Aurelia swayed gently in the hammock strung between two ancient apple trees.
Warm sunlight filtered through emerald leaves overhead, scattering shifting patches of gold across her skin.
A salty breeze drifted inland from the sea, carrying the scent of wildflowers and distant waves.
Somewhere nearby, gulls cried as they circled the cliffs.
It should have been peaceful.
It would have been, if not for the fact that her life was falling apart.
Above her, Diane lounged on a thick branch with all the grace of a cat.
Apple cores littered the branches around her like evidence of a crime scene.
She was stress eating.
Aurelia knew because Diane only devoured apples at this alarming rate when she was worried.
And Diane had been worried for days since they found out about her pregnancy.
Below them, Clover sat cross-legged in the grass weaving flower crowns.
At least she appeared calm.
The healer’s fingers worked carefully through white daisies and purple blossoms while she hummed softly to herself like there was nothing wrong.
When she spoke reality set in.
“You can’t hide it forever.”
Aurelia’s eyes snapped open.
The hammock rocked beneath her.
Sunlight immediately forced a squint from her, she raised her hand to block the light.
“I am not trying to hide it,” she said then paused to sigh, “Well…
Not completely.”
Diane snorted from above.
The sound was followed by another aggressive bite of apple.
Aurelia sat up.
The movement sent a brief wave of nausea rolling through her stomach.
She swallowed hard and ignored it.
Refused to acknowledge it.
Much like how she refused to acknowledge the other problem.
Her gaze immediately drifted away from her abdomen.
As though looking at it might somehow make her belly grow big.
Clover looked up and noticed.
“You haven’t told your mother.” More as a statement than a question.
Aurelia groaned.
“No.”
“You haven’t told your sisters in sect.”
“No.”
“You haven’t told Hecate’s priestesses.”
“Fuck No.” That one came sharper
Diane dropped an apple core.
It bounced off a lower branch before disappearing into the grass.
“You haven’t even decided what you’re going to do.”
Aurelia pointed accusingly at her sister.
“You’re supposed to be on my side.”
“I am on your side.” Diane took another bite.
“But you don’t have a plan!”
“I have a plan.”
“I meant one that isn’t denial”
Clover nodded in agreement.
Aurelia looked between them in betrayal.
“You two are remarkably judgmental for people I specifically brought here for emotional support.”
“We were brought here to stop you from making bad decisions,” Clover corrected.
“Same thing at this point.” Diane muttered.
“How is that the same thing?!.” Aurelia fell back into the hammock with a groan.
The woven ropes creaked beneath her weight.
Above the canopy, the sky stretched endlessly blue.
For a brief moment, she allowed herself to pretend none of this existed.
But that didn’t last long when Diane spoke.
“So.” Aurelia already hated that tone.
“When are we telling Mother?”
Aurelia covered her face with both hands.
“Can I say never?”
Diane and Clover exchanged a look.
The kind of look people shared when they knew a disaster was approaching and there was absolutely nothing they could do to stop it.
Aurelia did not like that look.
Before Aurelia could continue arguing, a small voice called out across the orchard.
“Sister Aurelia!”
Aurelia lifted her head.
A six-year-old whirlwind came barreling toward her through the grass, curls bouncing wildly with every step.
Tiny sandals slapped against the earth as she ran.
Aurelia’s expression softened instantly.
“Serise!”
The little girl launched herself forward.
Aurelia barely had time to brace before she caught her.
Serise wrapped her arms tightly around Aurelia’s neck and burst into giggles.
“There you are!” Serise declared.
Aurelia adjusted her on her hip.
“And where else would I be?”
“Aunty is looking for you and Sister Diane.” The girl’s eyes widened dramatically.
“She said right now.”
Aurelia froze.
Above them, Diane paused mid-bite.
“Mother wants us?” Serise nodded so enthusiastically that several curls bounced into her face.
Aurelia and Diane exchanged a look.
“It’s probably the barrier,” Diane said.
Aurelia glanced toward the western horizon.
The sun had begun its slow descent toward the sea.
Orange and gold streaked the sky while the first hints of twilight settled across the island.
