The Law of Three

The story opens with the Law of Three, a magical principle that governs the world of witches: whatever magic you cast—good or ill—returns to you threefold. This law is not just a moral guideline but a force that shapes the fate of every witch, including Selene Bowers, our protagonist. The Law of Three foreshadows the consequences of every spell, curse, and betrayal that will ripple through Selene's journey, setting the stage for a tale where every action has a price, and every price must be paid.

The Witch Who Forgets

Selene Bowers is a young witch whose spellcasting comes at a unique and devastating cost: every use of her power erases pieces of her memory. She meticulously documents her life in journals and sticky notes, fighting to preserve her identity as her mind is slowly consumed. Selene's longing for belonging is palpable—she yearns to join the prestigious Henbane Coven, but her magical "disability" makes her an outsider. Her struggle is not just with magic, but with the fear of losing herself entirely.

Henbane's Reluctant Candidate

Selene's application to Henbane Coven is met with skepticism due to her memory loss. The coven's admissions committee challenges her: to be accepted, she must complete a "magic quest" and find a familiar—an animal spirit bonded to a witch's soul. Despite her anxiety and the knowledge that every spell brings her closer to oblivion, Selene refuses to give up. Her determination and resourcefulness shine as she plans her quest, hoping to prove her worth to the coven and herself.

The Magic Quest Catastrophe

Selene's magic quest takes her to the Galapagos Islands, but disaster strikes when her plane is brought down by a magical attack. In the chaos, she is haunted by a mysterious, seductive voice calling her "Empress" and urging her to "come to me." Surviving the crash, Selene is drawn into the jungle by this compulsion, her memory loss intensifying as she uses magic to save herself and others. The quest, meant to be a rite of passage, becomes a harrowing ordeal that will change her fate.

Crash Landing in the Wild

Lost in the rainforest, Selene follows the trail of the voice and the indigo magic that tugs at her soul. She faces the dangers of the wild, her memory slipping further with each spell. The voice grows more insistent, promising love and belonging, but also hinting at a dark, ancient connection. Selene's journey through the jungle is both a physical and psychological trial, as she confronts the limits of her power and the terror of forgetting who she is.

The Panther's Bond

In the heart of the jungle, Selene is attacked by a panther, but instead of killing her, the beast bonds with her. Their connection is instant and magical—Nero becomes her familiar, amplifying her power and anchoring her fraying sense of self. This bond is both a triumph and a mystery, as Selene senses that Nero is more than just an animal; he is a key to her past and her destiny. With her new companion, she is drawn deeper into the jungle's secrets.

The Tomb Beneath the Jungle

Guided by the indigo magic, Selene discovers a hidden tomb protected by powerful wards. Inside, she finds a sarcophagus inscribed with warnings and the name "Memnon the Cursed." Compelled by the voice and her own curiosity, Selene breaks the wards and opens the tomb, awakening Memnon—a stunning, dangerous man who claims she is his lost queen, Roxilana. The act unleashes a force that will haunt her and the world, as the Law of Three begins to exact its price.

The Cursed King Awakens

Memnon, a two-thousand-year-old sorcerer, is both lover and monster. He believes Selene is his reincarnated wife, the woman who betrayed and cursed him to eternal sleep. His magic is overwhelming, his love possessive and vengeful. Selene, terrified and confused, is caught between attraction and fear. Memnon's awakening sets off a chain of events—murders, magical attacks, and a relentless pursuit—that threaten Selene's life, her mind, and the fragile peace of the supernatural world.

Memory's Price

Back in San Francisco, Selene's life unravels as her memory loss accelerates. She is accepted into Henbane Coven, but the murders of witches on coven grounds cast suspicion on her. Memnon stalks her, convinced she is his Roxilana, and the boundaries between past and present blur. Selene's journals are her only anchor, but even they cannot keep pace with the memories she loses. The cost of magic becomes unbearable, and Selene is forced to question who she is without her past.

The Henbane Sisterhood

Selene's bond with her best friend Sybil and her new coven sisters is tested by fear and distrust. As the murders continue, Selene becomes a suspect, her memory loss making her an easy scapegoat. The coven's rituals, parties, and magical lessons offer moments of joy and connection, but the shadow of Memnon and the threat of the killer loom over everything. Selene's longing for acceptance is matched only by her determination to clear her name and protect those she loves.

The Stalker Sorcerer Returns

Memnon's obsession escalates—he invades Selene's dreams, stalks her in the real world, and uses his magic to torment and seduce her. He claims they are soul mates, bound by an unbreakable magical bond, and demands she help him break the curse that erased his name from history. Selene is both repelled and drawn to him, her own magic resonating with his. Their relationship becomes a battle of wills, desire, and vengeance, with the fate of both their souls at stake.

