CHAPTER ONE: The First Fall Wind
Cambry Keller sat by the window, her fingers absently tracing the rim of her mug as she watched the golden leaves swirl down from the trees. There was a crispness to the air, the kind that only appeared in late October, just as the last whispers of summer gave way to the long stretch of fall. For most, it was the season of endings. But for Cambry, it felt more like a beginning.
Thirty-seven. She was thirty-seven, and life had been a steady, predictable march of days, one blending into the next. But beneath the routine, there was always something—a quiet hum in her chest, a restlessness she couldn't explain. She had tried to ignore it for years, convincing herself it was nothing more than a fleeting feeling, a symptom of the passing seasons. Yet this year was different. She felt it in her bones, as though the very air was charged with something unseen. And as the first cold wind of the season slipped through the crack in the window, Cambry shivered—not from the cold, but from the sudden certainty that everything was about to change. A loud creak echoed from the hallway, pulling her from her thoughts. The house had been making strange sounds lately, but that was just the house settling, wasn’t it? She stood, mug in hand, staring at the dim hallway. “Get a grip,” she whispered to herself. But deep down, she knew. This wasn’t just the house. It was something else—something ancient and powerful. Something that had been waiting all along.
Cambry hesitated, the mug warming her palms as she weighed the decision to investigate. The creaking continued, a rhythmic whisper that seemed to beckon her forward. Taking a deep breath, she set the mug down on the windowsill, her heart racing with a mixture of curiosity and apprehension.
As she stepped into the hallway, the shadows stretched and danced, the dim light casting eerie shapes against the walls. With each cautious footfall, the sense of something otherworldly intensified. The air felt thicker, charged with a presence that made the hairs on her arms stand on end.
When she reached the end of the hallway, she paused before a door that had always been locked—an old wooden door she had inherited with the house, its key lost to time. But now, something urged her to try it. Cambry’s fingers trembled as she grasped the handle, feeling a pulse beneath her skin as though the door were alive.
With a deep inhale, she turned the handle. The door swung open with a groan, revealing a dimly lit room filled with dust motes swirling in the golden light. In the center stood an ornate mirror, its frame intricate with carvings of vines and mysterious symbols.
As she approached, Cambry caught her reflection—yet something was different. Her eyes sparkled with an intensity she had never seen before. Eyes she once thought plain and dull, now appeared to glow. Vibrant flecks of amber danced like molten gold in her chestnut brown eyes. The mirror shimmered, as if it were a portal to another world, beckoning her to delve deeper into the mystery that awaited her.
“Is this what you’ve been waiting for?” she whispered to herself, heart pounding with the ultimate thrill of discovery. She reached out, fingers brushing against the cool glass, feeling an inexplicable connection—a promise of change, of transformation. Cambry took a breath, ready to embrace whatever lay beyond.
Cambry startled awake, her heart pounding in her chest, the familiar knowing fleeting. As she lay in bed, the remnants of the dream clung to her like a gossamer thread, fragile yet insistent. The fleeting images danced at the edges of her memory, teasing her with glimpses of a world filled with color and light—a stark contrast to the drabness of her everyday life. She sat up, the sheets tangled around her legs, and rubbed her eyes, willing the remnants of the dream to solidify into something more tangible.
The morning sunlight streamed through the window, illuminating the room in soft golds and ambers, echoing the glow she had seen in her reflection. What did it mean? She had never thought much of her eyes, merely accepting them as unremarkable, but now they felt like a harbinger of something greater—a sign that the mundane façade of her life was about to shatter.
Cambry swung her legs over the side of the bed and stood, the cool wooden floor grounding her as she glanced at the mirror again. It no longer felt like just a reflection; it was a threshold to something beyond. The thought sent a shiver down her spine, igniting a fire of curiosity within her.
