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Pat re on. c om(slash)belleveela(delete spaces)
In ancient times, druids revered the moon, believing it shaped all things. Magic flowed from the moon to the world, granting them the power of magical herbs and creatures. However, one day an eclipse occurred – a moment when wizards, along with magical beings, performed a powerful ritual, severing themselves from the non-magical world. As the eclipse passed, the moon above the druids became a cold, dead rock, occasionally visited by the old magical beings. The druids disappeared, and over their ancient places of worship loomed the symbol of a bloodied cross.
The barrier separating the worlds was not entirely impermeable. Especially at night, sometimes a wizard could cross into the human world. This happened, for example, with the wizard Merlin. The concentrated magic, no longer spreading across the entire world but rather its much smaller magical part, had a tremendous impact on all beings there. While humans on Earth advanced technologically and culturally, wizards in their magical world evolved and changed.
During sporadic encounters between Muggles and wizards, myths and legends were born. Such a meeting inspired Shakespeare to create the story of Fee, and Muggles who accidentally ventured into the magical world returned with images of many races, like J.R.R. Tolkien. The moon's magic, though weakened, still influenced both worlds, shaping their histories and destinies.
The moon hung in the sky, casting its cool light on both worlds. In one world, it existed as a fragment of itself, while in the other, it shone in all its majesty. Magic watched the world on the brink of change but did not despair, for the time of its greatest master was within reach.
In the moonlight bathed an orchard of gnarled fruit trees, at the center of which stood an ancient house of brick and stone. The sky was clear, but the air was charged with energy that at any moment threatened angry lightning. Dense fog clung to the ground, swirling and trembling in places, as if disturbed by magical energy.
From the windows of the cottage seeped a solitary light, and inside, two women huddled at a small table, with forgotten glasses of wine by their elbows. They tilted their heads, as if hearing something on a nonexistent wind.
"I feel a chill, sister," said the red-haired woman, "as if someone were dancing on our graves."
"I feel it too," said the raven-haired beauty. "A shiver runs down my spine. Let's risk the bones, sister." The red-haired witch moved closer as her dark-haired sister pulled an ancient rabbit-skin pouch from her bag. She rolled the bones inside, feeling their weight, then muttered a curse and a prayer, spilling them onto the table.
"Claw and fang grow strong," she murmured, scanning the images on the bones and their positions. "They join to haunt three ravens... one caught a raven alone. That's bad, sister... I see a warning from our Goddess, but..." She looked up, concern spreading across the cottage. "Where is Narcissa?"
"She was at the market," Andromeda said with worry. "She should be back by now."
"Then the creature has her," Bellatrix whispered, her lips twisting with worry as she read the bones again. "What is it?" asked Andromeda, grabbing her sister. "Bellatrix, what is it?"
"An ancient beast hunts at night. I don't know how it knew she would be alone after sunset or how it bypassed our wards, but it is here... hunting..." Her voice broke, a sob tearing from her throat. "Oh, Narcissa!"
"Noooo!" wailed Andromeda, her soul screaming.
The witch's wail echoed through the house, rising to the heavens and beyond. It spread through the area, startling birds and rattling leaves and branches.
LOGAN PENDRAKE RETURNED HOME, wondering whether to make mac and cheese or ramen for dinner. The decision came down to what he could cook faster, then retreat to his room. He had just decided on ramen when the young man paused.
Tilting his head, he heard something far off in the forest. As he gazed into its dark depths, the hair on his neck stood on end. The few remaining leaves rattled, and the bare branches swayed as if in the wind, but Harry felt none.
Goosebumps appeared on his skin, and he wanted nothing more than to hurry back to his aunt and uncle's house, as much as he hated the place, it would surely be safer than the forest. A flicker of movement deep within the woods caught his eye. Normally, he wouldn't be able to see so clearly, but the world was illuminated by the eerie silver light of the full moon. The sound came again, clearer and from deeper within. It seemed like a cut-off cry for help.
Pulling out his phone, Harry turned on the flashlight and cautiously stepped into the forest in the direction of the sound. As he ventured deeper, thick fog coiled around his ankles, and when he was about thirty meters in, he stopped and looked around, trying to orient himself. Panic set in as he glanced over his shoulder and saw no path or buildings, only a dense wall of fog.
Again, he heard the cry for help, and this time it was clearly the voice of a young woman from deep within the skeletal forest. The young man pressed forward. Not caring about silence, he charged through the dark forest. Suddenly, he stumbled, crossing a shallow pond.
The branches of the trees above parted, and the moonlight reflected on the pool's surface. As he stared at the dark waters, something held him in place. It wasn't mud or roots, but a song. Faint and distant, haunting, filling his mind with images of a beautiful, pale body, proportions worthy of a goddess.
