SECRETS OF EVERCREST (BOOK 2)

Chapter 17: The Dark Queen's Promise

Chapter 17: The Dark Queen's Promise

December 19, 2024. The early morning sun peeked through the curtains, casting a soft glow over the Bellweathers' living room. At 6 AM, the family gathered for a meeting. The atmosphere was tense, and William paced back and forth, his brow furrowed in frustration.

"Do you two have any idea what you were doing?" William's voice was stern, but there was an undercurrent of concern as he addressed Sol and Jane. "Astral projection is dangerous, especially if you don’t know what you’re getting into. You put yourselves at risk—both of you!"

Jane looked down, her hands fidgeting nervously, while Sol crossed her arms, still shaken from the previous day’s events.

"You’re like a daughter to me, Jane," William continued, his tone softening slightly. "And Sol… you’re my responsibility. You both mean the world to me. So, understand where I’m coming from."

Susan, standing beside William, spoke up next. Her voice was gentle, filled with motherly concern. "Sol, honey, are you okay? What happened yesterday… are you hurt?"

Sol nodded but stayed quiet for a moment, gathering her thoughts. She looked up, her eyes filled with fear. "Lilith. She threatened me. She said my powers would disappear. And I can feel it, Mom… every time I use them, it’s like I’m getting weaker."

William frowned, stepping closer. "That’s not going to happen, Sol. Lilith is trying to get into your head."

Sol shook her head, her voice rising in frustration. "But I feel it! You don’t understand… I’m getting weaker every time I use my powers. It’s like she’s poisoning me from the inside!" Her voice cracked, tears welling up in her eyes as she continued. "I can’t keep pretending everything’s fine."

Suddenly, Max, who had been sitting quietly, seemed to focus on something invisible. A strange sensation rippled through the room, like a blanket of silence had fallen over them. He looked up, his face serious.

"Don’t worry," Max said, his voice calm but filled with intensity. "I just created a temporary illusion around us. If Lilith is watching, she won’t see or hear anything for a moment. We’re safe to talk."

Everyone turned to Max, startled by the sudden change in atmosphere.

Max looked directly at Sol. "Lilith is doing this to make you doubt yourself, Sol. She’s not weakening you—she’s making you think you’re weak. She’s trying to get inside your head, to make you lose faith in your powers. That’s how she wins. By breaking you down from the inside."

Sol stared at Max, her breath catching. "But… how do you know?"

Max shrugged slightly, but his eyes were intense. "It’s just a theory. But it makes sense, doesn’t it? She knows how powerful you are. She knows you can take down her minions like they’re nothing. But if she can make you think you’re weak, she’s already won half the battle."

Everyone in the room was silent, processing Max’s words. Jane glanced at Sol, her eyes filled with concern, while William and Susan exchanged a knowing look, as if they were reluctantly agreeing with Max.

Finally, William sighed. "He’s right. Sol, we can’t let Lilith control your mind like this. You’re stronger than you think."

Susan stepped forward, gently touching her daughter’s shoulder. "You’re strong, Sol. You always have been."

Max’s illusion faded, and the normal sounds of the house returned. The tension lifted slightly, but the weight of Lilith’s looming threat still hung in the air.

Later that morning, the students of Evercrest University were abuzz with excitement. It was the day of the Welcome Smash, an event filled with games, booths, and activities for the first-years. Sol, Jane, and Max walked through the university’s large courtyard, trying to shake off the morning’s serious tone.