PROLOGUE

“RUN”. My mother's voice rang through the forest. She was screaming on top of her voice as sweat trickled down her forehead. I pushed my feet and ran as fast as I could with my brother's hand in mine. I was responsible for him now. Mother had to leave.

They were here.

He suddenly stopped. Holding his hands to his chest as if trying to breathe. I urged him further, but he started coughing. “Please, brother, we have to leave”. He nodded slightly and we started running again.

They were here.

We ran around a big tree and saw a cave ahead. There. We were going to hide there. I pushed my brother forward but stopped when I heard a loud cry. It stopped, then it started again. Like a woman was in pain. As the cry got louder, their footsteps got heavier. Heightened senses gave me that. The ability to hear from afar.

We pushed towards the cave anyway. The woman in the cave could be willing to share. They could not meet us here. I wasn't going to put my brother's life in danger.

I stopped, touching the tree on my left, and I saw them. In their leather and wool filled outfits with sharp swords and arrows. It was winter and they looked angry.

Powers, witch powers, gave me that. And they were here.

The witch hunters.

They were looking for werewolves with powers. As we got closer to the cave, the voice got clearer. It was truly a woman, but she was in labour. We entered the cave and I saw her. She laid flat on a piece of clothing while two women knelt in front of her, helping with her delivery.

Midwives.

My brother immediately ran to the small fountain in the corner of the cave. He was dead thirsty, and I couldn't blame him. We had been running for a long time.

“We need to think of something, sis. I can hear them”. My brother said suddenly. It was then the midwives turned to look at us. “You children should not be here, it's dangerous”. The first woman with red hair said.

Witch.

I could sense it. But she could hide her powers. That's why she didn't fear. I did. I feared so much. I just learnt how to get a hold of my powers, and the witch hunters were going to be here soon.

The woman screamed again. The labour was proving difficult. I could hear the baby straining. It was a girl. I had to think fast, so I did the only thing I could do.

“Sameli”. I whispered into the air and everyone fell asleep. I walked slowly to the pregnant woman. She was asleep too. I woke her up. It was dangerous for the Baby.

She opened her eyes slowly, and they were the prettiest blue eyes I had ever seen. I saw worry etched on her face. Her veins popping out and going in. Pain. She was in pain.

“I'm sorry”. I whispered to her and forced my eyes closed. Letting out a shaky breath, I placed my hands on her baby. “Limiosidesha”. I chanted over and over again as a blue light left my heart. I was giving it to her. We were running out of time.

I could feel my powers leaving my body. Slowly, I opened my eyes and the woman's belly started to glow. “Thank you”. I gave her a sad smile and she groaned. She was back in labour. The midwives and my brother woke up from the slumber I put them. I could still hear the woman panting.

“What did you do?” The other midwife with brown hair said with shock. “I'm so sorry”. I said again, and my brother creased his brows confused. The pregnant woman groaned again and we heard a cry.

The baby.

The woman had given birth on her own. It was the magic. It eased the labour. I smiled at her as the midwives rushed to clean up the baby. I was only ten, but I understood the joy of giving birth. It was the same Joy I saw on my mother's face when she gave birth to my brother.

“Young girl, you have to name the child”. One of the midwives called to me. “You have to hurry. They're here”. I ran towards the baby, my brother trailing behind, and collected her from the midwife. I rubbed her forehead and smiled as tears fell from my eyes. “Cali I'll name her Cali” The midwife with red hair nodded and closed her eyes.

She was sealing her magic.

They were here.

“I'll name her Winter”. My brother said from behind me, and I laughed. The woman let out a sigh and smiled. “ Cali Winter O---". “Well, Well ,well, there's a party here and nobody invited us”. A deep, husky voice said from the entrance of the cave. The witch hunters spread round the cave and directed their swords and arrows towards us.

“You have no business here, witch hunter”. The midwife with brown hair said, her eyes furrowed in anger. “Actually I do, Felicia. I can smell it. That whiff of magic”. The witch hunter said. I had heard stories about him, and none of them were pleasant.

“Boss, we have no business here, there's a witch, but you can't hurt her. She's a little child. It's a taboo to hurt a little child.” One of the soldiers said. The head, kojune, groaned in annoyance as he moved towards Felicia, who was now holding the baby. She had been quiet for a while.

“Give her to me, or I'll take her from you”. Felicia hooded her eyes as she gave Cali to him. She started crying again as kojune's rough hands carried her. “What's her name?” he asked, and everyone was quiet. No one dared to speak. “I said, what is her name?”. He shouted this time and no one spoke. “Good then, I might as well give her a mark, so I can find her when she's of age”. Cali's mother screamed and hurried off the ground, but the other midwife held her down.

Kojune brought out his dagger and looked at the baby as she cried in fear. He brought it to the back of her neck, and I shook with fear. He placed it on her and pressed his hand into her neck. Dragging the dagger to the side. Cali's mother screamed and cried, her voice echoing through the cave.

The baby suddenly stopped crying, and I could see my brother tugging the hem of my gown to look at kojune.

Fire.

His hands were on fire. He threw the baby at Felicia and rushed to the fountain, dropping his dagger in the process. Dipping his hands inside, he let out a deep sigh. “I told you boss, you can't hurt her”. The other soldier, I assumed to be the assistant, said. Kojune stood straight and shot him a glare. “I'll be back for her”. He said in fury and strode out of the cave with the soldiers behind him.

Shit!

What have I done.