veil of shadows

chapter 15 : a new path

Ethan sat quietly at the edge of his bed, staring at the locket in his hand. The soft glow from its gem pulsed faintly, a reminder of the power it contained and the weight of the journey ahead. Every decision from now on felt monumental, and the echoes of Lucien's threat still lingered in his mind. A dark force was awakening, and he had only just begun to understand what his role in all of it would be.Across the room, Grace stirred in her sleep, her breaths shallow but peaceful. The sight of his mother resting, after all she had been through, filled Ethan with a sense of calm. But there was also a pang of guilt in his chest—he was about to leave her, even if it was only for a short time. Would she be safe without him?Selena's words from earlier echoed in his mind: *She'll be safe while you're away.*But still, the uncertainty gnawed at him.A soft knock on his bedroom door pulled him from his thoughts. Selena stood in the doorway, her expression unreadable but her eyes filled with determination. She had changed into a dark cloak, the shadow of her past life as a powerful, ancient vampire creeping through her human guise."Are you ready?" she asked, her voice barely above a whisper, as if not to wake Grace.Ethan stood and glanced at his mother one last time before nodding. "Yeah. I guess I am."They moved silently through the small house, careful not to disturb the quiet. The night air was crisp as they stepped outside, the city lights casting long shadows across the street. Ethan pulled his jacket tighter around him, feeling the weight of the locket against his chest.As they walked, Selena glanced at him from the corner of her eye. "I know this is hard for you," she said, her voice softer now. "Leaving everything behind, especially your mother. But this... this journey we're starting, it's more important than anything either of us has faced before."Ethan nodded but didn't reply. He knew she was right, but it didn't make the choice any easier. The streets were quiet, the city seemingly unaware of the turmoil that was brewing beneath the surface. It was strange how life could continue as normal while something so monumental was happening in the shadows.As they walked further from Ethan's home, the familiar cityscape began to change. The buildings grew more ancient, the streets darker, as if they were crossing an invisible boundary between worlds. Ethan felt a chill run down his spine, not just from the cold, but from the palpable shift in the air. They were nearing the threshold of Selena's world."How do we get there?" Ethan asked, his voice cutting through the silence."There's a portal," Selena explained, her tone matter-of-fact. "It's hidden within the old library downtown. It's been there for centuries, disguised by magic, but only those with certain... abilities can access it."Ethan nodded, though the idea of walking through a portal into another world still felt surreal. "And the council... they'll help us?""They will," Selena replied, though there was a flicker of doubt in her eyes. "At least, I hope they will. The council is powerful, but they're also wary of outsiders. They'll need convincing."Ethan's stomach tightened. "And if they don't want to help?"Selena's gaze hardened. "Then we'll have to find another way."The weight of her words hung in the air as they continued walking. As they neared the library, Ethan's heart began to race. This was it—the point of no return. Once they crossed into Selena's world, there would be no turning back. He glanced at Selena, her expression as unreadable as ever, but he could see the tension in her jaw. She was feeling the same pressure he was.Finally, they arrived at the old library. The building loomed before them, its stone walls covered in ivy, the windows dark and foreboding. It looked abandoned, but there was an energy around it—an ancient power that made Ethan's skin tingle."This is it," Selena said, stepping toward the large wooden doors.She reached out, placing her hand against the cool stone beside the entrance. For a moment, nothing happened. Then, slowly, the stone rippled beneath her touch, the magic concealed within revealing itself. The door creaked open, revealing a dark, winding staircase descending into the earth.Ethan swallowed hard. He could feel the magic in the air, thick and alive. His heart pounded as they stepped inside, the darkness swallowing them.The stairway spiraled deep beneath the city, the only sound the echo of their footsteps against the stone. After what felt like an eternity, they reached the bottom. Before them was a vast underground chamber, filled with towering shelves of ancient books and relics from a world long forgotten. In the center of the chamber, a shimmering portal hung in the air, its edges crackling with energy.Ethan stared at it, his breath catching in his throat. This was it—the gateway to another realm, to another life.Selena turned to him, her face illuminated by the portal's glow. "Once we step through, there's no going back. Are you ready?"Ethan took a deep breath. He thought of his mother, of the life he was leaving behind, and of the dark forces gathering in the shadows. He didn't know what awaited him on the other side, but he knew he couldn't turn away now."I'm ready," he said, his voice steady.Selena nodded, and together, they stepped into the light.