Chapter 9 – Unwelcome Guest
1218 Words
Chapter 9 – Unwelcome Guest
The sun rose, but its warmth never reached the Hollowlands. Clouds stretched like old scars across the sky, casting a bleak pallor over the Moonborne village. Ash from the night’s battle still lingered in the air, clinging to stone walls and pine boughs.
Seren stood in front of a narrow cave mouth beneath the mountain’s spine—its stone edges carved with ancient runes. The Archives. Kaelen had called it a place of truth.
But truth was rarely comforting.
Kaelen emerged from the shadowed path behind her, his steps silent. He handed her a small oil lantern.
"The flames inside are sacred," he said. "They light what must be seen."
She accepted it with trembling hands.
Together, they entered.
---
The Archives weren’t built—they were unearthed. Carved deep into the heart of the mountain, the walls bore etchings older than any written language Seren recognized. Wolves. Moons. Eyes.
And doors. So many doors.
Kaelen led her through tight corridors lit by pale blue moss and the occasional suspended crystal. Shelves filled with bone scrolls and stone tablets lined the inner chambers, watched over by a single figure: Elder Moren, the Lorekeeper.
He stood tall and gaunt, with silver hair braided down to his back and skin so pale it looked carved from salt.
His eyes locked on Seren the moment she entered.
"The blood awakens," he said. "And the past has stirred."
Kaelen inclined his head. "She needs answers."
Moren turned, beckoning them deeper.
They passed vaults guarded by iron symbols and tomes humming with magic. Finally, Moren led them to a circular chamber. At its center was a pedestal with a shallow stone basin filled with still water.
"Place your hand in," Moren instructed.
Seren hesitated. Then obeyed.
The water lit up beneath her fingers.
Images danced across its surface. A forest burning. A woman screaming. A man with eyes like hers being dragged into shadow.
Then a gate. Towering and sealed by golden chains. Blood dripped across the threshold.
Seren gasped and pulled back. The water stilled.
Moren placed a hand over the basin. "You carry the mark of two worlds. Not born of werewolf or vampire... but forged in the twilight between. Your line once protected the gate to the true veil."
Kaelen stepped forward. "But that line was broken."
"Not broken," Moren said. "Hidden. Your kind were hunted. Forced to forget. But the blood remembers."
Seren's voice was hoarse. "What gate is that?"
"One that should never open again."
They stood in silence until Kaelen finally said, "Come. There’s more to show you."
---
By the time they returned to the village, snow had begun to fall.
Lyra met them at the gates, her expression unusually tight.
"We have a visitor."
Kaelen frowned. "Who?"
"You’ll want to see for yourself."
She led them to the great hall. Warriors lined the entrance, unease in their posture.
Inside, standing like he belonged among them, was a man Seren thought she’d never see again.
Gavin.
Her blood froze.
He was cleaner now, dressed in tailored travel clothes and a winter cloak trimmed in gold. His face still bore that cruel, practiced charm—the mask he wore for the world. But his eyes, when they met hers, still burned with obsession.
"Seren," he drawled. "Thank the gods. I’ve been searching everywhere."
Kaelen stepped forward so quickly the floor shuddered.
"Who let him in?"
Lyra growled. "He crossed the veil with something... unnatural. We’re still figuring out how."
Gavin gave a slight bow. "You must be the Alpha. What a delight. I come in peace. I only want what’s mine."
Seren stepped behind Kaelen. Her entire body trembled.
"I am not yours."
Gavin’s gaze flicked over her possessively. "You’re confused. You’ve been taken in, manipulated. These people aren’t your family. I am. Your betrothed."
Kaelen's voice dropped to a dangerous growl. "She said no. That’s enough."
"She is my property."
Seren's breath caught.
Kaelen moved in a blur. He grabbed Gavin by the throat and lifted him off the ground.
The room erupted into chaos.
Lyra grabbed Kaelen’s arm. "Not here. Not now."
Kaelen’s claws elongated.
"Release me," Gavin choked.
Kaelen dropped him.
Gavin landed hard, coughing. But even on his knees, he smirked.
"You’ve made a mistake. I’m not alone."
The doors slammed open. Warriors dragged in two bodies—dead vampires, their necks broken. One of the scouts bowed.
"They were tailing him. He brought them here."
Kaelen turned to Gavin.
"You crossed the veil with Lucien’s help."
Gavin grinned. "He offered me more than you ever could. Power. Immortality. Seren as my bride."
Seren hissed. "You’re insane."
"I’m in love."
Kaelen pointed to the guards. "Throw him into the pit. If he resists, break him."
They dragged Gavin screaming.
But his last words echoed: "You can’t protect her forever! He’s coming! And he’ll burn your world to the ground!"
---
Later, in her quarters, Seren sat on the edge of her bed, arms wrapped around her knees. Lyra entered quietly and sat beside her.
"You don’t owe anyone your fear," Lyra said.
"He was my nightmare. And now he’s here."
Lyra nodded. "He was your prison. But you’re free now."
"For how long?"
Lyra put a hand on hers. "As long as we stand."
A knock interrupted them. Kaelen entered without waiting.
"He’s not the real threat. Gavin’s just a tool. Lucien’s planning something bigger."
Seren stood. "What can I do?"
"We move. We scout the edges of the Temple Valley. If the veil thins there, we need to know."
Lyra straightened. "I’ll lead the west flank. Eli takes the south. Kaelen—"
"I take Seren with me."
Lyra hesitated. Then nodded.
---
At dawn, they left.
Kaelen and Seren traveled by horseback through deep forest paths, over frozen rivers and ancient ridgelines. Hours passed in quiet, but not in discomfort. The silence between them was a language all its own.
As the sun dipped low, they came upon the Valley of Shards.
A land broken by time and magic, filled with sharp crystal growths and blackened soil. The air shimmered faintly, like heat rising from snow.
Seren dismounted and approached a pale blue shard. Her mark glowed as she neared.
Kaelen watched. "The veil is weak here."
She nodded. "I feel it."
Then a sound—a hum. Deep and resonant.
The ground beneath them cracked.
A creature burst from the ice—taller than a man, gaunt and glowing from within. A wraith, made of mist and malice.
Kaelen shifted mid-leap, fur exploding across his body. He lunged at the wraith, claws tearing into its chest.
But the creature screeched and flung him away.
It turned to Seren.
She raised her hand, willing the energy within to rise.
Nothing.
The wraith surged toward her.
Kaelen tackled it from behind, slamming it into the shard. The crystal exploded in a burst of light, and the wraith shrieked as it disintegrated.
Breathless, Kaelen returned to her.
"You froze."
"I couldn’t feel it. My power. It vanished."
Kaelen touched her shoulder. "Maybe it’s the veil. Maybe it’s fear. But we’ll train harder. We’ll find answers."
She nodded, still shaken.
Then, from the cliffs above, a figure watched them. Red eyes gleaming. Cloaked in shadow.
Lucien smiled.
And vanished.
- Writer
