Within The Enchanted

Prologue

Salem, Virginia. February 1692 ,Witch Trials.

Valery

Valery ran through the trees following the crows, her midnight black hair slapping against her shoulders and back as she ran holding a crystal in her hand.

It was her eighteenth birthday. 

Valery's mother agreed to let her leave the house, but only to go to the woods. 

Her life has been closed off blacked out windows, no mirrors, her heart condition made it hard for her to live a normal life.Her mother's words spun around her head as she ran. "you may go for two hours but be back exactly after then, and no running Valery."

They echoed in her head with the question of why wouldn't she want her to run? she felt fine.Valery soon stops placing her hand on an Oakwood tree, she takes in a deep breath but it caught in her throat she gasped for air as her knees gave out under her.

She collapses to the ground feeling the overworking heart in her chest thud in her ears.

She closed her eyes to focus on the breeze, she breathes slowly after a few moments the heart slows down and she sits up she opens her eyes to trees full of crows, a smile spreads across her lips "hello dearest friends."

She speaks kindly to the birds standing slowly, her legs wobble like a new born fawn.

She looks at the birds lined among the oak branches; her breath leaving her in small clouds of smoke.

It was the middle of winter but, she did not worry about a jacket or shoes it never seemed to bother her.

"I am afraid I cannot chase you any longer, my heart is weakened it seems"

Valery says as she reaches up to twirl the pendant around her neck, it was a silver raven incrusted with rubies.

The gems sparkled against the light of the sun but, the foggy forest around her dimmed the glow.With a look to her protectors she says, "maybe that is what this is for."

She smooths down her pure white dress covered in a bit of dirt, walking farther through the trees with a smile.

She swings her arms from side to side while singing an eerie tune.

The tune ends when she looks to the sky, snow begins to fall.

Her shaky hand reaches out catching a few flakes though they did not melt, her skin was too cold against it.

She stared at the flakes in her hand then smiles, turning on her heels to start walking back.

Deciding she wanted to climb a tree, she grabbed a branch and went to the top, giving herself a better view of the small town around her.

She stares at the small village with a smile wondering, how such a beautiful place could be so cruel at times.Her thoughts are interrupted however, when soft whispers start to appear all around, she turns but nothing is there.

"was that you dearest friends?Are you speaking to me?"Her eyes began to widen in fear, only silence followed her question.

She could hear the rustling of leaves, footsteps of an unknown traveler stop when she heard it again. "Estelle."

The voices seemed to hiss out, her middle name laced with venom on their tongues.

Her head snapped toward the clearing and calls out.

"Who's there?"She croaks out in fear as she slowly climbs down the tree.

She watches silently her heart speeding out of control, the fear was taking over her even though she tried controlling it.

Her breath was coming out in huffs as if, she had been running. "hello dearest."A younger man had said behind her his voice dripped in honey while his accent was venomous British words.

Before she could react, sharp pain shoots through her neck, a scream catches at her throat not wanting to release.

Instead, small choking sounds erupted.

Before she knew it she was on the ground her body felt weakened.

Her heart faint as it was, beat slower in her chest.She lifts her hand to her neck touching the warmth that began trickling down her skin, she stares at her fingers stained in crimson.

Her breath comes out faster; fear tugging at her shoulders.

She tries moving herself away, but her body would not move, everything left in her barely fighting.

She stares above her eyes filled with tears, she lets out a shaky breath at the sight of no attacker.

Her blurred vision made it difficult to see anything but, her eyes searched anyway.They stopped, seeing nothing but soft amber eyes staring back at her.She stared at them in the shadows until her eyes fluttered shut, her body shut down and it all went black.