“What are you waiting for?” she whispered to her reflection, as if it could respond. With a resolute nod, Cambry stepped closer, her heart racing with a mix of anticipation and trepidation. She had spent years feeling adrift, her life a series of unremarkable routines. Now, it seemed, she was on the brink of something extraordinary. Her intrusive mind threatening to steal the magic of the moment, “ No, I refuse to believe this is just wanting and imagination.” Damning her parents for drilling it into her head that magic isn’t real all these years. Damning her husband for every comment that further convinced her she is not special at all. Clairvoyance seemed to come to Cambry in waves, just the slightest tease of information, enough to allow herself to be easily convinced by those around her it was all in her head.
The door to her room creaked open, jolting her from her thoughts. Her daughter, Aurelia, peeked inside, her brow furrowed with concern. “You okay? You looked like you were having a nightmare.”
Cambry offered a half-hearted smile, trying to push aside the weight of her revelations. “Just a strange dream, that’s all.”
Aurelia stepped further into the room, her bright blue eyes scanning her mothers face for signs of distress. “You’ve been acting weird lately. Is something bothering you?”
The truth bubbled in her throat, but Cambry swallowed it back. How could she explain the sensation of awakening, the burgeoning magic stirring within her? Instead, she shook her head, forcing a laugh. “I promise, I’m fine. Just a lot on my mind.” She’s never lied to her daughter before, in fact, the day she was born she promised her she would never stifle her creativity, she would never kill the magic. Of all things, Cambry wanted most for her daughter to see the beauty and mystery in the world, the magic in the changing of the seasons and the possibility of legend and lore being more than just a story parents tell their kid at bedtime.
Deep down, she knew that this was only the beginning. As she turned away from the mirror, a soft whisper echoed in her mind, “You are meant for more.” A voice she recognized, but wasn’t her own. Cambry nodded silently, the slightest smile appearing in the corner of her mouth.
With a determined breath, she stepped out of her room, ready to face the day and the mysteries that awaited her. The world outside felt different, vibrant, alive—a tapestry woven with threads of magic and destiny, waiting for her to uncover its secrets. For good measure, trying the locked door as she passed, pausing as Aurelia bounced lightly down the stairs, something was different about the door today, something Cambry wasn’t convinced anyone else could see. An inscription was scrolled across the door, and appeared to glow as she drew closer. "In shadows deep, where whispers dwell, Seek the heart of the ancient well. Where waters sing and stones converse, There lies the key, a gift or curse." As she read it, there was a sudden knowing that gave her chills. “Maaaaaaa, come on, we’re going to be late, again!” Aurelia’s lighthearted taunt pulled Cambry out of her reckoning, “Duty calls”, she sighed, reluctantly pulling herself down the stairs, away from the mystical door that had captured her attention. The inscription lingered in her mind like a haunting melody, its promise both tantalizing and perplexing.
As she descended the stairs, her daughter Aurelia's laughter filled the air, bright and cheerful, a stark contrast to the weight of the secrets she had just uncovered. Cambry couldn’t help but smile at her daughter, who was twirling in a sunbeam that streamed through the kitchen window, her golden curls catching the light. “You’re lucky you can charm the world with that smile,” Cambry murmured, feeling the tension in her chest ease, if only a little.
“What’s lucky is that you’re finally getting a break from staring at the door! Let’s go!” Aurelia insisted, grabbing Cambry’s hand and tugging her toward the front door.
With a soft chuckle, Cambry followed her daughter’s lead. “Alright, alright. Duty calls,” she echoed, recalling the inscription and the mystical well it hinted at. A promise of magic awaited her, but for now, the responsibilities of motherhood pulled her back to reality.
The two stepped outside, the morning sun casting a warm glow over their quaint home. Cambry inhaled deeply, the crisp autumn air filling her lungs with life. They had a busy day ahead, filled with errands and the unrelenting pace of their ordinary lives. But the door—and what lay beyond it—loomed in the back of her mind, its mystery intertwining with her everyday existence.
As they walked to the car, Aurelia chatted excitedly about her upcoming school performance, her words bubbling over like the laughter of children at play. Cambry listened, nodding and smiling, but her thoughts kept drifting back to the glowing inscription. “The ancient well…” she whispered to herself, the phrase rolling off her tongue like an incantation.
