Page 48 of The Fractured Veil

The voice came again, another faint whisper that sent a shiver down my spine, making the hair on the back of my neck stand up.

"Thalia... you can't run..."

I swallowed hard, my eyes scanning the darkness around us. The shadows seemed to shift, almost like they were reaching out towards me. My heart pounded in my chest, and I took an involuntary step closer to Nox, my hand brushing against his arm.

"Did you hear that?" I asked, my voice barely above a whisper.

Nox turned his head slightly, his eyes narrowing. "Hear what?"

Zarek looked down at me, his brows furrowed in confusion. "Thalia, what's wrong?"

I hesitated, glancing between them. The voice had stopped, but the feeling of unease lingered, wrapping around me like a cold, invisible hand. "I thought... I thought I heard something but never mind."

Nox’s eyes darkened as he immediately began scanning the trees, his posture tensing. "I didn’t hear anything," he said, his voice low, but I could see the concern in his eyes.

Zarek stepped closer, his expression softening. "Hey, it’s probably just the wind." He tried to smile, but there was a flicker of worry behind his eyes.

I nodded, though the unease in my chest didn’t let up. The voice felt too real, too deliberate. Zarek must have sensed my jitters because he bumped his hip against mine, drawing my attention. "Why don't you tell us something about you before you came to the academy?"

"You’re just trying to distract me, aren’t you?" I asked, raising an eyebrow at him. A small smile played on my lips, trying to hide the genuine curiosity I felt. His attempts at distraction were endearing, though I wasn't about to let him know that. "It won't work, Zarek. Though, I am curious. What kind of stories are we talking about? Childhood mishaps? Tales of heroic feats? Or perhaps..." I paused, my gaze narrowing playfully, "embarrassing moments you'd rather forget?"

He grinned, unrepentant. "All of it"

Nox glanced back at us, his gaze lingering on me for a moment before he spoke. "We'll need to be careful tonight. If there’s something about you that allows you to see through the wards, it could be part of attracting attention we don’t want."

I swallowed, the weight of his words settling heavily on me. "Do you think someone’s watching?"

Nox’s eyes flicked away, his expression unreadable. "It’s possible. We need to be cautious."

Zarek sighed dramatically, though his eyes were serious. "Great, more shadowy figures lurking around. Just what we needed."

Despite the tension, I found myself leaning closer to Zarek, grateful for his attempts to lighten the mood. "Maybe they’ll be scared off by your charm."

He chuckled, his eyes sparkling. "They should be. I’m terrifyingly charming."

Nox shook his head, but there was the faintest hint of a smile on his lips. "Let’s just get back without drawing any more attention."

As we approached the house, the sense of unease only grew. The shadows seemed deeper, darker—alive. They twisted and shifted, reaching for me as if they knew my name. I studied them while walking, my heart pounding in my chest. These shadows were different—more sinister. Mine flickered softly, like they were ready to react. But these... these felt malevolent, as if they had a will of their own, eager to pull me into them. I shivered, feeling their cold presence inching closer, a silent promise of something far worse than I'd imagined.

As we entered the clearing, I looked over my shoulder to see the shadows hanging in the trees, watching. The whisper came again, louder this time, like a scream in my ear.

"Thalia... I'm coming..."

I stumbled, my breath hitching as fear surged through me. Nox’s arm was suddenly around me, steadying me. "What is it?" he asked, his voice urgent.

I shook my head, trying to regain control of my racing heart as my eyes scanned the tree line. Zarek’s eyes widened, his expression shifting. "We need to get inside. Now."

The three of us hurried towards the house, Nox’s arm still protectively around me. The shadows seemed to ripple, almost as if they were laughing at us, mocking our retreat.

We reached the front door, and Zarek ushering me inside. Nox followed, his eyes scanning the treeline one last time before stepping in and shutting the door firmly behind us.

The warmth of the house enveloped me, but the chill of those whispers lingered, echoing in my mind. Zarek turned to me, his eyes scanning my face. "Are you okay?"

I nodded, though my hands were still shaking. Nox’s jaw clenched, "I'll go talk to Damon."

Zarek nodded in agreement, his usual playful demeanor replaced by something more serious, but then his signature grin returned, accompanied by a wink. "We’ll get some hot chocolate started—extra marshmallows, just for you."

I watched as Nox ascended the stairs, his posture rigid with tension. The shadows seemed to cling to him as if trying to follow, and I couldn't help but feel a pang of worry as he disappeared from sight, heading to find Damon.

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