Allegra always dreaded the nights when the moon turned red, bathing the village in a foreboding crimson glow. These were the nights when the School Master came, cloaked in shadow, to take two more children from their homes. As the dreaded evening approached, Allegra's anxiety deepened. This wasn't just another tale spun by the villagers; it was a living nightmare she had experienced first-hand. She knew all too well the devastating reality of these nights, and the helplessness they brought. Perhaps that was why, when Phoebe, the baker's daughter, whispered her feelings in a secluded alley between Butterby's Bakery and Taylor's Tailors, Allegra reacted so coldly.
The alley was dimly lit by the flickering light of a lone lantern, casting long shadows on the cobblestone ground. Phoebe, a plump girl with rosy cheeks and flour-dusted hair, hesitated for a moment before speaking. Her voice trembled as she confessed her love, her eyes shining with hope. She had baked a special batch of honey cakes for Allegra, wrapped neatly in a brown paper bag, that she had given the woman upon her arrival as sweet symbol of her affection.
"Love? You must be foolish if you think someone like me can feel such emotions," Allegra retorted, her voice laced with bitterness. Her scarred face twisted into a sneer, the jagged scar on her upper left lip contorting her expression grotesquely. It was a reminder of a past she could never escape, a constant symbol of the danger and pain that lurked in her world. She reached out, her hand gentle at first as she caressed Phoebe's cheek. The softness of Phoebe's skin contrasted sharply with Allegra's rough, calloused hands.
Allegra's fingers trailed down to Phoebe's neck, and suddenly, her grip tightened. She felt the pulse beneath her fingers quicken, a palpable sign of Phoebe's fear. It gave her a perverse sense of power, a fleeting feeling of control in a life otherwise dictated by forces beyond her command. "It's time to stop this nonsense," she continued, her voice cold and detached. "You should stop stringing along that dairy farmer boy, and settle down. He may not make your heart flutter, but he'll give you the child you've always wanted. It may not be a fairy tale ending, but it's the closest you'll get here. You'll never find it with me."
She released her grip, stepping back as Phoebe stood trembling, tears welling in her eyes. Allegra's heart ached at the sight, but she hardened herself against it. She couldn't afford to let her emotions get the better of her. "Besides, can you imagine walking through town holding a witch's hand? You'd be shunned and ridiculed. It's better this way," Allegra said, her voice softening slightly, a hint of regret slipping through. She turned away, unwilling to witness the full extent of the hurt she had caused. The pain in Phoebe's eyes was too much to bear, a reflection of the deep wounds Allegra carried within herself.
As she walked away, Allegra glanced at the bag of honey cakes Phoebe had given her. She considered tossing them into the trash, but her resolve faltered. The gesture was too sincere, too filled with love and care to discard so easily. She clutched the bag tightly, the aroma of the sweet treats wafting up to her. They were a bittersweet reminder of what she had just done, a decision she felt was necessary, yet deeply painful.
Allegra sighed heavily, her breath misting in the cool night air as she looked up at the blood-red sky. The colour seemed to seep into everything, a harbinger of doom that hung over the village like a curse. She had to get moving; there was no time to dwell on her own feelings. Her little sister, Agatha, needed her protection tonight. With renewed determination, she made her way through the forest path, her steps quick and sure. The path was familiar, lined with gnarled trees and thick underbrush, the scent of damp earth and pine filling the air. She knew every twist and turn, every hidden root that could trip her up, a familiarity born of countless nights spent wandering these woods.
As Allegra approached the edge of the forest, she could hear the village men mustering, their voices tense and fearful. They were armed with whatever weapons they could find—swords, bows and arrows, axes, and pitchforks. They formed a ragged line, their torches casting a flickering light that barely penetrated the darkness. They were preparing for the School Master's arrival, a futile effort to protect their children from his grasp. Allegra scoffed at their naivety. She knew better than anyone that no amount of preparation could stop the School Master. He was a force of nature, inevitable and unstoppable. The scars on her body were proof of that. And yet, even knowing so, it wouldn't stop her from trying to save her own sister from such a fate.
As she stepped into the light of the torches, some of the men recoiled, their expressions a mix of fear and suspicion. They whispered about witches and dark magic, their voices carrying through the still night air. Allegra's crimson cloak, worn and tattered, blended eerily with the red hue of the moon, making her seem like an apparition from a nightmare. She chuckled softly, a sound devoid of humour, enjoying their unease. It was a rare moment of power in a world where she often felt powerless.
Upon reaching her home, a small, weather-worn cottage nestled at the foot of Graves Hill, Allegra was greeted by an unexpected sight. Her mother, Callis, was bustling about, humming a cheerful tune as she packed a suitcase. The old woman's face, once beautiful, was now lined with age and scars of her own from previous attempts to change her appearance. Scars that the woman seemed proud of, glad her efforts had marred her. Changing her appearance forever. Callis was meticulously squeezing jars of potion ingredients and neatly folded black cloaks into and old tattered suitcase. Her movements were methodical, almost ritualistic, as if preparing for a journey of great importance.
