- You're being surprisingly calm for someone who's introducing his boyfriend to his family.

- Archie! You're in the way of my driving. - Clio didn't even turn toward the guy, but there were nervous notes in the girl's voice. She was worried.

Caroline's grandmother had always been strict about her only granddaughter's life, so getting to know the guy was an important and responsible moment in the relationship with the head of the family.

- You know, we could actually do something. Clark says we look good together. - Clio felt Archie's hand on her thigh. - you, so sensual and intelligent, and me, a handsome man with an unusual gift!

The girl turned her attention to the boy after all, carelessly dropping his hand from her leg.

- We've already discussed this. If you make a perfect fictitious boyfriend, I'll go out with you, all right. But don't count on much more than that.

Archie chuckled contentedly and turned away to the window, admiring the beautiful Oregon countryside.

A lot of people would say Clio was stupid for missing out on a guy like Archie. After all, he was not only handsome, but charismatic in his own way, which attracted the opposite sex to his persona. However, behind that freckled redheaded beauty was one small but significant flaw. Archie was not constant. Typical smug macho with a pocket club of groupies.

It took the boys about thirty minutes to get into town. In that time Clio had regretted her decision to ask Archie to play her nonexistent boyfriend. Clark would have been fine for the role, Grandma would have accepted his ordinariness. After all, Grandpa Kevin was a typical American. Nothing more, nothing less.

Caroline Blackwood was quite adamant about everything that concerned her only granddaughter's life, from the colour of her manicure to her choice of life partner. So Mrs Blackwood was greatly worried that at twenty-four, her granddaughter was still single and no children were even in the pipeline. To reassure her grandmother, Clio decided on a trick. It wasn't difficult to persuade Archie, especially since he owed her a favour.

The Blackwoods' house was on the outskirts of town, next to an abandoned beach. Or rather, it wasn't even a house, but a small Gothic-style mansion, built back in the late nineteenth century by Christopher Blackwood, who had come from a Scottish witch family. It was he who was the ancestor of the American lineage of natural witches who eventually joined Wiccanism. The location on the outskirts hid magical rituals and other magical experiments from prying eyes.

- You didn't tell me your family was rich. - Archie said, stepping out of the car. - I never thought I'd find myself in a witches' den one day, and in such a lavish one at that.

- We're not rich, we're just too old for our own good. Come on, Grandma's probably waiting. Try not to eat her carrot cake!

Dinner was great. Archie couldn't take his eyes off all the different dishes Mrs Blackwood had prepared. He couldn't feel the tense atmosphere in the burgundy dining room at all.

Caroline watched Archie's behaviour intently. Clio, on the other hand, could feel her grandfather's disgruntled gaze on her. He didn't like Archie; Grandpa Kevin didn't like male faces at all that were even indirectly related to his beloved granddaughter.

- So what is your job, Archibald?

Mrs Blackwood's question seemed suspicious to Archie, but he decided to ignore it. After all, Clio's grandmother was a witch and not to be trifled with.

- I'm just a student, but I'm working part-time at the shop. After graduation, I plan to work in business.

- That's very good. Clio tells us you're no ordinary person and know about the supernatural.

- I'm a kind of psychic. I'm still learning. Sometimes I can even see into the future. Although our family is not as ancient as yours, the Mitchells can boast of their roots. - Archie smiled smugly and proceeded to destroy the poor turkey.

He had no idea yet that the good-natured looking Kevin Monroe was preparing an ambush for Archie. Clio's grandfather had a plan to test the poor lad.

- Clio hadn't told me much about you, Archibald. I'd like to get to know you better. I'd like to take you fishing tomorrow. At sea.

That's what Cleo was afraid of. Grandfather Kevin was an avid fisherman, and believed that every man should know how to hold a rod properly. And Archie hated fish. He was allergic.

The guy's face changed. His cocky smile faded. He cast a nervous glance at Clio, looking for her support, but the girl only shrugged her shoulders.

- Archibald, is something wrong? - Mr Monroe was ready to celebrate his victory over the boy, but there was no such thing.

- No, not at all. I love fishing. And can I just say Archie, sir.