Murder in the Everwoods

The murders intensify, each more brutal than the last. Selene, desperate to prove her innocence, investigates the crimes and uncovers a web of dark magic, forbidden rituals, and hidden enemies within the coven. Her use of magic to save others and herself comes at a steep price—her memories, her alibis, and her sense of reality. The Law of Three looms ever larger, as every act of magic, love, and betrayal returns to her threefold.

The Spell Circle's Secret

In need of money, Selene joins a secret spell circle beneath Henbane, only to discover a ritual involving blood magic, a drugged shifter girl, and the creation of a monstrous golem. The circle's leader tries to bind the girl's will, but Selene intervenes, unleashing chaos. She and her familiar fight their way out, pursued by witches and the golem. The experience leaves Selene traumatized, hunted, and more isolated than ever, as the true darkness within the coven is revealed.

The Monster in the Tunnels

Selene's flight through the tunnels is a harrowing ordeal—she is wounded, cursed, and nearly killed by the golem. Drawing on Memnon's magic and her own forbidden blood magic, she destroys the monster and saves the shifter girl, earning the protection of the local lycanthrope pack. The cost is immense: her memories are further eroded, and she is left vulnerable to both her enemies and Memnon's manipulations. The Law of Three exacts its toll, and Selene's sense of self is pushed to the brink.

The Shifter's Rescue

Selene's act of heroism brings her new allies among the shifters, but also deepens the suspicion of the Politia (the supernatural police) and the coven. Her journals—her only defense—are destroyed by Memnon in a fit of vengeance, leaving her with no alibi and no proof of her innocence. As the evidence mounts against her, Selene is forced to confront the possibility that she is being framed, and that the true enemy may be closer than she thinks.

The Soul Mate Revelation

A desperate search for answers leads Selene to the revelation that she is, in fact, a soul mate—her magical Awakening records confirm it. The bond with Memnon is real, unbreakable, and ancient. Memories of a past life as Roxilana, Memnon's queen, begin to surface. The Law of Three comes full circle: Selene's curse on Memnon has cursed herself, erasing her memories and binding her fate to his. The past and present collide, and Selene must choose whether to embrace or defy her destiny.

The Burning of the Past

In a final act of cruelty, Memnon burns all of Selene's journals, erasing her last connection to her past and her innocence. He demands she help him break the curse and marry him, threatening everyone she loves if she refuses. Selene's rage and heartbreak reach their peak—she vows revenge, but is trapped by the very magic that once protected her. The Law of Three is merciless: every betrayal, every act of love, every spell returns to her threefold.

The Samhain Ball Ultimatum

At the Samhain Ball, Memnon takes the coven hostage, forcing Selene to choose between her freedom and the lives of her friends. In a brutal magical duel, Selene is overpowered and given an ultimatum: lift the curse and marry Memnon, or watch everyone die. Broken and defeated, Selene agrees. Together, they perform the ritual, and her memories of her past life as Roxilana return in a flood—revealing her own betrayal and the true cost of her magic. As the Politia arrives to arrest her for murders she did not commit, Selene realizes the Law of Three has come for her at last, and that she has unleashed a monster upon the world.

Characters

Selene Bowers

Selene is a fiercely determined, resourceful young witch whose unique magical affliction—losing memories with every spell—defines her life. She is organized to the point of obsession, using journals and sticky notes to anchor her identity. Selene's deepest longing is for belonging and acceptance, but her "disability" makes her an outsider. Her psychological struggle is profound: she fears losing herself, yet refuses to give up magic, the very thing that erases her. Her journey is one of self-discovery, resilience, and the painful realization that her greatest power is also her greatest curse. Her relationships—with her familiar Nero, her best friend Sybil, and the coven—are lifelines, but her bond with Memnon is the axis on which her fate turns. Selene's development is a tragic arc from hope to heartbreak, as she learns the true cost of magic, love, and betrayal.

Memnon the Cursed

Memnon is a two-thousand-year-old sorcerer, once a king and warlord, now cursed to eternal sleep by his wife's betrayal. Awakened by Selene, he is obsessed with reclaiming his lost love, Roxilana, whom he believes Selene to be. Memnon's magic is overwhelming, his love possessive and vengeful, his conscience eroded by centuries of power. He is both seductive and terrifying, capable of tenderness and cruelty in equal measure. Psychologically, Memnon is driven by loss, rage, and a desperate need for control. His development is a descent into villainy, as his quest for reunion becomes a campaign of manipulation, violence, and ultimately, forced marriage. Yet, beneath the monster is a man haunted by love and the Law of Three, doomed to repeat the cycle of betrayal and retribution.

