Chapter 10: Awakening

Serena's POV

I scrambled backward until my back hit the wall. The man was still on his phone, muttering to someone about prices and delivery times.

My shoulder throbbed where I had hit the ground. My heart was racing so fast I thought it might explode.

I had to get out of here. I had to find a way to escape before he sold me to whoever was on the other end of that call.

But before I could even think of a plan, the door opened.

A woman walked in. She was older, maybe in her fifties, with silver hair pulled back into a tight bun. Her eyes were sharp as they swept over me.

"Leave us," she ordered the man.

He looked up from his phone. "But I found her first. I should get the payment."

"You will get your share. Now leave."

The man hesitated, then nodded and walked out. The door closed behind him.

I pressed myself harder against the wall. This woman was different from the man. There was something about her that made the air in the room feel thicker, just the way she stared at me alone sent shivers down my spine. It was clear that she was dangerous.

She stepped closer, her long black dress sweeping the floor. Rings covered her fingers and a pendant hung around her neck with strange symbols carved into it.

"Do not be afraid," she said, her voice calm which was accompanied by a smile on her face. "We are not going to hurt you."

"Then let me go."

She smiled, but it did not reach her eyes. "I am afraid I cannot do that. Not yet."

"Who are you?"

"My name is Helena. I am the head of the charisata Coven." She tilted her head, studying me like I was some kind of puzzle. "And you, Serena Hayes, are one of us."

I stared at her. "What are you talking about?"

"You are a witch. A very powerful one, in fact. You come from an ancient bloodline that goes back centuries."

I almost laughed. This had to be some kind of joke. "I am not a witch. I am just a normal person."

"Are you? Have you never felt different? Never experienced things you could not explain?"

I thought about it. About the strange dreams I used to have as a kid. About how sometimes I knew things before they happened. But that did not mean I was a witch.

But I immediately shook my head because I wasn't going to let her get to me, knowing fully well that it was just a coincidence.

"I am normal," I said firmly.

Helena sighed. "Your mother did a very good job hiding what you are. She locked your powers away when you were just a child. She wanted you to have a normal life, away from our world."

"My mother is dead."

"I know. And I am sorry for your loss. But that does not change what you are."

Two more women entered the room. They both wore similar black dresses and had the same intense look in their eyes.

"This is ridiculous," I said, my voice rising. "I am not a witch. I have never done magic in my life, you should let me go because you have the wrong person."

"That is because your powers are locked," Morgana explained patiently. "Your mother placed a very strong spell on you. She did not want you to be dragged into our world. She thought she was protecting you."

"Then why are you here? Why did you take me?"

"Because we cannot let you go back to them. To the vampire and the werewolf." Her expression hardened. "They are cursed creatures. And we will not allow one of our own to be bonded to either of them."

"I do not want to be bonded to anyone. I just want to leave."

"And you will. Once we unlock your powers and bring you into the coven. Once you understand what you truly are."

I shook my head. "No. I do not believe any of this."

Morgana exchanged looks with the other two women. Then she turned back to me.

"I understand this is difficult to accept. But we will prove it to you."

"How?"

"By forcing your powers to awaken."

Before I could ask what that meant, all three women left the room. The door slammed shut and I heard a lock click into place.

I ran to the door and yanked on the handle. It would not budge, off course what was I expecting.

"Let me out!" I screamed, pounding on the wood. "Let me out of here!"

No one answered.

I kept pounding until my fists hurt. Then I slumped against the door, breathing hard.

This could not be happening. First, I was sold to an auction house. Then two supernatural beings claimed I was their mate. And now a coven of witches was saying I was one of them?

My life had turned into a nightmare in just a day and now it was getting even worse.

Minutes passed, maybe an hour I could not tell. Then I heard footsteps outside the door.

The lock clicked and the door swung open. Morgana walked in, followed by the two other women. One of them was carrying a large container.

"What is that?" I asked, backing away.

"Gasoline," Helena said simply.

My blood ran cold. "What?"

"We need to trigger your survival instincts. Your powers will awaken when your life is in danger."

"You are insane!"

"Perhaps. But this is the only way."

The woman with the container started pouring gasoline all over the floor. The smell was overwhelming.

I pressed myself into the corner, as far from the gasoline as I could get.

"Please," I begged. "Please do not do this, I have no idea about this. If I was a witch. There was no way I wouldn't have found out all this while"

Helena pulled out a lighter. "Save yourself, Serena. Use your powers."

"I do not have powers! I am not a witch!"

"Then I guess you will burn."

She flicked the lighter.

"No! Wait!"

But she did not wait. She dropped the lighter onto the gasoline-soaked floor.

The flames exploded to life.

Heat blasted across my face. Smoke filled the room. The fire spread fast, racing along the trails of gasoline.

"Stop!" I screamed. "Please stop!" I begged, wishing I could have just admitted that I was a witch then all of this wouldn't be happening.

The three women backed toward the door. Helena watched me with cold eyes.

"Save yourself!" she said again. Then they left, slamming the door behind them.

The fire was everywhere now. Crawling up the walls. Eating through the old wood. The smoke was so thick I could barely see.

I dropped to the floor, trying to find cleaner air. My lungs burned. My eyes streamed with tears.

I was going to die.

I crawled toward the door, but the flames blocked my path. I tried the other direction, but there was fire there too.

I was trapped and this is how i as going to die

The heat was unbearable as My skin felt like it was melting. I could not breathe and Could not think.

"Help!" I screamed, but my voice was weak. "Someone help me!"

No one came.

The fire roared around me like a living thing. The entire place was now covered in smoke.

I curled into a ball, covering my head with my arms.

This was it, This was how I was going to die. Burned alive by a bunch of crazy witches who thought I was one of them.

The flames crept closer. I could feel my leg burning in immerse pain.

And then something inside me snapped.

It felt like a dam breaking. Like something that had been locked away for years suddenly bursting free.

Power surged through my body. Hot and wild and terrifying.

The fire was still burning. Still consuming everything around me.

But I was burning too.