He shook his head, the cry for help awakening him, louder and more urgent this time. Then came a crack and a crash as something massive forced its way through the trees. The scream cut off, and the young man rushed forward through the pond. He was knee-deep in water when he saw something glinting near his feet. Reaching down, his hand closed around something hard and long, and the music suddenly crescendoed in his mind before abruptly stopping.
He ignored it, pressing on through the water. As he broke free from the water, no longer splashing or making noise, he heard the rattle of a light chain. Looking down, he saw he was holding a one-and-a-half-handed sword in a blackened steel scabbard with a strange symbol of a circle and triangle intersected by some line.
There was no time to ponder, as suddenly there was a loud crack and a choking sob of a woman in mortal danger. Charging forward, he saw a large dark shape moving in a clearing. A blonde woman in a white dress lay on the ground, a dark stain on her face, her hand raised to fend off a deadly blow from a powerful beast.
A sudden scream of agony tore through the night, startling the beast for a second.
Harry did not hesitate. His hand drew the blade, tossing the scabbard aside, and gripping it with both hands, he lunged forward, his long legs propelling him. He burst through the trees and gasped as he saw the beast in full. It reared back on muscled hind legs, covered in thick dark fur, standing over nine feet tall and powerful as a bear. Turning towards him, the beast's snarling maw dripped blood and saliva. It roared with savage fury, swinging a massive arm, the razor-sharp claws slicing across the young man's face.
Harry had no time to think. Instead, acting on an instinct he didn't know he possessed, he dived under the swing. Staggering, holding the blade in a two-handed grip, he rose to his feet and slashed sideways at the beast.
He almost dropped the weapon as the tough hide and entrails nearly wrenched the hilt from his grip. Loosening his hold, just like with a baseball bat, he regained control of the blade and yanked it from the monster's belly.
"AAARRRGHGHG!" The beast roared, staggering and delivering a wild kick.
A clawed paw flung Harry a dozen feet back, slamming him into a tree, and he fell to his knees.
He scrambled to his feet, holding the sword in one hand. He extended the other to steady himself, feeling dizzy.
His breath pounded in his lungs, and his heart hammered like never before. He saw the blonde woman was injured, clutching a bleeding wound in her side, with half her face covered in blood. The massive beast stood before him, dropping to all fours and roaring with rage, claws the size of knives digging into the turf, charging at him with a snapping maw and a promise of death in its eyes.
Standing before the beast, Harry felt his pervasive anxiety and fear melt away. The world around him slowed, and his heartbeat became a slow, thunderous drum in his mind. For the first time in his life, he felt truly alive, a smile forming on his face. A righteous roar erupted from his chest, answering the beast's challenge with his own. Bathed in moonlight, he surged forward to meet the creature. They locked eyes as they closed in on each other, both screaming wordless roars. The beast snapped at empty air, and the young man dodged to the side, twisting and dragging the blade along its side. He got as close as he dared, the giant beast charging past, watching as the edge of his sword bit deep. Harry felt a thrill as the monster's neck split and a fountain of dark blood sprayed, covering him in vile sludge.
The beast staggered, disbelief in its eyes as death came. Turning to deliver a final deadly blow with one massive paw, it collapsed mid-swing. Its enormous body crashed into the forest floor, and the ground around it shook with the impact.
The young man staggered, a cloud of dark smoke billowed past him, smelling strongly of cinnamon, cloves, and other spices he couldn't name. As the cloud drifted away, the moonlight revealed the figure of a naked man, burly with muscle and fat, covered in thick curly hair.
Harry stumbled, his legs suddenly turning to rubber. Turning, he rushed to the woman, finding her on her side, one hand to her temple and the other supporting herself. He dropped to one knee and extended a steady hand.
"Don't touch me!" The woman cried, recoiling. "The creature's blood... it's not... safe for you... How did you get here, Muggle?"
She looked at him, her wide eyes filled with amazement and admiration. He was about to answer when those beautiful blue eyes rolled back into her head, showing only the whites, as she fell into his arms. He felt a cold shiver as his body touched hers, but nothing more than he would expect from a cool breeze. Then he took the woman in his arms and stood, feeling his heart race and blood pulse with desire. As he looked around, trying to get his bearings, the surrounding wall of fog had a gap leading through the trees.
Praying he wouldn't walk into another pond or, worse, a ravine, carrying the injured and beautiful blonde, he set off on his path.
Chapters 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12 are already on Pa tr eon
If you would like to read the next chapters faster, see exclusive content, or support my work, please visit
Pat re on. c om(slash)belleveela(delete spaces)