Destiny leaned on the counter. Normally, it would take two days for her to recover from a hydrotherapy season, but her legs were less stiff. She was chewing on a piece of toast. While Taylor ate the last of her cereal, Opal turned up the volume on the news.
Last night Aleric Mogan and his wife, Selina Morgan, have vanished after being spotted by a group of hikers. They sent in this video of an alleged kidnapping. I advise you that the following images are disturbing. The news anchors said.

A video of last night's events played. Destiny couldn't bear to look. She clenched her pencils, snapping the wood. "An ongoing search is underway for the missing people. Please alert the local police if you see anything." The anchor said.

"I can't believe it," Opal exclaimed, her eyes widening in disbelief. She took a final spoonful of her cereal, the sound of the crunch echoing in the kitchen.

Destiny, engrossed in the letter she was reading, could sense the tension in the room. As if holding a secret she couldn't yet decipher, the words on the paper seemed to jump out at her.

Filled with suspicion, Destiny whispered that the veil agents might be involved in a cover-up. The aroma of freshly brewed coffee wafted through the air, mingling with the scent of Opal's cereal.

Reading the mysterious letter from Lucy, Destiny's fingers trembled slightly, the paper feeling slightly crinkled beneath her touch.

Destiny revealed, her voice tinged with both relief and uncertainty, that the veil agency will cover all the bills on the house until Aleric returns.

Tayloe, sitting nearby, observed the scene with a knowing expression. He could feel the weight of the situation, as if the room itself held its breath.

"Your father works for a generous company," Tayloe noted, his words carrying a mix of admiration and concern. The sound of his voice seemed to punctuate the significance of their move to this new place.

She grabbed her backpack, trying to focus on the school day ahead. They arrived early, heading into the main building. Ash and Esmeralda were engaged in conversation. Laughing and bantering with each other, Opal headed off down the hallway, saying she would meet them in the library. Taylor was frantically searching his locker, throwing things out onto the floor. She could see that was frantic with worry.

'What's happened, Taylor?' Destiny asked, picking up on his fear.

'The journal. It's gone,' he stammered.

'What do you mean, gone?' Destiny felt her blood run cold.

'I knew it wouldn't be safe for me to keep it at home, so I hid it here, in the library. It seemed like the perfect place. After all, school was closed for the holidays, and what better place to hide a book than in a library?'

Destiny looked at him in horror. 'Well yeah, it was clearly a genius idea,' she said sarcastically.

'I bet you couldn't have come up with anything better,' he snarled.
"If you left the journal where my father had it hidden in the first place, this wouldn't have happened," Destiny accused.

Taylor rolled his eyes, catching sight of an exchange student sneaking out of the doors and heading towards the forest. They wore dark clothing, keeping their heads down; they carried their right arm close to their chest, underneath the baggy hoodie they wore.
"Have you ever seen that guy, Esmeralda?"
She frowned, humming, "Nope, everyone who is a regular student knows one another. And I've never seen that person in any of our classes, besides I doubt any human would reek of dark magic." Esmeralda said, blocking her nose against the spicy scent.

Despite the pouring rain soaking the ground with an incoming storm, and the thunder booming overhead, before they saw a strike of lightning illuminating the fence, the unknown figure climbed over, escaping into the forest. They ventured deeper into the forest, a vast distance from the school. Destiny reached out with her sixth sense. A white light guided them. They reached a familiar clearing. Taylor clenched his jaw, stepping out to confront the stranger.
Destiny grabbed his arm, pulling him back with enhance strength, which surprised him. He glanced at her. "Something's wrong."
"What do you mean? Taylor asked, confused.
"Why is he just standing there?" Destiny whispered.

Before their eyes, the thick and tangled vines, their emerald leaves glistening in the sunlight, ensnared the stranger's legs. Slowly, like a sinister serpent, they climbed up his trembling body, tugging him towards the treacherous quicksand below. Desperate to escape, he clung onto a jagged rock, his terrified screams echoing through the dense forest. Just then, Taylor emerged from the shadowy clearing, his presence both reassuring and ominous. "You fell into a witch's trap," he warned, his voice laced with a mixture of concern and authority. "Hand over the journal, and I'll save you from this nightmarish abyss." Taylor extended his hand towards the frightened thief, his fingers trembling slightly. The thief, a cocky teenager, scoffed and let out a mocking laugh. "I don't need your help," he sneered, his confidence masking his fear. To free himself, he seized a gleaming knife, slashing at the encroaching vines. But with each vine he severed, the enchanted plant grew more voracious, sprouting fresh tendrils that were even stronger and more determined. The thief's heart raced as the plant consumed him, its grip unyielding. Finally, the plant dragged him beneath the surface of the quicksand, the trap deactivating with a sinister finality. The earth Sigal, once vibrant and full of life, now turned an ominous shade of black, contrasting starkly with the journal that sat atop the grains of sand, a silent witness to the thief's demise.

Destiny's eyes widened in fear as she covered her mouth, the sound of her rapid breaths filling the silence. She and Taylor walked out of the dense forest, the leaves crunching beneath their feet. As they emerged onto the dimly lit street outside the school, the lamplight revealed a chilling sight - black veins spreading like sinister spiderwebs beneath the surface of Taylor's skin.

What are they?" Destiny whispered, her voice barely audible. She reached out tentatively, her fingertips grazing the squirming tattoos that seemed to pulsate with dark magic. The touch sent an icy shiver down her spine, as if she had come into contact with an uncontrolled serpent. The tattoos slithered onto her arm, their presence cold and unsettling. They seemed to feed off her fear and sadness, growing stronger and spreading across Taylor's dark tanned skin, branching out across his legs.

