Veiled Whispers

Ch.11 - The Seven

Lily

After the whirlwind of emotions and the unexpected fainting spell, I found myself in a room that Theo had shown me. I took a moment to gather my thoughts, letting the cool water from the basin wash over my hands and face. I removed the cumbersome outer layers of my dress, stripping down to simple underdress I wore inside. I took a quick glance at the mirror, and reassured myself it was modest enough.
As Theo was nowhere to be found, I took it upon myself to explore furthur. I found myself in the quiet library, among the tomes that whispered secrets of ages past. The room, a sanctuary of knowledge, embraced me like an old friend. Theo’s absence was a silent invitation to explore, and I heeded its call.

The volumes around me were sentinels of history, their spines lined with the dust of forgotten years. I longed to delve into their mysteries, yet hesitated, fearing the fragility of their ancient pages. It was then that a title beckoned me with its allure: “Vampires through the ages.” My fingers grazed the cover, the possibility of hidden truths tantalizing my mind.

Theo’s sudden presence was a jolt back to reality. “Sorry to startle you,” he said, his eyes catching the book in my grasp. “Ahh, vampires, huh? Are you into mythical creatures?” His question hung in the air, mingled with the scent of old leather and ink.

“What’s to say it isn’t real? There are a lot of unknowns in this world,” I mused, my voice a blend of wonder and skepticism. His offer of a house tour was a welcome distraction, and together we stepped out of the library’s embrace.

●●●

Theo

She stood before me, transformed. The layers of her formal attire had been shed, revealing the simple elegance of her underdress. Her presence was ethereal, a vision of grace that seemed to illuminate the dim corridors.

As she moved, her brown hair cascaded like a silken waterfall, catching the faint light and casting a warm glow on her fair skin. She was captivating, a living embodiment of the river’s fluid beauty.

Her voice broke through my reverie, a gentle inquiry about the house’s ownership. “It’s actually my property, but I gave it to Raide for the time being, but seems like he has made it his own” I explained, my words trailing off as her laughter filled the space between us.

“Why are you staying here?” she pressed, her curiosity a spark in the dimness. “I have some business to attend here, and you know my hometown is far away,” I replied, the weight of unspoken thoughts heavy in my chest.

Our tour led us past the living-dining-kitchen area, where the intricate carvings on the wood greeted us, but Lily was captivated by something else. I looked in the direction that took her gaze, and realized what caught her eyes. A memory frozen in time—the seven of us, The Brotherhood, our bonds immortalized in a single snapshot hung on the wall.