Beyond the Gateways

Chapter 2: The Edge of Danger

The air outside the café felt thick, charged with a strange energy that Ariana couldn't explain. Her heart pounded in her chest as she walked briskly down the dimly lit street, away from the unsettling encounter. Her fingers still tingled with the memory of the shield she had instinctively conjured. She didn't understand what had happened—why her magic had flared up so uncontrollably, so forcefully. Magic. She had never felt anything like that before.

Her breath was shallow, her mind racing through the moments that had just unfolded. She could still see Dorian's eyes—those dark, knowing eyes. He hadn't been bothered by the shield, not in the way a normal person would be. Instead, he had been intrigued, almost amused.

Why?

Ariana stopped in her tracks, her thoughts tumbling over one another. She needed answers. But from who? Dorian, the charming, cocky man who seemed to know more about her than she did about him? Or herself?

She was about to cross the street when she felt it again—that sense of being watched. She glanced over her shoulder, but there was no one behind her. The street was empty, save for a few people far in the distance. Nothing unusual.

Yet she couldn't shake the feeling. The air felt... wrong, thick with something dark. She quickened her pace, the sound of her footsteps echoing against the pavement as she neared her apartment.

Just as she reached the front door, her phone buzzed again.

Dorian.

She hesitated before answering, staring at the screen. His name seemed to burn into her, and despite the unease that had settled over her, she couldn't ignore it. Maybe he had something to say—maybe he could explain what happened. Or maybe, just maybe, she was curious about what was going on with him.

With a sigh, she swiped to answer.

"Ariana," Dorian's voice purred through the phone. "I was wondering when you'd pick up. I'm not sure what I did to scare you off, but I think we need to talk."

She rolled her eyes, leaning back against the door as she locked it behind her. "I'm not scared, Dorian," she said, her voice cool. "I just didn't think you'd be the type to pull some sort of stunt like that."

He chuckled softly. "Oh, you're right. I didn't mean to scare you, but I didn't think you'd be the type to unleash magic like that either."

Ariana's heart skipped a beat. "What do you mean?"

"I know what I felt," he said, his voice a little more serious now. "You're not just another human, Ariana. I saw it in your eyes. You've got something inside of you, something powerful. And it's not just me who's noticed."

Her pulse quickened. Was he talking about the shield? The magic she had unknowingly summoned?

"Tell me more," she demanded, pushing herself off the door, her eyes narrowing. "What do you know?"

He sighed, a sound that almost seemed to carry a hint of regret. "You're asking the right questions now. But it's not safe for us to talk about it over the phone. Meet me at the old library by midnight. You'll get the answers you need. But be careful, Ariana. There are things out there—things that would love to get their hands on you."

She didn't have time to respond before he hung up, leaving her with more questions than answers.

---

Midnight came too quickly.

Ariana stood outside the old library, its dark silhouette looming against the night sky. The stone structure was ancient, hidden among the newer buildings, as if it had been forgotten by the rest of the world. She could feel the weight of the night pressing in on her, the shadows hanging low, thick with the kind of danger that only existed in stories.

She pushed the heavy door open and stepped inside. The familiar scent of aged books filled the air, but it didn't comfort her. There was something else—something heavier, more oppressive.

She found him near the back of the library, standing near the row of old tomes and scrolls. Dorian's silhouette was outlined by the dim light from the window, his face half-hidden in shadow.

"Ariana," he greeted her, his voice low, but not unkind. "You came."

"What is this?" she demanded, her eyes scanning the space. "What's going on, Dorian?"

He stepped forward, his eyes glinting in the low light. "I wish I could explain everything in a way that makes sense. But we're dealing with things that don't make sense. You're part of something bigger than just your magic. Something ancient."

Ariana's brow furrowed. "Ancient? What do you mean? I'm just—"

"No," he interrupted. "You're not just a human. You're connected to the Gateways. To the Other Side. And those powers inside of you—they're not just for show."

Ariana shook her head, her mind spinning. "The Gateways? Other Side? You're losing me, Dorian. I don't know what you're talking about."

He stepped closer, his eyes never leaving hers. "The world you live in? It's only half of what's real. There's a world beyond—hidden from most people. A world full of magic, danger, and ancient powers. And you, Ariana, have a role to play in it."

Ariana's heart skipped. "What role?"

"That's what we're about to find out." He paused for a moment, as if measuring her reaction. "But first, you need to understand that there's more at stake than just you and me. There are others, people—beings—who want what you have. And they'll stop at nothing to get it."

She could feel the weight of his words pressing down on her chest. She wasn't just a person. She wasn't just some random woman who had stumbled into something bigger than her. She was part of something ancient. Something dangerous.