Destiny quickly pulled her hand away, severing the connection. The taboo markings retreated, deprived of their source of nourishment. Taylor leaned against the bright streetlamp, his face pale and strained. Destiny let out a sigh, her breath visible in the chilly night air. Suddenly, Taylor erupted into a fit of coughing, his body convulsing.

"Taylor, give me your keys," Destiny pleaded, her voice filled with urgency. "I'm going to drive you back to my place. Maybe Ash or Christos knows what to do." She could see the fear in her own eyes reflected on her.

"I thought you'd never offer," Taylor joked weakly, his vision blurred and unsteady. Destiny helped him into the passenger seat of the car, the leather cool against his clammy skin. He drifted in and out of consciousness, the sounds of passing cars and distant voices fading in and out.

Destiny pulled up as close to her house as possible, the engine humming softly in the background. She struggled to support Taylor as they made their way towards the porch, each step weighed down by a growing sense of dread. As they reached the entrance, the door swung open, revealing Ash standing there.

Destiny gasped, her heart racing. She remembered giving Opal a spare key, but it didn't explain Ash's unexpected presence. "What the fuck are you doing in my she demanded, her voice laced with a mix of shock and anger. "Oh, I don't know. Protecting it from Selina's familiar, perhaps," Ash replied sarcastically. "Where the fuck have you been, more to the point?" he continued. Opal smiled, "Sorry, I let him in, he's been creating a barrier around the house, Ash touched the porch waves of shadows, rippled sending a wave over the house,
"Oh, thank you. Taylor is sick. I'm unsure what is going on..

Taylor stumbled past, shoving Ash out of the way, growled, heading for the stairs, until he vanished down the hallway. Ash watched him for a few moments before turning back to Destiny with his eyebrows raised. "We were at school. A thief disguised as an exchange student stole the journal. He died, a witch's trap. Taylor called it. When we returned, he was having a type of reaction." Destiny explained. She gripped the journal. And hurried upstairs to her room, only to find that the window was wide open and Taylor had vanished.

*****

Taylor escaped into the forest behind Destiny's house, ribbing his shirt off. As his bones changed, shifting, the trees blurred together as his paws moved of their own accord. The influence of the darkstone was leading him somewhere. Taylor's heightened hearing picked up the sound of faint singing, erasing the haze the darkstone caused. The flow of dark energy into his skin slowed to a trickle.

Taylor shocks his head, returning to his senses. He glanced around. The trees and plants were dense and wild. They heard the hissing of snakes slithering along the forest floor. The heat of the evening gained way to a mass of cicadas, which annoyed his enchanted hearing. He inhaled rapidly. The mouth of a cave beckoned him forward, its entrance adorned with vines that gracefully parted as he approached. Taylor's enhanced eyes swiftly adjusted to the darkness within, revealing a captivating sight.

The sweet strains of an Irish tune reverberated off the cave's walls, creating an ethereal ambiance. Strands of vibrant green and shimmering gold energy entwined and guided him through a labyrinth of tunnels, captivating his senses. The melodic allure grew stronger, harmonizing with the thunderous rush of a nearby waterfall.

As the tunnels opened up into a grand cavern, its ceiling soaring high above, the crystal-clear waters cascaded into a mesmerizing pool imbued with a radiant violet hue. The waterfall's veil concealed a stunning sight - a woman emerged, her skin softly aglow as if kissed by moonlight. With a graceful gesture, she swept her fiery red curls behind her delicately pointed ears; her rose petal dress clinging to her ethereal form.

Unfazed by Taylor's presence, she directed her attention to the violet pool, her delicate fingertips gently caressing its surface. In response, pale pink lilies bloomed, their fragrance filling the air with a delicate floral scent.

The floral fragrance of the lilies invaded his body. Without warning, he stumbled forward, returning to his human form. He bowed his head in respect. As expected, in the presence of the beautiful Mother Nature, the goddess of life, she smiled vaguely, granting Taylor with a green tunic to cover his exposed skin. With a simple wave of her hand.
As she whispered, her voice echoed softly in the cavernous chamber behind the cascading waterfall. The misty spray kissed their skin, leaving a refreshing sensation. Taylor's hand, held gently in hers, felt the warmth of her touch and a wave of reassurance washed over him.

Beyond the veil of water, two intricately carved thrones awaited them. The polished stone gleamed under the soft glow of ethereal light, casting a mesmerizing aura in the intimate space. Gracefully, the goddess settled into the throne, her movements fluid and elegant. She beckoned Taylor to join her, the plush cushion inviting him to take a seat.

Her words hung in the air, filled with a sense of urgency. "Significant change is approaching, my young prince. You must return to your realm. And bring the girl." Taylor furrowed his brow, his concern deepening. How could Destiny intertwine in these forthcoming shifts?

"The girl carries the Mark of the Phoenix," she continued, her voice carrying a faint hint of anticipation. "She will be one of the next generation of seers. Can you feel the connection growing within you?" The weight of her words settled upon him, the mark linking the ruler and the visionary. It was a bond not to be taken lightly, and the goddess made sure he understood.

Taylor leaned forward. Mother Nature presented him with a sliver chalice, "Return my treasure the next time you have another attack. The girl is untrained, and she must be ready."
"Fairwell, Prince Taylorian," she said, gracefully exiting into the chamber. Taylor blinked, rushing after her, finding himself alone in the glow of the Spring of legend.
He returned to Destiny's house exhausted.