All Chapters of The HIDDENS: Chapter 81 - Chapter 90

Priscilla’s PovThe forest seemed darker than before, the weight of the shadows pressing against me. Each step was careful and measured, the air too still, the silence too loud. Fatima walked just behind me, her breathing steady but strained. Althea moved to my left, her face set with determination. We were all on edge, every rustle of leaves or snap of a branch sending jolts of anxiety through us.“This place doesn’t want us here,” Fatima said softly, clutching her flashlight like a lifeline. She was the only human among us, and her instincts were sharp, even if she lacked magical senses.“I know,” I murmured, gripping the hilt of my dagger. The air was thick with an unnatural energy, every particle alive with menace. “We need to stay together, no matter what.”Althea nodded but didn’t speak. Her focus was on the forest ahead, her hands glowing faintly with the residual magic she’d been using to keep small enchantments active—a protective barrier, a minor light spell. Even with these

The forest felt heavier as we moved deeper into its heart. Every step we took seemed to draw us further into a place where time and reality bent under the weight of ancient magic. The air itself felt charged, humming faintly against my skin like a static field waiting to ignite. "Are you sure this is the right way?" Jake’s voice, low and tense, broke through the silence. I glanced back at him, his usual confidence dampened by concern. “It’s here,” I said, my voice steadier than I felt. “I can feel it.” Althea, walking just ahead, nodded in agreement. “The energy is stronger here. There’s no doubt about it.” Fatima trailed slightly behind us, clutching a silver dagger we had given her for protection. "If it’s so close, why can’t we see it?" she asked, her voice tinged with both curiosity and fear. I didn’t have an answer. The coven was cloaked by layers of enchantments, a veil so powerful it was nearly impenetrable. But I could sense the edges of it now, faint threads of mag

The room we stepped into was unlike anything we had seen before. Gone was the crumbling grandeur of the mansion. Instead, we were surrounded by endless mirrors, their reflective surfaces capturing our every movement and multiplying it infinitely. “This isn’t disorienting at all,” Fatima said, her voice dripping with sarcasm. She spun in place, her emerald gown flaring around her as her reflection copied the motion dozens of times. “So, what now? Do we play dress-up with our clones?” Jake’s jaw tightened as his eyes darted around the room, searching for any signs of danger. “Stay close,” he said, his voice a low growl. “This place is messing with our senses.” He was right. The air felt thicker here, tinged with a faint, metallic taste. The mirrors seemed to shimmer, their surfaces rippling like water whenever we moved. “Another test,” Althea whispered. Her gaze was fixed on one of the mirrors, her expression tight with unease. “They’re testing our perceptions. Our ability to se

The chamber shimmered as the doorway disappeared, replaced by a circle of flickering light. The coven revealed itself slowly, stepping out of the shadows like phantoms. Each woman was draped in dark, flowing robes that seemed to absorb the light, their faces partially obscured by intricate masks. But I recognized Esther instantly. She stood at the center of the group, her presence commanding. Her icy gaze swept over us, lingering on me with an intensity that sent a shiver down my spine. “Welcome,” she said, her voice calm but laced with malice. “You’ve proven yourselves worthy to stand before the coven. But to gain the answers you seek, you must pass our final test.” The other women spoke in unison, their voices weaving together like a haunting melody. “Five trials. Five questions. Success grants knowledge. Failure brings consequences.” “Great,” Fatima muttered under her breath. “More games. I should’ve brought popcorn.” I shot her a look, but a small smile tugged at my lips

JAKE'S POV The morning sun cast long, golden rays over the forest, a deceptive serenity cloaking the air still heavy with the aftermath of the battle. Priscilla walked a few steps ahead of me, her shoulders squared as if to prove she was fine, though I could see the tremor in her movements. “Prisca,” I said, my voice firm but gentle. “Are you okay my love?"She glanced back, her lips twitching in that defiant smile I both loved and hated. “I told you, Jake. I’m fine.” But as the words left her mouth, her knees buckled. I caught her just in time, my arms wrapping around her before she hit the ground. “Prisca!” Panic surged through me as I cradled her limp form. Her skin was pale, her breaths shallow. “She’s overexerted herself,” Althea said, stepping to my side. “Her magic is drained, and she needs to recover.” “She looks—” I swallowed hard, unable to finish the sentence. “She’s not dying, Jake,” Althea assured me. “But she’s teetering close to exhaustion. Let her rest. It