The chicken continues its foraging expedition in the kitchen, pecking at random crumbs scattered across the floor.
'This place is incredible. Do you think I could get a tour?' I ask, eager with a sense of wonder.
'Of course, as a Midnight Coven member, this is also your home now,' Yiselda says proudly.
Yiselda takes the lead, guiding us down a lengthy corridor. Despite the apparent size of the Covenstead from the outside, the interior feels even more expansive, perhaps thrice the size. Along the corridor, I notice an absence of doors, replaced by old paintings depicting witches who were once members of the Midnight Coven until their demise. Intrigued, I stop before one of the paintings to admire its beauty. To my surprise, the artwork comes to life, and I let out a startled shriek.
The witch in the portrait stares at me, briefly lowering her head with a smile before returning to her static pose.
'Luna, what is it?' Lilac asks with concern, placing a comforting hand on my shoulder.
With a shaky hand, I point at the portrait. 'She moved,' I tell her.
'Oh, yeah, they all do that,' Lilac shrugs nonchalantly.
'You could have given me a heads up?' I grumble, my eyebrows furrowing.
Lilac’s cheeks lift as she smiles. 'Luna, we're in Pandora's Box, silly. You should expect anything here, from your brightest dreams to your worst nightmares,' she giggles.
Rolling my eyes at Lilac's response, I regain my composure and continue following the others as we explore the mystical and unpredictable halls of Pandora's Box.
When we reach the end of the corridor, there is no door, only a mirror. I glance at the reflection of us, puzzled. 'Are there no doors? This is simply a mirror,' I point out, pressing my lips together in a tight line.
Yiselda and the others smile knowingly and step through the mirror. It ripples like water as they walk through it. Intrigued, I reach my hand out and quickly poke it with my finger—the mirror ripples again. In awe, I then put my entire hand through. I yelp as someone on the other side grabs my hand and pulls me through.
‘Hurry up, slowpoke,’ Ria laughs, her eyes twinkling with humour.
Yiselda leads us along an irregularly shaped corridor with three doors: one in front, one on the left, and one on the right. They are peculiarly shaped doors, each with its own unique design. The one before us is a deep magenta shaped like an irregular pentagon. The one on the left is a deep green irregular heptagon, and the red door on the right is an irregular decagon with zigzags down each side.
'The sleeping quarters are via this door on the left,’ Yiselda says, gesturing to the green door.
We follow Yiselda through the green door and into a corridor, which, to my utter surprise, has ten doors—five on each side.
'These are all bedrooms,' she says, opening the closest door.
The bed is a big floating mattress above the floor, with silk bedding dangling over the sides. Furniture moves around the room as though each piece has a mind of its own. Candles float around the room, softly lighting the space.
'Okay, then,' I mutter, acknowledging the eccentricity of the scene but not quite sure what else to say. A mahogany French wardrobe comes to a halt and faces me. I'm unsure if I should say hello, but I give it a small wave. Magnus will think I'm insane if I start talking to furniture. With caution, I exit the room, leaving the animated furnishings behind.
Yiselda leads us back into the corridor with the three peculiar doors. 'This middle door leads to the library, and another door in the library leads to the enchanted garden,' Yiselda adds and opens the magenta door before gracefully stepping through.
We follow Yiselda into the magenta doorway, finding ourselves in a large hall area with a vast, intricate gold hearth that reaches the ceiling. With a flick of her wand and the Inferno Flamo spell, Yiselda ignites the hearth, warming and lighting up the area from the fireplace. Regal cabinets housing unusual objects line the walls, accompanied by red velvet draped across the walls with gold tassels. The floor is made of grey stones arranged in a circular pattern, giving the room a castle-like feel. Seven lavishly designed chairs with red velvet and gold intricate frames are strategically placed around the room, matching the grandeur of the hearth.
I approach the fire, drawn by its warmth, and take a moment to inspect the intricate details. Strange sigils and depictions of dark creatures adorn the hearth—some with horns and wings, others with dark eyes and gnarly teeth. A shiver runs down my spine at the eerie sight, and I decide I've warmed myself enough. To my right, there's a very plain wooden door where Yiselda and the others patiently wait for me.
Rubbing my arms, I glance around the room. 'It's oddly strange yet beautiful in this room,' I comment to Yiselda.
She smiles and nods. ‘This is where we go to read and idly sit by the fire while I tell the girls stories from the enchanting books we have in the library,’ she explains, her eyes sparkling with fond memories.
Yiselda opens the wooden door, and we enter the library—a marvel that defies any literary lover's imagination. The room is round with multiple levels, and a grand spiralling staircase occupies the central space, reaching up to each tier. Every inch of wall is adorned with towering shelves, from floor to ceiling, on each level. Wooden ladders lean against the shelves, ready to facilitate access to even the most difficult volumes to reach. Potted plants and trees flourish amidst the literary treasures, their presence adding an air of enchantment to the surroundings. Vines with delicate pink flowers drape gracefully around the railings and hang from the ceilings of each level. Large curved-arch windows offer breathtaking glimpses of the enchanted garden.
Mesmerized, I approach a beautiful antique globe of the world resting on a small round table. Running a finger over some of the continents, I can't help but marvel at the intricate craftsmanship. The room features three cream-coloured chaises, each adorned with gold trim and accompanied by round cream-coloured pillows. They beckon with an irresistible promise of softness and comfort.