As the tremors faded, silence settled over the chamber once more, thick and heavy. The three of them—Ava, Victor, and Liam—stood in a reverent circle around the plaquette, the ancient artifact now emitting a subtle hum, as if breathing with the room itself. Liam’s eyes darted nervously between Ava and Victor, his hands trembling slightly as he took a step back.
Ava felt the tension rolling off him and placed a reassuring hand on his shoulder. “It’s okay, Liam,” she murmured, hoping to ease his unease. “The plaquette is anchored. The Veil is secure… for now.”
But even as she said it, she could sense the vastness of the power she had just tethered to herself. The plaquette had become an extension of her, as if some fragment of her soul now resonated in sync with the ancient artifact. The connection felt raw and primal, something beyond her understanding. She knew that her role as the Anchor would only grow heavier from here.
Victor watched her carefully, his calculating gaze softened by a glint of admiration. “The plaquette may be stable now, but its power must be guarded. Anchoring it means you’re bound to it, Ava. The Veil’s security rests with you.”
Ava swallowed, the weight of his words sinking in. She glanced at Liam, who was still pale and wide-eyed. “We knew this wouldn’t be easy,” she said, her voice firm despite the fatigue tugging at her. “But we can’t stop here. If the creatures beyond the Veil sensed our connection, it’s only a matter of time before they find a way to test its strength.”
Victor nodded, his lips pressed into a thin line. “There are… others,” he said, choosing his words carefully. “Those who’ve tried for centuries to breach the Veil. They’ve failed before, but now that the channel is open, they’ll be watching. Waiting for a weakness.”
Liam let out a shaky breath, his eyes flicking to the dark shadows in the room, as if expecting something to emerge. “So… you’re saying we’re not done yet? That there are more of these… beings out there?”
Victor’s gaze hardened. “More than you could imagine. Some of them linger just beyond the Veil, creatures and forces who want nothing more than to cross over, to unleash themselves here. They’re drawn to power, to the ripples of energy we created tonight. And if they sense any weakness in the plaquette or the Veil’s anchor…” He trailed off, leaving the warning unspoken but heavy in the air.
Ava felt a chill run down her spine. She had known, in theory, that this journey would be dangerous, but she hadn’t fully grasped the magnitude of it until now. She tightened her grip on Liam’s shoulder. “We can handle this,” she said, more for his benefit than her own. “We’ve come this far. We’ll figure out a way to protect the plaquette, to keep the Veil secure.”
Victor took a step toward her, his expression inscrutable. “The scroll may hold more answers,” he said. “It’s not just a map to the plaquette. It’s an ancient text, written by those who knew the secrets of the Veil. They understood its dangers—its vulnerabilities.”
He unrolled the scroll once more, his fingers tracing the intricate lines and symbols. “There are stories here, warnings left behind by those who guarded the Veil long before us. They speak of rites and protections, ancient spells meant to reinforce the anchor.”
Ava leaned over, studying the scroll. As her fingers hovered over the inked lines, a flicker of understanding stirred in her mind, as though the symbols were speaking directly to her. She could feel their resonance, the way they seemed to hum in time with the plaquette’s pulse. “These symbols…” she began, her voice barely a whisper. “They’re… like a key. They can reinforce the bond.”
Victor nodded, impressed. “Yes. But unlocking their full potential won’t be simple. It will require knowledge, skill—and sacrifice.”
Ava swallowed, meeting Victor’s gaze. “What kind of sacrifice?”
He hesitated, glancing at the plaquette as if weighing his words. “Anchoring the Veil demands a piece of the Anchor’s essence—a fragment of your own spirit. Each time you perform a ritual, that connection deepens. And as it does, your own connection to this world weakens. You become more… tethered to the Veil.”
The room seemed to close in around her as she absorbed his words. A life bound to the Veil, constantly anchoring its energies, felt both empowering and terrifying. “So every time I protect it… I lose a little of myself?”
Victor’s expression was solemn. “Yes. But that’s what makes you the Anchor. Few can bear the weight of that role, and fewer still can survive it.”
Liam’s hand shot out, grabbing her arm. “Ava, you don’t have to do this. We’ll find another way. Maybe… maybe there’s someone else, someone more prepared for this.”
Ava shook her head, giving him a sad smile. “It’s already begun, Liam. The connection is formed. I can feel it in my bones, in my soul. The Veil chose me—maybe even before I realized it.”
Victor’s expression softened, though his resolve was clear. “There are others who can help us, allies who understand the ancient ways. We’ll find them, learn what we can. But know this, Ava—every ritual, every binding you perform will bring you closer to the Veil and farther from the life you once knew.”
Ava let out a slow breath, processing the enormity of her commitment. She looked at Liam, whose gaze was filled with fear but also unwavering support. “Then we’ll face it together,” she said softly. “I may be the Anchor, but I don’t have to bear it alone.”
Victor gave a nod of approval. “Then our first step is finding the Guardians. They’re scattered, hiding among the shadows, but they know more about the Veil’s secrets than anyone else. They’ve dedicated their lives to its protection, though few understand its true power.”
Liam’s voice was quiet, almost reverent. “How do we find them?”
Victor rolled up the scroll, his eyes gleaming with a renewed sense of purpose. “The scroll will guide us. Its symbols are not only a map but a beacon. It will call to those who can hear it—those who will recognize its importance.”
As they turned to leave the chamber, the faint hum of the plaquette lingered in Ava’s ears, a reminder of the bond that now connected her to the Veil. Every step they took echoed in the silence, the weight of their mission settling heavily upon their shoulders.
They climbed the narrow staircase back to the surface, emerging into the dim light of dawn. The world outside seemed strangely distant, as though they had returned from a place beyond time, beyond reality. Ava felt a shiver run through her, realizing that her life would never be the same. She had crossed a threshold, one that bound her to a destiny she could hardly comprehend.
But as she looked at Liam and Victor beside her, she felt a spark of hope. Together, they would protect the Veil, guard its secrets, and seek out the knowledge needed to keep its power contained.
Victor placed a hand on her shoulder. “The journey will be perilous,” he said, his voice a low rumble. “But you have a strength unlike any I’ve ever seen. You’re not just an Anchor, Ava. You’re the keystone to something far greater.”
Ava met his gaze, her resolve hardening. She didn’t fully understand the path before her, but she knew one thing with certainty: she would see it through to the end. The Veil, the creatures beyond it, the ancient secrets—all of it would be hers to protect.
With one last glance at the hidden chamber behind them, the three of them set off, ready to confront whatever dangers awaited them in the shadows.
YOU ARE READING
AVA's EDGE
Misteri / ThrillerAva Carol, who has seen lot in her life from early age and now a detective and from side hustle a businesswoman now she in the cages of lie and between the life and death, she is going to find truth and break the curse her mother had from long and L...
