Ariel Torres

**Ariel Torres** is a young witch who comes from a long line of dark witches. She was the main antagonist of *The Hidden Witch*, but later befriends Aster, Charlie, and Sedge. She discovers she has a family in *The Midwinter Witch*, but is later adopted by the Vanissens.

## Appearance

Ariel is a young woman with long black hair and black eyes.

She often wears punk or goth clothing, including heavy jackets, bracelets, painted nails, a black choker, a skirt, and combat boots.

## Personality

Ariel is a tough young woman who speaks her mind. When we are first introduced to her, she appeared as depressed, anti-social, and angry. But after a while, she becomes more friendly to others as she learns witchery from the Vanissens who took her in.

## Story

### *The Hidden Witch*

Ariel is transferred to Sterling Middle School in the same class as Charlie. At first, Ariel did not want to be with anyone until Charlie introduced herself and they became friends. Later, Charlie tells Ariel that she would call her. However, Charlie did not call because she forgot to do so due to a visit from Aster who came to show her what he learned in witchery. Ariel waited in the home of her foster family until late at night. This made her angry and sent a spirit known as a Fetch to scare Charlie. The next day at school, the other students teased her for the way she looked which lead to her using the Fetch to play tricks on them. When Ariel met up with Charlie in class, Charlie apologized for forgetting to call the night before which Ariel forgave. Sometime later, Ariel visited Charlie at her home at the same time Aster did. When they met, Ariel had a dislike of Aster who came to give Charlie a protective charm to protect her from the Fetch. After he left, Ariel as Charlie if Aster is her boyfriend, But Charlie laughed and said that he is just a friend. At a basketball game, Ariel gave Charlie a good luck bracelet to help her win. But during the game, Ariel used the Fetch to attack players from the opposing team to endure Charlie's team's victory which Aster noticed using a witch's stone to see the Fetch. Later that night, Charlie's dads took the team, Ariel, Aster, and Sedge for ice-cream. Outside the parlor, Aster and Charlie discover that Ariel is a witch which enraged her and accused Charlie of wanting to be with Aster more than with her. Late that night, Ariel sends the Fetch to attack Charlie who ran to the Vanissen household to seek help. Charlie, Aster, and Sedge find Ariel in her hideout in the woods where Charlie convinced her that she is her friend. This finally stopped Ariel's hatred and became friends with her again. Unfortunately, the Fetch turned on Ariel from using it too many times. To save her, Aster, Charlie, and Sedge took Ariel to Aster and Sedge's great uncle, Makasi, who used the last of his powers to save Ariel, but lost his own life in the process. At the end of the book, Ariel decides to leave Sterling Middle School to learn witchery from the Vanissen with Sedge taking her place at school. She become friends with all three of them.

## Relationships

### Charlie Martin-West

Charlie met Ariel when Ariel transferred to Sterling Middle School. They became close friends. Ariel became jealous of Aster when she saw him and Charlie together which lead her to ask if he was her boyfriend. Charlie confirmed that he's not and that they are just friends. Even after Ariel tried to attack Charlie with a Fetch, Charlie still believed in Ariel and they continued to be together. At the end of *The Midwinter Witch*, it is hinted that Charlie and Ariel have romantic feeling for each other.

### Aster Vanissen

When Aster and Ariel first met, she did not like him and thought Charlie would rather spend time with him than with her. (Even asked her if Aster was her boyfriend which she denied.) But after her life was in danger, Ariel trusted Aster and they became friends and even began learning together from Grandmother.

### Sedge Vanissen

Ariel and Sedge are shown to be good friends. After Ariel deiced to learn witchery from Grandmother, Sedge starting going to Sterling Middle School in her place.

### Holly Vanissen

Ariel considers Holly somewhat of a mother-figure after she came to learn witchery with Holly's family. She encourages Ariel.

## Powers and Abilities

* **Witchery:** Ariel is a witch with many magical powers. She is also learning witchery from the Vanissens as of the end of *The Hidden Witch*.
	+ **Fetch Summoning (formally):** Ariel used to summon a spirit known as a Fetch to attack others and move things. But she lost this power when the Fetch turned against her.
	+ **Pyrokinesis:** Ariel can create and control fire.
	+ **Vivid Dreaming (limited):** Ariel can become aware that she is in a dream, but only when her aunt contacts her there.

## Trivia

* Because of her last name, it is possible that Ariel is of Hispanic decent. However, because she used a Fetch which is of Irish folklore, it is possible that she may also be of Irish decent.
* Before *The Hidden Witch*, Ariel had to teach herself witchery, though it was informal.
* Ariel maybe an LGBTQ+ character. At the end of *The Midwinter Witch*, it is shown that she may have romantic feelings for Charlie which she returns.