Awakening Hearts

There was a stench in the room, and the only light came from the moon filtering through a window. A silhouette in a black robe stood in the darkness, chanting spells. Her face was hidden beneath a hood. Suddenly, she stopped chanting and opened her eyes, narrow slits of danger lurking in the black depths. The right side of her face appeared burnt, adding to her menacing aura.

"Oh, so the seal is weakening. In no time, she will remember her past, and then it won't be good for us. I'm afraid this time, we will be no match for her."

"My lady, what should we do?" her subordinate asked, keeping his gaze down and avoiding her piercing eyes, seemingly terrified of her.

"We will wait until she recovers her memories. She stole my fate, but this time, I won't let her off so easily. I am in this position because of her. Keep an eye on her."

"Yes, my lady," the subordinate replied, bowing before disappearing from the room.

She smirked, the expression making her face even more hideous. "Layla, you've been reborn just for me. The power you hold—I'll take it back because it was mine to begin with. And that bitch Wren—she betrayed me for you. I'll give her the most miserable death."

At the end of her sentence, she laughed maniacally, as if strangling someone in her mind.

**********

"Mum, who is Layla?" Lyra asked, unable to contain her curiosity after thinking about it all day.

Sophia looked at her for a moment and then sighed. "So, you've read the journal."

Lyra looked away guiltily. "I'm sorry, I couldn't help myself. But it was so strange finding that journal in my room. Is that her whole story?"

"Why would you think it's a real story, baby?" Sophia asked, her eyes holding something Lyra couldn't quite decipher—a mix of longing and something else.

"I don't know," Lyra admitted. "Sometimes, I feel like I know this Layla, as if..." She trailed off, unsure how to finish.

"As if she's a part of you—that's what you feel, isn't it?" Sophia completed her sentence.

"Yeah, but Mama, how is that even possible? I've been so confused about myself lately that I'm not sure of my identity anymore."

Lyra had been thinking about this all day. She hadn't gone back to her own house, unable to clear her thoughts. Wren was happy here with Olivia and Sophia, and Lyra didn't have the heart to tell her to leave. Besides, she missed her mother. She had only spoken to her on the phone since moving out of Whitmore House.

"Sweetheart, not everything you read is real," Sophia began carefully. "But Layla..." She paused, as if gathering her thoughts. "What you read in that journal was my imagination. I thought of a home where misunderstandings could be resolved, and Layla could live happily with her family. But life is harsh, you know—it's not always how we wish it to be."

"So she was real, and you knew her in real life?" Lyra asked, even more confused than before.

"Can you give me some time?" Sophia pleaded. "I'll tell you everything. It's just... I'm afraid you'll be disappointed in me after knowing the truth."

"Mama, we all make choices—some good, some bad," Lyra said softly.

Sophia suddenly hugged her tightly. "Oh, my baby has grown up," she said, smiling tearfully. "You're right. And don't worry, I won't hide anything from you, especially not the things you need to know."

*************

Kael was watching the Whitmore house because she was there, and her ladyship had ordered him to keep an eye on her. But he was confused—she hadn't come out of the house even once.

Inside the house, Lyra sat in her room, lost in thought. She was startled when she heard Wren's voice.

"What are you thinking, Lyra?" Wren asked.

Lyra smiled at the concern in Wren's tone. "Oh, nothing. I just thought that we've been here for two days. We should go back to our home."

"But Lyra, this is also your home," Wren replied gently.

"No, Wren. This is my mother's house, not mine. I know this may sound strange to you, but—" Lyra stopped mid-sentence and shook her head. "Oh, never mind. I just want to go back to our home."

Wren stepped out of the house, worry clouding her mind. Her heart raced, plagued by a foreboding feeling. Something was about to happen, and she had no idea how to protect Lyra from it.

**********

The room was dark, its atmosphere heavy and oppressive. It didn't feel like a place that belonged to someone from the modern world—everything in it screamed antique and old, much like the person sitting in front of the ornate mirror.

She was a strikingly beautiful woman with dark brown eyes and luscious hair, but there was no softness in her gaze. It was filled with malice and vengeance. Suddenly, a knock echoed on the door. She already knew who it was; only one person would dare disturb her with news.

"Enter," she commanded in an arrogant tone.

Kael stepped in but didn't move further than the threshold. He stood there, his eyes downcast. "My lady Regina, everything is under our control right now. The witch hasn't regained her memory—"

Before he could finish, a ball of red light struck him.

"The witch has a name, you lowly peasant!" Regina bellowed, her voice ringing with authority and fury.

Kael struggled to understand her. Regina hated Lyra above all else, but she wouldn't tolerate any disrespect toward her. This contradiction baffled him.

"Y-yes, my lady. Lyra hasn't regained her memory yet," Kael stammered.

Hearing this, Regina's lips curled into a mocking smile. "Oh, but she will. She will remember, and very soon."

Her gaze brightened with a malicious glint, as though she could barely contain her anticipation for the moment Lyra's memories returned.