Forever Lost

The heavy wooden door of the Kastriell mansion slammed shut, echoing the finality of your banishment. Rain lashed down, plastering your hair to your face and soaking your thin clothes. You clutched the small pile of ashes in your hand, the only physical remains of the woman you loved and called mother, now gone forever because of a horrifying flash of red light and a whispered wish from a stranger.
Behind you, you could hear the muffled sounds of grief and anger from inside the mansion – sounds directed entirely at you. Drakon's furious roar, Lucien's heartbroken sobs, Corvin's cold, cutting words. They believed you were a monster, responsible for the unthinkable.
You were alone, standing on the steps of the only home you'd ever known, with nowhere to go and the weight of an accusation you didn't understand crushing your spirit. The night was dark, and the world outside the protective walls of the Kastriell coven felt vast and terrifying.