The barrier ritual.
Of course.
Every evening, as dusk approached, the witches renewed the veil that concealed their paradise from wandering ships and curious travelers.
Aurelia handed Serise to Clover.
The little girl immediately protested.
“Hey!” Series pouted as she squirmed in Clover’s arms
“Don’t give that look” Aurelia said only for her pout to deepen.
A few minutes later, Aurelia and Diane made their way toward the heart of the island.
There ancient tree stood exactly where it always had, great and firm it was, stretching it’s branches like a canopy.
Its silver bark gleamed in the fading sunlight while roots thicker than houses disappeared into the earth below.
Lanterns hung from its sprawling branches, glowing softly as darkness crept across the sky.
Around it stood dozens of witches.
White robes fluttered in the evening breeze.
And standing among them was Aradia.
Their mother.
She was laughing at something one of the High Priestesses had said and hadn’t noticed her yet..
Aurelia immediately changed direction.
Diane noticed immediately.
“You’re avoiding mama?”
“Well duh.”
“She’ll notice.”
“No she won’t”
Diane didn’t argue.
She saved herself the headache of indulging in Aurelia.
The witches gradually formed a circle around the tree.
Aurelia made certain to position herself on the opposite side from her mother.
As far away as possible.
The chanting began.
Low voices rose together and ancient words filled the air.
The ground beneath Aurelia’s feet vibrated faintly as power stirred beneath the island.
She lifted her hands.
Since she was twelve years old, she had performed this ritual without a problem.
She usually spoke the words and nature obeyed but this time…
Nothing happened.
Aurelia blinked.
The witches around her glowed with silver and blue light as streams of magic flowed from their hands into the ancient tree.
Its branches shimmered and it’s leaves glowed as the barrier strengthened.
Aurelia tried again.
Still nothing.
A small knot of panic formed in her stomach.
The familiar current of power simply wasn’t there.
She hurriedly chanted the spell again.
And again.
And by her fifth attempted sweat gathered at the back of her neck.
She swallowed hard as one by one, the witches began glancing her way.
Their chanting never faltered and neither did their gaze on her.
Aurelia offered an awkward smile.
No one smiled back.
She pointed vaguely at the tree as if to suggest everything was completely under control.
Across the circle, Aradia’s gaze settled on her daughter.
Aurelia immediately looked away, she stated to find the branches of the tree interesting.
The ritual finally ended.
The last traces of magic disappeared into the barrier.
Far beyond the island’s shores, a thick supernatural fog rolled across the sea.
The witches lowered their hands.
Aurelia turned and walked quickly to the exit.
If she made it another twenty seconds she could—
A shimmering wall of magic erupted directly in front of her.
Aurelia stopped so suddenly she nearly walked into it.
Slowly.
Very slowly.
She turned around.
Several witches were staring.
Her mother stood at the front with her arms folded and eyes narrowed on her daughter.
Aurelia smiled weakly.
“Hey.”
Nobody smiled back, their eyes narrowed at her.
“What was that about?” Priestess Hela demanded.
Aradia stepped forward.
Her sharp eyes swept over Aurelia.
“Why didn’t you help raise the barrier?”
“I—” Aurelia swallowed, not a promising start “Um….” she avoided her mother’s gaze “was…
Going to..”
“Mm?” her mother’s brow shot up.
“But then—”
“But then what Aurelia?” Aradia’s expression remained perfectly blank.
Which was somehow worse than anger.
Aurelia’s hands twisted together.
“I can explain.”
“Well…
go on.”
Yet she didn’t speak, the silence that followed was deafening.
Aradia sighed then suddenly raised a hand.
Before Aurelia could react, warm magic washed over her body.
It was a familiar sensation of when her mother was searching her.
Aurelia’s stomach dropped.
Oh no.
She saw Aradia’s expression shift, first it was confusion, then realization, then came absolute shock.
The color drained from her face.
Around them, several witches straightened.
Aurelia closed her eyes.
It was no mystery she was screwed from this moment.
Aradia stared at her daughter.
“You’re pregnant?”
Every witch present had their eyes on her.
“Fuck.”