Nero

Nero is more than a magical animal; he is Selene's soul-bonded companion, amplifying her power and grounding her fraying sense of self. Fiercely loyal, intelligent, and sometimes exasperated by Selene's chaos, Nero is both a guardian and a mirror of her own wildness. Their bond is a source of strength and comfort, but also a reminder of the primal, untamable aspects of magic. Nero's presence is a constant in Selene's ever-shifting world, and his actions—especially in battle—reveal the depth of their connection.

Sybil

Sybil is the embodiment of witchy sisterhood: supportive, irreverent, and fiercely protective. Her own magic is plant-based, and her familiar is a barn owl named Merlin. Sybil is Selene's anchor in the coven, offering both practical help and emotional support. She is quick to defend Selene, plot revenge, and provide comic relief, but also challenges Selene to embrace her power and fight for herself. Sybil's loyalty is unwavering, and her presence is a reminder that friendship is a form of magic as potent as any spell.

Kasey

Kasey is a seemingly friendly witch who introduces Selene to the secret spell circle beneath Henbane. Her true loyalties and motivations are ambiguous—she is both a participant in dark rituals and a potential victim. Kasey represents the dangers lurking within the coven, the ease with which trust can be betrayed, and the seductive pull of forbidden magic. Her disappearance becomes a turning point in the story, deepening the mystery and suspicion surrounding Selene.

The High Priestess

The high priestess is a powerful, ancient witch who embodies the Law of Three and the weight of magical tradition. She is both mentor and interrogator, guiding Selene while also holding her accountable for the coven's safety. Her presence is intimidating, her knowledge vast, and her judgments final. She represents the authority of the magical world, the consequences of breaking its laws, and the possibility of redemption—or damnation.

Kane Halloway

Kane is a shifter from the neighboring pack, Selene's high school crush, and a potential romantic interest. He is strong, loyal, and protective, offering Selene the pack's support when she saves a shifter girl from the spell circle. Kane's presence complicates Selene's feelings for Memnon and highlights the theme of choice versus destiny. His pack's intervention is a lifeline, but also a reminder of the political and magical alliances that shape Selene's fate.

The Politia

The Politia are the enforcers of magical law, investigating the murders and casting suspicion on Selene. Their presence is both a threat and a test: they embody the world's fear of uncontrolled magic, the dangers of memory loss, and the ease with which justice can become persecution. Their investigation drives much of the plot's tension, forcing Selene to confront her own doubts and the fragility of her alibis.

The Spell Circle Priestess

The priestess who leads the secret spell circle is a figure of dark charisma and cruelty. She orchestrates the binding of the shifter girl, the creation of the golem, and the descent into blood magic. Her actions reveal the seductive and destructive potential of power, the dangers of groupthink, and the thin line between ritual and atrocity. She is both a mirror and a warning to Selene, embodying what happens when the Law of Three is ignored.

Roxilana

Roxilana is the key to the story's deepest mysteries: Selene's lost memories, Memnon's curse, and the Law of Three's ultimate reckoning. As Selene's memories return, Roxilana emerges as a complex figure—both victim and perpetrator, beloved and betrayer. Her actions in the past set the cycle of vengeance in motion, and her fate is inextricably linked to Selene's. The revelation of Roxilana's story is the climax of Selene's journey, forcing her to confront the consequences of love, power, and betrayal.

Plot Devices

Memory as Magic's Price

The central device of the novel is the cost of magic: Selene's memories are the price she pays for every spell. This device serves multiple functions—it creates suspense, unreliability, and vulnerability; it drives the plot as Selene struggles to preserve her identity; and it becomes the literal mechanism of the Law of Three, as every act returns to her threefold. The loss and recovery of memory is also the key to the story's resolution, as Selene's past life as Roxilana is both the cause and the solution to the curse binding her and Memnon.

The Law of Three

The Law of Three is both a magical rule and a narrative structure. Every spell, curse, and betrayal in the story returns to the caster, shaping the fates of Selene, Memnon, and the coven. The Law of Three is invoked in the opening, echoed in every major event, and fulfilled in the climax, as Selene's curse on Memnon becomes her own undoing. The device reinforces the themes of consequence, responsibility, and the cyclical nature of love and vengeance.

Soul Mate Bond

The soul mate bond between Selene and Memnon is both a blessing and a curse. It is the source of their power, their attraction, and their mutual destruction. The bond is unbreakable, transcending death and memory, and becomes the battleground for their struggle—Selene's fight for autonomy, Memnon's quest for reunion, and the Law of Three's demand for balance. The device blurs the line between love and obsession, choice and fate

Last updated: July 19, 2025