Secrets of Veil High: The Awakening (BOOK 2)

Chapter 6: The First Trial

The following evening, Kael met Ava outside the dormitory, where the stone walls seemed to absorb the moonlight, casting long shadows over the ground. She followed him in silence, nerves tingling under her skin. They slipped through a side door into the quiet halls of Veil High, their footsteps echoing as they moved deeper into the school. It felt like the air grew thicker with every turn, the silence taking on a weight of its own as they descended down a set of narrow stairs.

Finally, they arrived at a room Ava hadn’t seen before. Stone walls lined with ancient markings surrounded them, and a single candle burned at the center of the room, casting a dim glow over the other members of the Circle of Shadows, who were already waiting. Mara and the others stood in a loose circle, their expressions a mixture of excitement and trepidation. Kael gestured for Ava to join them, taking her hand to guide her into the ring.

Mara stepped forward, her dark eyes intense. “Tonight, Ava, you’ll undergo the first trial,” she said, her voice solemn. “This is a way for you to step into the past, to glimpse what was before Veil High became what it is now. To understand the purpose of The Awakening, we must confront the fragments of our founders’ lives and the dark truths they left behind.”

Ava’s heart pounded. She’d heard rumors about the “trial” from the other members, vague whispers that didn’t quite prepare her for what was to come. She looked at Kael, who offered her a reassuring nod, and then back to Mara, who held a small vial filled with a shimmering liquid.

“This will guide you into the memory,” Mara explained, handing her the vial. “The vision won’t be pleasant. It’s raw and consuming, as if you’re living it yourself. But remember, no matter what you feel or see, you must stay grounded in who you are.”

Ava nodded, her fingers trembling slightly as she took the vial and uncorked it. The liquid had an odd, metallic scent, and as she drank it, a warm sensation began to flood her body, radiating from her core outward. The world around her seemed to waver, the faces of her companions blending and blurring, the walls shifting and fading. She closed her eyes, letting herself be carried away by the sensation.

When she opened them again, she was no longer in the candle-lit room beneath Veil High.

Instead, Ava found herself in what appeared to be an old-fashioned classroom. The walls were adorned with fading tapestries, and the air was thick with the scent of parchment and ink. Her hands weren’t her own; they were rougher, marked by a lifetime of experiences foreign to her. She looked down at her reflection in a nearby window, and a stranger’s face stared back at her—a young woman with striking, intense eyes, clad in clothing that belonged to another era.

The room buzzed with voices, and she recognized them as members of Veil High’s founding circle. Ava watched them, feeling their camaraderie, the warmth and trust they shared. It was a bond that made her heart ache, though she didn’t understand why. Her thoughts didn’t feel like her own; they were laced with emotions, memories, fragments of a life she hadn’t lived.

Suddenly, a familiar figure appeared at the doorway—a young man with a hardened expression, his face half-hidden in shadow. Ava felt her chest tighten, a mixture of love and fear overwhelming her. He stepped forward, his gaze piercing, and her heart ached with an intensity she hadn’t known was possible.

“Emilia,” he whispered, his voice heavy with warning. “They’re coming for us. They know about the ritual.”

The name rang through Ava’s mind. 'Emilia.' It wasn’t her name, but it felt as if it were carved into her soul. She understood now—she was reliving the life of Emilia, one of Veil High’s original founders.

Ava—no, Emilia—felt her pulse race. She reached out, grasping the young man’s hand, and he clutched hers tightly. The warmth of his touch grounded her, anchoring her in the moment, even as fear clawed at the edges of her mind.