As Bellaire and Mia stepped out of the room where the rest of the household had gathered, they were greeted by a mix of anxious faces and hurried questions. Elias, with a sharp gaze, was the first to speak, his voice tight with concern.
“What in the void happened there?’ Elias demanded, his voice taut with worry. The wards—one moment they were steady, the next, it was like something was clawing at my mind."
Mia hesitated, her hands clasped tightly in front of her. She glanced at Bellaire, who nodded gently, encouraging her to speak. Taking a breath, Bellaire recounted the encounter with the ghoul, her voice trembling but steady. She described its relentless presence, the way it seemed to seep into the very walls of the library, and how their combined efforts had driven it back—if only temporarily.
“It wasn’t just a random attack,” Bellaire finished, her voice quiet but firm. “The wards held long enough for us to respond, but barely. It was stronger than we expected.”
We’d be looking at a disaster,” Mia cut in, her voice steadier than Bellaire’s. “We’ve patched the wards for now, but the ghoul’s not gone. Just… weakened. Mr. Deluca says we’ll need stronger magic to keep it out.”
The room fell silent, the weight of their words settling like a heavy fog.
Butler, standing by the doorway with her arms crossed, sighed heavily. “This means it’s getting worse,” she said, her voice tinged with worry. “If it broke through once, it’ll try again. And what if something stronger follows it?”
Yael , Bellaire's aunt stepped forward, her sharp gaze landing on Bellaire. “We need to act fast. Reinforce the wards, find out why this is happening. We can’t handle this piecemeal anymore.”
“We’ll find a way,” Mia said firmly, glancing at Bellaire. “We always do.”
After a few more murmurs of concern and offers of help, the group began to settle down, their initial panic fading into quiet determination.
Mia's exhaustion now is too heavy to ignore, leaned closer to Bellaire and whispered, “Can we leave? I need to rest.”
Bellaire nodded. “Of course. Let’s go.”
They excused themselves and climbed the staircase to the second floor, the soft glow of the lanterns lining the walls casting long shadows. The quiet of the house felt oppressive, each creak of the floorboards magnified in the stillness.
When they reached Bellaire’s room, she opened the door and stepped inside, her shoulders slumping as the familiar space wrapped around her. It wasn’t much—just a small desk cluttered with journals and notes, her bed neatly made with a patchwork quilt—but it was hers. It was safe. Or it used to be.
The soft click of the bedroom door behind Mia was the first moment Bellaire allowed herself to breathe. She sank onto her bed, the mattress dipping under her weight. The quilted cover was cool and inviting, but it couldn’t erase the tension knotted in her shoulders or the tremor still lingering in her hands.
Her body was exhausted, yet her mind refused to let go of the memory—the way the ghoul’s eyes had seemed to pierce through her, laying bare every fear and insecurity
Mia lingered by the doorway, her expression unreadable. “Do you want me to stay?” she asked quietly.
Bellaire hesitated, then nodded. “If you don’t mind. I… don’t want to be alone right now.”
Mia smiled faintly, stepping inside and closing the door behind her. She pulled a chair over from the desk and sat near the bed as Bellaire sank onto the mattress, her body curling into the pillows.
YOU ARE READING
THE LOST BOOK
Fantasi"The Lost Book" follows the thrilling adventure of Mia and Tink, as they embark on a quest to complete the prophecy. They stumble upon an old legend about a powerful book that vanished centuries ago Upon placing a long lost prophecy on them which...
