Eris Trevil had never been allowed anywhere near the chest in her mother's bedroom closet.

And not for no reason.

Her mother never let her anywhere near it. When Eris got older and asked about it, her mother would say that it contained her "private things that didn't concern her." This only peaked her curiosity and made her want to know what was in it as most curious, and annoying, twelve year olds tended to be.

Ivy did her best to rid herself of anything connected to witchcraft but it was difficult. She had been raised a witch and it had been apart of who she was. But even if she couldn't completely rid herself of witchcraft, she could make sure that her daughter had nothing to do with it.

The mysterious chest sat dauntingly, almost taunting Eris who wanted nothing more than to rip it open and scourge through its contents. But after first inquiring about it, her mother never let her get close enough to it to try.

She eventually did manage to get her hands on the large box when she was fourteen. However she couldn't open it because it was locked. She figured that it would be, so she had been watching lock picking videos on YouTube just in case. She didn't think it would work, but it did.

Eris smirked to herself as she pulled it open. The smirk began to fall and a look of confusion crossed her face. There were thick books, jars full of strange roots and herbs, and a lot of other things that she didn't know. Her confusion was replaced with a frown. "Well this was very anticlimactic," she muttered. Anticlimactic was a word she had heard in a movie once and had began using it once she learned of its definition.

Her eyes roamed the box again before she sighed and slammed it shut. She picked up the lock and put it back in place, locking it again. She stood from the floor and turned out of the closet, jumping at the sight of her mother. Ivy Trevil was stood, arms crossed over her chest. She wore a neutral, almost unimpressed, expression. Unsurprised.

"You need to learn to mind you business," the woman said before turning around and walked out of the room. Eris followed after her.

"What was all that weird stuff?" She asked the woman.

"Things that don't concern you," Ivy replied.

"Why are you hiding it though?" Eris pried.

Ivy turned to her, "It doesn't matter. What matters is that you disobeyed my rule. Now what do you have to say for yourself?"

Eris gulped and smiled sheepishly. "That I'm sorry?" Ivy let out a humorless laugh before narrowing her eyes.

"Yeah you will be." The knock on the front door grabbed both of their attention. Ivy stared at the door for a moment. Another knock sounded.

The woman walked over to the door and looked out of the peephole. She took a step back. "I know you're in there, Ivy!" A voice on the other side of the door called. "I can't use magic to get in because yours is blocking mine but don't think you're gonna be able to sneak your way outta here," the voice continued.

Eris wasn't sure what was going on but she knew one thing: her mother did not want to open that door. But Ivy did open the door because the woman was right, there was no way she'd be able to sneak her way out of that apartment. Maybe she could have with magic, but then she'd have to explain to her daughter how she teleported them out of their Chicago apartment. Unfortunately for her, Eris would find out all about their family history that day.

There was an older woman on the other side of the door. She wore a proud smirk when she saw Ivy's face. "Aren't you gonna let me in?" She questioned.

"How did you find us?" Ivy asked. Leta Trevil rolled her eyes and pushed her way into the apartment.

"I think you should be asking me 'when did I find you' and the answer to that is years ago. But I let you believe that you were doing a great job at hiding from me," she answered.

She looked around the apartment in distaste. Eris watched the woman walk around the apartment. Leta stopped in front of the child and looked her over. "This must be the half-breed," she said.

"Don't you dare call her that," Ivy snarled, pulling her mother away from the girl.

Leta rolled her eyes, "Oh don't be so sensitive, Ivy. I raised you better than that."

"Who are you?" Eris questioned warily. She looked over to her mother who was already moving closer to her.

"Of course you didn't tell her about me," Leta sighed before smiling a sinister smile. "I'm, unfortunately, your grandmother and you are coming with me," she said.

"Over my dead body," Ivy said.

"Oh so dramatic. You spent so much time with the mortals you're beginning to sound like them," Leta said with an eye roll.

"I'm not going back there. I'm not wanted there," Ivy said.

"You are now. I was finally able to convince Father Blackwood to have your excommunication lifted, you're welcome," Leta said with a proud smile.

"What's the catch?" Ivy asked.

"Return to Greendale and let the child begin her magical studies, which she should've started already. Then when she turns sixteen, have her sign the Book of the Beast. You, Ivy, will also have to proclaim your loyalty to the Dark Lord," Leta answered with an excited smile.

"Let me rephrase it then, mother. I don't want to go back and I don't want my daughter there. And there is no way I am ever letting Eris do any of that so you might as well leave now," Ivy said with a glare.

"This isn't about you, Ivy. Now, I let you live your mortal life and raise her as a mortal but I will not do so any longer. Edward Spellman's little half-breed is learning magic and yours will do the same. As soon as we're back in Greendale," Leta said.

"I already said that I don't want her learning magic, get it through your head, mother," Ivy said.

"But it's her birthright. You can't keep her from doing this," the eldest woman said.

"I can and I will," Ivy retorted.

"She should get the right to choose," Leta said, her voice growing louder.

"No!" Came Ivy's response.

"Choose what?" The two's attention turned to Eris, whom they had momentarily forgotten was there. Leta smirked, her heels clicking against the wood floors as she made her way over to Eris.

"Sweetheart, you are in for a treat."

And so against her mother's wishes, Leta Trevil briefly explained everything to Eris. The fact that she and her mother were witches and that Eris herself was a half-witch. And after that day, neither her life, nor Eris herself, was ever the same. Because Ivy didn't know it yet, but her mother wasn't giving her a choice.

••••

Hello all, hope you enjoyed this little prologue. I honestly don't like writing prologues but I feel as though this was necessary to set up the book. This prologue sucked and was boring but this book will get better.