In the clearing of the forest, the first flash of light came before the first of the five standing stones.

The light was green.

The next came and it was marine blue.

The next was bright white.

And the next was crimson.

“We must—” Rebecca, the most powerful witch of Wodell started speaking urgently.

Nandra of Firenze interrupted her. “Not until we’re all here.”

“We must speak of Ophelia,” Rebecca stated stubbornly.

“She is right,” Lena of Mar-el agreed.

Fern of Airen drew breath into her nose but said nothing.

“I feel the veil absorbing her,” Rebecca declared.

Nandra stared at her fellow witch.

Lena looked to the ground.

Fern drew in both her lips and bore down on them with her teeth.

“And all of you feel it too,” Rebecca accused.

“There is naught we can do about it,” Nandra said.

“As much as I hate to say this about my sister, my friend, a woman I respect greatly, she must be replaced. This is a burden on her,” Rebecca told the coven. “And times are rife. We need this circle to be complete.”

“’Tis true, our power is reduced if but one of us is not at her best,” Fern said quietly. “And in this time especially, we need this circle at full strength.”

“And who would you have replace her?” Nandra demanded to know. “Serena is a menace and Elena is caught up in the prophecy.”

“Melisse,” Rebecca stated.

Fern looked away.

Lena caught the movement and noted, “Melisse is an excellent suggestion.”

Fern took her time looking back at her sisters before she admitted, “I’ve had a vision.”

“Oh goddess,” Nandra murmured.

“What vision?” Lena inquired.

“It is not good for…Melisse,” Fern told them.

“Are you mad?” Nandra snapped.

Fern straightened her shoulders and Rebecca retorted, “Nandra. Calm down.”

Nandra didn’t calm. “When did you have this vision?”

“Not long ago,” Fern shared.

“Unless it was fifteen minutes ago, it was too long not to inform the rest of us. Does she perish?” Nandra asked.

Fern shook her head. “It’s murky.”

“Of course,” Lena mumbled.

“I cannot make a vision sharper if it doesn’t want to come in that manner,” Fern bit at Lena. “And you know this for you can’t either.”

“What was the vision?” Rebecca queried.

“There is great danger in Wodell for the Nadirii,” Fern informed them. “Particularly Melisse.”

“This doesn’t surprise me. She’s too clever and even-minded for her own good. It is always those who find grave ends,” Nandra muttered.

“She must be warned,” Lena stated.

“We’ll tell Ophelia when she arrives,” Rebecca replied.

“And Elena?” Nandra asked Fern.

Fern shook her head. “All those prophesied are shadowed. But I have a sense there is another.”

“Another?” Lena inquired. “Another what?”

“Another threat.”

“Wonderful,” Nandra murmured. “And you didn’t share this either.”