veil of shadows

chapter 16 : the other side

The moment Ethan and Selena stepped through the portal, the world around them seemed to warp and twist. Colors bled into one another, time itself seemed to stretch and snap back, and for a brief moment, Ethan wasn't sure if he was standing or falling. The locket on his chest hummed with a strange energy, as though it were resonating with the portal's magic, guiding him through the chaos.Then, as suddenly as it began, the sensation ended.Ethan blinked, trying to regain his balance. He found himself standing in the middle of a vast, ethereal landscape. The sky above was an inky purple, streaked with vibrant swirls of gold and crimson, like a never-ending twilight. Strange, towering trees with silver bark and glowing leaves dotted the horizon. The air felt thicker here, humming with magic so strong he could almost taste it."This is..." Ethan trailed off, unsure how to put what he was seeing into words."The Veil," Selena finished for him, stepping beside him. "The space between worlds. We have to cross through it to reach my realm."Ethan took a deep breath, his senses overwhelmed by the sheer otherworldliness of the place. Everything here felt alive, but not in the way the mortal world did. It was as though the very air buzzed with awareness, as though the ground beneath his feet was watching, listening."How long will it take?" Ethan asked, glancing at Selena."Not long," she replied, her gaze scanning the landscape. "But we'll need to move quickly. The Veil is unstable—it shifts and changes. We need to find the exit before it moves again."Ethan's eyes widened. "Wait—moves again?"Selena gave him a tight smile. "The Veil is... unpredictable. The paths through it aren't fixed. If we're not careful, we could get stuck here, lost between worlds."That was not comforting. Ethan clutched the locket, its warmth steadying him. He could feel the weight of the journey ahead, the uncertainty of what awaited them on the other side, but there was no turning back now. He had committed to this path.They began walking, the ground beneath their feet soft and pliant, as though they were treading on something not entirely solid. Ethan noticed how quiet the Veil was—no birds, no wind, just the faint hum of magic that permeated everything.After walking in silence for a while, Ethan couldn't help but ask the question that had been burning in his mind since they left. "Selena... what happens if Lucien gets what he wants? If we don't stop him?"Selena's expression darkened, her steps slowing slightly. "If Lucien manages to unlock the full power of the locket... he could rip through the Veil. Merge our world with the mortal one."Ethan frowned. "That sounds bad.""It's worse than bad," Selena said grimly. "The balance between the realms would be destroyed. Mortals can't survive in a world filled with raw magic. It would consume them, turn them into something unrecognizable. And the creatures from my world... they wouldn't hesitate to invade yours."The weight of her words settled heavily on Ethan's shoulders. He had known this was serious, but hearing it laid out so plainly made it feel more real. The fate of two worlds rested on them—and on the power of the locket he now carried."Then we can't fail," Ethan said, his voice firm. "We have to stop him."Selena nodded, her eyes reflecting a deep determination. "We will."They continued walking, the landscape around them shifting subtly, the trees swaying in ways that didn't quite match the lack of wind. The air grew cooler, the colors in the sky deepening, and the hum of magic grew louder. Ethan could feel it thrumming in his bones now, more intense with each step.Suddenly, Selena stopped, holding out a hand. "Wait."Ethan froze, his heart pounding. "What is it?"Selena's eyes narrowed as she scanned the area. "We're not alone."The words sent a chill down Ethan's spine. He looked around, but he saw nothing—just the strange trees and the endless expanse of the Veil. "What do you mean?""There are creatures here," Selena whispered. "They live in the Veil. They're drawn to magic—especially the kind that portal travel stirs up."Ethan's grip tightened on the locket. "Can they... hurt us?"Selena's jaw clenched. "Yes."Before Ethan could ask anything else, the ground beneath them shifted, a low rumbling sound rising from the earth. His eyes darted around, trying to find the source, but all he saw were shadows—shadows that seemed to move on their own."They're here," Selena said, her voice low and tense. "Stay close to me."Ethan didn't need to be told twice. He moved closer to Selena, his heart racing as the shadows grew more defined. Dark figures began to emerge from the edges of the landscape, their forms shifting and flickering like smoke. They had no solid shape—just the vague outline of humanoid figures, their eyes glowing with a faint, eerie light."What do we do?" Ethan whispered, fear creeping into his voice.Selena's eyes were locked on the creatures. "We move. Slowly. They won't attack unless we run."Ethan swallowed hard, his body tense with fear, but he forced himself to follow Selena's lead. They moved carefully, each step deliberate and measured, trying not to draw the attention of the shadowy figures. The air felt thicker now, the presence of the creatures pressing down on them like a weight.The figures watched them, their glowing eyes tracking every movement. Ethan could feel the tension in the air, the silent threat that if they made one wrong move, these creatures would descend upon them.Finally, after what felt like an eternity, they reached the edge of the clearing. The shadowy figures seemed to fade, blending back into the darkness of the Veil.Selena let out a slow breath. "We're clear. For now."Ethan nodded, though his heart was still racing. "What were those things?""Veil spirits," Selena explained. "They're not fully alive, not in the way we are. They exist between worlds, feeding on magic and energy. If we had run, they would've chased us. And they don't stop once they start."Ethan shuddered at the thought. "Let's hope we don't run into them again."Selena gave a grim nod, and they pressed on. The exit from the Veil had to be close, and Ethan could feel the weight of the locket pulling him toward it. Every step brought them closer to the next stage of their journey—and closer to the looming threat of Lucien.But as they neared the end of the Veil, one thing was clear: the dangers they had faced so far were only the beginning.