The door let out a low creak, one of those sounds that just insists on being noticed. Instantly, I was yanked out of my own head. I'd been standing by the chapel's back window, zoning out while the sky did its moody, ever-changing thing. My mind was still a mess, tangled up in the conversation I'd had with Zaire. It wasn't just what he'd said; it was the way he made me feel when he was close. Like the air itself was holding its breath.
And honestly...that wasn't the first time I'd felt that weird, magnetic pull toward him. But deep down, something kept whispering, Careful, Niah. This isn't just about you. There was danger in letting myself fall, not just for me, but for everyone caught up in this mess.
I sighed and tore my gaze away from the window, just as the soft shuffle of footsteps echoed down the aisle. I didn't even have to look; I just knew it was Zaire. The air always seemed to shift when he was around, like the world itself was holding its breath.
I started to say something, but before I could get a word out, the door swung open all the way.
But it was not Zaire.
Instead, there was Father Delran, standing in the doorway. And he looked… different. Gone was his usual calm, almost gentle vibe. Today, his eyes were sharp and intense, like he'd just tracked something dangerous through the woods and finally cornered it.
"Niah," he said, voice low and urgent. "We need to talk."
I froze. There was something in his tone that made the tiny hairs on the back of my neck stand up.
Seriously, what is it with everyone wanting to talk to me lately? I let out a sharp breath. Ugh.
Still, I nodded, slow and cautious. Whatever this was, it mattered.
"About what?" I tried to sound casual, but my voice wobbled. My brain was still buzzing with Zaire and everything else that had been dumped on me lately.
Father Delran stepped inside, closing the door with a soft click. He motioned for me to sit, his face suddenly grave. "It's about the veil. The threads of fate you've been tugging at… they're pulling us into dangerous territory. And the Order of the Veil, they're not the only ones in this game."
I sat down, heart pounding. The Order of the Veil—again. I was starting to feel like their shadow was everywhere, even though I barely understood who they were or what they wanted.
"What do you mean?" My voice was barely a whisper. "What do you know about them?"
He took a long, steadying breath and sat across from me, folding his hands like he was about to deliver a verdict. "I've known about them for years. They're not just some cult. They're a shadow organization, with roots tangled up in some of the oldest and most powerful families on the planet. Their reach goes deep, and they've been hunting for something for centuries."
I leaned in, curiosity burning through my nerves. "What are they after?"
His eyes darkened. "Power. The kind that can twist time and reality itself. The kind that's tied to your bloodline, Niah."
My heart skipped a beat. "My bloodline?"
He nodded, slow and heavy. "You're from the House of Elarien. Your blood is a ke, a power that could tip the balance between realms. And the Order of the Veil knows it. They have been searching for you all these years or for centuries now. They want to use you for their own needs."
I could feel the weight of his words pressing down on me, making it hard to breathe. My thoughts spun: the dreams, the pull toward Zaire, the weird abilities that kept flickering to life inside me. And now, this—my bloodline, my connection to something ancient and dangerous.
"I don't get it," I said, shaking my head. "Why me? Why now?"
His gaze softened, but there was a sadness there that made my chest ache. "Because you're not just anyone, Niah. You're the key. And now that you're waking up, they won't stop until they have you. And we… we can't protect you forever."
My chest tightened, breath coming in short, panicked bursts. The life I thought I knew was slipping away, replaced by something darker and way more dangerous.
"And Zaire?" I asked, my voice barely a whisper. That strange pull between us was only getting stronger, like some invisible thread tying us together.
Father Delran let out a long sigh. "Zaire's tangled up in this too. Not just because of your power, but because of his past. He's been watching over you longer than you realize. His role is just as important as yours."
My mind was spinning, questions piling up faster than I could process them. "So what do I do? How do I stop the Order?"
He leaned in, voice dropping even lower. "Don't worry Niah, you don't need to do anything alone. This isn't something you can face by yourself. You'll need help from people who understand your past… and your present. Zaire, Dr. Thorne, maybe even the people you'd never expect."
I stood up, heart pounding so hard I could feel it in my fingertips. My world was about to flip upside down, and there was no going back. "I need to know more," I said, forcing my voice to stay steady even though I felt like I was about to fall apart. "I need to understand what's happening to me. And I need to figure out how to fight back."
Father Delran gave me a small, grim smile. "I can give you some answers. But there are more pieces to this puzzle than you realize. And the deeper you dig, the more dangerous it gets."
I didn't even hesitate. "Then I'll dig deeper. I'm not scared of what's coming."
He stood and placed a hand on my shoulder, his touch surprisingly gentle. "I hope you're right, Niah. But be careful, not all answers are what they seem." He paused, then added with a half-smile, "Now don't overthink it so much. Go home for the day."
I let out a long sigh, nodding, a small smile flickering across my lips, one that didn't quite reach my eyes. I said my goodbyes and stepped out of the chapel.
As I left the chapel, my thoughts were a wild, swirling storm. There was no turning back now. The mysteries of my past and the forces closing in on me were all crashing together. But one thing was crystal clear: I couldn't ignore the pull anymore. I couldn't walk away from Zaire, or from the destiny that was waiting for me.
And those threads of fate? They were just starting to unravel.
* * *