The forest house no longer felt like a place of refuge.
Jenny realized that the moment Ahona finished speaking. The quiet cabin hidden among the trees had once seemed like the safest place in the world. Now it felt exposed, as if the forest itself had begun whispering secrets about her.
Night had fallen quickly, and the clearing was illuminated only by the faint light of the moon and the glow from the cabin windows.
Jenny stood near the porch, staring down at the silver pendant resting in her palm.
Her mother's pendant.
It was simple in design, yet strangely beautiful. Thin lines of silver curved into an ancient symbol she didn't recognize, and the metal felt warm despite the cold night air.
"Do you feel it?" Ahona asked quietly.
Jenny looked up.
"Feel what?"
"The magic."
Jenny hesitated.
"Yes."
The answer surprised even her.
Ever since she touched the pendant, the strange energy she had felt earlier in the forest had grown stronger. It flowed faintly through her body like a quiet pulse.
Not painful.
Not overwhelming.
Just… present.
James leaned against the wooden railing beside the door, watching the dark tree line.
"This is getting dangerous," he said.
Ahona raised an eyebrow.
"Dangerous?"
"Yes," James replied calmly. "If what you said is true, both vampire clans and witch covens are searching for her."
Ahona nodded.
"They are."
James gestured toward Jenny.
"And you think standing in the middle of a forest talking about it is a good idea?"
Ahona gave a small shrug.
"Relax."
James looked unimpressed.
Ahona turned her attention back to Jenny.
"Tell me exactly what happened when you touched the pendant."
Jenny thought for a moment.
"I heard my mother's voice," she said slowly.
Ahona nodded as if expecting that.
"And the energy you felt earlier?"
"It's stronger now."
"Good."
James frowned.
"That's good?"
Ahona smiled faintly.
"Yes."
Jenny looked between them.
"Maybe someone should explain why."
Ahona stepped closer.
"The pendant belonged to your mother," she said. "It carries traces of her magic."
Jenny looked down at it again.
"So it's like… a key?"
"Something like that."
Jenny closed her hand around the pendant again.
"What exactly did my mother teach you?"
Ahona's expression softened slightly.
"She taught me how to survive."
Jenny raised an eyebrow.
"That sounds ominous."
Ahona laughed quietly.
"She was a powerful witch, Jenny. But more importantly… she understood balance."
"Balance between what?"
"Power and restraint."
James crossed his arms.
"That sounds very philosophical."
Ahona looked at him.
"Magic isn't simple."
Jenny glanced toward the forest again.
"Neither is being hunted by vampires."
James gave a faint smile.
"Fair point."
The three of them fell into silence for a moment.
Then Jenny felt it again.
The energy moving through the forest.
But this time it wasn't distant.
Her eyes widened slightly.
"Something's coming."
James immediately straightened.
"What kind of something?"
Jenny closed her eyes briefly.
The sensation was clearer now.
Cold.
Fast.
Hungry.
"Vampires," she whispered.
James swore quietly under his breath.
"How many?"
Jenny focused harder.
The energy felt sharp and restless.
"Three," she said.
Ahona tilted her head slightly.
"Victoria isn't patient."
James looked toward the trees.
"They're still far away."
Jenny opened her eyes.
"But they're coming here."
James turned to Ahona.
"You said the covens were searching for her too."
Ahona nodded.
"They are."
"Then why haven't they arrived yet?"
Ahona smiled faintly.
"Witches are rarely in a hurry."
Jenny looked at both of them.
"So what do we do?"
James answered immediately.
"We leave."
Ahona shook her head.
"No."
James frowned.
"That's a terrible idea."
Ahona gestured toward Jenny.
"She needs to learn how to control her power."
James looked at her incredulously.
"Now?"
"Yes."
"They're coming to kill her."
Ahona's eyes sharpened slightly.
"Exactly."
Jenny stepped between them.
"Stop."
Both of them looked at her.
Jenny took a deep breath.
"If I keep running, they'll just keep chasing me."
James didn't argue with that.
"But you're not ready to fight them," he said.
Jenny looked down at the pendant again.
The energy flowing through her felt stronger now.
More stable.
"What if I don't have to fight them?" she said.
James frowned.
"What does that mean?"
Jenny looked toward the trees.
"They're hunters."
"Yes," James said.
"But they're also curious."
James's eyes narrowed.
"You want to talk to them."
Ahona smiled slightly.
"That's actually not a terrible idea."
James stared at her.
"You can't be serious."
Ahona shrugged.
"Victoria wants Jenny alive. Otherwise she would've killed Bella instead of leaving her wounded."
James considered that.
Jenny stepped forward toward the edge of the clearing.
The wind moved through the trees again.
"They're close now," she said quietly.
James moved beside her.
"If this goes wrong, I'm stepping in."
Jenny nodded.
"I know."
The forest grew silent.
Then three figures appeared between the trees.
They moved quickly, their pale faces visible beneath the moonlight.
Jenny recognized one of them immediately.
Victoria.
Her red hair moved like fire in the darkness as she stepped into the clearing.
Her crimson eyes locked onto Jenny instantly.
"Well," Victoria said softly.
"It seems the rumors were true."
Jenny held her ground.
Victoria's gaze flicked briefly toward James.
"Still protecting her, I see."
James didn't respond.
Victoria then noticed Ahona standing nearby.
Her smile faded slightly.
"A witch," she said.
"Interesting."
Ahona crossed her arms calmly.
"Hello, Victoria."
Victoria's eyes returned to Jenny.
"You've caused quite a stir," she said.
Jenny didn't answer.
Victoria took another step forward.
"The covens are searching for you."
"I know."
"And the vampire council will arrive soon."
Jenny's stomach tightened.
Victoria smiled again.
"But I found you first."
James stepped forward slightly.
"Victoria."
Her eyes flicked toward him.
"You know the rules," he said.
Victoria laughed softly.
"Rules?"
"Yes."
"No killing humans in the village."
Victoria's smile sharpened.
"Jenny isn't human."
The words hung in the cold air.
Jenny felt the truth behind them.
Victoria stepped closer.
"Half witch," she said softly.
"Half vampire."
Her red eyes gleamed.
"A hybrid."
The forest seemed to hold its breath.
Victoria tilted her head slightly.
"You must understand how valuable that makes you."
Jenny's grip tightened around the pendant.
"I'm not anyone's prize."
Victoria's smile widened.
"We'll see."
Jenny felt the energy inside her suddenly surge.
For the first time, the magic didn't feel distant.
It answered her.
The wind around the clearing shifted violently.
Snow lifted from the ground in swirling currents.
Victoria's expression changed.
"Ah," she murmured.
"So it begins."
Jenny felt the power rising inside her like a storm.
And somewhere deep in the forest, something ancient stirred—drawn by the awakening of a force that had been silent for generations.