Chapter 5

Maya spent breakfast immersed in a carefully constructed illusion, pretending her world hadn't been violently upended. She chatted with her father about the movies she hadn't watched with Jason and Dawson, recounting imaginary comments her former best friends had never made. Her father, Joseph Burns, was so thrilled to hear about her supposed friendships, laughing heartily at the funny little incidents she fabricated. She justified the deception, believing he had enough to worry about without adding teenage witchcraft problems to the mix. If her powers were inherited, it certainly wasn't from her father's side. She couldn't picture him with magic, working tirelessly and dedicating himself to his job without ever using his powers for personal gain. If he did have magic, it only made him an even better person in her eyes, someone who chose the hard way when he could have taken shortcuts.

"You know what was playing the other night?" she asked, stirring her cereal absentmindedly. "The Craft."

"Is that the one with the snakes and the crazy goth girl?" He looked up from his newspaper, a smile tugging at his lips.

She nodded. "That's the one."

"We haven't watched that in ages." He chuckled, shaking his head as his eyes returned to the paper.

"I always wished I was a witch, like in the movie, so I could do that thing where they change how they look." Maya tried to sound casual, fishing for any hint that her father knew more than he let on.

He snorted. "Why would you want that? You're perfect just the way you are. You shouldn't want to change a thing."

Moments like this made her love him even more. "Oh, Daddy," Maya said, getting up to hug him and pressing a kiss to his cheek. He chuckled, hugging her back warmly. "How am I ever going to find a man who loves me as unconditionally as you? You're raising me for utter disillusionment and heartbreak."

"Pssft." He shook his head. "There's someone out there for everyone, honey. You just haven't met the right man yet." He patted her shoulder affectionately. "And I'm relieved for it. Not ready to let go of you yet."

"I love you, Daddy." Maya kissed the side of his head.

"I love you too, darling." His sweet reply was a balm to her anxious heart. "But you should be getting to school now, shouldn't you?"

"Break up a tender moment between father and daughter, why don't you?" Maya laughed, giving him another quick kiss on the cheek before grabbing her bag and heading out the back door.

As she walked, her mind was already swirling with thoughts, though they remained anchored in the realm of magic. Dawson had warned her about Jason's planned ambush at school, and she wasn't sure how to handle it. On one hand, she understood why they'd distanced themselves from her. She would have figured out their secret and freaked out, potentially repressing her own magic out of fear of being different. But the memories of late nights crying, feeling hurt and abandoned, weighed heavily on her. She vividly recalled the early days of confusion and heartbreak, wondering what she'd done wrong to lose her best friends.

She sighed, her footsteps heavy with unresolved emotions. How could she reconcile the past pain with the startling revelations of the present?

At first, Maya blamed herself. There was no way both Jason and Dawson could have shut her out like that unless she'd done something horrible—something so terrible she didn't even realize it. The guilt gnawed at her, turning into resentment. She resented Harper, too, for "taking them away," figuring the cheerleader offered something Maya couldn't. Popularity, perhaps, considering Harper's high school fame and the infamy of her group by association.

As she stepped onto the front lawn and walked towards the driveway, Maya fumbled through her bag for her keys. Distracted, she nearly collided with someone and let out a small shriek, stopping just in time.

"Sorry. Didn't mean to scare you." The stranger smiled, his dark eyes fixed on her. "Is this the Burns residence?"

He was older, maybe around her father's age, but strikingly handsome. There was something about him that drew her in, a subtle yet compelling allure.

"Uh, yeah." She brushed a strand of hair from her face, giving an awkward laugh. "I'm Maya."

"Maya." He repeated her name softly, eyes intense, lips curving into a smile. "Austen James."

She hesitated before taking his extended hand. The moment their skin touched, an electric shock raced through her, visibly sparking between them.

He tightened his grip when she tried to pull away, his eyes narrowing, his smile widening. "So you really have awoken."

Her green eyes widened in shock. He knew! But how?