The drive to town was punctuated with Aurelia’s tales of adventure and friendships, but Cambry felt a restless energy building within her. “Maybe after the errands,we can walk the grounds,” she mused, hoping the well was close by. “A little adventure wouldn’t hurt.” Aurelia replied. “I love exploring the grounds, every time I feel like we find a new surprise”.
Cambry inherited her childhood home when her father fell a little too far into the Jack Daniels bottle he frequented each night. He passed away 2 winters ago when he lost the fight with Cirrhosis and Alcoholic Cardiomyopathy. He was always a drinker, she can’t remember a time when he didn’t drink in fact. She was 2 when her grandmother, his mom- passed away and he made it a daily habit mostly drinking after the workday was done, but when Cambry’s mom passed away, she watched her father melt into a pool of the darkest loneliness, and self-hate she’d ever witnessed. He didn’t care anymore, he too, wanted to die. The house her father left her needed plenty of work done to it, sure, but it was as beautiful as they come and worth the cost of repair, and Cambry was a writer, she could work from anywhere so it wasn’t even a question when it came time to move back home. The house stood at the end of a long, tree-lined road, its weathered façade whispering tales of forgotten times. It was a two-story structure, charming and full of promise, but clearly a fixer-upper. The clapboard siding, once a bright shade of white, had faded to a soft, muted gray, the paint peeling and cracked in places, revealing the raw wood beneath. Vines, thick and twisting, snaked up the sides of the house, clinging to the timeworn walls as though they were safeguarding the secrets within. The wraparound porch, with its sagging roof and creaking floorboards, invited visitors to sit and stay a while, despite its need for repair.
The house exuded a quiet beauty, the kind that only revealed itself to those who looked closely enough. The windows, tall and arched, were framed with ornate wooden trim that hinted at the craftsmanship of a bygone era. Beneath the layers of grime and dust, there was a sense of elegance in the lines of the house, the symmetry of its form. The front door, a heavy oak structure, its iron knocker shaped like a crescent moon, worn smooth from years of use. Faded carvings etched into the door’s surface were barely noticeable at first glance, but upon closer inspection, they revealed intricate symbols—swirls, stars, and arcane shapes—woven into the wood grain as though hiding in plain sight.
After a whirlwind of shopping and chores, they finally found themselves back at home, the leaves painted in hues of amber and gold created a beautiful canopy leading them through the grounds behind their house. They truly loved being in nature, and having 20 acres connected to their home was the perfect solace after the crowded shopping mall and town square.
Cambry and Aurelia strolled along the winding paths behind the family home, Cambry described her childhood adventures to her daughter despite her thoughts being consumed by the inscription and the promise of the well. After a few minutes, she spotted a familiar shape peeking out from behind the trees—a weathered stone structure partially hidden by foliage. “Could it be?”
Her heart pounding, Cambry made her way toward it, brushing aside branches that tried to obscure her path. As she drew closer, she recognized the stonework, the ancient markings almost identical to those on the door. The well stood there, proud and mysterious, cradled in the embrace of nature.
The air hummed with a palpable energy as she approached, echoing the feeling she had at the door. The sight of the water glimmering beneath the surface sent a shiver down her spine. “This must be the heart of the ancient well,” she murmured, the words spilling from her lips as though they were written in the very stones around her. “What’s that mean mom?” Aurelia asked, confused by her mothers sudden change of tone. Kneeling beside the well, Cambry peered into the depths, the water reflecting not just her image but something more—flickers of light dancing beneath the surface, whispering secrets. “What do you want me to find?” she asked softly, entranced.
