Secrets of blooming estate book one

Chapter ten into the depths

The next few days at Blooming Estate passed in a blur for Sophia. She spent most of her time in the Archive, pouring over ancient texts, searching for any clue about what Eleanor had uncovered in the Garden's depths. The more she read, the more she realized just how little the Society truly understood the Garden's power. There were references to the Garden's origins in several old scrolls, but nothing definitive. Some claimed it was a fragment of an ancient god's domain, while others suggested it was a dimensional rift—a tear in the fabric of reality where time and space bent.

Despite her exhaustion, Sophia's determination grew. The weight of Eleanor's journal, of her ancestor's unfinished mission, drove her deeper into her research. But the cryptic warnings that echoed through the pages haunted her—_"The Garden is a doorway. Beware what lies on the other side."_

One evening, as the sun set behind the estate and long shadows crept through the windows of the Archive, Sophia came across something that made her heart skip. In an old leather-bound book, tucked between pages of forgotten rituals, she found a crude drawing of a door, much like the one she had passed through to reach the Garden. Beneath it, written in faded ink, was a single phrase: _The Threshold of the Forgotten._

Sophia leaned closer, her pulse quickening. The accompanying text was difficult to decipher, but one line stood out:

_"To pass through the Threshold is to meet the Keeper of Shadows, the one who waits beyond the veil. He is the gatekeeper of the Garden's final secret, and only those who dare to face him may glimpse the truth."_

Her breath caught in her throat. _The Keeper of Shadows._ It was the first concrete reference she had found to something—or someone—that might explain Eleanor's warnings. If this "Keeper" was connected to the darkness Eleanor had tried to seal away, then Sophia had to find him. But where was the Threshold, and how would she even begin to pass through it?

Before she could delve deeper into the text, a soft knock echoed through the Archive's door. Sophia snapped the book shut and looked up, startled. Beatrice stood in the doorway, her expression unreadable.

"We need to talk," Beatrice said quietly, stepping into the room.

Sophia's heart raced. She had barely seen Beatrice since their conversation after the Garden, and the weight of Eleanor's journal had kept her from confronting the older woman with more questions. Now, it seemed, Beatrice had come to her.

Sophia closed the book and faced her, trying to keep her voice steady. "What is it?"

Beatrice hesitated, her gaze flickering to the journal on the desk. "There's been... movement within the Garden. Something we haven't seen in years. The Council has felt a shift, and it's connected to you, Sophia."

"Connected to me?" Sophia's voice wavered.

Beatrice nodded. "The rose you retrieved—its power is still growing. You've been chosen by the Garden, but that doesn't mean the process is over. It's... evolving with you, testing you. I suspect it's preparing you for something greater."

Sophia's stomach twisted. She thought back to the visions she had seen, the overwhelming surge of power that had coursed through her body when she first touched the rose. The Garden was preparing her—but for what?

"I found something," Sophia said, her voice low. "In Eleanor's writings. She mentions a 'Threshold' and something called the 'Keeper of Shadows.' Do you know what that means?"

Beatrice's face tightened, her eyes narrowing. "The Keeper... is a myth. A story passed down through the Society. Some believe that beyond the physical Garden lies another realm, one that only the bravest—or the most foolish—dare to enter. The Keeper is said to guard that realm, ensuring that only those worthy may pass."

"And Eleanor?" Sophia pressed. "She wrote about it like it was real. She was trying to seal something away."

Beatrice's lips thinned. "Whatever Eleanor believed, she was lost to the Garden. Her final moments were spent chasing shadows. The Society has long since stopped searching for the 'Keeper.' There are no records, no proof of its existence."

Sophia shook her head, her frustration boiling over. "But what if it's real? What if this 'Threshold' is the key to understanding what the Garden wants?"

Beatrice was silent for a long moment, her expression hard to read. Finally, she spoke, her voice soft but firm. "Sophia, I know you want answers. But the Garden is dangerous. We don't control it—it controls us. Eleanor tried to go deeper, and it destroyed her. If you pursue this, it could destroy you too."

Sophia met her gaze, her resolve hardening. "I need to know the truth, Beatrice. Eleanor didn't die for nothing. She left behind clues because she wanted someone to finish what she started."

Beatrice sighed, rubbing a hand over her eyes. "If you truly intend to find the Keeper... then there is one place you must go. But I warn you, Sophia, once you pass through that door, there's no turning back."

Sophia's heart pounded. "Where?"

Beatrice's eyes darkened. "The Threshold is not just a physical barrier. It lies beneath the Garden, in the deepest chambers of Blooming Estate. We've kept it sealed for centuries. Eleanor was the last to try and pass through, and what happened to her... well, you know."

Sophia's breath caught. "Then that's where I need to go."

Beatrice shook her head, her expression grim. "I can't stop you, but I won't allow you to go alone. The power beyond the Threshold is far beyond what you've experienced. You'll need the Society's protection."

Sophia hesitated. Part of her wanted to push Beatrice away, to handle this alone as Eleanor had tried to. But she knew that if she failed, the consequences could be dire—not just for her, but for everyone. "Fine," she said finally. "But I need to go soon."

Beatrice nodded. "We'll prepare for the journey tomorrow night. You'll have time to gather your strength. But remember, Sophia, the Garden isn't just testing you—it's watching. And once you cross the Threshold, you may not be the same person when you return."

---

The night was colder than usual as Sophia stood at the entrance to the Garden once more, her breath forming misty clouds in the air. The Society gathered behind her, cloaked figures holding torches that cast flickering shadows on the stone walls. Beatrice stood beside her, silent but steadfast.

"The entrance to the Threshold is beneath the Garden's heart," Beatrice said softly. "We haven't opened it in years. It will take all of us to break the seal."

Sophia nodded, her fingers tightening around the black rose in her hand. She could feel its energy pulsing faintly, as if in sync with the Garden's heartbeat. It guided her forward, pulling her toward the darkness that waited below.

Without another word, she stepped through the doorway into the Garden. The others followed in silence, their footsteps muffled by the dense moss that covered the ground. The Garden was different tonight—quieter, more still, as if it too was holding its breath.

They walked for what felt like hours, winding through the tangled maze of vines and shadowed paths until they reached the heart of the Garden—the place where Sophia had first found the rose. In the center of the clearing, half-hidden beneath the twisted roots of an ancient tree, was a stone slab. Carved into its surface were symbols older than any language Sophia recognized.

"This is the Threshold," Beatrice whispered. "Once we open it, there's no turning back."

The other members of the Society moved forward, forming a circle around the slab. As one, they began to chant—an ancient incantation that echoed through the Garden, vibrating through the ground beneath Sophia's feet.

The stone slab began to tremble, the symbols glowing faintly with a pale light. Slowly, it slid open, revealing a dark stairwell that led deep into the earth. A cold draft rose from the opening, carrying with it the scent of decay and something older, something ancient.

Sophia stared down into the abyss, her heart racing. This was it—the path Eleanor had walked, the final test.

With one last glance at Beatrice, Sophia stepped forward, descending into the darkness below.