veil of shadows

chapter 10 : secrets of the locket

The cool night air wrapped around Ethan and Selena as they made their way back to his house, the silence between them heavy with unspoken questions. The locket, still faintly glowing against Ethan's chest, felt like a constant reminder of what had just happened—and what was yet to come.Selena's pace was swift, her mind racing. She had never seen the locket react like that before. Its power had been dormant for so long, and now, with Ethan, it had awakened. But why him? What connection did he have to the locket, to its ancient magic?As they reached the front of his house, Ethan slowed, glancing over at Selena. "I don't understand any of this. Why did the locket choose me?"Selena sighed, her expression softening as she stopped and turned to face him. "There's a lot we still don't know. The locket has always been a powerful relic, but it's never responded like this. I don't think it's just chance that you're involved. There's something more, something deeper."Ethan frowned, frustration gnawing at him. "But I'm just a normal guy. I don't have magic, I'm not part of some ancient bloodline. I'm just... me."Selena reached out, her hand gently resting on his arm. "You may not see it, but the locket does. There's something special about you, Ethan. And I think that's why it reacted the way it did."Ethan looked down at her hand, then back into her eyes. There was something about the way she spoke to him, the way she looked at him, that made him feel less ordinary. But before he could dwell on the thought, his mother's voice called out from inside the house."Ethan? Are you home?"His heart skipped a beat. Grace. He had been so caught up in everything that he had nearly forgotten about his mother. He turned toward the house, his voice catching. "Yeah, Mom. I'm here."As he and Selena entered the small living room, Grace was sitting in her worn armchair, a cup of tea resting on the table beside her. She smiled when she saw Ethan, though the weariness in her eyes was undeniable."Everything alright, dear?" she asked, her gaze shifting briefly to Selena, curiosity flickering in her tired eyes.Ethan nodded, forcing a smile. "Yeah, everything's fine. Just, um... hanging out."Grace raised an eyebrow, clearly not convinced but too tired to press further. "Alright. Just don't stay out too late."Selena offered a polite smile before she and Ethan slipped away to his bedroom. As soon as the door closed behind them, the atmosphere grew more serious."We need to figure out what the locket is trying to tell us," Selena said, crossing her arms as she leaned against the wall.Ethan nodded, taking a seat on the edge of his bed. "How do we do that?"Selena took a deep breath. "I've studied the locket's history, but there's still so much we don't know. I think the only way to unlock its secrets is to find the source of its power—the ancient coven that created it. They're the only ones who can tell us why it chose you."Ethan frowned. "An ancient coven? Where do we even start looking for something like that?"Selena's expression darkened. "That's the problem. The coven has been in hiding for centuries, scattered across the world. But there's one place we can start. An old archive, deep in the heart of the vampire underworld. It holds records of every major magical artifact, including the locket."Ethan's eyes widened. "The vampire underworld? You mean there's an entire world of vampires... living underground?"Selena nodded. "It's not just vampires. There are other creatures—witches, demons, and beings that have existed alongside humans for centuries. They operate in secret, hiding in plain sight. The archive is heavily guarded, but it's our best shot at getting answers."Ethan swallowed hard, feeling the weight of her words. "And Lucien? If he survived, he'll be coming for us.""Lucien will stop at nothing to get the locket," Selena agreed, her voice tense. "That's why we need to move quickly. The longer we wait, the more dangerous it gets."Ethan stood up, determination burning in his chest. "Then we need to go. We can't let him find it first."Selena met his gaze, admiration flickering in her eyes. "You're braver than you realize, Ethan."Before he could respond, there was a loud crash from outside. The sound of glass shattering followed by a deep, guttural growl. Ethan's heart stopped.Selena's eyes sharpened. "We're not alone."They rushed to the window, peering out into the dimly lit street. A figure stood in the middle of the road, cloaked in shadows. It was tall and hunched, its eyes glowing red in the darkness. Lucien."No..." Selena whispered, her voice tight with fear. "He's already here."Lucien raised his hand, and the air around them thickened with dark magic. The streetlights flickered and then extinguished, plunging the neighborhood into complete darkness."We need to run," Selena hissed, grabbing Ethan's arm. "Now."But before they could move, the front door burst open with a deafening bang. Lucien stepped inside, his presence filling the small house like a storm. His crimson eyes locked onto Ethan and Selena, his lips curling into a wicked smile."You thought you could hide from me?" Lucien's voice dripped with malice. "The locket belongs to me, and I will have it."Ethan's heart raced, his mind scrambling for a plan. But as he looked into Lucien's eyes, he felt the locket pulsing against his chest again, its power surging through him.This time, he knew he had to fight. For his mother. For Selena. For everything he held dear.He took a deep breath, stepping forward, his voice steady. "You'll never get it, Lucien."Lucien laughed, his voice like nails on a chalkboard. "You can't stop me, boy. Not even with that trinket around your neck."Selena's eyes widened in shock. "Ethan, no! You're not ready for this—"But it was too late. The locket glowed with a fierce light, enveloping Ethan in its warmth. He could feel its ancient magic responding to his will, like a fire that had been waiting to be unleashed.Lucien's smile faltered. "What...?"Ethan raised his hand, and a blast of golden light shot from the locket, striking Lucien square in the chest. The force of it sent him crashing through the wall, his body hitting the street outside with a sickening thud.Selena stared at Ethan, her eyes wide with disbelief. "How did you...?"Ethan shook his head, his voice barely a whisper. "I don't know. I just... did."Lucien staggered to his feet outside, his eyes blazing with fury. "This isn't over," he snarled, before vanishing into the night.Ethan stood there, breathing hard, the locket's light fading. His hands trembled as the adrenaline slowly drained from his body.Selena stepped forward, her voice soft but filled with urgency. "We have to leave. He'll be back, and next time, he won't hold back."Ethan nodded, still reeling from what had just happened. "Where do we go?"Selena met his eyes, her expression grim. "To the archive. It's time to find out the truth about the locket—and why it chose you."