The Eclipse Society

Chapter 7: "Veil of Shadows"

Ethan mind raced as he reviewed the letters detailing the Eclipse Society. The implications were grave; this secretive group had been embedded within Ilvermorny for centuries, their dark intentions passed down through generations. Ethan's resolve hardened. He and his team needed to act swiftly to root out the society before they could execute their plans.

The first step was to confront Professor Frost. Marcus had been watching her, and his observations confirmed their suspicions. She had been meeting with other faculty members late at night and exhibited nervous behavior during staff meetings.

Ethan, Marcus, and Lila approached Frost's office under the cover of darkness. They knocked, and moments later, a pale, anxious Professor Frost opened the door.

"Auror Thorne," she greeted, her voice shaky. "What brings you here at this hour?"

"We need to talk," Ethan said firmly, stepping into the office. Marcus and Lila followed, closing the door behind them. "We know you've been involved with Blackwood and the Eclipse Society. We need the truth."

Frost's eyes darted around the room, searching for an escape. Realizing she was cornered, she sighed and slumped into her chair. "Alright, I'll tell you everything. But please, you have to protect me. They're dangerous."

Ethan nodded. "You have our word. Now, start from the beginning."

Frost took a deep breath, her eyes flicking towards her wand on the desk. She slowly reached for it, but Ethan's sharp gaze didn't miss the movement.

"Don't," he warned, but it was too late. With a swift motion, Frost snatched her wand and aimed it at Ethan.

"Crucio!" she screamed.

Ethan dove to the side, narrowly avoiding the curse. The air crackled with dark magic as the curse hit the wall, leaving scorch marks. Marcus and Lila immediately drew their wands, but Frost was already on her feet, her eyes wild with desperation.

"You'll never stop us!" she shrieked, casting another Cruciatus Curse, this time at Marcus. He dodged, and Lila responded with a Stunning Spell, which Frost deflected with a quick Protego.

Ethan rolled behind a desk, trying to get a clear shot. "Frost, you don't have to do this! Surrender now, and we can help you!"

Frost's laughter was maniacal. "Help me? You fools don't understand anything! The Eclipse Society will rise again, and you can't stop us!"

She fired another curse, narrowly missing Ethan. He retaliated with a Disarming Spell, which Frost blocked, but it forced her to step back, giving Marcus and Lila a chance to flank her.

Marcus moved in, casting Incarcerous to bind her, but Frost twisted away, knocking over a shelf of potions in the process. Bottles shattered, and the room filled with a haze of magical fumes.

Through the smoke, Ethan saw his chance. He leaped forward, wand outstretched. "Expelliarmus!"

The spell hit its mark, and Frost's wand flew from her grasp. Marcus quickly cast another binding spell, and this time, it held. Frost fell to the floor, her eyes burning with hatred.

Ethan approached cautiously, his wand still trained on her. "It's over, Frost. You're coming with us."

She struggled against the bindings, her face contorted with rage. "You may have caught me, but the Eclipse Society will never be defeated. Others will take my place. Blackwood will see to that."

Ethan exchanged a grim look with Marcus and Lila. "We'll see about that. For now, you're going to tell us everything you know."

Frost spat at his feet. "I'll never betray the society."

"We'll see," Ethan said, signaling to Marcus to take her to the holding cells.

As they escorted Frost away, Ethan felt a mix of frustration and determination. They had captured one member of the Eclipse Society, but the true threat remained. Blackwood and his followers were still out there, planning their next move.

The team regrouped in Headmistress Whitlock's office, where they recounted the confrontation with Frost. Whitlock listened intently, her expression growing more serious with each detail.

"We need to act quickly," she said. "With Frost captured, Blackwood will know we're closing in. We must uncover their plans and stop them before it's too late."

Ethan nodded. "We'll increase our surveillance on the other suspects and keep searching for any clues that might lead us to their next move."

Whitlock looked out the window, the moon casting long shadows over the grounds. "Be careful, Ethan. The Eclipse Society has deep roots here. They won't go down without a fight."

Ethan's resolve hardened. "We're ready for whatever they throw at us. Ilvermorny will stand strong."

As he left the headmistress's office, Ethan's thoughts turned to the challenges ahead. The capture of Frost was a victory, but the battle was far from over. With the Heart of Sayre still at risk and the Eclipse Society's plans unfolding, the road ahead would be treacherous.

But for the sake of Ilvermorny and the magical world, Ethan and his team would face the darkness head-on, ready to protect their school and uncover the truth behind the Veil of Shadows.