Page 38 of The Fractured Veil

His hand squeezed mine, a reassuring pressure, grounding me in the present. "Just stay with me, Thalia," he whispered, his voice softer now, almost pleading, a hint of desperation threading through his words. "I promise, I won't let anything happen to you."

I managed a small nod, a flicker of movement against the overwhelming tide of exhaustion. My eyes still locked on his, searching for why he was here—why he was helping me—as my eyelids grew heavier, lead weights dragging them down. I could feel myself slipping away, losing the battle against the darkness pulling me back under into its silent embrace, but this time, I wasn't afraid. I knew I wasn't alone. The warmth of his hand in mine, the sincerity in his voice, was a shield against the fear.

* * *

The nightmare came swiftly,pulling me deeper into the shadows of my mind

I stood alone in the middle of a dark forest, aged trees looming over me. The air was cold, biting into my skin. An unnatural silence hung in the air. There was no sound—no crickets, no distant animal calls, not even the whisper of wind through the branches. Just silence.

I heard it then—that low, guttural growl that made the hairs on the back of my neck stand on end. My eyes started scanning the shadowy depths of the forest, but there was nothing there. Just the oppressive darkness and the lingering echo of the growl. Panic clawed at my insides, a cold dread spreading through me, the darkness pressing in on me like a suffocating blanket, making it hard to breathe. I started to run—blindly, desperately—my feet pounding against the cold, unforgiving earth, my lungs burning with each frantic breath.

The growl grew louder, closer, and I could feel it—something was chasing me, something malevolent, something hungry. My legs felt heavy, as if the earth itself was trying to drag me down, roots and vines snaking up from the ground like grasping claws, trying to ensnare my ankles. I stumbled, my hands hitting the ground hard, the impact jarring my bones, dirt and leaves clinging to my skin like desperate pleas. The growl turned into a roar—a terrifying sound that seemed to come from everywhere at once, reverberating through the forest.

I pushed myself up, my hands scraped and bleeding, trying to run again, but the forest seemed endless, a labyrinth of shadows and fear, designed to trap me in its suffocating embrace. The darkness shifted, swirling and mingling, and I saw them—glowing eyes—piercing, evil eyes—staring at me from the shadows, burning with an unholy light. The creature emerged, its twisted horns like jagged blades against the darkness, its dark red fur matted and thick, the stench of decay clinging to it filled my nose. It was the same beast from before. But here, in this twisted version of reality, it seemed even larger, even more menacing—its power amplified by the fear that pulsed through me.

I backed away as it stalked towards me, each step slow—as if it knew there was no escape. My back hit a tree, the rough bark digging into my skin. I could see the hatred in the creatures eyes, the pure hunger, a reflection of the darkness that was here to consume me. It lunged, its massive claws swiping, sharp and deadly, but not at me—at Nox.

Nox appeared out of nowhere, a sudden, unexpected presence, throwing himself between me and the creature, a shield against the impending violence. I screamed—a raw, painful sound that echoed through the empty forest, a desperate cry as I watched the beast's claws tear into him, ripping through flesh and bone. His body crumpled to the ground, lifeless, his eyes dulling, losing their vibrant green, as they met mine for one heartbreaking moment, a silent farewell. The shock of it paralyzed me, my heart shattering into a million pieces, the pain taking over every inch of my body as I watched him fall.

I screamed again, my voice breaking—raw and ragged—my vision blurring with tears as the world around me dissolved into a hazy, distorted mess. The creature turned its eyes back to me, a cruel satisfaction in its gaze, a twisted mockery of my grief, as if it took pleasure in my despair. It moved towards me, its massive form blocking out all light, and I could feel the suffocating helplessness, the chilling inevitability of my fate closing in.

The ground gave way beneath me, I was falling into an endless abyss, watching as the darkness swallowed me whole. My stomach lurched, my body weightless, as I plummeted into nothingness. The creature's roar followed me, echoing in my ears, a final, conquering sound, its glowing eyes the last thing I saw before everything went black, leaving me lost in the embrace of the void.

My eyes snapped open, my body drenched in a clammy sweat. I struggled to control my ragged breathing and focused on steadying my trembling hands. The terror, the panic, clung to me like a second skin. I had watched Nox die—seen him fall, helpless against the creature that had hunted me through the twisting corridors of my nightmare. The vivid image replayed in my mind, a cruel, relentless loop, each time twisting the knife deeper into my chest.

"It was just a dream," I murmured. The room around me slowly swam into focus—a large, unfamiliar room made of dark stone glowing in the flickering light of a crackling fire to my right. Heavy, dark curtains were drawn over a large window, obscuring the world outside. The bed beneath me was massive, the kind that seemed to swallow you whole, with soft, luxurious linens that felt like heaven against my aching body.

I blinked, disoriented, trying to piece together the pieces of my scattered memory. The room was elegant, almost regal, with delicate carvings on the dark wooden furniture. A plush ivory rug, thick and soft, covered the cold stone floor. A tall bookshelf stood against the wall to my left, filled with old, worn books, their spines cracked and faded. A few candles flickered on a nearby table, their soft light illuminating the otherwise dark space, casting dancing shadows that seemed to shift and writhe in the periphery of my vision.

