crack echoed sharply through the night.
The next moment, a faint grin was heard close by, as they looked closer a figure was slammed against a tree with eyes widened not in fear but in recognition. Her father gripped him effortlessly by the throat with one hand, his aura radiating dangerous control.
"Is this how you greet a lovely brother like yours, or…. didn't you miss me?" The unfamiliar face sneered, a laugh tinged with both fear and mocking amusement as he struggled against the grip.
"What are you doing here Ken" her father snapped angrily, letting go of him as he held his throat coughing, gasping for air, he walked away, every moment controlled, yet filled with fury restrained. Slowly, he turned to Orivelle, shock and disbelief etched across his face. " This can't be... I watched you die", his gaze softened as he turned to Aunt Phoebe, slowly he touched her face like a man seeing a ghost, then fiercely grabbed her into a lingering embrace. The familiarity went on for a while and then he swiftly remembered that he saw Orivelle, " Hello niece", his hand extended for a hand shake."Hi", Orivelle muttered.
Her father abruptly cut their moment short, he repeated his question.
" Oh come on, you didn't think I would notice the sudden hidden meetings, the sudden paces you took? why was I excluded from this he wasn't" pointing at the other brother.
" Well if you were more responsible with your life maybe you wouldn't have been excluded, and moreover I decide who gets involved in my affairs, brother. You've not answered my question,Ken".
"People are talking,the witches are having meetings, everyone feels the awakening of something ancient and how long do you think you can hide this?".
Orivelle's mum gently pulls her close to herself with the fear of not wanting to lose her baby again.
One by one, they all walked into the hut, "get some rest" aunt Phoebe said, gently covering Orivelle with a rusty old looking wrapper. How could she even sleep,she thought silently to herself.
The weather slowly changed and it began raining heavily.
As she was lying down, she could hear them whispering and planning, their voices filled with fear of losing something too valuable. Slowly she wished she had never wished for those kids to be embarrassed. Then maybe she would not be home alone and maybe she wouldn't have changed, then maybe all of these would not have happened-all the whispering,the anxiety, the fear that everyone felt, she blamed herself again and again. Slowly sleep claimed her.
"Wake up, it's time."