Chapter 2 Hidden in plain sight

Leah didn't take Aurelia far away just far enough.

She moved them out of the coven's sacred grounds and deeper into the town, where ordinary humans lived their quiet, mundane lives. It was a small, modest house, but it was safe. It was home now.

As she settled into their new space, Leah looked down at the tiny baby in her arms. Aurelia stared back up at her with wide, curious eyes, as if trying to understand the world she'd just been brought into.

Leah smiled, brushing her fingers gently across Aurelia's soft cheek. "Let's try our best to live among the humans for as long as we can, okay?"

The baby giggled, reaching for Leah's hand with her little fingers. Leah chuckled softly, letting her wrap her tiny hands around hers as they played in the quiet warmth of their new beginning.

Time passed.

Years drifted by, and the world changed.

Those who had led the charge against the witches gradually faded some died, others simply disappeared. Their numbers dwindled until barely a handful remained, scattered and aging.

With their absence, so too did the fear.

Stories of witches became whispers, then folklore. A myth. Something from the past that people debated over late at night, often brushing it off with a laugh. Some still believed especially those whose families remembered but most dismissed it as a fairy tale.

And as the world moved on, so did Leah and Aurelia, hidden in plain sight.

Sixteen years later.

"Arise and shine," Leah called out cheerfully as she pulled open the curtains, letting the golden morning light pour into the room and fall directly on Aurelia's face.

Aurelia groaned and turned away from the brightness, burying half her face into her pillow. "Please, let me sleep just a little more," she mumbled in a sleepy voice.

But Leah was relentless. With a swift tug, she yanked the duvet off the bed. "Up, up, young lady!"

Aurelia sat up slowly, her hair tousled and her eyes still heavy with sleep. "Good morning, Aunt Leah," she said with a tired sigh.

"Good morning, dear. You don't want to be late now, do you?" Leah replied with a warm smile, already heading toward the kitchen.

"But I don't want to go to that school," Aurelia complained, rubbing her eyes. "Those people are rich. I'll just feel completely out of place."

Leah turned back to look at her, arms folded but still smiling gently. "The fact that I can afford it means you're among the rich too, even if we live in a modest home. I just love simple things that's all."

"There's nothing simple about that school, Aunt Leah," Aurelia muttered under her breath.

Leah's tone turned slightly firmer. "Aurelia, go get dressed. We don't have time for this. You, my love, must only go to the best school and that school happens to be the best in this part of the country. Now hurry before your breakfast gets cold." With that, she disappeared down the hallway.

Aurelia let out a long, frustrated sigh and flopped back against the bed for a moment, staring at the ceiling.

She wasn't the least bit happy about this new school, not one damn bit.

Switching schools the moment she turned sixteen had felt abrupt and unfair. Now she was supposed to walk into a school filled with spoiled, rich brats and start all over again from sophomore year.

It's just not my best morning, she thought bitterly as she dragged herself out of bed.

After breakfast, Leah drove Aurelia to her new school. The institution was known for its prestige, its reputation gleamed almost as brightly as the students' neatly pressed uniforms, which were strictly mandatory. The school believed that order and neatness shaped discipline, and it was evident even in how the students dressed.

As they pulled up to the gates, Leah turned to Aurelia with a soft smile. "Have a lovely day at school and smile more. You never know what kind of adventure might hit you," she said, planting a gentle kiss on Aurelia's cheek.

"Bye, Aunty," Aurelia murmured, waving as Leah drove off and disappeared down the road.

Aurelia turned toward the imposing school building, her stomach tight with nerves. If she had her way, she'd ditch the first day entirely. But she knew better. No one got angrier than Aunt Leah when rules were broken especially when she'd gone through so much effort to secure Aurelia's place here.

Sighing, she stepped into the hallway. Students bustled past her in every direction, their chatter a low hum of curiosity and familiarity. After asking a few questions and getting pointed looks from some, she finally found the administration office and was quickly assigned to her new class.

Moments later, she stood awkwardly at the front of a classroom filled with curious eyes.

"Good morning, class. This is your newest addition Aurelia Pierre," the teacher announced warmly.

"Do you have anything you'd like to say to your new classmates?" the teacher asked with a smile.

Aurelia shook her head, her expression unreadable.

"Alright then. You can take that empty seat beside Nico. I hope you enjoy your time here," the teacher said, gesturing toward the back of the room.

Aurelia bowed her head slightly in silent thanks and walked toward the seat. Whispers trailed behind her, and she could feel eyes watching her every move. But she kept her gaze low. Making friends wasn't on her to-do list and honestly, she wasn't expecting to have a good time here anyway.

The classes commenced shortly after Aurelia's introduction, and without missing a beat, she buried herself in the lessons. Despite the unfamiliar environment and the occasional curious glance from her classmates, she kept her head down and focused.

Subject after subject rolled by, the voices of the teachers blending into a steady rhythm that dulled the nervous flutter in her chest. She jotted down notes diligently, her handwriting neat and precise anything to avoid engaging in small talk or eye contact.

When the bell finally rang for the first break, the sound echoed through the halls like a small mercy. Books closed with soft thuds and chairs scraped back as students eagerly filed out in groups, chatting and laughing.