The smile on Mitchell's face sparkled again, like a Christmas tree on Christmas Day.

Archie enjoyed the evening and the posh house. He got a huge guest room, the highlight of which was a huge four-poster bed.

- Wow! I never thought I would sleep in such a luxurious place. - He said and flopped down on the bed. - I think I'm drowning in a featherbed.

- You idiot! Why did you agree to go fishing?!

- What's the big deal? I'm not gonna eat fish. I'll say I'm allergic.

- Good luck, you've signed your own death warrant. - Clio said and threw towels at Archie. - Be careful. Grandpa's not an ordinary man. It was easier to say no. It's your grandmother that's important, not your grandfather. Good night, then.

Clio moved towards the exit of the room. Already ajar, the girl turned to look at Archie's disheveled hair and smiled. He was a wonderful friend and even in some ways the brother that Clio had missed so much.

For Archie, however, things were different. He was fascinated by the girl, feeling as if the butterflies in his stomach were not just fluttering, but moving chaotically, bumping into each other. Everything about Clio was beautiful, from her velvety skin to her pale green eyes. And her wheat hair, it glistened on a clear day. And Cleo herself was a bright star. Like a scorching mid-summer sun.

- Wait a minute! Wait! - Archie rose quickly from the bed and was beside the girl.

- What?" Clio shut the door back. - Have you changed your mind? Should I tell Granddad it's off?

- No, no! I just wanted to tell you that you look beautiful in blue. - Archie said and tucked the blond strand that had fallen out of Cleo's braid behind her ear. - Now you can kiss goodnight. We're a couple, after all.

- No way! I'll see you tomorrow. - Clio said and hightailed it out the door, leaving the lad in a depressed mood.

Archie was rarely turned down, and this was the first time he'd ever been turned down by a girl he cared about.

- Shit!

The next day for Clio began like any other day in the house of the head of the family. With a morning energy boosting ritual.

The worship of the oak tree in their family garden was an age-old tradition. It was believed to be the tree from which all the Blackwoods derived their powers. In fact, they could draw energy from any tree by touching it. But the traditions of the family were too strong, so Caroline Blackwood made her granddaughter pray to the ancient oak tree. Quite frankly, Clio didn't need a boost from nature, but the witch didn't understand how she was able to do that. She found energy within herself, but was afraid to tell her grandmother about it, as the rules of their Coven forbade getting energy from sources other than nature.

- Today we worship you, Great Oak, and believe that your power will give us the energy we need for our future endeavours. Accept our humble gift and give it to God and the Goddess. - Caroline the witch cut her palm with a knife and applied the brush to the bark of the oak.

The oak immediately absorbed the blood.

- Thank you for your energy.

The women in white linen robes bowed and went back to the house.

- In a month you have to make a sacrifice. I am too old to keep up the energy of our family all the time.

- Very well, Granny. Perhaps we should gather the clan for a joint prayer at the end of summer? Helga and Selene would love to see you.

- I'll think about it. How are the girls doing? Is Helga still suffering from her separation from her husband? Did Selena get another cat? - Mrs Blackwood had a smile on her face. She loved her grandnieces.

- Helga is now fully into her work, and Selena now bakes cakes to order.

- There's a Coven meeting next week. I want you to be there as my heiress. - The elderly witch opened the door and suddenly stopped. - Do you hear that?

- Grandmother what? - Clio listened. - I don't hear anything.

- Maybe I imagined it. I need to rest. I've been working too hard. I hope it's a calm sea today. I don't want Kevin to be upset.

Caroline Blackwood did hear something, but she wouldn't tell her granddaughter the details. It was a woman's whisper. Her daughter's voice. She was warning of something, but Caroline couldn't hear it. Something bad was coming.

The sea was beautiful. The calm waves were hitting the red boat, which had the word 'Freedom' emblazoned on it. Kevin Monroe was getting his rods ready for fishing and Archie was taking care of the bait.

- Have you ever been fishing? - Kevin asked.

- 'Yes, sir. But only on land. In fact, I'm allergic to fish, so I've rarely been on a real fishing trip.

- Oh, yeah? Why didn't you say so in the first place? - Monroe handed the rod to Archie.

