Which Witch; REMUS LUPIN

CHAPTER SIX: Ashthorn Manor

WHICH WITCH
Chapter Six

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Valeria sat silently by the window of the train, the rhythmic chugging of the wheels on the tracks a distant, muted sound against the tension that filled the compartment. The frost clung to the glass, and her reflection was faint but present, staring back at her with an expression she tried to mask. Her friends—Hestia, Aurelia, Cordelia, and Lucinda—were scattered around the space, each absorbed in their own thoughts. This year, the usual excitement for Christmas break was nowhere to be found. Instead, an unspoken heaviness hung between them, a shared dread for what lay ahead.

Six days until the annual Christmas Bash at Ashthorn Manor.

Four days until the families would start arriving at the estate.

Four days until she would see her friends again.

And worst of all, four days trapped in that manor with her father, her cold, silent mother, and her ruthless brother, whose loyalty to their father was unwavering.

Four days of fear.

Valeria shifted in her seat, wrapping her arms around herself, trying to ward off the cold that seemed to seep into her bones at the thought of returning home. Ashthorn Manor, with its grand halls and towering walls, had never felt like home—it was a fortress, a cage where her father's shadow loomed over every corner. The heavy wooden doors, the stone-cold floors, the darkened windows, all of it suffocated her. And worst of all, Malik's presence. Even in his absence, the mere thought of him filled her with dread. His curses, his commands, the way he controlled every aspect of their lives—it was unbearable.

But there was no escape. No running from her fate. No matter how much she dreaded it, she was an Ashthorn. Malik would expect perfection when she arrived. She had to be the obedient daughter, the one who upheld the family's name without question, no matter the cost. His gaze would cut through her, searching for any sign of defiance, and if he found it... she didn't want to imagine what would happen.

Her brother, no kinder than Malik, wouldn't be any help. He was an extension of their father's will—cold, calculating, and always watching, ensuring Valeria stayed in line.

The train rattled on, and Valeria bit her lip, trying to shake the mounting dread, but it clung to her like a shroud, wrapping tighter with every passing second. The silence in the compartment was thick, and even the usual sound of the train felt distant.

"Are you okay?" Cordelia's soft voice broke the stillness. She sat across from Valeria, her eyes steady, though Valeria could see the worry behind them.

Valeria blinked and forced a small smile, though it didn't reach her eyes. "I'll be fine," she said, the lie rolling off her tongue. The tightness in her chest didn't ease, and Cordelia didn't push, understanding far too well what Valeria was about to endure.

Lucinda, next to Cordelia, leaned back, her eyes flicking out the window. "Four days alone in that place," she muttered, her voice dark with empathy. "It's hell. I don't know how you manage it."

"I don't," Valeria admitted softly. She looked down at her hands, clasped in her lap. "I just... survive."

Aurelia, sitting beside her, reached over and placed a hand gently on Valeria's knee. Her touch was soft, but the sympathy in her wide eyes was unmistakable. "We'll be there soon," Aurelia said, her voice trembling slightly. "And then we can face everything together. We always do."