Where was I?The question echoed in my mind, a desperate plea for understanding. The fear from the attack—the lingering chill of the nightmare—still gripped me, its icy fingers tightening around my throat. My body ached with every small movement, a dull throb resonating through my limbs. My arm, grazed during the attack, pulsed with a sharp, insistent pain as I shifted. I had no idea how I ended up here, and the unfamiliarity of the room—the heavy silence—only heightened my anxiety, a knot tightening in my stomach. My gaze darted around the room, searching for any sign of familiarity, any clue to my whereabouts, but there was nothing—no one. I was alone.

My head pounded, and I struggled to calm my breathing, each inhale a shaky gasp. My hands clenched the soft sheets beneath me, the fabric bunching between my fingers as I tried to make sense of everything. The last thing I remembered was Nox, his strong arms around me, his reassuring presence as I slipped into the darkness.

Panic bubbled up in my chest, a suffocating wave, the vivid memory of Nox's lifeless body, pale and still, flashing before my eyes. The image seared itself onto my eyelids, a horrifying reminder of my dream. I had no idea where I was, who had brought me here, or what had happened after I'd lost consciousness. It had to be Nox—right? No one else knew where we were.

I forced myself to calm down. Whoever had brought me here had taken care of me—that much was clear. My wounds were tended to and expertly bandaged. The fire crackled merrily, still alive, suggesting someone had been here recently, stoking the flames to keep the room warm. I was dressed in a clean, oversized t-shirt, soft and comforting against my skin, and it carried a familiar scent of cedarwood and fresh rain that made me pause, my breath catching in my throat—Nox.

The realization sent a shiver down my spine. I was still wearing my pants from the Wonders of Nexara, but my socks and shoes were missing. Despite the care someone had taken with me, the fear lingered, a cold, unshakable shadow clinging to me as I struggled to piece together what was happening, to fill in the blanks of my lost memory.

I swallowed hard, the lump in my throat making it difficult, pushing myself to sit up, wincing as a sharp pain flared through my body, a searing reminder of my injuries. Every movement seemed to take twice the effort it should have, my muscles protesting with each shift. I took another deep breath—a slow inhale and exhale—swinging my legs over the side of the bed. The soft rug on the cool stone floor felt like clouds against my bare feet, a comforting sensation, and I wiggled my toes, enjoying the brief distraction from the fear and confusion that gnawed at me.

Slowly, I rose to my feet. My legs were shaky beneath me, threatening to buckle. I paused, steadying myself against the sturdy bedpost, my gaze flicking around the room once more, searching for any clue—any hint of where I was—before landing on the heavy wooden door. One step at a time, I moved towards the door, my bare feet silent on the soft rug, my fingers brushing against the cool, carved wood of the door frame before wrapping around the smooth metal of the handle. With a deep breath, a silent prayer for answers, I turned it and pulled the door open, stepping out into a hallway.

The hallway beyond was dimly lit, bathed in the soft glow of the moon from the window at the far end. My heart skipped a beat—a sudden flutter in my chest—as I took in the familiar surroundings: the long corridor, the dark, rough stone, the ornate tapestries on the walls. Recognition washed over me as I let out a shaky breath, a mixture of relief and disbelief bubbling up inside me.

The realization made me laugh—a soft, manic sound that escaped my lips before I could stop it. It was the hallway I had run into Zarek in before. I never thought I'd be happy to be here, in the home of the Shadow Brothers.

I leaned against the doorframe for a moment, letting the feeling wash over me, a wave of relief that threatened to knock me off my feet. I straightened, pushing myself away from the door, taking another deep breath, the pain flaring up the more I moved.

I moved cautiously toward the wide, curving staircase, listening for any signs of them, straining my ears against the quiet hum of the house. There was muffled talking coming from somewhere downstairs—voices low and serious—a murmur of words I couldn't quite hear, before a door slammed somewhere in the house, making me jump. I froze as loud footsteps approached the stairs, each one echoing through the hallway like a warning.

Gripping the smooth wood of the banister as I looked down the long, winding staircase, my body tense and unsure, a tremor running through me. My head swam slightly from the effort of standing—a dizzying wave of lightheadedness—but I ignored it, forcing myself to focus on the figure emerging from the shadows below. Nox appeared at the bottom of the stairs, his dark hair falling across his forehead, his eyes narrowing as they locked onto mine. I could see the tension in his broad shoulders, the way his jaw clenched, the subtle shift in his stance that spoke of a readiness to act.

"What the hell are you doing out of bed?" he snapped, his voice sharper than I expected, laced with a raw edge of concern, the worry beneath it barely masked by the irritation. He took the stairs two at a time, his long legs eating up the distance, closing the gap between us faster than I could react.

I swallowed, leaning more heavily against the banister, my body trembling from both exhaustion and the intensity of his gaze. "I... I just needed to see where I was," I whispered, hating how small and vulnerable I sounded, but unable to change it. The nightmare lingered, the memory ofhisdeath vivid, making my voice waver. The metallic scent of blood still clung to the air, a phantom reminder of the terror I'd experienced.

Nox stopped a few steps below me, his eyes searching my face, the frustration slowly melting into something softer—something that made my chest tighten. He let out a long breath, rubbing a hand over his face, his shoulders slumping. "You shouldn't be out of bed. You're hurt, Thalia. You need to rest."

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