Crossed Spells

Chapter 11: The Awakening of the Familiars (Part 1)

Lucas's alarm went off at 6:30 AM, as it had every morning for over a week. He reached out to turn it off, but his fingers met empty air. Opening his eyes, he saw the luminous numbers floating a few inches above his bedside table, surrounded by a moving shadow.

"Again," he murmured, half amused, half frustrated.

Since his meeting with Aria in the clearing and the discovery of their respective powers, Lucas's control over his abilities seemed to have both improved and become more unstable. The shadows reacted more easily to his emotions, sometimes even without him realizing it. It was as if a part of himself, long dormant, had suddenly awakened and was demanding expression.

He got up, dispersing the shadows with a wave of his hand, and headed to the bathroom. As he brushed his teeth, his reflection in the mirror caught his attention. Dark circles underlined his eyes, testament to the long evenings spent at the library with Aria. But despite the obvious fatigue, there was a gleam in his eyes that he had never seen before - a mixture of excitement and determination.

Every day since their meeting in the clearing, they had met after class, immersed in old books and dusty archives, searching for the slightest clue about the origin of their powers and the history of the Lucida and Nigra families. So far, their efforts hadn't yielded much, but Lucas couldn't help feeling a growing excitement every time he thought about these moments shared with Aria.

Returning to his room to get dressed, Lucas glanced at the pile of books on his desk. Post-its of different colors stuck out, marking potentially interesting passages that he intended to show Aria. There were notes on ancient Ravenswood legends, accounts of unexplained phenomena, and even some vague mentions of families with "special gifts". Nothing concrete, but enough to fuel their curiosity and determination.

He smiled, thinking of their growing complicity, of how they now communicated almost without words, sharing a secret that no one else could understand. It was as if an invisible bond had formed between them, woven of magic and mystery.

"Lucas! You're going to be late!" His father's voice pulled him from his thoughts.

"Coming!" he shouted back, quickly pulling on his t-shirt and grabbing his bag.

As he descended the stairs, Lucas felt a slight apprehension rising within him. His father, Damien, was waiting for him in the kitchen, a cup of coffee in hand and a piercing look that always seemed to know more than he let on. Lucas wondered, not for the first time, how far his father's knowledge of their powers and Ravenswood's history really extended.

"Good morning, dad," Lucas said, trying to appear casual.

Damien observed him for a moment before speaking. "You've been coming home late these days," he said in a neutral tone that didn't fool Lucas.

"I'm working at the library," he replied, which wasn't entirely a lie. "Exams are coming up, you know."

His father nodded slowly, but Lucas could see he wasn't entirely convinced. "Don't forget your responsibilities, Lucas. Your training..."

"I know, dad," Lucas gently interrupted. "I haven't forgotten."

There was a moment of tense silence before Damien sighed. "Alright. Have a good day."

Lucas nodded, relieved to escape further questioning, and hurried out. As he closed the door behind him, he couldn't help but wonder what his father would think if he knew about Aria and her powers. Would he approve of their collaboration, or would he see it as a threat to the secret he had so carefully guarded all these years?

The journey to high school was filled with swirling thoughts. Lucas couldn't help feeling guilty about keeping secrets from his father, but the excitement of sharing this adventure with Aria outweighed everything else. He thought back to all the moments they had shared this week, the small discoveries they had made, the theories they had developed together.