The Moon Rot

Chapter Twenty-Seven: The Veil Approaches

The northern mountains grew colder and sharper with every mile. Snow dusted the ground in patches, and the wind carried a biting edge that cut through our clothes. We had been walking for two days since the encounter with the Broken Moon Clan, following their stolen map and the faint red glow that still lingered on the ground.

My body felt different every hour. The glowing patterns no longer faded completely. They pulsed steadily under my skin like a second circulatory system. The orb in my pocket had become a constant weight — warm, alive, and whispering.

Zara walked beside me, her shoulder occasionally brushing mine. “You’re quieter than usual,” she said. “The voice… is it speaking to you again?”

I nodded. “It keeps repeating the same thing. Sacrifice. Every time I use the power, it feels like I’m giving something away. A piece of myself.”

Max walked a few paces ahead, his broad shoulders tense. “We’re getting close to The Veil. The map says it’s some kind of barrier that protects the safe haven. Only the worthy can pass through.”

The sun was setting when we reached the edge of a vast frozen lake. The red path led straight across the ice. In the distance, barely visible through the mist, stood tall stone pillars marking what had to be The Veil.

“We cross at night?” Zara asked, looking uneasy.

“We don’t have a choice,” Max replied. “The Order is still behind us. If we wait, they’ll catch up.”

We stepped onto the ice carefully. It creaked under our weight but held. The wind howled across the open expanse, whipping snow into our faces. Halfway across, the temperature dropped sharply. Our breath froze in the air.

Then the whispers returned — louder than ever.

“The Veil demands balance…”

“One must stay behind…”

I stopped walking. Pain lanced through my head. The glowing patterns across my body ignited brightly, reflecting off the ice like fire on glass.

Zara grabbed my arm. “Arian? What’s happening?”

Before I could answer, the ice beneath us cracked. Not from our weight — from something rising below.

Dark shapes moved under the frozen surface. Twisted creatures, trapped in the ice, their black eyes staring up at us. They began pounding against the ice from below, trying to break through.

“Run!” Max shouted.

We sprinted across the lake. The ice splintered behind us with every step. One creature finally broke through, clawing its way out with a horrifying scream. Then another. And another.

Max turned to fight the first one, slashing it viciously. Zara stayed by my side, defending me as I struggled against the overwhelming pressure in my head.

The ancient voice grew louder:

“The Veil requires a sacrifice of blood and power. Give it willingly, or it will take what it wants by force.”

I understood what it wanted.

I skidded to a stop in the center of the lake. “Stay back!”

Zara’s eyes widened in horror. “Arian, no!”

I dropped to my knees and pressed both hands against the ice. The glowing patterns blazed brighter than they ever had. I pushed the ancient power down into the lake.

An orange-red light exploded outward beneath the ice in a massive circle. The trapped creatures screamed as the light burned them. The ice cracked in a perfect ring around us, but the path forward remained solid.

The pain was excruciating. It felt like I was tearing something vital out of myself.

When it was over, I collapsed forward. Zara caught me before my face hit the ice.

“You i***t,” she whispered, tears freezing on her cheeks. “You don’t have to do everything alone.”

Max helped lift me up. “He’s getting weaker every time he uses it like that.”

I looked ahead. The stone pillars of The Veil were much closer now. A shimmering wall of light stood between them.

We were almost there.

But as we crossed the rest of the lake, I felt a piece of myself missing. The power was stronger, but I was weaker. Emptier.

The ancient voice spoke one final time before fading:

“The first true sacrifice has been made. The Veil will open… but the final price is still coming.”**

Zara refused to let go of my hand as we approached the glowing barrier.

Whatever waited on the other side, we would face it as a pack.

At least for now.

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To be continued...