Crossed Spells

Chapter 6: First Lessons (Part 1)

The sun was barely rising over Ravenswood when Aria opened her eyes, pulled from her sleep by a slight pounding in her head. She blinked, disoriented, as memories of the previous night came back to her in fragments. The party, the deafening music, the laughter, the bitter taste of alcohol on her tongue... She groaned softly, burying her face in her pillow.

It was her first "hangover," as mild as it was, and Aria wasn't quite sure how to feel about it. Part of her was proud to have experienced this typically teenage rite of passage, while another part felt guilty and a bit ashamed.

As she lay there, trying to gather the courage to get up, flashes of the evening came back to her. The strobe lights that seemed to dance to the rhythm of the music, Ivy's contagious laughter, Lucas's intense gaze across the crowded room... And then, there was something else. Something she couldn't quite grasp.

Aria frowned, concentrating. She vaguely remembered seeing shadows move strangely around Lucas, as if they were alive. But that was impossible, wasn't it? Surely an effect of alcohol and fatigue. Yet the memory seemed so real...

A knock on her door pulled her from her thoughts. "Aria? Are you awake?" Elena's voice was soft, but Aria could detect an underlying note of tension.

"Yes, mom," she replied, her own voice hoarse from sleep. "I'll be down in a minute."

Aria got up slowly, wincing slightly as the world spun a bit around her. She headed to the bathroom, carefully avoiding her reflection in the mirror. After freshening up and swallowing a pill for her headache, she felt a bit more human.

As she descended the stairs, the smell of coffee and toast hit her, making her stomach growl. But the sight of her mother, sitting at the kitchen table with a serious expression on her face, made any sensation of hunger disappear.

"Good morning, sweetie," said Elena, gesturing for her to sit down. "How are you feeling?"

Aria sat across from her mother, suddenly feeling like a little girl caught doing something wrong. "I'm okay," she murmured. "Just a bit tired."

Elena looked at her for a long moment, her eyes scrutinizing her daughter's face as if searching for something. Finally, she sighed. "Aria, we need to talk about what happened last night."

Aria felt her heart race. How could her mother know? "I... what do you mean?" she tried weakly.

"Don't play that game with me, Aria," Elena replied, her voice firm but not angry. "News travels fast in a small town like Ravenswood. I heard about the party, and the fact that you drank."

Aria lowered her eyes, feeling both ashamed and frustrated. "It was just one drink, mom. It's not a big deal."

"That's not the issue, Aria," said Elena, leaning forward. "The issue is that you took an unnecessary risk. You know how important it is for us to stay in control, to not draw attention."

Aria felt a wave of anger rise within her. "And for how long, mom? How long do we have to live like this, always on guard, always hiding? I just wanted... I just wanted to be normal, for once."

Elena's expression softened slightly. "I know, sweetie. I know it's hard. But you have to understand that our situation is different. We can't afford to lose control, even for a moment."

Aria felt tears of frustration sting her eyes. "It's not fair," she whispered.

Elena stood up and came to sit next to her daughter, putting an arm around her shoulders. "I know it's not fair. But it's our reality. However," she added after a pause, "I think it's time we start working on controlling your powers."