Daughter of a Witch

Ancient Curses

The attic was dim and shadowed, with only a single candle casting a wavering pool of light over the scattered books and artifacts around Y/n. She leaned over the pages of an ancient spellbook, her fingers tracing the faded runes as she whispered them to herself, too curious to stop even as a soft warning tugged at her memory.

Agatha had mentioned the dangers of certain spells in passing, saying, "Some words, once spoken, can never be unspoken."

But curiosity had always been Y/n's nature, and this particular page seemed to glow just a bit brighter, as if it was calling to her. She closed her eyes, taking a breath before murmuring the final line written across the page.

In that instant, the room plunged into an eerie stillness. Cold crept through the air, a biting chill that pricked at her skin. Her heart raced as she looked around, but the world seemed to swim, and shadows began swirling up from the page, forming dark, twisting tendrils that latched onto her arms and chest.

Panic clawed up her throat. "M-Mama?" Her voice wavered, barely a whisper, but the pain doubled down, hot and sharp, flooding her senses until her vision faded entirely, leaving her in an unending black.

Downstairs

Agatha was in the kitchen, preparing her herbs, when a sharp tug of dread seized her heart. Her chest tightened, and her instincts screamed that something was wrong. She dropped her supplies, her eyes wild as she turned toward the attic, her breath catching when she felt the dark energy snaking through the house.

"Rio!" Agatha's voice was a frantic whisper as she dashed for the stairs, her magic crackling in the air around her. Rio materialized beside her, instantly attuned to Agatha's panic, her gaze fixed on the door of the attic, now slightly ajar.

They burst into the room to find Y/n collapsed, her face pale as she clutched her chest. Dark mist swirled around her, constricting tighter with every shallow breath she managed to take. Agatha's heart dropped as she knelt beside Y/n, her hand hovering over her daughter, her voice calm but desperate.

"Y/n, baby, I'm here. I'm right here. It's going to be okay," Agatha whispered, pulling Y/n into her arms.

Rio dropped beside her, assessing the dark mist entangled around Y/n's body. "It's a curse," she said, her voice laced with urgency. "One of the old ones."

Agatha nodded, her face grim. "It must have been buried in one of the spellbooks. Y/n must have activated it by accident." She tightened her hold, whispering a protective incantation that formed a faint, purple shield around Y/n, temporarily containing the curse.

Y/n's breaths came in shallow gasps, each one filled with pain. "I... I can't see," she managed, her voice barely above a whisper. She fumbled for Agatha's hand, her fingers trembling.

Agatha's heart broke. "Don't worry about that, sweetheart. Focus on breathing." She pressed a hand against Y/n's chest, sending her own magic coursing through her daughter's veins to buy them time. The curse was ancient and powerful, and it clung to Y/n's life force with a vice-like grip.

Rio's jaw tightened, her hands already glowing with a faint green light. "The Iris of Acheron and roots of Asphodel-Agatha, we need both if we're going to break this."

Agatha held Y/n tighter, the strain of the curse beginning to sap her strength. "I'll stay with her. Please, Rio, hurry."

Rio nodded, leaning close to Y/n and brushing a tender kiss to her forehead. "I'll be back soon, my love. Hold on for me." She squeezed Agatha's shoulder, a silent promise in her touch before she vanished, leaving a faint shimmer in her wake.

Moments Later

The seconds dragged, each one filled with the oppressive weight of the curse pressing against Agatha's magic. Her arms shook as she whispered to Y/n, her voice a steady hum of reassurance, even as exhaustion began to pull at her senses.

"Baby, I know it hurts. I'm so sorry. Just hold on a little longer," Agatha whispered, her voice hoarse as she brushed a strand of hair from Y/n's face.

Y/n's face was drawn, her expression tense with pain, but she managed to give a faint nod. "It's... okay, Mama. I trust you," she whispered, her voice slurred with fatigue.

Agatha's eyes shimmered with unshed tears as she held Y/n closer to her chest. "That's my girl," she murmured, her tone filled with fierce love.

Time slipped away, and just as Agatha felt her strength fading, a soft, cool breeze drifted through the attic as Rio reappeared. Her arms were laden with herbs, and a faint glow surrounded her, the scent of ancient magic clinging to her skin. She knelt beside Agatha and Y/n, her gaze filled with calm determination.

Agatha managed a weak smile, relief flickering in her eyes. "You made it."

"Of course," Rio replied, squeezing Agatha's hand. She quickly ground the Iris of Acheron into a fine, silvery powder, her hands steady despite the urgency.

As Rio began chanting, the air grew heavy with the weight of her magic, mixing with Agatha's protective spell as she sprinkled the herbs over Y/n. The curse pulsed angrily, fighting against their magic, but together, they pressed on, unwavering. The mixture began to glow, sinking into Y/n's skin as the curse's tendrils unraveled, dissolving in the light.

Agatha's grip on Y/n tightened her voice, which was barely a whisper. "Stay with me, baby. Just a little longer."

Rio's chanting intensified, the words resonating with power, and with a final surge of energy, the last remnants of the curse dissipated, lifting away like wisps of smoke. The tension in the room broke, and Y/n let out a sharp gasp, her eyes fluttering open.

The first thing she saw was Agatha's tear-streaked face, and she managed a weak but genuine smile. "Hi, Mama."

Agatha's breath hitched, and she laughed, her voice thick with relief. "Hi, my brave girl." She wrapped her arms around Y/n, holding her close as Rio sat beside them, her own face filled with quiet joy.

"Thank you," Y/n whispered, looking between them, the fatigue evident in her eyes. "I knew you'd come."

Rio brushed a hand over Y/n's hair, her expression soft and filled with pride. "Always, my love."

The three of them went downstairs, and Y/n curled up on the couch, exhausted but safe, nestled between Agatha and Rio. Rio gently wrapped a blanket around her as Agatha stroked her hair, murmuring soft words of comfort.

As the quiet settled over them, Y/n's eyes grew heavy, and she drifted into a peaceful sleep, safe in the warmth and protection of her family. Agatha and Rio exchanged a look filled with love, a silent promise that no matter the shadows of the past, they would always find their way back to each other.