Chapter 2: Through the Veil
1273 Words
The clock struck 11:58 p.m.
Evelyn had packed exactly one suitcase.
Not because she believed any of this.
Because she couldn’t explain why she couldn’t ignore it.
She paced the living room while Margaret sat quietly on the couch, twisting a tissue between nervous fingers.
“You don’t have to go,” Margaret said for the tenth time.
“I know.”
“But…”
“But?”
Margaret looked toward the rain-soaked window.
“I think you should.”
Evelyn stopped pacing.
“You just told me yesterday that supernatural creatures exist.”
“I know.”
“You told me my parents weren’t human.”
“I know.”
“And now you’re telling me to leave with whoever shows up at midnight?”
Margaret smiled sadly.
“I’m telling you to find the answers I never could give you.”
Silence settled over the room.
Evelyn looked at the silver bracelet on her wrist. It hadn’t come off once. She had tried soap, lotion, even kitchen oil.
Nothing.
It had become part of her.
Tick.
Tick.
Tick.
11:59.
Then…
Every light in the apartment flickered.
The rain outside stopped.
Not slowed.
Stopped.
Each raindrop hung frozen in the air like tiny crystals.
“What…”
A soft knock echoed through the apartment.
Three slow taps.
Margaret inhaled sharply.
“They’re here.”
Evelyn opened the door.
No one stood in the hallway.
Instead…
The hallway itself had disappeared.
Beyond the doorway stretched an ancient stone bridge floating above a sea of silver mist. Moonlight bathed everything in a soft glow despite the cloudy night.
At the far end waited a magnificent black carriage trimmed in silver.
There were no horses.
Instead, four enormous wolves stood silently at its front.
Each was larger than a grizzly bear.
Their eyes glowed gold.
One stepped forward.
Its gaze met Evelyn’s.
Instead of growling, it lowered its massive head in respect.
A deep voice echoed inside her mind.
Welcome home, Miss Carter.
Evelyn stumbled backward.
“You… you talked.”
The wolf blinked.
No. You heard.
“What?”
Few humans hear the minds of Moon Guardians.
“I told you, I’m human.”
The wolf tilted its head.
Not for much longer.
Behind her, Margaret quietly wiped away tears.
“I suppose this is goodbye.”
Evelyn hugged her tightly.
“You raised me.”
“I loved every minute.”
“I’m scared.”
“I know.”
Margaret kissed her forehead.
“So was your mother.”
Before Evelyn could ask another question, the silver mist swirled around her feet.
The bridge shimmered.
The wolves waited.
She took a deep breath.
Then stepped forward.
The doorway vanished behind her.
—
The carriage moved without sound.
There was no driver.
No reins.
Only moonlight flowing beneath invisible wheels.
Outside, impossible landscapes rolled past.
Forests where glowing deer wandered between crystal trees.
Mountains floating upside down.
Lakes that reflected different skies than the one overhead.
Entire villages hidden beneath shimmering magical barriers.
“This can’t be Earth,” Evelyn whispered.
“It is.”
She spun.
A young man sat across from her.
He definitely hadn’t been there a second ago.
He looked about twenty-two with messy black hair, warm bronze skin, and bright emerald eyes.
He wore a fitted black academy uniform with silver embroidery.
A wolf’s head was stitched onto the collar.
Evelyn nearly jumped out of her seat.
“Who are you?”
“Lucas.”
“Lucas…?”
“Just Lucas.”
“You appeared out of nowhere.”
“I opened the door.”
“There isn’t a door.”
“There is if you know where to look.”
He smiled.
She frowned.
“I don’t like riddles.”
“Good.”
“Why?”
“Professor Ashcroft teaches in riddles.”
She groaned.
“Great.”
Lucas laughed.
His laugh was genuine.
Warm.
Comforting.
For reasons she couldn’t explain, hearing it eased some of the tension in her chest.
“You’ve never seen magic before, have you?”
“No.”
“Not knowingly.”
He leaned forward.
“You’ve felt it.”
“What do you mean?”
“Déjà vu.”
She nodded.
“Dreams that felt real.”
Again, she nodded.
“Knowing someone was watching when nobody was there.”
“Yes…”
“You’ve smelled rain before it started.”
“…Yes.”
“You’ve heard animals talking.”
“I thought I was imagining that.”
“You weren’t.”
He smiled knowingly.
“Your instincts have been trying to wake you for years.”
Before Evelyn could ask another question, the carriage slowed.
The silver mist began to part.
Towering black iron gates emerged from the darkness.
Carved across the archway in glowing silver letters were the words:
HIDDEN MOON ACADEMY
The gates opened by themselves.
Evelyn forgot how to breathe.
The campus stretched farther than she could see.
Ancient castles connected by glass bridges.
Gardens filled with glowing flowers.
Waterfalls flowing upward into floating lakes.
Students walked along stone pathways beneath enormous silver-leafed trees.
Some looked completely human.
Others…
Didn’t.
A girl laughed as bright blue feathers appeared in her hair.
Two boys argued while casually floating several feet above the ground.
Someone walked past with elegant antlers rising through dark curls.
Another student had fox ears twitching while reading a textbook.
A tall girl with shimmering dragon scales along one arm yawned, releasing a tiny puff of harmless smoke.
No one paid any attention.
As though this was completely normal.
Evelyn stared.
“I’m dreaming.”
“No.”
“I hit my head.”
“No.”
“I’ve finally lost my mind.”
Lucas shrugged.
“That one’s still being debated.”
She glared at him.
He grinned.
—
The carriage stopped before an enormous staircase leading to the academy’s main entrance.
Hundreds of students filled the courtyard.
The moment Evelyn stepped out…
Everything went silent.
Every conversation stopped.
Every head turned.
She froze.
“Why is everyone looking at me?”
Lucas’s smile disappeared.
“…That’s unusual.”
A tall vampire with silver eyes frowned.
A witch dropped her books.
A group of werewolves began whispering.
“What is it?” Evelyn asked.
No one answered.
Then an elderly woman wearing emerald robes emerged from the crowd.
Her white hair was braided with tiny crystals.
She carried a staff carved from silver wood.
The students immediately stepped aside.
She stopped directly in front of Evelyn.
For several long moments…
She simply stared.
Finally, she reached out and touched the silver bracelet.
The crystal atop her staff exploded with light.
Gasps erupted across the courtyard.
The woman whispered just loudly enough for everyone to hear.
“Impossible…”
“What?” Evelyn asked.
The professor’s expression had gone pale.
“This bracelet…”
She looked directly into Evelyn’s silver-gray eyes.
“…belongs to the Moon Sovereign.”
The courtyard erupted into shocked whispers.
“That’s impossible.”
“The bloodline ended.”
“It can’t be her.”
“The prophecy…”
Lucas looked just as stunned as everyone else.
Evelyn looked from one face to another.
“I have absolutely no idea what any of you are talking about.”
The elderly professor managed a small smile.
“You will.”
She turned toward the castle.
“Come with me, Miss Carter.”
As Evelyn followed her through the towering doors of Hidden Moon Academy, she couldn’t shake the feeling that every pair of eyes remained fixed on her.
She had come expecting answers.
Instead…
She had become the biggest mystery in the room.
- Writer
