Once Upon a Story [ INCONSISTENT UPDATES ]

Hushed Voices

Prompt | Raised in an orphanage, you know nothing of your magical heritage. However, when you reached the age of maturity, you discovered that you possessed the powers of both the light and the dark. You don't know how your dark powers came to be, but they could get you killed by the magical enforcers: a group sworn to remove black magic from the world. That's why you fled the orphanage in the dead of night and never looked back. You survived on the streets, using your wit and your grit as well as a little bit of your dark powers, but only when absolutely necessary. Now an adult, you still remain in the shadows, keeping to yourself. One fateful night you stumble across an attempted murder. You refuse to watch an innocent man be killed. With no choice but to use your dark powers, you save his life. Little do you know that the handsome man you saved is, in fact, a magical enforcer.

Source | servicescape.com

Genre [s] | low fantasy, paranormal [romance], fantasy romance, young adult [fantasy, romance]

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The nights of Greinfell were always warm at this time of the year. The summer season was in full swing, with late sunsets and celebrations. Tonight was no different, with even the orphanage children running around for as long as the sun allowed them.

"Erica! Hurry up!"

"I'm trying! I have little legs!"

The little white-haired girl tried her best to catch up with her friends, but their longer strides had them speeding ahead. They were racing to the fountain in the centre of the city to leave coins before curfew. The older ones arrived first, dropped their coins and wishes, and giggled with hushed voices.

Erica arrived, almost stumbling into the fountain. She reached over and dropped her coin. Still out of breath, she said a quick prayer and finally relaxed with the rest of her friends. It was their little routine. Once a week, they'd run to the fountain, sometimes to ask for candy during their next meal, sometimes for a new swing in the playground. But most days, they asked for the same thing.

Please don't let anyone separate us.

They were a group of 5, including Erica. There were Jason and Caleb, the two eldest at 12 years old; Madison and Rachel, at 10 years old and Betty, 8 years old. Erica was the youngest at 6. They arrived around the same time and quickly formed a connection. They would eat together, play together, and all slept in the same room. They were inseparable, and they wanted it to stay that way.

"It's time we head back," Madison reminded them. She was the level-headed one of the group. Jason threw his arm over her shoulder. "We still have time. The sun doesn't set for another hour."

"It's still not a good idea to stay out," Betty agreed. "Let's just go."

"Boo, you guys suck—OW! Hey!" Jason held his arms, glaring at Rachel. "I told you to stop pinching me!"

"Use your pea brain for something other than being stupid, and I will," she quipped. Rachel was the one who kept Jason in check.

"Why you—! Enough with the hitting!"

Caleb flicked him again for good measure. "Not in front of Erica. We talked about this before."

Jason scoffed, but it was obvious he was pouting after they scolded him. "Whatever."

Erica looked up from the fountain, where she watched all the coins wobble under the water's surface. "Did someone say my name?"

Caleb faintly smiled. "Nothing, pancake. We're about to leave."