Page 34 of Unseen Eye
I feel the weight of his words pressing down, like the walls are closing in. I meet his gaze, feeling a surge of gratitude. “Thank you, Emmet. For everything. I appreciate your honesty more than you know.”
He offers a reassuring smile, his expression both protective and gentle. “Anytime you need anything, or if you just need to talk, I’ll be right outside.”
He pauses, holding my gaze for a beat longer, and I feel a small spark of hope, like a light in the darkness. And then he’s gone, his red hair catching the dim light as he closes the door softly behind him, leaving me alone with too many questions and a heart that feels just a little less heavy.
Chapter Twelve
The next two days blur together in a frustrating cycle. Wake up, train, fail. Train more, fail some more. Retreat to the library. Rinse, repeat. Leigh pushes me through drills meant to prepare me for the demonstration—coaxing out a power that refuses to obey, no matter how hard I try. The light remains elusive, flickering just out of reach, mocking me. Maybe I should add “professional failure” to my list of talents—at least I’d have one.
The palace grounds and gardens have begun to transform in preparation for the upcoming eclipse. Vibrant flowers in shades of deep pinks and purples are meticulously planted, their colors chosen to reflect the celestial event. Lanterns are strung up along the pathways, ready to be lit in celebration, and intricate tapestries depicting the sun are hung on the palace walls. There is a sense of anticipation and excitement, as the entire kingdom buzzes with the forthcoming spectacle—me.
“Focus on how you were feeling in that moment,” Leigh suggests the day before the eclipse, as if it’s that simple.
“Considering I was about to die, I don’t think I can easily recreate those feelings,” I retort, the frustration eating at me.
Garet has made several appearances, offering words of encouragement that always feel hollow to me. But today, he’s been called to the south border to check out a disturbance ahead of tomorrow’s events. After my conversation with Emmet about Garet’s affinity, I can’t shake the unsettling thought of whether Garet has used his power on me. Meanwhile, Baron’s frustration with my inability to produce the light grows by the hour. Thankfully, Garet has taken it upon himself to handle his father, leaving me out of the confrontations. For that, I’m grateful. Sure, I still think he’s a tyrant, but occasionally, he shows a glimpse ofthe merchant’s son I once knew.
It took me half the night to realize I have two options: wallow in self-pity and adopt a “poor me” attitude or attempt to make the best of a shitty situation and learn as much as I can. Don’t get me wrong, I’m still plenty pissed, but I’m pushing those feelings to the back to deal with later—along with a list of questions that grow every day. As long as I can survive past tomorrow, I should have plenty of time to deal with them.
Gods know I’m good at holding a grudge.
The other half of the night was spent trying not to think about Callon, despite Leigh’s warning about him always having an ulterior motive. He could have told everyone that day about the gate experience, yet he acted as if he’d never seen me before. What could he possibly gain by keeping it quiet? Especially if he’s the ruthless killer everyone believes him to be.
When I’m not failing to make light appear, I spend every waking moment in the library. What started as an investigation to see if I could learn anything about my ability has quickly turned into reading any book I can get my hands on. The amount of history in this library would take me years to read, and that’s not even counting all the locked rooms in the back that I may or may not have tried to sneak into.
That evening, as the sun begins to set and the palace grounds take on a warm, golden glow, Leigh finds me in the garden. “Eva,” she says softly, “let’s take a walk.”
I nod, setting aside my practice sword. We stroll along the paths, the newly planted flowers swaying gently in the evening breeze. The lanterns cast a soft, flickering light, adding a touch of magic to the atmosphere.
“The preparations are beautiful,” I comment, admiring the effort that has gone into every detail.
Leigh smiles. “The Lunar Eclipse is a significant event for us. It symbolizes change and new beginnings. This year, it holds evenmore meaning with your arrival.”
I glance at her, a mixture of emotions swirling within me. “I just wish I could summon the light. Baron’s inevitable disappointment is going to be hard to ignore.” I can already picture the scene he’ll cause tomorrow when I fail yet again.
Leigh stops and turns to face me, her expression serious yet kind. “Eva, you’re doing your best. And Garet believes in you. That’s why he’s been dealing with our father—to give you the space you need.”
I take a deep breath, pushing down the anger that simmers just beneath the surface. “I appreciate that. But it doesn’t change the fact that they expect me to do something I can’t. And it’s infuriating.”
“You are not,” Leigh says firmly. “The light will come when it’s ready. Until then, focus on what you can do.”
“Easy for you to say,” I mutter before I can stop myself. The words are out before I can catch them, laced with sarcasm, and instantly, guilt tugs at me. Leigh doesn’t deserve that. But hey, at least I’m consistent in my ability to mess things up, right?
We continue our walk, the conversation shifting to lighter topics, though the weight of expectations still lingers in the air. Despite everything, there’s a sense of camaraderie growing between us—something I didn’t expect but am beginning to rely on. It makes the challenges a little easier to bear.
Later that night, I find myself alone in the library, a familiar solitude. It’s the same scene as the past few nights, but tonight, my focus sharpens on the Abyss Gates. I’ve been avoiding them in my thoughts, but they still linger, haunting me in the quiet moments. I pull several books from the shelves, each one more daunting than the last.
As I dive into the ancient texts, I uncover disturbing details about the gates and their ties to the different realms of the abyss. Each one serves as a portal to a distinct level, home tohorrors that are eager to break free. Creatures, armies—each more terrifying than the last—are trapped within, each vying for a chance to escape into our world.
The first gate leads to the Plane of Shadows, a realm inhabited by wraiths and shadow beings. These creatures thrive in darkness, feeding on the fears and nightmares of the living. Their leader, a being known as the Shadow King, commands an army of spectral warriors, each one capable of slipping through the smallest cracks in reality to strike at their prey. Perfect for those who like their nightmares served with a side of existential dread.
The second gate opens to the Infernal Fields, a realm of endless flames and scorched earth. This level is inhabited by colossal, flame-wreathed creatures, their bodies burning with an unnatural heat. Their leader, Vaelkor the Ashforged, wields a blazing whip that crackles with raw power, commanding legions of fire-born entities known as the Emberbound, who serve him without question.
The third gate connects to the Abyssal Peaks, a jagged expanse of towering peaks and endless blizzards. Colossal frost-bound titans and stone-clad behemoths roam these peaks, their bodies hardened by the relentless cold. They serve under the rule of Svarog the Everfrost. His armies—vast legions of Glacierborn and Rimefang Trolls—strike with the force of an avalanche, leaving only ruin in their wake. Perfect for those who believe a blizzard should come with a little more destruction.
The fourth gate opens to the Iron Wastes, a desolate realm where magic twists and corrupts the very land. The air is thick with the scent of burning oil, and the ground is littered with jagged shards of blackened metal. The Maledicus Seers—horrifying creatures with their heads twisted backward and black blood dripping from their eyes—are the embodiment of nightmare. They wield forbidden magic, their spells capable ofwarping reality and controlling the very essence of life itself. This level is ruled by the Iron Tyrant, a cruel and calculating ruler whose presence warps the land. His minions are not mere soldiers, but dark sorcerers who control twisted, steam-powered monstrosities—beasts of metal and magic that obey only his command.
The fifth and final gate opens to the Heart of Darkness, the deepest and most terrifying level of the abyss. This is the realm of Nyxthaal, a being of pure evil and chaos. His domain is populated by the most fearsome and twisted creatures imaginable, from flying abominations to soul-devouring horrors. His armies are vast and varied, each one more horrifying than the last, ready to unleash their terror upon the world. Because, obviously, the ultimate horror needed a grand finale.
