Whenever Claire passes by Willowmere, she is intrigued by the beauty and exoticism of the estate, so out of place in the small town where she lives. Willowmere's owner, Dr. Myra Moore, is equally fascinating. She tells Claire about the Wiccan belief system, which is not about dark spells and magic, but rather about affirming the goodness of the earth and all living things. Claire begins to read about witchcraft and natural magic on her own, trying to understand what truth may lie within its ancient lore and wondering if it can help solve the mystery of her mother's disappearance. As she struggles to understand the powers of both good and evil, Claire is drawn towards the past, to the witch trials of the seventeenth century.