"Is Joseph home?" Austen asked, finally releasing her hand. An aura of mystery and enchantment surrounded him, making her pulse race.

"Yeah." She nodded, her heart pounding. Who was this man? A witch? Or just someone who knew about them?

"Austen."

Maya jumped at her father's voice, tearing her gaze away from Austen. "Dad!" She felt giddy and nervous. "This is Austen James... which you already knew... of course."

"Joseph." Austen turned to face him.

"It's been a long time, Austen." Her father stood on the porch, his expression blank.

"I know. And I'm sorry." Austen nodded. "Things got... hectic."

"I can imagine." Joseph nodded, his gaze shifting to Maya. "You've met my daughter."

Austen's eyes slid back to her, a knowing look in them. "Yes, I have."

Maya felt a strange mixture of confusion and curiosity. Her father clearly knew this man, and the tension between them was palpable. She glanced at Joseph, hoping for some explanation.

"Why don't you come inside, Austen?" Joseph's tone was measured, almost wary.

Austen nodded, giving Maya one last lingering look before following her father into the house. Maya trailed behind, her mind racing with questions. As they entered the living room, she couldn't help but feel that her world was about to change even more dramatically.

Seated in the cozy living room, Austen looked around, taking in the familiar surroundings. Joseph remained standing, his arms crossed, his expression unreadable.

"So," Joseph began, his voice steady. "What brings you here after all this time?"

Austen sighed, leaning forward. "I had to come back, Joseph. The signs are everywhere. And now that Maya has awakened... it's more urgent than ever."

Maya's heart skipped a beat. "What signs? What are you talking about?"

Austen turned to her, his eyes sincere. "There are forces at play, Maya. Dark forces. And with your awakening, things are accelerating."

"Dark forces?" Maya echoed, feeling a chill run down her spine. "What does that mean for me? For us?"

Joseph finally sat down, his posture tense. "It means you're in danger, Maya. We all are. And we need to prepare."

Maya swallowed hard, her mind reeling. She had so many questions, but one thing was clear: her life was never going to be the same again.

"Honey, you should go. We don't want you being late for school," her father said, smiling warmly.

Maya returned his smile, though her gaze kept drifting back to Austen. "Will you be hanging around Harvest Grove for a bit longer, Mr. James?"

He nodded. "I have some business here. We'll be seeing each other again."

Her curiosity piqued, Maya blew a kiss to her father and hurried to her car. As she backed out of the driveway, she glanced once more at the house. Austen stood at the window, his fingers parting the curtain. Her father closed the door behind him, and the two men disappeared from view.

Who is Austen James? she wondered, a mix of intrigue and excitement swirling in her chest. As she joined the morning traffic, her mind raced with possibilities.

Inside the house, Austen let the curtain fall back into place, a faint smile playing on his lips. He turned to face Joseph, who stood with his arms crossed, leaning against the wall, an eyebrow raised in suspicion.

"What's your game, Austen?" Joseph's voice was low, edged with wariness.

"No game, Joseph," Austen replied smoothly. "Just doing what needs to be done. You know as well as I do how important this is."

Joseph's eyes narrowed. "You always were good at getting your way."

Austen's smile widened slightly. "Especially when it matters. And this, my old friend, matters more than anything."

Joseph sighed, pushing off the wall and running a hand through his hair. "I don't want her getting hurt."

"Neither do I," Austen said softly. "But she has to know the truth. She has to be prepared."

"And you think you're the one to prepare her?" Joseph asked, doubt lacing his words.

"I'm the best chance she has," Austen replied, his tone firm. "You know that."

Joseph stared at him for a long moment, the tension in the room palpable. Finally, he nodded, though his expression remained troubled. "Alright. But we do this my way."

"Agreed," Austen said, extending his hand.

Joseph shook it, the unspoken agreement solidifying between them. As they moved to the living room to discuss their next steps, outside, Maya drove to school, her thoughts consumed by the morning's events and the mysterious man who seemed to hold so many answers.