Veiled Whispers

Ch.14 - The Intruder

Vincent

As I lay in the stillness of my chamber, my thoughts wandered into the shadowy realms of the netherworld, teeming with enigmas. A sense of quietness filled the air, hinting at a greater play afoot here. Central to this unfolding drama was Lily Hawthorne, a beacon of innocence amidst the murky waters of aristocracy. The Hawthornes were not merely elite; they were the cornerstone of royalty itself. Yet, their storied past was shrouded in obscurity—a history I was now compelled to uncover.

Thud thud.

The abrupt noise jolted me from my contemplations. A fleeting shadow darted past the window, a silent harbinger of the night’s unrest. With haste, I approached the window and flung it open, only to be met with the abyss of the night. An eerie creak resonated from within the house, guiding me toward the living room. The emptiness of the space mirrored the void within me, evoking a chilling memory—my home’s desecration by unseen forces.

The signs were unmistakable. The daemons had found me again.

●●●

Lily

The comfort of sleep eluded me due to the unfamiliarity of my new quarters. The events of recent days should have burdened my mind with worry, yet they served only to stoke the embers of a forgotten fire. My encounter with Theo had awakened something primal within me, a sensation that transcended mere metaphor. It was as if a dormant power had been unlocked, coursing through my veins with newfound purpose.

I was drawn to the enigma of Theo and Val, determined to unearth the truth behind Val’s fate. Though they were strangers, destiny seemed to weave our paths together.

The tedium of castle life, with its trivial pursuits orchestrated by my mother, now seemed a distant memory. Her sudden acquiescence to my freedom was as perplexing as it was welcome. What had prompted this change of heart?

A sudden crash shattered the silence, a prelude to the horror that awaited. A dark, viscous fluid seeped beneath the door, encroaching upon my room. I touched the liquid, its dark red hue unmistakable. The pungent scent of iron hung heavy, blood painting the wooden floor a grim tableau.

Paralyzed by shock, I stood motionless until the door burst open with violent urgency.

Theo loomed in the doorway, his sword a dripping testament to the violence he had wrought. At his feet lay a corpse, it's very presence a silent scream.

“We must leave at once,” he urged, urgency etched in every line of his face.