Aurelia slowly reached for her hand, her soft touch broke through Cambry’s reverie. “Ma, talk to me, please! You have been distracted all day, and I hear you sometimes, at night, you yell in your sleep, telling someone you can’t save them, you aren’t their….slawn-ih-hor?” Cambry's heart raced at the mention of the word, a term she unknowingly buried in the recesses of her mind. Slánaitheoir is an ancient name, one who spoke of healing and restoration, embodying the wisdom of generations in the art of nurturing both body and spirit. She turned to Aurelia, her eyes wide with a mix of fear and determination. “It’s… it’s complicated, sweetheart,” she began, her voice trembling slightly. “The Slánaitheoir is a guardian spirit,” Cambry explained, both impressed and shocked by how easily and smoothly the explanation rolled off her tongue. Her face brimming with shock as the realization dawned on her, she shouldn’t have known that information but it came as naturally as breathing when her daughter asked the question. Aurelia’s brow furrowed, her youthful curiosity igniting. “What does it want from you? Why are you scared?” Cambry took her daughter's hand, softly kissing it as she knelt beside her, with a sigh, Cambry began to share the changes and odd occurrences she’d been experiencing since moving back to the house. “ So you see, I’m confused, and I don’t know what to trust. Are people going to think I’m losing it, because I’ve lost both my parents? The stress is making me crack? Something is really happening to me, and I have been told my whole life that things like this are not real,” she explained, her eyes dancing in the distance, trying to form her next sentence as Aurelia patiently sat next to her. “I know it is weird, and I know it is real, but I don’t know any other way to explain it.” Cambry turned to see Aurelia smiling, her eyes sparkling with joy, “Magic momma, it’s magic. I’ve always felt it too, the day we moved back in, I saw the writing on the door, and I knew. I just knew it was special.” Shock and knowing spread across Cambry’s face, “You see it too?” She quietly exclaimed, “Yeah, it appeared after the coroner took grandpa out of the house that day, I went up to grab the picture of him and grandma from his room and when I walked passed the door it started to shimmer, and I felt this…pull from it, like a magnet pulling me close. I don’t know what it says, I can’t read it, it’s some kind of foreign language or something.” Aurelia stated, with a puzzled expression. Cambry couldn’t help but laugh just then, she laughed longer and harder than she'd ever laughed. " oh, sweet girl, that is not a foreign language," she couldn't help chuckling again. "It is cursive writing, it says "In shadows deep, where whispers dwell, Seek the heart of the ancient well. Where waters sing and stones converse, There lies the key, a gift or curse."
Just then the well seemed to pulse with urgency, as if demanding they make a choice. Cambry and Aurelia stood, torn between running back to the house's safety and the thrilling call of the extraordinary. “What if the key really is here?” Aurelia asked, feeling the weight of the inscription and the possibilities it held.Taking a deep breath, with newfound determination, Cambry reached down into the cool water, ready to grasp whatever fate had in store for her—both for herself and for her daughter. The adventure was just beginning.
Author's Notes:
In this chapter, I wanted to explore the moment when Cambry starts to truly sense that her life, which has always felt ordinary, is shifting in ways she can no longer ignore. It was important to create a deep connection between Cambry and the season of autumn—symbolizing change, transition, and the shedding of the old to make way for the new. Cambry's life, much like the falling leaves, is undergoing a transformation, but instead of it being the end, it's the beginning of her awakening.
Cambry's relationship with her daughter, Aurelia, also plays a key role. I wanted to show how the mysteries and magic in Cambry's life are not only personal but extend into her family. Aurelia, though young, is incredibly perceptive and in tune with the magic stirring around them. Together, they will navigate this new world, with Cambry balancing the protective instincts of a mother and the curiosity that comes with discovering her true power.
The mirror, the locked door, and the ancient well are metaphors for Cambry’s inner journey—reflecting the dormant potential she’s ignored for so long, now ready to be unleashed. As Cambry faces the mysteries of her past, the connection between her family’s history and the forces at play will continue to unravel in surprising ways.
This chapter lays the groundwork for the magical elements of the story while keeping the emotional ties strong. As Cambry starts to embrace the idea that magic might not just be a fantasy, but a reality she’s destined for, the lines between dreams and reality will blur, pushing her to face her fears and rediscover the parts of herself that she’s long denied.
What do you think—are you ready to dive deeper into the mystery with Cambry and Aurelia?
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