A Witch's Way

Chapter 2

Serena gave a small, content sigh as she floated down into the murky black. It was so dark that she couldn't even see her hand. To her, closing her eyes seemed brighter than keeping them open when she was traveling between Earth and Esrar.

Jasper clutched Serena's arm, feeling the ground disappear beneath him. "Serena?" he whispered, his eyes darting around to find nothing. The only evidence that Serena was still there was his hands wrapped around her arm.

"So, how do you like falling? Well, more like floating slowly down," Serena said, awaiting for the bright light to begin to shine beneath the two.

"I like heights and all, but floating down without seeing anything is terrifying," Jasper said back, trying to shift his way closer to the calm girl nearby.

"Ah, don't worry. I'm sure we're almost there. Maybe," Serena said, looking down--or what she assumed was down. She couldn't tell with the inky blackness around her.

A few minutes of silence, and then, a pin prick of light that grew with each passing second. It seemed to be below them.

"Okay, close your eyes again, or you'll probably go blind from the intense light," Serena warned, shutting hers tightly.

She felt her feet touch the pavement, and her ears were assaulted with people grumbling at her to move out of the way, cars speeding past, and even children shrieking at each other playfully. She opened her eyes, raising an arm about her head to block out the intense sun above them. "Jasper? You can open your eyes now,"

Jasper was shoved forwards, bumping into another person before he was dragged back to stand next to Serena. He opened his eyes and squinted at the ground, confused. "Aren't we supposed to be in Esrar?"

From what it sounded like, it sounded more like New York, just a tiny bit quieter, without the honking and the shouting. He raised his eyes and tilted his head.

Tall buildings obscured his view of the sun peeking around the structures. Paved roads, cars, people walking on crosswalks, glaring at those who got in their way or talking on the phone. Some people even broke into a run when they glanced at their phones or watch, dismayed that it was so late.

Kids hoisted backpacks on their shoulders and marched onward toward some unknown destination, most likely home, considering the time. Some kids held the hands of other children, leading them through the crazy masses among the people heading towards,  or from, work.

"This is Esrar?" Jasper echoed, looking confused. Serena tugged at his arm to pull him away from the spouts of people, his back hitting a metal bar.

"Yeah. What, you're surprised there's not people in witch hats flying around with cats on broomsticks and men carrying wands with owls on their shoulders?" Serena asked. "I mean, some people are carrying around owls, or other familiars--watch out!"

Serena pulled Jasper close to her to make way for someone with a tiger familiar following them. The tiger glared at anyone who didn't get out of the way. "You see? You have to be careful here."

Jasper nodded, dumbfounded at this information. "So...this isn't like castles and wizard schools?"

"Well, if you wanted to get technical, yes, there's castles just like on Earth, and of course there's schools, for specific elements and familiars," Serena explained, pointing over the people walking to some place down the streets. "Welcome to Esrar, Jasper. Or, well, Lostrona, my hometown and the hub for traveling the realms."

Jasper turned towards Serena, his hip bumping hers in the process. "So why are we here?"

Serena grabbed at his wrist, annoyed with the constant bumping they were receiving and pulled him into a plaza, where they sat down on stone stairs. Behind the two was a large, elegant building surrounded with guards. Children ran shrieking around the piece in the center, guards every once in awhile stepping forwards to tell the children to be careful, though it fell on deaf ears.