"Oh, Allegra dear, there you are," Callis said, glancing up with a rare smile. "I've packed your old traveling cloak for Agatha. Three cloaks just weren't enough."
Allegra's anger flared at the sight of her mother preparing for Agatha to be taken as if it were a blessing. She clenched her fists around the paper bag she held. "She won't be going!"
"Don't be silly, dear. Of course she is. Who else would the School Master take for evil?" Callis dismissed her concerns with a wave of her hand.
"I won't let him. Not again," Allegra's voice wavered, a mixture of anger and desperation.
Callis sighed, a hint of pity in her eyes. "Silly girl. You can't stop him. No one can. You don't have a fraction of the amount of power you would need to even make him look your way. You don't have a chance to change this, just like you didn't last time. Just accept it," she said, taking the bag of honey cakes from Allegra. "These will be perfect for Agatha's journey tonight."
Allegra stood frozen, unable to comprehend her mother's indifference. "Mother, you know better than anyone how terrible that world can be. Why do you of all people want Agatha to go?" she pleaded, her voice breaking as she tried to understand her mother's motives.
"It will be different for her. She's special," Callis said, almost trying to convince herself. "Now, be quiet. We don't want to wake Agatha and make things harder for the School Master, do we?" She gave Allegra a chilling look before turning away.
Stunned and heartbroken, Allegra grabbed an old worn copy of Sleeping Beauty and went outside. Her mother wouldn't let her guard Agatha closely, so she sat by an old grave, reading and keeping an eye on the house. The blood moon was high when she heard the front door slam. Alarmed, she saw Agatha running towards the village. Abandoning her book, Allegra chased after her sister, wondering why she had to wake up now, of all times.
As Allegra reached the village square, she saw Agatha climb into Sophie's room through the window. Relieved, she waited, thinking Agatha would be safe there. But then, in an instant, Sophie was pulled out of the window by a devastatingly familiar shadow. The villagers' shouts filled the air as they chased after her. Allegra hesitated, searching for Agatha, who soon leaped out of the same window, chasing after Sophie.
"Agatha!" Allegra shouted, running to catch up.
"What are you doing here, Ally?" Agatha asked, not slowing down.
"I'm here to stop him from taking you, Aggie," Allegra replied, determination in her voice.
"That's great, but he's taking Sophie!" Agatha cried, her desperation evident.
"Agatha, stop!" Allegra begged, reaching out to grab her.
"I can't! I can't let her be taken!" Agatha's voice was frantic, breaking something inside Allegra.
"Okay, I'll help you rescue Sophie. Just don't let go. I'm not losing anyone else," Allegra promised, grabbing Agatha's hand. As they ran into the woods, the villagers' torches exploded, trapping them in rings of fire. But that didn't stop the two of them. They dodged the gauntlet of fire traps and dashed into the woods together. All around flames spewed higher and higher. A towering blaze rose up in front of them. But the sisters simply looked at each other and nodded, before they charged through the flames, determined to save Sophie. She wouldn't let go. Not this time.
Ahead, they saw Sophie being dragged away. "Agatha, no!" Sophie screamed as they leapt onto the struggling girl that fought against their efforts to save her. "WHAT ARE YOU DOING?! YOU'RE RUINING EVERYTHING!" Sophie yelled as she tried shoving and kicking Agatha off. But Allegra refused to let go of either girl.
As the two continued to wrestle, Allegra began to notice that the shadow had started to climb into the sky. Before they were suddenly all released and dropped onto something firm, cold and spindly. The shadow was gone. They were cocooned in the creepers of an elm. She looked at both still arguing girls and laughed. She had done it. They were sa... Before Allegra could stop to take a breath, the elm tree flung them ruthlessly from branch to branch, climbing higher and higher.
"HOW TALL IS THIS TREE!" Agatha shrieked as Allegra held both girls close, shielding the girls with her body, enduring the pain until they reached the top of the enormous elm tree, where a giant black egg awaited.
The egg cracked open, revealing a colossal bird made of bones. Allegra looking up at it in horror, clutched the girls as the bird unleashed an angry screech that rattled their eardrums and grabbed them with its claws, lifting them into the sky. She screamed in pain as the claws tore through her skin to get to the girls, but she held on, protecting Agatha and Sophie as best she could. Their screams of fear drowning out everything else.
The bird flew through a storm, battling lightning, timber, cobwebs, beehives and vipers as it plunged though the deadly briars. As they neared the end of their ordeal, Allegra's strength waned. Suddenly, everything stopped. Allegra opened her eyes to rays of sunlight. A gasp from Agatha gained her remaining attention and she looked down.
"It's real." Sophie grinned.
Far beneath them, two soaring castles loomed in the distance. One Castle glittered in the suns mist, with pink and blue glass turret over a sparkling lake. The other, blackened and jagged with sharp spires ripping through thunderclouds like the teeth of a monster.
"The School for Good and Evil," Allegra murmured, her strength leaving her at the sight that had plagued her nightmares for the past twelve years. She released her grip on the girls and fell, her last sight being Agatha's terrified face as she reached out to grab her. The last thing Allegra heard was her sister's desperate cry as they were carried safely towards the distant school.