- I wanted to impress Cleo. Sir, I'm kind of sick. I'm gonna throw up. - said Archie and covered his mouth with his hand.

- Kid, you're seasick. Maybe we should go back. I hope Caroline and Clio have made a lovely dinner.

But Kevin's dream was not to come true as something unbelievable was happening in the house, and Archie sensed it.

- Sir, there's something wrong in the house. Maybe we should go back right now. - said the lad and was thrown overboard after all.

- Archibald, you'll wash my boat if you get it dirty.

- Yes, sir.

Clio went up to her room. It had once belonged to her mother. Long before Clio was born, Cassie Blackwood had been the heiress of the family and had been trained by her mother, but Cassie's magic was hard to come by as the girl was not a natural witch. Clio, as a young girl, had come across witch pouches time and again, which her mother was not without during her rituals. These insignificant items were at least a reminder of her mother.

Cassie Blackwood died in her twenty-third year. Clio was born and her mother passed away in a pool of blood on the operating table. The childbirth the woman had been waiting for ended in her death.

Caroline's grandmother had always told Clio only good things about her mother, but children are cruel and their parents can't keep their mouths shut. At the age of ten Clio learned that her mother Cassie was not the nicest person. She walked and drank a lot, hung out in bars and did drugs all night. At times she slept with strangers and enjoyed her life of debauchery.

In November 1986, Cassie met the father of her unborn child in a bar. Caroline's grandmother knew his name but never told her who he was or what he did, but for 18 years Clio received monthly child support from her father. The account number was always different, so she could not trace the sender. When the receipts stopped, she realised that the father had done his duty and there was no need to look for him.

Caroline's grandmother had always told Clio that she looked exactly like her mother, only her eyes were her father's. Light green, like the shoots of a plant.

A huge mirror stood in the farthest corner of the room. It had always stirred Clio's consciousness. It was ancient, with a damaged finish and a million little scratches. It had been passed down from generation to generation, from one woman to another. According to her grandmother's stories, Clio knew that this mirror had once belonged to her mother, and she had, on occasion, conjured with it. The younger Blackwood, on the other hand, was afraid to even touch the mirror, for she felt that there was powerful ancient magic lurking on the other side of the looking glass.

Still, it was unsettling. At times, when she came to Kakinkul after her studies, Clio would go up to it and stare at her reflection for a long time, feeling something dark and evil rise up in her soul. Something that was alluring and appealing.

Clio froze. The mirror beckoned to her again. Only now a voice was calling to her. A woman's voice. Her own.

"Come."

And Clio couldn't help but go to that call. Her body felt as if something was shackling it, forcing her to move her legs, which suddenly became so heavy that every step was difficult. It was as if her body resisted the voice.

Clio couldn't look away from the mirror.

"Closer."

Clio walked over to the mirror and looked at her reflection.

It was herself. Or rather not quite her, but someone else. A demon with red eyes.

- Well, hello there, sister. You've grown! Although you still haven't learned how to use your looks. It's a shabby outfit.

- What are you?

The demon in the mirror smiled wickedly and started twirling a curl on her finger.

- Who am I?" she pointed a finger at herself. - Let's see. Maybe your sister? Granny thought she'd put me in the looking glass, but it didn't really work out. You know how much fun it was to be your girlfriend for a while. Ginger. Remember her? Poor thing! - Demon fake wiped a tear from her cheek. - Didn't live long at all. Too weak a body, but alas, you were beyond my reach. Until today. You know how hard it is to live in the looking glass, with no one to fuck. And I want to fuck so badly. But you wouldn't understand. You're practically the Virgin Mary herself.

- What? What are you saying?

- No more questions! Animae commutatio, vita commutatio, corpus captatio. Adsum et iam sum in potestate!

Caroline Blackwood was enjoying the silence in the kitchen. The older woman loved to cook, and the witch enjoyed brewing potions even more, but today was one of those days when Caroline's culinary inspiration was awakened. An English goose was already roasting in the oven and the witch was making dessert.

Caroline was humming an old Scottish song when footsteps were heard from the side of the stairs. Red eyes gleamed in the darkness.

- Darling, help the old lady with the supper.

- Long time no see, Granny!