WHAT LIVES BENEATH THE VEIL
Book Fourteen: The Primordial Darkness
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CONTENT WARNING: This series contains explicit sexual violence, human sacrifice, psychological torture, murder of innocent characters (including children and family members), ritualistic killing, and extreme horror. No character is safe. Read at your own risk.
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Chapter Three Hundred Seven: The Choice
Year 316 – Three Hundred Five Years After the Curse
Liora sat on the throne, staring at the sky.
The memory of the child haunted her.
The garden. The flowers. The happiness.
She had forgotten what that felt like.
She had forgotten who she was.
But now she remembered.
And she could not stop thinking about it.
What if I could go back? she thought.
What if I could become whole?
What if I could be happy?
The whispers were silent.
The shadows were still.
The darkness was waiting.
She did not know the answer.
She was afraid to find out.
But she knew she could not stay here forever.
She knew she had to choose.
Stay empty, she thought.
Or try to become whole.
Stay hungry.
Or try to be satisfied.
Stay the queen.
Or try to be human.
The watcher watched.
It did not speak.
It did not move.
It simply waited.
It had done all it could.
Now the choice was hers.
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The Ruins – The Conversation
"Watcher," Liora said.
"Yes, Queen?"
"I have a question."
"Ask."
"Can I go back?"
"Back to what?"
"Back to who I was."
"Before the darkness."
"Before the curse."
"Before the hunger."
The watcher was silent for a long moment.
Then it said, "I do not know."
"No one has ever tried."
"You would be the first."
"But it would be difficult."
"It would be painful."
"It would require sacrifice."
Liora nodded.
"What kind of sacrifice?"
"You would have to give up your power."
"Your immortality."
"Your hunger."
"You would have to release the souls you have consumed."
"All of them."
"Millions of them."
"They would be free."
"And you would be mortal."
"You would be weak."
"You would be human."
Liora stared at the watcher.
"Can I do it?"
"I do not know."
"No one has ever tried."
"You would be the first."
"But it would be dangerous."
"It would be uncertain."
"It could kill you."
Liora laughed.
"Kill me?"
"I am immortal."
"I cannot die."
"You can if you give up your immortality."
"Then you would be mortal."
"Then you could die."
Liora was silent.
She had never thought about death.
Not really.
She had always been immortal.
She had always been eternal.
The idea of dying was... foreign.
But also intriguing.
"What happens after death?" she asked.
"I do not know."
"No one knows."
"Some say there is nothing."
"Some say there is something else."
"Some say you are reborn."
Liora nodded.
"Then I have nothing to lose."
"You have everything to lose."
"Your power."
"Your immortality."
"Your existence."
"Are you willing to risk that?"
Liora stared at the watcher.
"I am willing to try."
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The Beyond – The Preparation
The watcher returned to the beyond to prepare.
It had never attempted anything like this before.
No one had.
The queen was the first.
She would be the only.
"I must be careful," it thought.
"I must be precise.
If I make a mistake, she could die.
If I make a mistake, she could be destroyed.
If I make a mistake, she could be lost forever.
I cannot make a mistake.
I will not make a mistake.
I must succeed."
The watcher gathered its power.
It focused its light.
It prepared the ritual.
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The Ruins – The Decision
Liora sat on the throne, staring at the sky.
The watcher had told her what she needed to do.
She had to release the souls.
All of them.
Millions of them.
She had to give up her power.
Her immortality.
Her hunger.
She had to become mortal.
Weak.
Human.
She was terrified.
But she was also curious.
And curiosity was something she had not felt in a long time.
I can do this, she thought.
I am strong.
I am powerful.
I am determined.
I can change.
The whispers were silent.
The shadows were still.
The darkness was waiting.
She took a deep breath.
She closed her eyes.
She made her choice.
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The Ritual – The Release
The watcher began the ritual.
Its light filled the throne room.
It touched the queen's darkness.
It pulled.
The first soul emerged.
A child.
A young girl with tea-colored eyes and a white dress.
She looked at the queen.
"Thank you," she whispered.
Then she faded.
The second soul emerged.
A young man with a sword and a shield.
He looked at the queen.
"Thank you," he whispered.
Then he faded.
The third soul emerged.
An old woman with a staff and a grimoire.
She looked at the queen.
"Thank you," she whispered.
Then she faded.
Soul after soul emerged.
Millions of them.
They looked at the queen.
They whispered, "Thank you."
Then they faded.
The process took hours.
Days.
Weeks.
But finally, it was done.
The queen was empty.
Not the emptiness of hunger.
The emptiness of release.
She had no power.
She had no immortality.
She had no hunger.
She was mortal.
Weak.
Human.
She fell from the throne.
She lay on the ground.
She was tired.
She was free.
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The Aftermath – The Watcher
The watcher knelt beside her.
"Queen," it said.
"I am not a queen anymore."
"Then what are you?"
"I am Liora."
"Just Liora."
"Just Liora."
The watcher smiled.
"It is good to meet you, Liora."
"It is good to meet you too."
"What will you do now?"
"I do not know."
"I have never been free before."
"I have never been human."
"I will have to learn."
"It will be difficult."
"I know."
"It will be painful."
"I know."
"It will be worth it."
"I hope so."
The watcher helped her stand.
"Where will you go?"
"Anywhere."
"Everywhere."
"Wherever I want."
The watcher nodded.
"Then go."
"Live."
"Be."
Liora smiled.
"Thank you."
"You are welcome."
"Will I see you again?"
"Perhaps."
"I will be watching."
"I will be waiting."
"I will be hoping."
Liora nodded.
"Then I will see you soon."
"Goodbye, watcher."
"Goodbye, Liora."
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The End – The Beginning
Liora walked away from the ruins.
She did not look back.
She did not need to.
The past was behind her.
The future was ahead.
She was free.
She was human.
She was alive.
And for the first time in centuries, she was happy.
The watcher watched.
It watched her walk away.
It watched her live.
It watched her be.
And it hoped.
Hoped that she would find what she was looking for.
Hoped that she would become who she wanted to be.
Hoped that she would find peace.
The shadows faded.
The whispers stopped.
The darkness ended.
And a new beginning began.
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End of Chapter Three Hundred Seven
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END OF BOOK FOURTEEN: THE PRIMORDIAL DARKNESS
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END OF WHAT LIVES BENEATH THE VEIL