Veins Of Nightfall

The Thing Beneath the Hollow

The roar beneath the mountain shook the estate so violently the chandeliers overhead shattered.

Glass exploded across the dining hall floor while wolves throughout Blackwood began howling in panic. Somewhere outside, alarms rang through the courtyard as guards rushed toward the walls.

The Hollow was moving.

Nyx stumbled backward clutching her chest while the mark beneath her skin burned hotter than before.

Queen.

The word echoed through her head relentlessly.

"No," she whispered.

The Hollow Walker's smile widened unnaturally.

"Nyra..."

Kael crossed the room instantly and slammed silver claws through the creature's throat before it could finish speaking. Black blood sprayed across the marble while the Walker convulsed violently against the floor.

It kept laughing anyway.

Lucas looked horrified.

"Okay I officially hate those things."

Hector grabbed the corpse and dragged it farther from Nyx immediately.

"Do not let it speak to her."

Too late.

The whispers were already back.

Stronger.

Closer.

Wake up.

Come home.

Queen.

Nyx pressed both hands against her head trying to shut them out. The room around her blurred slightly while silver light flickered beneath her skin.

Azrael noticed immediately.

He moved closer again.

Careful this time.

Like approaching something wounded.

Or dangerous.

"Nyx."

His voice cut through the whispers slightly.

Enough to ground her.

Nyx looked toward him instantly.

The second their eyes met, the pressure inside her head eased.

Again.

Both of them noticed.

Neither spoke about it.

Yet.

Nox snapped another journal shut sharply.

"The Hollow Walkers were supposed to be extinct."

Lucas snorted nervously.

"Big fan of things staying extinct personally."

Lila ignored him completely.

Her silver eyes remained fixed on Nyx.

"The Hollow is rebuilding itself."

Nyx frowned.

"What does that even mean?"

Selene appeared beside the fireplace once more.

Moonlight flooded the room around her.

"The seal weakens."

Kael's expression darkened immediately.

"Then strengthen it."

The Moon Goddess looked at him sadly.

"It does not work that way."

Hector stepped forward.

"What changed?"

Selene's glowing gaze slowly shifted toward Nyx.

Silence crushed the room instantly.

Nyx's stomach dropped.

"No."

Selene did not look away.

"The Hollow felt her awaken."

Every wolf in the room stiffened.

Eve stepped toward Nyx immediately.

"This is not her fault."

Selene's expression softened slightly.

"I did not say it was."

"But it is connected to her," Nox said quietly.

Nobody denied it.

That hurt worse than Nyx expected.

Because deep down, she already knew they were right.

The Hollow wanted her.

And some terrifying part of her wanted answers badly enough to listen back.

A loud howl suddenly echoed outside the estate walls.

Then another.

Then dozens.

Lucas moved toward the nearest window carefully before immediately cursing.

"That is definitely not normal."

Everyone rushed toward the windows.

Nyx stopped cold beside Kael.

Wolves surrounded the estate.

Hundreds of them.

But not Black Cat wolves.

These wolves looked wrong.

Too thin.

Black veins spread beneath silver glowing eyes while crescent symbols burned faintly across their fur.

Hollow Walkers.

The entire forest had become infected.

Hector's voice dropped instantly into Alpha command.

"Lock every gate. Nobody leaves the estate alone."

Several guards sprinted immediately from the room.

Kael looked toward Hector sharply.

"We can't just wait here."

"We are not rushing blindly into the Hollow."

"The Hollow already came here."

Silence.

Kael was right.

That terrified everyone.

Azrael remained near Nyx while the others argued strategy.

Quiet.

Watching.

Nyx noticed him glancing toward her every few seconds now.

Not fear.

Concern.

And something else she could not fully read.

The strange pull between them tightened again suddenly.

Azrael stiffened instantly.

Nyx felt it too.

Warmth spread briefly through her chest before vanishing again.

Lucas noticed their expressions immediately.

His eyes narrowed slightly.

Interesting.

Very interesting.

Before he could say anything, the estate lights flickered violently.

Then darkness swallowed the room.

Every candle extinguished at once.

The wolves outside stopped howling instantly.

Silence.

Complete silence.

Even the whispers vanished.

Selene's expression changed immediately.

Fear.

Real fear.

Nyx had not thought gods could look afraid.

Then something massive slammed into the estate gates outside.

The entire mountain shook.

Another slam followed.

Closer.

Heavier.

Lucas whispered softly, "That's not a wolf."

The front gates shattered.

Screams erupted outside instantly.

Hector shifted immediately.

Massive black fur exploded outward while his Alpha growl shook the dining hall itself.

Kael shifted beside him seconds later.

Lila's vampire fangs extended sharply while silver magic ignited around Eve's hands.

Nox grabbed silver blades.

Lucas muttered, "We are so unbelievably screwed."

Then the front doors exploded inward.

A Hollow Walker crashed through first.

Then another.

Then dozens.

Black smoke poured into the estate behind them while twisted wolves flooded the entrance hall. Guards screamed as fighting erupted instantly throughout Blackwood.

Nyx backed away instinctively.

The mark beneath her skin burned violently.

The Walkers stopped.

Every single one turned toward her simultaneously.

Then they knelt.

The entire estate fell silent.

Even the fighting stopped.

Kael slowly looked back toward Nyx.

Fear flickered across his face for the first time.

Not fear of her.

Fear for her.

The Hollow Walkers lowered themselves further toward the floor.

Like servants before a throne.

Then a voice echoed from the darkness beyond the broken entrance.

Male.

Ancient.

Powerful enough to make the entire estate tremble.

"Bring me my queen."

Nyx's blood turned to ice.

And beside her—

Azrael's wolf snarled for the very first time.