Page 11 of The Fractured Veil

I blinked, surprised by the genuine concern in her voice. "I didn't mean to worry you," I said sincerely, feeling a pang of guilt. "I honestly didn't think it would be a big deal."

She huffed, leaning back in her chair and crossing her arms tighter. "Well, it is a big deal. You can't just wander off like that, especially not here. This place is crawling with things you and I don't even fully understand."

I sighed, rubbing my forehead as the events of last night flashed through my mind. The strange structure that had vanished, Nox materializing out of thin air… "I wasn't alone for long," I admitted, hesitant to reveal too much.

El's eyes widened. "Wait, what do you mean? Who found you?"

I hesitated, biting my lip. "Nox," I finally confessed, watching her face carefully for her reaction.

Her expression shifted instantly, her jaw dropping slightly before snapping shut. "Nox?" she repeated, her voice a little too high-pitched. "What do you mean,Nox?"

I shrugged, trying to downplay the encounter. "He materialized out of nowhere and told me I shouldn't be in the woods. Gave me the usual icy glare and then stormed off. Nothing happened," I explained, rolling my eyes at the memory of his arrogant demeanor.

El stared at me, her eyes searching mine, before letting out a long, slow breath. "Thalia, you really have a knack for attracting the strangest situations," she muttered, shaking her head in disbelief. "First, you catch the attention of all three brothers, and now you're wandering into their territory at night."

"What do you mean,theirterritory?" I asked, my brow furrowing in confusion.

El pressed her lips into a thin line, her fingers drumming against the table as she carefully considered her words. "The Shadow Brothers… they have more control over certain parts of the academy grounds," she explained slowly, her voice laced with caution. "Especially places like the forest."

She leaned forward conspiratorially, lowering her voice. "It's not just the forest, Thalia. There are areas of Nexara that nobody messes with—places that fall under… their domain." Her red-tinted eyes darted around, making sure no one was eavesdropping. "I don't know all the details, but from what I've heard, the forest—particularly the deeper parts—is off-limits for a reason."

I frowned, recalling the eerie feeling I had last night—how the shadows seemed to both beckon and repel. "And Nox just... appears out of nowhere?" I asked, still unsettled by his sudden appearance.

"Exactly," El confirmed, her expression growing serious. "They have a connection to the dark, to the shadows. Some say it's part of their power, their gift—or curse, depending on who you ask. That's probably why Nox found you so quickly. You were trespassing in their space."

I swallowed hard, her words settling uneasily in my stomach. "So, you're saying they have some sort of... claim on the forest?"

El nodded grimly. "That, and a few other places. No one really talks about it openly, but everyone knows to stay clear of those areas unless they want trouble. And you, Thalia, just went waltzing right into one of them."

"Well,fuck," I muttered, a wave of frustration and anxiety washing over me. "So now they think I'm... what? Trespassing? Spying?"

El sighed, rubbing her temples. "No, but it's not the kind of attention you want, trust me. They don't care about the rules like the rest of us. They do what they want, and no one challenges them."

I bit my lip, the weight of her words sinking in. "But why didn't Nox just... do something about it then? He could have easily scared me off or worse."

El let out a small huff, leaning back in her chair. "That's the million-dollar question, isn't it?" she mused, staring off into the distance as if trying to decipher a complex puzzle. "Nox is unpredictable. Hell, all of them are. But the fact that he didn't do anything outright… that's what's strange."

I crossed my arms, a shiver running down my spine. "Strange how?"

Her fingers tapped rhythmically against the table, a nervous habit that suddenly became more pronounced. "Look, most people who wander into their territory don't leave without... consequences. The fact that Nox didn't make you regret it on the spot means there's something more going on. Maybe he's testing you, watching how you react. Or maybe—" El hesitated, her eyes locking onto mine with a seriousness I'd rarely seen. "Maybe he'scurious."

A chill ran down my spine at the word.Curious?Aboutme? The thought was both unsettling and strangely intriguing. Why would someone like Nox, shrouded in mystery and power, be interested in me at all?

"I don't want their curiosity," I muttered, my voice thick with apprehension. "I just want to get through this academy without being dragged into their mess."

"I get it, Thalia. I really do," El said sympathetically, her voice softer now. "But at this academy, avoiding their mess might be harder than you think. Especially with Damon." She hesitated, her tone growing more serious. "His bloodline makes the academy... nervous. Let’s just say it’s not exactly a comforting legacy. His father is basically the boogeyman of the Shadow Kingdom. Cruel, powerful, and completely without remorse."

I sighed, the weight of it all crashing down on me. Just when I thought I was starting to get a handle on this place, it turned out I’d been unknowingly stumbling into the lion’s den. Worse yet, the lions had apparently taken an interest in me.

As if on cue, the psycho brothers made their entrance into the cafeteria, their presence an undeniable force that rippled through the room like a shockwave. Conversations stuttered to a halt, forks froze midair, and the once-bustling energy dimmed as every eye in the room snapped towards them. An invisible aura seemed to command the crowd to part, creating a path for the brothers as they moved with an almost predatory grace. No one dared to break the unspoken rule of deference that surrounded them.

Nox led the way, his signature black hoodie pulled low, casting his face in perpetual shadow. The effect was both mesmerizing and unnerving, as if he were a creature of the night, comfortable only in darkness. His hands were tucked casually into his pockets, his stride long and deliberate, radiating an unsettling calm that hinted at a dangerous power simmering beneath the surface.

Behind him strode Zarek, his posture relaxed, almost languid. He wore a fitted black shirt and jeans that molded to his athletic frame, his shoulders loose, but his eyes gleamed with a mischievous glint, scanning the room with a barely concealed smirk. He exuded an air of someone who thrived on the hushed whispers and stolen glances, reveling in the attention without needing to demand it.

Damon, however, was a stark contrast to his brothers. Dressed in black jeans and a crisp white button-up shirt that accentuated his broad shoulders and lean physique, he moved with an almost regal grace. Every step was deliberate, every glance measured. His storm-blue eyes—cold and sharp as shards of ice—seemed to dissect everything they landed on, unaffected by the nervous reactions of those around him. He exuded an air of authority and power, the kind that could command a room with a single look. His raven hair was styled impeccably, though that same single rebellious strand fell across his forehead, lending him a subtly unruly edge. A faint shadow of stubble framed his jawline, adding a rugged charm to his otherwise polished appearance—as if every detail, from his attire to his demeanor, had been meticulously crafted to project an image of absolute control.

They moved as one, a perfectly synchronized unit, their gazes fixed ahead, indifferent to the people parting before them. The trio claimed their usual table—the one no one dared to occupy, not even in their absence. It was theirs, a silent claim of ownership that resonated louder than any spoken word.

---