The Call of the Night King

Chapter 2

“Veal!” she gasped, hand flying to her chest.

He stood just a step behind her, pale as a wraith in the moonlight, his face split into a wicked grin. He threw his head back and laughed, the sound grating and too loud in the silence.

“Oh, gods, Veyla, you should’ve seen your face,” he howled.

“Very funny, Veal,” she muttered, heart still thudding. “What are you doing here?”

“Oh, nothing,” he said, grinning. “Just looking for little sisters to scare.”

“We’re twins, Veal. I’m hardly your little sister.” She pushed past him.

“Eh.” He made a dismissive sound. “I was born many hours before you. That counts. Little sister.” He tapped her shoulder as she walked.

“You’re so irritating,” she snapped, brushing his hand off and heading toward the gates.

“Where are you going? Isn’t it past your bedtime, princess?” he called after her.

“I’m looking for Aeris and Nyra,” she shot back. “Leave me alone.”

He’d frightened her, as usual. He always did, and he always enjoyed it. That brother of hers was a thorn in her side.

Veyla pressed forward through the streets, leaving the lights behind. Then, she heard it.

Whispers.

The soft, familiar voices of Nyra and Aeris.

“She’ll never know…”

“She’s coming, Nyra, move…”

Veyla huffed. So they were playing games. Hiding and whispering, trying to spook her like Veal had? Fine. She could play too.

She lifted the hem of her dress so it wouldn’t rustle through the tall grass. The trees here stretched high overhead, their leaves sighing in the wind. She moved carefully through them, catching snatches of hushed laughter and darting shadows.

There, she saw them. Two crouched figures just ahead, giggling, slipping between the trees.

She crept closer, preparing to grab them both and give them a proper scolding. Hiding in a forest just to play hide-and-seek. Really.

But when she reached the spot, no one was there. No flutter of a dress. No whispering. Nothing.

She turned, then froze again. The whispers had returned.

“She’s coming. Nyra, move…”

Veyla smiled to herself. So they knew she was here. Sneaky little things. She turned again and continued deeper, eyes fixed on the weaving shapes ahead.

But then…the air changed. The breeze stirred, but she couldn’t feel it. Her skin didn’t prickle. It was warm.

A sound rose in the distance. Not laughter. Not whispers. Music.

A voice, clear, unearthly, sang just beyond her reach. The melody was so beautiful it ached. So soothing it stirred tears in her eyes. Her lips parted. Her heart slowed. And without realizing it, she smiled… and followed.

She had forgotten Aeris. Forgotten Nyra. Forgotten everything but the music. That beautiful, haunting music.

Veyla stepped into a clearing, arms rising of their own accord. Her feet began to move. And she danced.

She danced for hours.

Sweat clung to her skin. Her breath grew shallow. Her feet bled. Still, she danced, driven by something beyond her will. She danced until her body gave out and the world collapsed around her.

She fainted.

Light flickered against her eyes, making her flinch and curl away. She was lying on something rough. A soft tickle brushed her nose, something feathery, irritating. She slapped it away, wanting only to sleep.

It came back. She slapped again. Still it came back.

“Damn it, Veal!” she shouted, jerking upright, ready to glare her brother into dust.

But there was no one. Just trees. Everywhere.

Her breath caught in her throat. “Where… is this?” she whispered.

She looked around, nothing but trees in every direction, thick and endless, closing her in like a cage.

“Good, you’re awake,” said a voice.

Veyla whipped around. No one.

“Up here,” the voice said.

Her eyes lifted.

A massive snake stared down at her from a high branch. Its yellow eyes gleamed like wet coins. Its mouth moved.

“That’s right,” it said. It nodded, if one could call that nodding.

Veyla turned to ice. Her blood froze. Her breath halted in her chest. Her skin went pale.

“Why are you so still all of a sudden?” the snake asked. Its tone was almost offended. “Say something.”

She couldn’t.

Then, without warning, it bared its fangs and lunged.

Veyla screamed. She rolled hard to the side, dirt scraping her elbows. Her heart thundered.

“That’s more like it,” the snake said cheerfully. “I don’t like it when my food just lies there.”

Veyla scrambled to her feet, eyes locked on the beast. Her thoughts splintered beneath panic. What happened? Am I dreaming?

Her legs shook. She couldn’t think. Couldn’t breathe.

The snake slithered forward, slow and confident. Death in motion.

She couldn’t move. Couldn’t run. Tears began to spill.

“Wait,” the monster said, blinking in what might’ve been surprise. “Are you seriously about to cry? At least run for your life.”

Her legs wouldn’t listen. Frozen. Useless. The tears came faster.

“Please don’t eat me,” she whispered. “Don’t eat me. Please.”

“But you’re food.”

“No, I’m not! I can be more. I can do things. I can cook. I can clean. I can make you meals so good, you’ll never crave something as skinny as me again, I swear. I can do anything.”

The snake stared. Then it laughed. A drawn-out hiss that curled around her.

“Anything?” it said, coiling its tail. Its tongue flicked out, tasting the air. “Well, it just so happens I’ve already eaten today. And I do find wolves amusing little pets…”

It slithered closer, the thick bulk of its body winding around her. She couldn’t breathe. She couldn’t speak. Its face loomed near hers.

“What is your name, little wolf?”

“V-Veyla,” she whispered. “I am Princess Veyla of Duskari.”

“Oh my. A princess,” it hissed, voice curling with delight. “Then you are not Veyla anymore. You are the Magnus’ little wolf now. Understand?”

“Yes.” She nodded, trembling.

And that was how the worst year of Veyla’s life began.