THE WITCH'S REBIRTH

Lana sat there for a while, just watching Una's face. The book was still on Una's lap, heavy and old, its edges slightly wet from the lake water. For a moment, neither of them spoke. The air between them felt tight.

Finally, Lana cleared her throat. "Okay... so what now?"

Una blinked. "What do you mean?"

"I mean, what are you going to do about all this?" Lana asked, leaning forward, her elbows on her knees. "You said your aunt freaked out the second she saw that book, right? Like, that wasn't normal. That wasn't oh-my-niece-is-reading-weird-books freaking out. That was something else."

Una nodded slowly, her fingers tracing the edges of the cover. "Yeah. It was like she recognized it. The look in her eyes..." She shook her head. "It scared me. I've never seen her look that way before. Not at me, not at anything."

"Exactly," Lana said, sitting back. "So what if she actually knows something? Like, really knows? Maybe this whole thing isn't random. Maybe she's been hiding something from you."

Una frowned. "You think Aunt Reina's hiding something? Like what, Lana? You think she's secretly part of some underground magic club?"

Lana gave her a look. "Well, you're the one moving water and glowing in libraries. I'm just trying to keep up."

Una rolled her eyes but smiled faintly. "Fair point."

Lana sighed and looked at her again. "But seriously, Una. You can't just pretend none of this is happening. You said it yourself you've been feeling weird for weeks, animals reacting to you, trees moving, that cup thing at the café. Something's going on, and your aunt's reaction... that can't be a coincidence."

Una looked down, her thumb brushing a damp corner of the book. The old pages seemed to hum faintly under her hand, like they were alive and listening.

"I don't know," she said softly. "Part of me wants to just forget it, act like it never happened. But another part..." She paused. "Another part of me wants to know the truth. Like, what if I'm not just imagining things? What if there's something about me I don't know?"

Lana tilted her head. "So, you're gonna talk to her?"

Una hesitated, then nodded. "Yeah. I think I will. I mean, I can't just sit around pretending I'm normal if I'm not, right?"

Lana smirked. "You were never that normal anyway."

Una chuckled, shaking her head. "Thanks."

"So what are you gonna ask her?"

Una thought for a second. "I don't know... I guess I'll just start with the truth. I'll ask her what she knows. Maybe she's just trying to protect me or something. Maybe there's a reason she's been acting strange. But I'm done pretending I don't notice it."

Lana nodded slowly, her playful expression softening. "You're serious about this."

"I am," Una said, her voice steady now. "If there's something she's hiding... I want to know. I deserve to know."

Lana reached out and squeezed her hand gently. "Then I guess we're doing this together."

Una looked at her. "We?"

Lana shrugged. "Of course. You think I'm letting my best friend go all witchy and dramatic alone? Nah, I'm in this mess too now."

That made Una smile, a real one this time. "You sure you're ready for that?"

Lana grinned. "As long as it doesn't involve glowing eyes or haunted books trying to eat me, I'm good."

They both laughed, but the laughter faded quickly, leaving only the sound of the clock ticking softly on the wall. Una's gaze drifted to the book again.

She didn't say it out loud, but deep down she already knew, whatever answers Aunt Reina had been hiding wouldn't stay buried much longer.

The drive home was quiet. The sun was dipping low behind the trees, painting everything in shades of gold and orange. Lana kept glancing at Una from the passenger seat. Neither of them really said much. They both knew what they were about to do and maybe neither of them felt completely ready for it.

When they finally pulled up in front of the house, the lights inside were already on. The windows glowed softly against the dim evening, and a faint smell of herbs drifted out through the slightly open kitchen window.

Una frowned. "She's been cooking."

"Guess she knew we were coming," Lana said, forcing a small laugh.

Una tried to smile back but couldn't. Her hands were cold, and she didn't know why. Maybe it was nerves. Maybe it was something else.

They stepped into the house, and the warmth of it hit them. It smelled like home, but also different. Something earthy and sweet, mixed with a strange sharp scent that almost made the back of her throat burn.

"Una, you're home," Aunt Reina's voice came from the kitchen, calm and welcoming as always. "And Lana too. You should join us for dinner, dear."

Lana blinked, surprised. "Uh, sure. That sounds great."

Reina smiled at them as she stirred something in the pot. "You girls must be tired. Sit down. I made stew."

Una exchanged a quick glance with Lana. The table was already set, and there were two bowls waiting. Everything looked so normal - too normal.

They sat, and Reina served them with her usual gentle hands. But something about her eyes made Una's stomach twist. There was kindness there, but also... something else. Something hidden.

While the two girls ate, upstairs, a faint humming began to rise. The kind that wasn't meant for human ears. The room above them - Aunt Reina's room, was filled with candles. The flames flickered in rhythm with her low, melodic chant. The air shimmered faintly, the scent of burning sage and sea salt mixing with the night breeze.

Her voice was soft but powerful, weaving through the smoke like it carried weight. It wasn't just words, it was old magic. The kind that came from deep places.

She had already laid out what she needed: the herbs, the small bowl of saltwater, and the silver charm she always wore when she performed spells. Her hands moved slowly as she whispered, her eyes closed.

"Sleep the spark, calm the storm.

Quiet the power that wakes with dawn.

Let her heart forget, let her soul be still.

For truth brings death, and silence is will."

Una smiled faintly, though she couldn't help but feel something stir inside her. The melody wasn't just pleasant, it was thick, almost heavy. Her chest grew warm, her thoughts drifting like mist.

She blinked a few times, trying to stay focused, but the song was like a slow tide pulling her mind under. And soon enough, she joined the humming but stopped a few seconds later.

They ate quietly after that, and even Lana who never ran out of words had settled into the rhythm of it. By the time they were done, the house felt... different. Brighter. Too bright.

Lana stretched, licking her spoon.

"Okay, we've eaten, we've rested, now," She turned to Una with that look that always meant "Let's do this. "It's time we talk to your aunt. About everything. About the magic, the book, the lake..."

Una frowned.

"What?"

Lana laughed, thinking she misheard. "The book, Una. The weird glowing thing you found at the library? The one that made water dance? You said we were coming here to..."

"What are you talking about?" Una interrupted softly.

Her voice wasn't angry, just distant. As if the words themselves didn't make sense. She looked at Lana, searching her face for meaning. But all she found there was shock.

"Una," Lana said slowly, setting her spoon down. "You said... you moved water. You said you were scared, that Aunt Reina was acting strange. You...you really don't remember?"

Una stared down at her hands. Her fingers trembled slightly. There was a faint smell of herbs clinging to her skin and something else, something like burnt wax.

She tried to remember the lake, the laughter, the way her heart raced, but all she could see was a blur of water and light. Nothing clear. Nothing solid.

"I don't..." She swallowed. "I don't remember saying that."

Lana blinked, her face growing serious. "That's... that's really creepy, Una."

Across the table, Aunt Reina appeared at the doorway, her hands folded neatly in front of her.

"Everything alright, girls?" she asked, her tone calm, too calm.

Lana looked from her to Una. "Yeah, fine," she said slowly.

Una nodded, but her eyes stayed fixed on her aunt. For a moment, just a moment - she could've sworn she saw the faintest flicker of blue light pass across Reina's pupils, like a reflection of something unseen.

She blinked and it was gone.

The air suddenly felt colder.

And deep inside, beneath the fading hum of her aunt's song, Una could feel it - something had been taken.

She just didn't know what, or how much but Lana knew what...